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/-lo v~ 1nj rl.c.-so,J-.r"~ C Of"l"1 ittc. c.. CITY OF .ATLANT.A October 31, 1969 CITY HALL ATLANTA, GA. 30303 Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404 IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR CECIL A. ALEXANDER, Chairman Housing Resources Committee MALCOLM D. JONES Housing Coord inator MEMORANDUM TO: Mr. Dan E. Sweat, Jr . Chief Administrative Officer Ple ase see attached copy (Encl. 1) of letter to Planning Director , dated September 25, 1969, (which is self explanatory) requesting assistance in providing material for inclusion in next revision of the Status Report on Atlanta's Low and Moderate Incom e Housing program. Also see attached copy of reply from the Planning Director , dated October 9, 1969 , (Encl. 2). Note that the reply from the Planning Director proposes certain studies related to housing to be initiated by the Planning D epartment. The desirability of these studies is not questioned. However he calls upon me for assistance in preparation of the studies, but does not agree to provide any of the information requested for the Housing Resources Committee for updating the Low and Moderate Income Housing Status Report. About two years ago, when I first requested a Statistical Clerk to keep up the Housing Status Report, I was inform ed by the Administrative Assistant that a new position of Planner for housing had just been authorized the Planning Department and that therefore the Housing Resourc e s Committee should obtain any needed research and statistical data from the Planajng Department. Consequently, I called upon the Planning D epartment then for similar information to that again requested in the attached letter (two years later) . As yet none of the information requested has been provided . I do not consider this deliberate , or unwillingness to cooperate, but rather a natu ral consequence of another Department being so overworked and preoccupied with numerous details on too many matters, to provide attention and detailed information to another office , for which that Department is not directly responsible. I predict that the situation will not improve materially . �I Mr. Dan E. Sweat, Jr. October 31 , 1969 Page Two The information requested for HRC is essential to meaningful revisions of the Housing Status Report. In order for the City and its officials to have any concept of progress being made in the Low and Moderate Income Housing program , it is essential tha t a Housing Sta tus report be maintained a nd constantly r e vised by someone. N o office in the City, othe r tha n the Housing Resour ce s Committee, currently h a s this information. On the other hand, it is physically impossible for me (alone) to obtain the information needed, affect the appropriate u pdating of the report a nd a t the sam e time a ccomplish other e ss e ntial coordina ting and administra tive duties for w hich I a m r es ponsible. This i s w hy, f o r over t w o year s now, I h a v e rep eat e dly r e quest e d a ssista nc e of a Sta ti s ti cal Cle rk in thi s field . Mr. W. W. Gates, who as FHA oriented Housing Consultant to HRC one d ay per w eek, wa s very helpful. How e ve r, after w or king f or o v er a year w ith no p ay, he h as dis c ontinu e d ser v ing. In th e a b sence of othe r ass i s t a n ce , l ast s umme r I r e qu est e d a nd obtaine d the se r v ic e s of an Urban Corps Intern, prima rily to w ork on upda ting the Hous ing Sta tus R e p ort. However, he was m o r e inter ested in c hang i ng th e s y ste m tha n in obtaining t he n ee d ed i n f orma tio n . Conse qu entl y , m uc h e s s e ntial i nfo rm a t i o n perta i ni n g t o r espec t ive h ou s i ng pr oj ects , such as b e dro om c ompositi on, m o nthl y r e nta l s or purchas e payment s, u tility cost s a n d e s tim a te d time of c ompl etion of many pr oj e cts h a s not yet be e n o bta i n e d. An a dditiona l e f for t t h i s fall to obta i n a nothe r Urban C or p s Intern to a ssist in t his fi e l d h a s not b een su c c e ssful. W h en I wa s initia lly a pproa che d by the Admini s tr a tive As s i s t a nt w ith v iew to t aking o ve r t h e functions o f E xe c u ti v e Di re c t or o f the Citizens Adv i s or y Committee for U r b a n R e new a l , in additi on t o my o t her d uti e s , I wa s inf o r m e d tha t I would get an as s i sta nt. L as t J uly, du ring Mr. Land e rs ' l as t mont h of duty, h e r e iterated t h a t h e p l anne d to provide m e with a n as si s t a nt who , could not o n ly b e c h arge d w ith m o nito ring a nd revisin g the c onstantly chan ging Status Report o n L ow and Moderat e Income Housing, but who w ould a l s o be capabl e of assisti ng i n c o or dinating other hou sing m atters, s uch as p rom o t i ng hou sing w i th builders, re p resenting m e in c o nfe r e n ce s a nd eve n on oc c a s i ons, po ss ibly c o n ducting meet ings o n housing matters . Re cent difficulties in adoption of a satisfactory workable Hou sing Code Enforcement Plan, preparation of the Breakthrough appli cation, housing in M odel Cities and proposed housing improvement s in other NDP areas, appears to justify additional coor dinating efforts in the hous i ng field. In addition, such assistant should b e capable and trai ned to take over my duties as Administrative Coordinator for Housing when I retire. �Mr . Dan E. Sweat, Jr. October 31 , 1969 Page Three . Consequently, I for an assistant. recommend that provision be made in the 1970 Budget Respectfully, ~ -;p .:./2.c . c:--~- Malcolm D. Jones Administrative Coordinator for Housing MDJ/mc Ends: cc: Copy letter dated Sept. 25, 1969 Copy reply dated October 9, 1969 Mr. Cecil A. Alexander Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr, �