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• J. HUD-1081 (11-68) CITIZl.:::-i l'.\\"OL\'Dll·::-;T • REQUJirn~IE:'\T. The \\'o rka hlc Pro ,!_,rram requires clear evidence that the community provides and continu es to expand, oppurlunilies for citizen:-, c.:=pccially !110:::c who arc poor and nwmbers of minority groups, to parlil'ipate in all pha_.:,cs of the rc lat (·d !WO-ass isted renewal and hou si ng programs . The particul ar organizational mc:ins for community in\'Olu~ment is le ft to the di :oc retion of each community, but ihe community must demonstrate in its \lorkal.Jle Progra m ::; ubmi ;;_sion that it pro,·ides clear and direct a-ccess to deci s ion making, relevant and lim(dy information, and ncc·essary technical a:;;.:; islance to parti c ipating groups and individual s in programs covered. 1. (a) Jdenlify lhe group s parti cipatin g in the 1-Il"D-n::=si s ted programs related lo the Workable Program and in the community's program to expand the supply of low- and mod era te-income housing. (1) Citizens Advisory Committee for Urban Renewal (Encl. 1) There are three major functions of the Citizen's Advisory Committee for Urban Renewal which are directly related to Atlanta's Workable Program and to the community's program to expand the supply of low and moderate income housing: --~·-- ·- ·- -· -, The first · of these three functi6ns, informational services, constitutes a _dynamic informational cl~aring house operation based on the receipt of general arid technical information from yarious speakers at CACUR meetirrgs. This information is then passed on to a large · body of community organizations and leaders.':-t hrough "The Renewer", the officiaJ newsletter of CACUR. The July 19.68, newsletter related comments by Cecil Alexander, Housing Resources Committee Chairman to CACUR· Executive Committee, pointing out .t hat a "Real Need for Low Income Housing is Seen in All Sections of Atlanta .• " (~ontinued on page 18a.) (b) Describe the type of groups (e.g. civic, neighborhood, hous ing) that are participating, and the constituency represented (e.g. poor, middle-class, ~egro, public hous ing residents). Re 1 (a) above. · (1) Generally selected from ~rominent leading citizens _in Atlanta, both White and Negro, in business, education, religious and civic fields. U. R. Project Committees - appointed by the Housing Authoritl from residents, property ·owners and businessmen of the area. PAC Committee - Residents of area, both White and Negro, elected by citizens of the particular area. West Erid Businessme~'s Association - Composed of prominent businessmen in South-West Atlanta (mostly White) i~terested primarily in the future of the West End Urban Renewal Project. (Continued on page lSb.) · 0 18 - �r 1 (Continued from 1. (a) on page 18) Secondly, CACUR members act a s p r o gra m ana lysts by reviewing and commenting on many of the existing a nd new progra ms which are of interest to the Committee and the communi t y as a whole. Feedback from the Committee to the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Housing Authority and responsible federal agencies p r ovides an e x cellent opportunity for these agencies to "feel the pulse" of the community. The third function of CACUR which is of particular interest here is citizen participa tio n . This function is overlapping in that it is the one function universally inhe r ent in all committee efforts. Recently, during an Aldermanic Planning and Development Committee meeting, one Alderman pointed out a "stalemate" situation in the citizen p a rticipation aspects of the NA SH-BANS (Vine City) nei g hborhood. The CACUR Director volunteered the services of CACUR to help wi t h t hat probJem by establishing an associate advisory committee, as had been done in t wo past u r b a n ren·e wal projectsa Since that time, CACUR members, especially President · Noah Langdale, Jr., have worked diligently to contribute to the develop ment of the PAC Committee in Vine City. These are but three major functions of CACUR producing a host of activit i es related to the effective planning and development of a Work able Program and public and private housing program aimed at creating a viable community. a. b. c. (2) Project Committee for each Urban Renewal Project PAC Committee for each NDP area West End Businessmen's Associat i on (Each of these has a designated representative for liaison with CACUR.) Housing Resources Committee - Mayor's Office (Encl. 2) With eight Working Panels (Subcommittees) The HRC is charged with promoting and coordinating the Low-income Housing Program within the City Limits of Atlanta. It is not a planning ~gency. For specific Functions of HRC, see attached. (Encl. 3) The members all serve without compensation. (3) Model Cities Ex ecutive Board (Consists of 7 members appointed by the Mayor, including 2 members of the Boa rd of Alde rmen, and a r epresentative elected by the citizens in e a ch of the six Model Cities Neighborhoods; Mayor is Chairman) (Encl. 4) Six Neighborhood Committees elec t ed by c i tiz ens of each Neighborhood in the Mode l Cities a r ea . Public Hous i ng Project Commi ttees - s e l ected by r es id e nt s fr om (4) residents of each ma jor Pub l i c Hous i ng Pr o jec t . (5) Urban Observatory The January 1, 1969 issue of the Atlanta Journal referred to the Urban Observatory with headline reading"Atlanta: aiggest College Lab in Georgia". That headline succinctly sums up the concept of the Urban Observatory. The basic purpose of the Urban Observatory in Atlanta is (Continued on page 18b.) - 18a- 1 �(Continued from 1. (a) on page 18a.) to liberate the academic resources of the city so that they may study and analyze urban problems in such a way that their work can be of direct value to the public officials of the metropolitan area. The Observatory is designed to foster a partnership between the public officials of the metropolitan area, especially the Mayor of Atlanta, and local colleges and universities. This kind of a partnership can provide a tremendous potential to meet the serious problems of Atlanta with innovative and practical approaches to solutions. The guidance for the Urban Observatory will come from an advisory council which is made up of public officials representing the various governments in the metropolitan area. This council will be especially responsible for the progress of the Observatory. The two major administrative positions in the Observatory organization consist of the Director of the Urban Observatory to be housed in the Urban Life Department at Georgia State College, and City Urban Observatory Coordinator to be hous.ed in the office of the Mayor of Atlanta. One of the basic functional aspects of the Urban Observatory concept is research. Two priority research and development programs for the Observatory during its first year of operation will be housin g and citizen participation in community projects. It was the opinion of those responsible for the operation of the Observatories, located in six cities throughout the United States, that citizen participation is a key issue in the development of sound co~munity rehabilitation programs. The research for the Observatory will be conducted by the faculties of the participating schools. Inter-university research teams, interdisciplinary in makeup, will use dynamic data banks to facilitate and expedite their research. The Observatory concept may well be the key to unlock that door which has too long held back insights into the solution of major urban problems. (Continued from 1 (b) on page 18) (2) Nominated Mayor) primarily White and Negro) functions of the by Chairman and Co-Chairmen (and appointed by the from leaders in the Community (approximately 50-50 who have exhibited talents for and interest in the particular Panel on which they serve. (3) Explained in 1 (a), (3) above. (4) Explained in 1 (a), (4) above. -18b- �., .. . HUD-1081 (11-68) (c) Describe what particular IICD-assiste<l programs an<l projects such group~ arc parlic:ipaling in • • Re 1 (a) above. (1) Urban Renewal, Public Housing in Urban Renewal projects, Federal assisted rehabilitation (FHA Section 115 Grants and Section 312 Loans), 221 !h), Model Cities and NDP area projects. (2) All Fed~ral assisted housing programs, as related to the particular group. (3) -Model Cities program - all phases. (4) Low Rent Public Housing. .. ,., ,. _ .. ·- ·. _,...._


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C..,"), · (cl) Describe ~fforts to acl1ie,·· c coordination among citizen participation s tructures located in th~ :'=ame ar('a or having s ii'nil ar program interests . -, · · .. ., . Mass meetings called of residents and property owners of areas affected and applicable programs are explained. Nominating committees are usually appointed and subsequent meetings held to _ elect representatives. In so~e in~tatices, such as Model Cities, regular conventi·ons h~ve b~en held. In other areas for example, Vine City, coordination and progress has been virtually impossible until most recently, due to disruptive practices of habitual protestors, some of whom reside outside the area, but who have deliberately tried to disrupt all meetings and pr~hibit any progress •. ., ·• 19 • · �, .. HUD-1081 (11-{,8) 2. Describe lhc arrangements or \\'orking relalion,-;hip:=, ~ct up lo pro\'iuc group::: and indi,·i<lual s opportunities for access to and participation in decision-making in the ajiplicalilc IICD-as sislcd programs . Public Meetings, Public Hearings~ Civic Association and Service Club meetings are announced, publicized and advertised, ~hen· required by law. Any citizen may qe heard and all are encouraged to attend meetings and make their views known. Inclusion of neighborhood selected representatives in project committees. Refusal of City officials to establish policies and make decisions without· first giving local residents an opportunity to be heard and to participate in matters which ate of general interest to them. Attendance of appropriate knowledgeable City representatives at such meetings. The Housing Authority Commission members have been holding meetings at night in respective Public Housing projects to· hear com. plaints and recommendations of . Public Housing residents for improvi°ng morale and participating in policy making in administration of Public Housing projects. (Continued on page 20a.) 3. Describe the steps which hani been taken i_n regard lo the appl icahlc programs to provide participating groups and indi\'iduals sufficient information and technical as si s tance. ., Repeat meetings in all affected areas; explanations · by competent r~presentatives of appropriate City Departments to neighborhood residents, civic groups and service clubs serving the areas affected and. invit-ing· ·their ideas, suggestions and active participation. Typical example ot efforts being made to provide information ~nd technical ass>i.stance through the local PAC ·orgranization is· illustrated in attached pamphlets, "Edgewood in Jt'c tion" and 0 Bedford-Pine Community Newsletter" (Encl. 6). Typical efforts -being made to inform other interested groups on Urban Renewal, through special tours and presentations, is illu~trated by attached communication, (En6i. 7) • In addition, the fu~l membership of the Citizens Advisory Commi tte·e · for Urban Renewal meets quarterly and the Executive Cammi ttee meets monthly and as needed to review the overall Urban Renewal ·(Continued on page 20a.) 4. Describe the nature and range of issues relating to the applicable programs with which particip:iting groups and individuals have dealt; the recommendations subsequently made; and the specific results and accomplishments of the participation. All phases and activites of Model Cities, with special effort• not to make decisions on any phase of the numerous activities, without first presenting the matters to neighborhood committees and getting · action of the Executive Board. This is highly democratic but is time consuming a nd does not promote speed and efficiency in accomplishment. (Conti nued on page 20a.) ., - 20 U. I. COVERN~ffNT PRINTL'IG O F FICE: 1968 0 • 3Jl • IC9 �(Continued from 2 . on page 20 ) For overall approach o f Atl a nta's efforts and specific steps taken to incre a se communications bet ween neighborhoods and City Hall, to acquaint neighborhood s with the city's services and to encourage persons in low income nei ghborhoods to bring their problems to attention of proper officia ls and to provide them the opportunity of participating in decision making in applicable HUD assisted programs, see attached pamphlet, "City Hall and Neighorhood Residents - the Atlanta approach - experience report 110", (Encl. 5). (Continued from 3. on page 20) Program, receive timely reports and explanations from experts in the various applicable programs and projects pertaining to Urban Renewal and to initiate and follow through on action appropriate for citizen participation in the various elements of Urban Renewal. (Continued from 4. on page 20) In Urban Rene wal Projects and NDP areas, recommendations of local representative groups are habitually sought and considered in most policy determinations. In zoning matters pertaining to many HUD assisted programs and projects the majority voice of citizens of the area is normally adhered to, so much so that rezoning to accomodate HUD assisted housing projects has been severly curtailed, to the extent of seriously threatening a ccomplishments of the low income housing program, to meet current and future needs. NOTE: (a) The requirement in HUD's letter of October 15, 1968, to Mayor Allen indicating certain deficiencies for cor rectio n during the recertification period , under Citiz en Participation, that "M i nutes of meetings of the Subcommitt e e on Minority Hous ing , sho u ld be for warded with the nex t r equest fo r r ece r tific at ion " i s not cons i de r ed a ppl i c a ble now in vi e w of the intensive and high ly o r g an i z ed and comp l ete l y integrated ci t izen p a r tic ipatio n in all phase s of the Mod e l Ci t ies program, a nd t h e inc r e as e e mp h asis on activ e p a r t icipa t i o n by U. R . a nd Pr oj ect Area Committ e es in all phases of othe r HUD assis t ed p rogram activitie s. (b) The creation of CACUR, during the early days of Urban Renewal and the FHA 221 d(2) pro g ram in Atlanta, completely changed the climate in Atlanta from definite hostility to one of comprehension, generally favorable acceptance and cooperation. The continued activity of this influential and representative group in the Urban (Contined on page 20b.) - 20a - �(Continued from NOTE on page 20a.) Renewal program has been very instrumental in maintaining a favorable climate in Atlanta for Federal assisted programso (c) The creation of the Housing Resources Committee, November 15, 1966, at a critical period in the early stages of Atlanta's accelerated low and moderate income housing program, has resulted in getting the City's entire announced goal of 16,800 units for a five year program, in the pipe line within the first 2½ years of the program as follows: Completed 4,839 units Under Construction 7,256 units In Planning 7,903 units · 19,998 units 1 2 015 units 21,013 units Total In Sight Plus Leasing Program for Public Housing GRAND TOTAL -20b- �