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CI'I;Y OF A.TLANTA CITY HALL ATLANTA, GA. 30303 Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404 May 12, 1966 IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR R. EARL LANDERS, Administrative Assistant MRS. ANN M. MOSES, Executive Secretary DAN E. SWEAT, JR. , Director of Governmental Liaison lvlEMORP...NDUM To: Mr. Duane Beck, Executive Director, Community Council of the Atlanta Area , Inc. lvlr. Karl Bevins, Traffic Engineer Mr. Henry Bowden, City Attorney Mr. Charles L. Davis, Comptroller Mr. Jack Delius, Parks General M~nager Mr . C. O. Emmerich, Administrator , Economic Opportunity Atlanta, Inc. Mr. Collier Gladin, Chief Planner Mr . Stafford Graydon, Sanitary Engineer Chief C. H. Hildebrand, Jr., Fire .Chief Mr . John Hall Jacobs, Library Director Chief Herbert T. Jenkins, Police Chief Mr. R. Earl Landers, Administrative Assistant Mr . Ray Nixon, Chief of Construction lvlr. M . B. Satterfield, Executive Director, Atlanta Housing Authority Mr. Robert Sommerville, Chairman, Citizens Advisory Commi ttee for Urban Renewal · Mr. Dan E . Sweat, Director of Governmental Liaison M r . Paul W e ir, v · a t e r Depa rtment General Manager Mr. William Wofford, Building Inspector From: Iva n A lle n, Jr., Mayor S u b j ect: Services t o S l wn Areas Several areas of our cit y cont inu e to d e t e r iorat e in ph ysical condition and in human blight. These areas generally a r e e n compassed in an East-West swath through central A tlant a and are within 1 - 3 miles of City Hall. Urban Renewal has alleviated some of the worst slum areas nearer downtown and several UR and Public Housing Projects underway at �Page Two May 12, 1966 present will provide some relief for additional citizens. But theH past and cur?ent projects have but scratched the surface when considered in the light of total needs. Realistically, we. can expect to move only as fast as financial resources are av$ilable to cope with slum clearance and rehabilitation. With the completion of the Community Improvement Program study, we hope to have a city-wide priority established and the basis for adopting a total program and schedule of action in these blighted neighborhoods • .Present conditions in many of these neighborhoods are intolerable. The citizens who have the misfortune of economic failure or lack of social status and are trapped in this environment must be given relief at _the earliest moment. Therefore, and with full awareness of the City's lack of adequate financial resources, shortage of labor and equipment, and ever burdensome daily work load, I am request.ing a cooperative and coordinated attack on the conditions which exist in these slum area s. In order to test the City's ability to increase and advance services in these neighborhoods I am directing the Department of Planning to inunediately prepare a map for each departmental u se listing a priority of implementation, with initial action i n neighborhoods of greatest need. The following actions are minimum r equirements which must be met by individual departments and/or city .related agencies: l. Sanitation Department Trash pick up twice a week. Garbage pick up twice a week or three times if necessary. Clean streets once a week. Remove abandoned automobiles, Coordinate with EOA to clean up vacant property and the elimination of hazards to children at play. 2. Construction Department Clean out storm drainage. �Page Three May 12, 1966 Clean right of way of debris, Grade and gravel unpaved streets, Patch paved streets, Pave streets on petition basis. 3. Building Inspector A. The Building Inspector, according to the policy established in the Housing Code Compliance Program, will in proposed Urban Renewal areas: a. b. c. d. e. 4. Placard where warranted and seek demolition. Correct hazards and coordinate with the Health Department any unsanitary conditions (Example: water standing in basements). Reduce overcrowding - Liaison with Housing Authority for relocation help. Vacate unfit units. Clean up premises. B. In the remaining areas as designated on the Planning map, step up housing code enforcement to the greatest extent possible without deviating from the established policy. C. Enforcement of Zoning Ordinance. Parks Department A. Equip and staff a massive recreation program using all park and school properties and other land secured under short-term lease. This should be coordinated with EOA to secure funds and com.munity support. B. Maximum development of properly supervised day and evening social activities and recreational programs (Example: evening movies and possibly street activities). C. Coordinate with Traffic Engineer the possible blocking off of streets for recreational activities. �Page Four May 12, 1966 5. Police Department Improve police protection to residents and homes. An expanded crime prevention program. Increase traffic speed control efforts. 6. 7. Fire Department A. An expanded fire prevention program. B. Investigate the possibilities of street showers for children using fire hydrants on a weekday basis, weather permitting coordinate with the Water Department. Traffic Department Install speed control signs. Survey area and provide stepped up street light maintenance activities. 8. Planning Department A. 9. 10. Inform Planning and Development Committee of Services to Slum Areas Program in order to begin implementation of a survey and planning application for the following areas: Vine City, Blue Heaven, Cooper-Glenn and Plunkettown. Law Department A. Determine accelerated legal methods of disposing of junked cars, both on public and private properties. B. Determine legal methods of forcing prbperty owners to clean up their vacant lots. Library A. The bookmobile schedule be increased and expanded in the affected area . B. Branch libraries located within this area be given maximum support and attention. �Page Five M a y 12, 1966 C. 11. 12. Li~r ;,a ry coordination with such activities as Projects Uplift and Headstart to promote and enl!;QUr age max imum use of library facilities, Atlanta Youth Council A. Coordinate the Sur.runer Youth Opportunity Campaign to p r ovide the max imum number of jobs for y oung people in private industry and the public agencies. B. Coope :::-a t ion with the City Parks and Recreat ion D e p a:::-tm e nt, E conomic Opportunity Atlanta, Inc., and t h e Community Council of the Atlanta Area , I nc . to monitor and recomme nd adequate playground a n d r ec re a t ion facilities in the targe t neighborhoods. M a y o r 's Offic e A. Coo r dinate public relations t hrough Citi zens Adviso r y Committee fo r Urba n R enewal, EOA, and t he C ommunity Council giving week l y pr o gre ss a n d s t atus . (Bill H owland) B. C o o rdi nate acti viti e s of n on -departmental agencies (EOA , Hous ing A u thority, utility companies , private grm.i_ ps, Fede r a l and State and County agenci es inv·o lved, You t h C ounc il , etc . ). (Dan Sweat) C. C o o r d i nation of t otal e ffort and City d epartmental ac t i vi t ie s. (Ea r l Lande r s ) In o r d er fo r maximum d e si r ed results t o be achieved , w e m u s t a ll work t o geth er , T he A l derm e n re p r esenting t he Ward s affect e d must m onitor the activities of the i r W a rd , e valuate t h e effe ctiveness of s ervices and make prompt recommendation s fo r change s o r impr o v e ments. It is recommended that non-de p artmental age ncies designate a coordinator who can devote full t i me to t h eir coordinated program. It is recommended that each depa rtment head appoint a department coordinator to work directly in this area. Implementation of this project in initial target neighborhoods will begin immediately. IAJr:fy �