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~ £ _Lan ~,es lrlH!E IR EIN[E \!\/lE IR NEWS LETTER OF THE CITI ZENS A DVISOR Y COMMITTEE FOR URBAN RE NEWA L Vol. 5 No . 6 Atlant a , G eorgia June 1967 DE TERMINED TO KEEP FAITH WITH BEDFORD- PINE P EOPLE ON HOUSING, PERSELLS ASSURES COMMITTEE Despite the difficulties of obtaining federal approval for public housing in "racially identifiable " areas, the Atlanta Housing Authority is determined to keep faith with the people of the Bedford-Pine area and install housing there. That was the a s surance given our executive committee by Lester H. P ersells, AHA rede velopment dir e ctor, in a discussion foliowing an updating summary of the far fr om rosy housing picture given by Gilbert Boggs, AHA director of hous ing. Said Mr. Pe rs ells: "The policy of HUD aria. the Public Housing Admi nist r a t ion is that they do not choose to finance housing in I racially identifiable' a reas , but housing will be built in the Bedford-Pine area. The federal agencies are n ot delaying us. Vl e are going full steam ahead. Vl e are going to keep our faith with the Bedford-Pine people. " In answer to a question from Herbert Y.T aldrip, chairman of the Bedford- Pine associate citizens advisory committee, as t o what action would b e taken if the federal agencies refuse to finance housing in t he area, Per sells replied, "They are not going to say No. 11 FECERAL DE CISI ON ON BEDFORD. PINE V.'ILL HA VE BEARING ON OTHER AREAS Mr. Persells further pointed out that there is talk that no more public housing can be built in the western two thirds of Atlanta because it is 11 racially identifiable" s ince it has a large percentage of Negro population. Asked he : 11 How can y ou writ e off 66 and Z/ 3 per cent of the population ? 11 He then pointed out that i n u rban renewal areas the population seemed always to be almost 100 per cent white o r almo st 100 per eent Negro. Said he: "The Bedford-Pine area is also 1 racially i d e ntifiable ' as almost 100 per cent Negro. But these people want to remain there in bette r living conditions." He added that the Bedford-Pine application had been delay e d for some time while federal agencies are considering this problem. He also mentio ned tha t t he conditions in Nash-Bans and Model City areas are sL-nilar to those in Bedford. Pine. Accordingly, the federal answer to the Bedford-Pine application will have b e aring on these projects. Mr. Persells also added that, in the two year program embracing more than 9, 000 housing units, from ten to 25 different sites will be required. He made the final point that our committee could be of servic e in encouraging the federal and city governments to locate low r e nt housing in various s ec tions of Atlanta. In discussing the immediate housing efforts, Mr. Boggs said that emphasis was being placed on the new turnkey plan, but that turn downs on sites by the regional H UD offic e w e re slowing progress. He explained that tentative approval had been give n t o four sites which would provide room for 1,125 units, but six sites which would have provided for 1, 650 units had been rejected. Summed up Mr. Boggs, " We are c ontinuing to submit sites. V!e are hopeful that we can produce the housing that is n ee ded. Y.' e can provide more housing more quickly under the turnkey program, but we fac e another difficulty because such housing is not approved unless the costs are ten per c ent under costs for other housing. 11 A final point made by Mr. Boggs was that applications h ave been filed for 500 more units of l eased public housing. SITES APPROVE D F OR 1, 125 UNITS, BUT SIX FOR 1, 650 A RE TURNED DOWN In a question and answer exc h ang e , Edgar Schukraft urged that 300 addit i onal units for the elderly be construc ted a djoining the John O. Chiles building. He a l so suggested that churches should join i n s ponsoring apartments. Executive Committeeman Calloway sounded a note of opt imism, saying that Atlanta is now reali s tic a lly facing the housing problem which h as b een building up over several ye a rs. Sai d he , " We have the spirit now and it is the ~pi r it that will conquer. 11 �- 2- U.S. POLICY, ZONING A ND AVAILABLE LAND DISRUPT HOUSING EFFORT, JONES DECLARES Asked by Chairman Sommerville to comment on the crash program on housing, Col. Malcolm D. Jones, housing resources coordinator, linked zoning and availability of land with federal policy as having disruptive efforts. He explained that on the previous day the Housing Resources Committee had asked the City Planning Department to furnish a list of tracts of land embracing five or more acres that could be zoned for multiple family housing. Col. Jones also pointed o~t that the present trend was toward cooperative housing. Chairman Sommerville requested Col. Jones to update our committee at the July meeting. COMMITTEE INSTRUCTS CHAIRMAN TO ASK MAYOR TO EXPEDITE AVAILABLE LAND LIST Following Col. Jones' talk, the executive committee adopted a resolution requesting Chairman Sommerville to write Mayor Allen asking that the information on available land tracts be expedited. Mr. Sommerville said he would do so promptly. CITY COUNTING ON FEDERAL AID T6 EXPAND SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM, DIRECTOR SAYS Atlanta again is counting on financial help from the federal government to enable it to step up its recreation program to meet the extra needs of the summer season, Miss Virginia Carmichael, city director of recreation, explained to our executive committee June 21. Said she: "For many years, Atlanta has carried on a very fine all year recreation program for all ages, but our funds are insufficient to meet the e xtra needs for the summer. Last year we received funds from the federal government which made it possible for us to expand our regular progra1n in such ways as leasing and staffing playlots and "operation champ" areas. We were able to conduct an all around program, including picnics, tours to industries, to ball games and many other activities. So last year we had one of the best summer programs we ever had. We received $25, 000 for an intensive swimming instruction program. This reached more than 20, 000 children, 12, 000 of whom were taught to swim. But all these funds were cut off on Labor Day, so since then we have had to carry on the playlots out of regular funds. Now we have gone to the federal government again. While we have not heard from them yet, we are going ahead on faith. Vi e plan to operate and staff 25 playlots and 22 champ areas. Last year, we did not get the word until July 4 , but we had gotten ready and so we went into operation on July 6. We can do that again. " In the questions and answers that followed Miss Carmichael's talk, it was brought out that the Metropolitan Foundation of which Executive Committeeman A. B. Padgett is director had been most helpful in sustaining a residence camp for children at Lake Allatoona. Miss C armichael also stressed the success achieved by four portable swimming pools obtained with $30, 000 given by the Rich Foundation. These are being operated in "hard core" areas and 1nay be loaned to the school department after the summer season. Summed up Chairman Sommerville: "The donation of four portable swimming pools is not a small thing at all, but it was done at the time it was needed. If things like this can be done when there is need, a great deal can be accomplis hed. " In the discussion the re were also several comments regarding the city' s prompt action to improve conditions in the Dixie Hills area following the recent disturbances there. Said Mr. Calloway: "Agitators always pick areas which present them with an opportunity t o 'get the show on the road'. Let us give thought to providing facilities immediately in areas where we know they are nee ded. 11 Commented Chairman Sommerville "I wish the city could avoid putting itself in the light of rushing bulldozers to work aft er these incidents. It's ridiculous. If we know of these places, let ' s put our fingers on the m and b e in there doing something b efo re incidents happen. 11 FEDERAL FUNDS NOW SEEM ASSURED Two da ys after our meeting , city recreation officials received unofficial word that the requ ested federal financial assistanc e would be forthcoming. Accordingly, the expanded s umme r program outline d by Miss Carmichael seems assured. �-3There was no bias or discrimination in the awarding of the Rockdale redevelopment contract to David Rosen Associates, Executive Committeeman T. M. Alexander, Sr ., reported at the June 21 meeting. Mr. Alexander, chairman of our special subcommittee on rede velopment proposals, explained th~t the developer's plans made good use of the land taking into consideration the entrances, exits a~d transportation. He also pointed out that the Union Baptist Church has become affiliated as a sponsor. NO BIAS IN AWARD ON ROCKDALE, LAND USE GOOD, COMMITTEE IS TOLD MEMBERS OF NATIONAL TEACHERS INSTITUTE TAKEN ON TOUR OF PR OjECTS AND MODEL CITY More than 40 elementary school teachers from all over the U. S. were guests of our committee on a tour of urban renewal projects and the model neighborhood target area June 22. The teachers were attending a Nati.anal Defense Educational Association Institute at Emory University. Since all are engaged in instructing disadva::itaged children in mathematics, one of the objects of the institute is to obtain first hand observation of the kinds of environments in which su.c h children reside. It was pointed out that this enables the teachers to emphasize the sociological concept in their classes. The institute is directed by Dr. Dora Helen Skypeck, of the Emory faculty. Arr2.ngements for the tour were made by Dr. Ann Grant, of the Morehouse sociology faculty, who is working with the institute. Mrs. Margret Ross, Atlanta Housing Authority information officer, and Wilson McClure, West End project director, acted as "barkers" on the bus. At the luncheon stop at Paschall's restaurant, Executive Director Howland spoke briefly, explaining our committee's activitie s and str e ssing the emphasis being placed on the enhancement of human values as w ell as the improvement of property in urban renewal projects. Mr. McClure outlined the progress of the West End project. ALEXA NDER VOICES COMMITTEE'S CONGRATULATIONS AT ROCKDALE CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY Executive Committeeman T. M. Alexander, Sr. and· Executive Director Howland represented our committee at the signing of the Rockdale redevelopment contract, June 15. Mr. Alexander expressed congratulations to David L. Rosen Associate s of New York, upon winning the competition for the single largest project to date in Atlanta's urban renewal program. Said Mr. Alexander, "I congratulate the David Rosen gr oup for their fine concept of a very complicated plan. Of all the four proposals submitted -- and all were excellent -- this was the most outstanding. We are happy that the Union Baptist Church is a sponsor. 11 In a press statement Mayor Allen said: "I cordially congratulate David L. Rosen upon being selected to carry out the largest single development in all eight years of our urban renewal program. In arriving at its decision, the Atlanta Housing Authority was aided by the thinking of a wide variety of individuals, representing the city government, professional and citizen groups. I would like to express my appreciation to all." Commented Rodney M. Cook, Chairman of the Aldermanic Planning and Development Committee: "This development will add an entirely new community, well.:.planned and designed to meet the needs of the people who will live there. " Just before sitting down to sign the 17 page contract, Edwin L. Sterne, Chairman of Board of Commissioners, AHA, said: "We are pleased to award the contract for the rc tlcvclopmcnt of the Rockdale Urban Redevelopment Project to David L. Rosen. We \Vere d e lighted with the superior quality of all four proposals received. They were all s u bstantial and any one of them would be a credit to the Rockdale community.'.' Picking up the pen to affix his signature, Mr. Rosen, with a smile, said to Mr . Sterne: "Now I owe you almost $900,000." He referred to the price of $896, 000 fixed for the 154.12 acres of residential land and the 9.14 acres for commercial use. The Rosen proposal calls for the construction of 1, 386 dwelling units, of which 85 per cent will be apartments and 15 per cent townhouses. The total will include 140 one bedr oom units, to rent at from $60 to $68 monthly; 830 two bedroom units to r ent at from $70 to $78 monthly; 416 three bedroom units, to rent at from $80 to $90 monthly. The housing is designed in clusters in the different sections on relatively level "island communities!' along the ridges of the hills. PROPOSAL CALLS FOR l, 386 DWELLING UNITS; PRICE OF $896,000 ESTAB LISHED FOR LAND �