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MU'LDA WE:R & P ATT E RSON

suit e 103 / seventy - five eighth street, n.e. atlanta 9J georgia I phone trinit y 2-1427

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October 24, 1966 Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr. Mayor City of Atlanta City Hall Atlanta, Georgia Dear Mayor Allen: Please accept my apologies for missing the meeting between you and the Atlanta Civic -Design Commission committee to study the potential of the 11 Atlanta Underground", fo r which I feel so strongly. I had been looking forward to seeing you and expressing my ideas on the project, but communication became confused when the original meeting date was changed. I believe the restoration and reactivation of this area will help make Atlanta one of the unique and excit ing urban are a s in the country . It can : 1. Provide a historic area, which At lanta is lacking . Philade lphia's Independence Mall gene rates $400 , 000 , 000 a year 2. Give the city a tou rist a t traction se cond to none . St. Louis has "Gasligh t Square " Chi cago has "Old Town " New O rlea ns has t he "Lat in Quarter" Los Ange Ie s has "Ports O Ca 11 " Nash vii le has II Printe r 's A ll e y 11 3. Provide a n exc iting, a ll- weather e nte rta inment and restaurant c enter fo r loca l businessmen a s wel I as tourists . It is convenient to down town, inc lud ing Rich 's, First Nationa l Bank, Georgia State Col lege , the G overnmenta l Center, the Stadium , and motels in the But ler Street area . It will support conven t ion faci lit ies It can have an unique atmosphere day or nig ht �Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. October 24, 1966 Page 2 The Underground could be transformed into a place of fantasy and excitement offering a wide variety and choice of activities. There could be restaurants, saloons, night clubs, gift shops, gourmet shops, antique shops, one-of-a-kind shops, studios, galleries and sma II theatres. There cou Id be a complete restoration of the Victorian store fronts and interiors, horsedrawn surries, gas Iights, cobblestone streets, pol icemen in old-time costumes, an old-time steam engine on the tracks could be used as a restaurant, and more . The city can assist in: supporting the idea, taking action to declare this area a historic area, thus controlling design, including the area as part of the city beautification program and possible urban renewal program. The city could provide public improvements in order to spark private enterprise to do the . bulk of the development. After Reece Cleghorn's editorial was published, we received a rash of calls and letters, including individuals who wanted to invest in this project. Enclosed is some correspondence indicating the interest already gene rated. We fee l that this project would be good fo r the ci ty fi nancially as well as image wise . It has g rea t popula r appeal and could be accomplished relatively inexpensively and in a short pe riod of time . We hope you will give this idea your full consideration and support. furthe r assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call . Si nce re ly, (J)~ ~ Pa u I Mu ldawer Chairman, Te rmin us Comm ittee At lanta Civic Desig n Commission PM:nm En cl . If I can be of any �