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C ITY OF .ATLANT.A CITY HALL August 6, 1968 ATLANTA, GA. 30303 Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404 IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR R. EARL LANDERS, Admin istrative Assistant MRS. ANN M. MOSES, Executive Secretary DAN E. SWEAT, JR ., Director of Governmental Liaison Mr . . Edward H. Baxter Regional Admini s trator Department of Housing and Urban Development 645 Peachtree-Seventh Building Atlanta, Georgia 30323 Dear Mr. Baxter: I have become increasingly concerned with the conditions 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 an d often dangerous state of repair. In reviewing this with the City's Building Inspector, he has advised me of the practical difficulties that he has in requiring a property owner to make a substantial investment when it is anticipated that the property will soon be acquired as a result of u_rban renewal. ~ The City already has e x pended over $ 1, 600, 000 of its own funds in this area to acquire street and sewer rights of way as well as properties of those persons who, if was felt, were suffering a severe hardship because of the impending urban -renew al activity. It is now obvious that every resident and property owner in thi ~ area is suffering a hardship and the City Comptroller has advised me that, even if funds w ere available, there is considerable risk involv ed in advancing funds for any furth e r acquisiti on s tha t a r e outsid e l e tt e r of consent areas. This is because of the rule that requires us to accept the amount we paid, or the apprais e d va.lue , whicheve r is low er, at the time we eventually resell the prope rty to the project . . . I am cognizan t of the fact that the combin ation of the original Butte rmilk Bottoms , R-91 , P r oj e ct with the Bedford - Pine Project, 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 a _ll 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 that immediate approval of the urban renewal project would be the single most effective factor in meeting the problem. For this reason, 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 assis·tance in helping Atlanta meet its problems is very much appreciated. IAJr:fy cc: Mr. John Edmunds - �