Three vacant lots in the Skinker-DeBaliviere area have recently been offered for sale at reduced prices to neighbors who wish to expand their yards. The lots are owned by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The lots came into HUD’s possession because persons who were buying homes on the three sites were unable to keep up payments and the agency repossessed the buildings. After determining that the houses were not worth remodeling, it ordered them demolished.
In each case HUD put the vacant lots up for sale at competitive market prices. However, the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council persuaded the agency to reduce the prices to allow neighbors to bid on the land. Prospective buyers have to promise to fence the property and landscape it properly. Calvin Stuart, executive director of SDCC, said the reduction in prices has been substantial.
The lots in question are on the 5700 block of DeGiverville, the 6000 block of Kingsbury, and the 6000 block of Westminster. Negotiations for the first lot are almost completed. A bid has been entered on the second. As yet no bid has been submitted for the third.
Stuart said that he regrets that HUD demolished the three homes, which was done without consulting SDCC. In the future he hopes the agency will allow interested persons to buy repossessed houses cheaply and remodel them.
Originally published in The Paper, March 1973.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1973_03.pdf, printed page(s) 1.
