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Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965

Report on Urban Renewal Programs and Their Effects on Racial Minority Group Housing in Three Iowa Cities - Page 10

Despite the comments of the chairman of the Mayor's Housing Committee, the evidence strongly suggests that the problem of relocating families living in substandard housing is still acute in Des Moines.

Complaint No. 4

Effective communication between the city officials and the nonwhite community is still lacking. Negroes point to what they are calling the "Cleveland Heights Fiasco" as evidence. Negroes contend that they tried to tell the city officials that they suspected the outcome, if not the intent, of establishing this particular housing area.

Cleveland Heights is an area in the northern part of Des Moines, which was purchased by the city several years ago for the purpose of developing a low-cost housing project. The Negroes protested at that time that it was designed to become another "Negro Ghetto", and that it was undesirable because it was virtually surrounded by substandard houses.

At the present time the project is anything but a success because the city council is faced with the problem of repaying the loan with which the area was purchased. Only a few families, all Negro, have purchased homes or lots in the development, and the money which was to have come from the sale of the lots is totally insufficient to pay the loan. Charges have been made that the Negro community has "boycotted" the project.

Ironically, the lenders earned the money to make this financing possible by renting houses to veterans. The housing was built by the Federal Government, during World War II, and later given to the city. Negroes lived in this housing, although not without experiencing difficulty in gaining admittance from the project management. Once in the project, no difficulties were experienced by the Negroes at the hands of the other residents.

Complaint No. 5

City officials are indifferent to the plight of minority groups affected by Urban Renewal and the Freeway.


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Despite the comments of the chairman of the Mayor's Housing Committee, the evidence strongly suggests that the problem of relocating families living in substandard housing is still acute in Des Moines. Complaint No. 4 Effective communication between the city officials and the nonwhite community is still lacking. Negroes point to what they are calling the "Cleveland Heights Fiasco" as evidence. Negroes contend that they tried to tell the city officials that they suspected the outcome, if not the intent, of establishing this particular housing area. Cleveland Heights is an area in the northern part of Des Moines, which was purchased by the city several years ago for the purpose of developing a low-cost housing project. The Negroes protested at that time that it was designed to become another "Negro Ghetto", and that it was undesirable because it was virtually surrounded by substandard houses. At the present time the project is anything but a success because the city council is faced with the problem of repaying the loan with which the area was purchased. Only a few families, all Negro, have purchased homes or lots in the development, and the money which was to have come from the sale of the lots is totally insufficient to pay the loan. Charges have been made that the Negro community has "boycotted" the project. Ironically, the lenders earned the money to make this financing possible by renting houses to veterans. The housing was built by the Federal Government, during World War II, and later given to the city. Negroes lived in this housing, although not without experiencing difficulty in gaining admittance from the project management. Once in the project, no difficulties were experienced by the Negroes at the hands of the other residents. Complaint No. 5 City officials are indifferent to the plight of minority groups affected by Urban Renewal and the Freeway. 10