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I Aug ust 6,, 1968 Mr . Edwar d H . Baxter Regional Admin istrato r Department of H ousing and Urban Dev e lopment 645 Peachtree-Seventh Building Atlanta, G e orgia 30323 Dear Mr. Baxter; I have bec ome inc reasingly concerned with the c onditions existing in an area of Atlanta that is designated as the Bedford-Pine Urban Redevelopment Area , Ga R-101. I have recently made several tours of this area and find the structures in an extremely bad and often dangerous state of repair. In reviewing this with the City's Building Inspectol', he has advised me of the practical difficulties that he has in requiring a p:roperty owner to make a substantial investment when it is anticipated that the property will oon be acquired as a result of urban renewal. The City already has expended over $1,600,000 of its own fwids in this area to acquire street and sew r rights of way s well s properties of thos persons who, if was felt, w re uffering a ev r hardship because of the impending urban renewal ctiv!ty. It is now obvious th t ev ry l'esident nd property owner in this rea is suff .ring a hardship and the City Comptroller has advised me that,. even lf funds were avail bl ,. there is considerable risk involved in dvancing funds for any further acquisitions that -re outside letter of consent areas . This ls because of the rule that requires us to · ccept the amount we paid, or th pprai ed value, which ver is lower , at the time we eventu Uy r · sell the pl"op rty to th proj ct. l m co · lzant of the f ct that th combin tion of th origin 1 Butt rmilk Bottoms, R -91, Proj ct with th Bedfoa-d ... Pin P:roj ct,. R .. 101, Project, �/ Mr . Baxter Page Two August 6, 1968 after we had received Part I approval on the original project, may have caused some problems and delays that might not otherwise have occurred , I am sure that any such delays were caused by factors occurring at all levels , including our own. Regardless of the reasons for the delays, however, I am sure that you can appreciate the plight of the residents of this area as a result of living with the impending urban renewal activity for this period of time , The situation in this area is now critical. In reviewing the situation with everyone concerned, it seems to be the concensus thnt immediate approval of the urban renewal project would be the single most effective factor in meeting the problem. For this r ason , this letter is to request that the processing of this application be placed on an emergency status . I would sincerely appreciate any assistance that you personally can provide in obtaining this approval as quickly as possible . Needless to say , your continued cooperation and assistance in helping Atlanta me et its problems is very much · ppreciated. Sincerely yours, Ivan All n , M yor lAJr:fy cc~ Mr . John Edmund J.,.-. , �