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July 25, 1969 CITY HALL ATLANTA, GA. 30303 Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404 IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR R. EARL LA;~OERS, Adm inistrative Assistant MRS. ANN M. MOSES, Executive Secretary [)AN E. SWEAT, JR., Director of Governmental Liaison The Honorable Geor ge Romney Secretary of the Unit ed States Depa1 tment of Housing and Urban Development Washington, D. C . .Dear Mr. Secretary: In Novemb er , 1966, we began in Atlanta a concentrated effort to stimulate the development of 16, 800 units of low and moderate income housing to provide safe and sanitary shelter for thousands of less fortunate citizens. This effort, called 11 The Mayor 1 s Housing Resources Program 11 was support ed by the U. S. D e partment of Housing and Urban Development, private banks, deve lop e rs, churches, civic gro ups and individual citiz ens at all levels. This program has produced results. As of this date, 21,013 of the five year goal of 16, 8 00 units have b een completed, are under construction, or in planning . The most recent status report is attached for your . information. Within the next few weeks , th e s ingle most significant development generated by our pro grams will be placed uncle r construction. It i s the East Lake lvleadows turnkey proj ect, which is the l arges t turnkey public housing deve lopment in America with comprehensive community facilities. Because of the significance of this undertaking and because it embodies so many of th e aspects of community housing action w hich you so magnificently support, all of us in Atlanta - City Hall, th e build e rs, our ho us in g official s , and citi ze ns in g e neral - fee l that we w ant to s ha r e the b e ginning of this project with you. �Secretary Romney Page Two .July 25, 1969 _., I have been asked to is sue you an official invitation from a ll of us to inaugurate construction of this most import ant housing development for poor people. If your schedule will permit you to come to Atlanta in the next few weeks after August 21, we shall schedule the ceremonies for your convenience. It would also give us the opportunity to show you some of the operational components of Atlanta I s Model Cities program. Highlights in the development of the East Lake Meadows Project will give you some idea of its importance not only in relation to the solution of urban problems of Atlanta but perhaps in other cities. The land on which this project is located was once a golf course owned by prominent conservative businessmen in Atlanta. They sold it to the March Company, a private development company, and supported difficult rezoning in an area which had hitherto had no public housing. City officials, local Housing Authority, and the Regional Housing Authority, together with local business people, civic groups, communications media, were all involved. The project includes 800 living units, 150 for elderly, shopping center , community and health facilities, city park, recreation areas

ind the dedication of school sites. ...A..n example of coro_rnunit~,r s1.1pport

involves the four leading banks in Atlanta who form.ed a consortium to finance the interim construction costs in an effort to assist in the solution of Atlanta's housing problems for its low-income citizens. This development represents the highest type of cooperation among city, business, government interagency planning and implementation - a model community effort. Your presence here on this occasion, therefore, would serv~ to give strength to the solution of the many difficult problems we still face in Atlanta and to spotlight one of the landmark public housing developments in America. Those of us w ho are faced with the community level problems of leadership are thankful that you are in the crucial position at HUD. Sincerely yours , Ivan Allen, Jr. Mayor IAJr:fy cc: Mr. Edward Baxter �