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fiend)
7
September 3, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mr. Cecil A, Alexander, Chairman
. Housing Resources Committee
Attached is copy of the controversial proposed 1970-71 Housing Code
Enforcement plan, less map, (Encl. 1) prepared by the Planning Department
and approved by the P & D Committee August 30, after considerable question-
ing by all members of the Committee, except the Chairman, Rodney Cook.
This plan was adopted September 2 by the Board of Aldermen ona
8-7 roll call vote, but was delayed by Alderman Millican for reconsideration
at the next meeting of the Board of Aldermen, September 15. Resolution
attached (Encl, 2).
I recommend that the Housing Resources Committee consider this
plan and take a position on it before the next Board of Aldermen meeting.
Suggest it be referred to the Legal Panel, and perhaps also to the Public
Relations Panel, for recommendation to the HRC Executive Committee.
It appears that this plan was conceived by Helen Meyers in the Planning
Department and developed by her with the assistance of Jack Linville also
of the Planning Department, with perhaps some coordination by Bill Hewes
of the Building Department.
The Housing Code Division, which must administer the plan, I
understand was not involved in its development, does not yet have copy of it,
has not seen the map delineating the areas and treatment proposed and is
not pleased with what they have heard about it.
Again, the HRC was not informed, consulted or asked to participate
in development of the plan, which so vitally affects housing resources in the
City.
Mr, Cecil A. Alexander
September 3, 1969
Page 2
In my opinion ( and I think I qualify by experience in Housing Code
Enforcerment to speak) there are several things about the plan that are not
practical and which I believe will cause difficulty, i.e.:
1. It is discriminatory and I do not believe legal.
2. It will be difficult to enforce from a Public Relations angle.
Be The plan was developed from statistics made from exterior
inspections only.
4, From casual glances at the map, the proposed areas for eventual
U. R. and NDP treatment appear to be greater than the City's entire current
U. R. and NDP program.
(lf carried out at the rate of effort proposed for the 1970 U. R. and %
NDP program, copy attached (Encl. 3), which I understand is maximum effort,
it would require 10 years to complete. )
5. The City is having difficulty now in financing its share of current
NDP programs. It will most likely not be financially able to carry out these
extensive proposed future NDP areas.
6. The areas proposed for partial Code Enforcement only have already
been included in the City's 5 year Housing Code Enforcement program just
completed.
i I cannot accept as yalid the contention that dilapidation is so bad
in the areas proposed for Tetdstt compliance, to make them ‘'safe and sanitary",
only, because the majority of the structures are not suitable for rehabilitation,
that they must be demolished; or that the number of units in this category is as
large as claimed by proponents of the plan.
8, If dilapidation in these areas is as bad as claimed, then this is a serious
indictment against the effectiveness of the past Housing Code Enforcement effort,
which I think on the whole has been quite successful,
9. It is also a serious indictment against the City of Atlanta for
having spent the @mourt of money and effort which it has in Urban Renewal and
Housing Code Enforcement, not to have made more progress in housing improve-
ments than the plan would indicate. Further, it is also an indictment against
the success of the City's low-income housing program in producing needed
replacement housing.
ca
Mr. Cecil A, Alexander
September 3, 1969
Page 3
verti a
10, If the plan should be adopted, the areas designated for tarticn
compliance only will continue to deteriorate at an accelerated rate, while waiting
hopefully, but in vain, for the expected Urban Renewal which cannot and will not
come to many of the areas involved. Thus, this will increase the burden on the
Housing Program to produce larger quantities of replacement housing, which
would not be needed, if strict Housing Code Enforcement were carried out,
based on actual housing conditions on individual structures..
In my opinion, Atlanta has- reached the stage now where most effective
results can be obtained by constant surveillance of individual structures and
appropriate correction cr improvements made on those structures which need
it, no matter where they exist in the City.
Sincerely,
Malcolm D.. Jones
Housing Coordinator:
MDJ/mc
Encls: 1. Proposed Housing Code Enforcement Plan (less map)»
2 Resolution
3. Proposed Activities ~ 1970 NDP
fiend)
7
September 3, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mr. Cecil A, Alexander, Chairman
. Housing Resources Committee
Attached is copy of the controversial proposed 1970-71 Housing Code
Enforcement plan, less map, (Encl. 1) prepared by the Planning Department
and approved by the P & D Committee August 30, after considerable question-
ing by all members of the Committee, except the Chairman, Rodney Cook.
This plan was adopted September 2 by the Board of Aldermen ona
8-7 roll call vote, but was delayed by Alderman Millican for reconsideration
at the next meeting of the Board of Aldermen, September 15. Resolution
attached (Encl, 2).
I recommend that the Housing Resources Committee consider this
plan and take a position on it before the next Board of Aldermen meeting.
Suggest it be referred to the Legal Panel, and perhaps also to the Public
Relations Panel, for recommendation to the HRC Executive Committee.
It appears that this plan was conceived by Helen Meyers in the Planning
Department and developed by her with the assistance of Jack Linville also
of the Planning Department, with perhaps some coordination by Bill Hewes
of the Building Department.
The Housing Code Division, which must administer the plan, I
understand was not involved in its development, does not yet have copy of it,
has not seen the map delineating the areas and treatment proposed and is
not pleased with what they have heard about it.
Again, the HRC was not informed, consulted or asked to participate
in development of the plan, which so vitally affects housing resources in the
City.
Mr, Cecil A. Alexander
September 3, 1969
Page 2
In my opinion ( and I think I qualify by experience in Housing Code
Enforcerment to speak) there are several things about the plan that are not
practical and which I believe will cause difficulty, i.e.:
1. It is discriminatory and I do not believe legal.
2. It will be difficult to enforce from a Public Relations angle.
Be The plan was developed from statistics made from exterior
inspections only.
4, From casual glances at the map, the proposed areas for eventual
U. R. and NDP treatment appear to be greater than the City's entire current
U. R. and NDP program.
(lf carried out at the rate of effort proposed for the 1970 U. R. and %
NDP program, copy attached (Encl. 3), which I understand is maximum effort,
it would require 10 years to complete. )
5. The City is having difficulty now in financing its share of current
NDP programs. It will most likely not be financially able to carry out these
extensive proposed future NDP areas.
6. The areas proposed for partial Code Enforcement only have already
been included in the City's 5 year Housing Code Enforcement program just
completed.
i I cannot accept as yalid the contention that dilapidation is so bad
in the areas proposed for Tetdstt compliance, to make them ‘'safe and sanitary",
only, because the majority of the structures are not suitable for rehabilitation,
that they must be demolished; or that the number of units in this category is as
large as claimed by proponents of the plan.
8, If dilapidation in these areas is as bad as claimed, then this is a serious
indictment against the effectiveness of the past Housing Code Enforcement effort,
which I think on the whole has been quite successful,
9. It is also a serious indictment against the City of Atlanta for
having spent the @mourt of money and effort which it has in Urban Renewal and
Housing Code Enforcement, not to have made more progress in housing improve-
ments than the plan would indicate. Further, it is also an indictment against
the success of the City's low-income housing program in producing needed
replacement housing.
ca
Mr. Cecil A, Alexander
September 3, 1969
Page 3
verti a
10, If the plan should be adopted, the areas designated for tarticn
compliance only will continue to deteriorate at an accelerated rate, while waiting
hopefully, but in vain, for the expected Urban Renewal which cannot and will not
come to many of the areas involved. Thus, this will increase the burden on the
Housing Program to produce larger quantities of replacement housing, which
would not be needed, if strict Housing Code Enforcement were carried out,
based on actual housing conditions on individual structures..
In my opinion, Atlanta has- reached the stage now where most effective
results can be obtained by constant surveillance of individual structures and
appropriate correction cr improvements made on those structures which need
it, no matter where they exist in the City.
Sincerely,
Malcolm D.. Jones
Housing Coordinator:
MDJ/mc
Encls: 1. Proposed Housing Code Enforcement Plan (less map)»
2 Resolution
3. Proposed Activities ~ 1970 NDP