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PROPOSED COMMUNITY STABILIZATION PL.AN PEYTON, HARLAN .AND WILLIS MILL ROAD .ARE.A Submitted to MAYO R IV.AN ALLEN, JR . By C ITIZENS O F P EYTO N- UTO Y F O RES T SEPT E MBER 11 , 1962 C O MMUN ITY �PROPOSED COMMUNITY STABILIZATION PLAN PEYTON, J?urpose: HARLAN AND WILLIS MILL ROAD AREA To effectively and permanently stabilize communities connected by Harlan, Peyton and /or Willis Mill Roads, S. W. Introduction : In the past several years, the subject communities have been plagued with racial tensions, losses in property values, and a general disruption of the peaceful and tranquil conditions normally characterizing these communities. Citizens have become increasingly distraught over the prospects of seeing their homes absorbed by the rapidly expanding Negro community lying to the north . These citizens have sought relief from city officials, their aldermen , civic groups concerned over the future of Cascade Heights, and their neighbors. Thus far, all efforts have been in vain. The lack of a definite plan , supported by both white and Negro citizens, has seriously handicapped all tho s e who ha ve at te mpte d to put an e nd to the tensions in the troubled commun i t ie s. Wi th th e r ece n t i n terest sho wn by city offici a l s, c iti z ens now belie ve that th e time is ri pe for pre s e nt in g a pl an tha t w ill permane ntly stab i liz e th e se Southwest Atlanta com m uni t ies a nd rid the m of their raci a l tensions . Such a plan is reflected in the following pages . Description of the Stabilization Plan No plan can effectively stabilize the aforementioned communities unless it �provides advantages to both white and Negro cit izens . With this fact in mind , the proposed stabilization plan contains benefits to both. Fir s t, it offers the white citizens permanent relief through the closure of Harlan and Peyton Roads at points north of the Peyton- Utoy Forest community. Secondly, it offers the Negro citizens a tremendous advantage by providing th~m with approximately 250 acres of land, heretofore not available, for residential development. The plan also includes the construction of additional roads for the Negro citizens to permit their access to the proposed residential development. Exhibit A shows the proposed residential ar ea s, the locations of proposed roads, and the proposed road closure points on Harlan and Peyton Roads . Advantages of the Plan Below are listed just a few of the major advantages that the proposed stabil ization plan will provide: I. Reduces racial tensions . 2. Insures maintenance of property values within the troubled community. 3. Provides choic e resi dential building lots for construction of approximately 400 Negro residences . 4. Minimizes city constr uct ion costs for new r oads by taking advantage of e x isting r o ads where possible . 5. Preserves established commun ities in this area. - 2- �6. Creates a fa vorable atmosphere for establishment of proposed school located north of Utoy Creek (See Exh ibit A) . 7. Provi des addi t iona l city reven ue from c itizens who will sett le i n proposed residential areas . 8. Restores confidence to cit i zens w ithin established com m u n i ties and to those citizens desiring to settle in these established · comrnunitie s. Cone l us ion: The success of this proposed stabilization pl an is dependent upon your enthusiastic support as Mayor. Without yo u r s u pport , all efforts will again be in vain. A ll cit i zens of the comm u ni t i es described here i n earnestl y so li cit your he l p a n d r equ est th a t y o u adopt th i s proposed pl an . F u rthermore , they pledg e the i r f ull support to yo u i n all of yo u r e fforts to effect the rea l i zation o f thi s pl an. - 3- �