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ne tHenc* a will.00WILLIAMS AND JONES CONSTRUCTION CO. started operations In September, 15*16, as a project of the partnership of Robert Llt; Mill lams, Sr., J.B. Jones, and B.N. Hilliams who joined with the Progressive Builders Corporation to provide veterans’ housing in the East Broadway add It ion—21st and 22nd Street and Broadway Road.Progress was slow. Veteran housing loans for Negroes were difficult to secures Ex-servicemen faced with a job scarcity, and they could not V.A. employment requlrementsB Further problems caused by the cautious policies of lending ies who would not grant loans to Negroes in of two or three thousand dollars for moreSHOWN ABOVE, left to right, Dthan five years. Another limitation was the inability of Negro businesses to be considered good mortgage loan risks.After a year of hit and miss, the partnership was dissolved and the Williams and Jones Contracting company was formed. Fifty or more houses were built yearly until 1953, in Arizona and California.Two stockholders of this company had faith and vision. Two brothers, D.W. and Travis Williams reorganized the firm. D.W. Williams was elected president and Travis Williams was elected secretary-treasurer, and general manager. From 1955 to 1956 more than one hundred houses were constructed In the East Broadway addition, South Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley.In 1957, the Williams and Jones Construction Co. began the first sub-d(vision at 21st Street and Roeser Road, known as Princess Jean Park. Within six months only five houses had been approved by F.H.A. or V.A. Twelve transactions had been rejected because of income requirements. Could the Williams brothers faith have been misplaced? They knew that people wanted better homes - in South Phoenix the last chance for well-planned communities was near but far from reach.The recession revised the plans and work schedules but D.W. and Travis did not stop. Following a nation wide- trend, they cutback plans and prices, reserving one section for custom built homes. The ten original owners of Princess Jean Homes will soon have thirty nine more dwellings about them. Progress was slow but it was worth the struggle.The Park South development Is continuing under this progressive firm. Their policy of building the best home for the lowest financing will be maintained. Twenty-four houses in this area have been completed and occupied. Sales are being handled by Clyde Webb, realtor.Permanent offices have been established at 3432 South Central Avenue, and Albert J. Brown serves as staff manager. Competent office and sales personnel represent the optimism and ideals of the Williams and Jones Construction Company.Williams and Travis Williams
Newspaper Details
Phoenix Arizona Tribune
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Fri, Aug 08, 1958
Page 3
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 08 Oct 2024
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