Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-05-21
Firm DulIdlng 90
New Homes M9y
SET a. 8. PUefoSw

01b Se % U@bBWuW
CONTINUED from page ~
tionaI officer Of the Home Build
srs Aa1n-. VINO incidentally had
tF1sd. unSuccsssfuIiy. four years
ago % build SIX tsn-pIsxss IN g.
Paul that would have been occu-
pied on q raciaiiy mixed plan.
In Tiisen's io4s effort mortgage
loans were relatively easy 10 get
but the banks wouldn't o. X. q
loan for the apartments II thsy
were 10 be occupied on q non.
segregated plan. They finally a.
greed 10 approve the loan II three
Of the buildings were for whites
and three for coIored. but Tilsan
vetoed this.
In the 1854 program II was nee.
sasaFy for Mr.. TiIssn 10 convince
the FILA and the Veterans admin.
istration that such q project was
feasible.
Construction begins
Altar many conferences both o.
Eenciss gave theiT OK. and con-
struction was finally started. For
awhile II looked a. though the
agencies were dragging their feet.
Most new housing II FHA or
veteran approved. Such approval
means that the federal govern
mont underNsrites or guarantees Q
loan made by q bank or other
lending institution for q home.
A most significant feature Of
Tn development u that because
q the good heiGhborhood and the
homes viii be reasonably priced,
thla win undoubtedly attract .
number Of white families.
Housing surveys made by the
Minneapolis UrbaR League and
the Joint Committee For Equal
Opportunity showed conclusivsIy
that there IL q definite trend 10
Increased segregation In housing.
Reason FoF Good Price
II should be mentioned here In
all fairness 10 the sellers and po-
tshtiAi buyers, that the reason the
homes are priced considerably less
than the same quality OF home In
other sections Of the city IL that
for years the land Of, which some
Of the homes are being construct.
ID was thought 10 be Of little
value because Of peat boys that
were supposed 10 BE- In the area.
BoFtng Reveals Error
However test boring revealed
that only . negligible portion Of
the lots were % contaminated and
that u would be- economically
feasible TO pile these few lots and
proportion their cost In the over
ali proiect and still own the land
at . considerable saving, Tilssn
says that the other major factor
% the economy price IL due 20
the fact that the homo are all
baaically the same Moor plan with
many and varied exterior elsva-
tons This Hamshsas IN the homes
provides for the greatest eeono-
miea IN materials and conatrle-
ton costs Thin means that ths
baildar 10 ahle 10 pass On thsas
savings 10 the purchaser
ThFra BEDROOMS
Tho homes are being built 10
strict FILA specifications ard
have steel beams and all contain
three bedrooms.
Already q large number of the
homes have been contracted for
and this 10 the frat time In this
area q Negro purchaser has been
able 10 take advantage Of the low
down payments and other advant.
ages when homes are advertised
for sale IN other sections ~ the
city but unobtAinAble a. far ~
Negroes arr concerned
People IN the real estate bust.
meas feel that this project win IN
all probability effect the price Of
the existing homes In the AREA.
WIN Effect MARKET
FoF some time unpcrupuloIls
real estate firms and statesmen
have exploited the Negro market
by hiking the price OF homes that
Negroes could purchase,
Particularly has this been % In
south Minneapolis. where the price
has been raised sometimes a.
much a. q thousand dollars when
offsred for sale 20 Negro buyers,
When the nlaen homes are
ready. no doubt the price Of other
homes put up for sale viii drop
20 their real market value.
nlaca Top ~ Pant Builder
I'd Tilsen 10 reputed 10 be the
largest home builder IN g. Paul
and 10 credited for having had q
major part In the development Of
Highland Park. an exclusive real
dential ARA In ~. Paul and the
complete development OF Eaaex
Park In st. Paufs Eantside Of
over $50 homes In q price range
slightly higher than these homes
now available In Minneapolis
He h looked upon by some per-
sons In the homo building field a.
q ''neophyts or upstart" because
he didn't start In the building
game until ieSS.
ma 49,. eA.N A.. -. -. ,.s.s.