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MINUTES
Reorganizational Meeting
Housing Resources Committee
May 8, 1969
The Reorganizational Meeting of the Housing Resources Committee
was held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, May 8, 1969, in Committee Room 2,
Second Floor, City Hall. Members of the Low-Income Housing
Coordinating Group was also invited.
Invitational notices, list of those invited, with attendance
of members and guests indicated, and other related documents are
attached to the file copy only of these minutes.
Chairman Alexander opened the meeting by greeting the new
members and thanking all the members for attending the meeting.
The Chairman then introduced Mayor Allen.
Mayor Allen opened his remarks by congratulating the Committee
on its many accomplishments in eliminating slums in Atlanta and
providing better housing conditions, He praised recent accomplish-
ments in Public Housing and stated that the City of Atlanta requires
more Public Housing to meet the needs of its lowest income people,
Mayor Allen stated that more and more of the City's slums are
being cleared away, but there are still too many slum pockets left
over the City, and that the standards of the Housing Code are being
constantly increased. He said that he would like to see for every
new housing development, a slum pocket in the City be cleared
away. He stated that the Federal Government is helping with the
problem of housing, because the City does not have enough revenue
to support or finance these projects. Mayor Allen particularly
praised the Housing Authority for its assistance, cooperation and
ability to cope with the low-income housing situation in Atlanta.
Mayor Allen also stated that so far this year the Building
Permits (pricarily for Industrial and Commerical construction) have
increased about 50% above last year, which was a record year.
Mayor Allen then went on to explain the letter he wrote to
Chairman Alexander on April 3, 1969, giving new direction to the
Housing Resources Committee,
Mayor Ailen stated that several changes have occurred in
legislation, which are the Model Cities Act of 1966, the Fair
Housing Act of 1968 and the Housing Act of 1968 that have changed
the housing goals and needs of the City of Atlanta,
He then stated that since the Housing Hesources Committee
has asked his office for new instructions, he suggested that the
following areas be investigated and action initiated during 1969:
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1, The Planning Department has been instructed
by the Planning and Development Committee of
the Board of Aldermen to conduct a totai review
and evaluation of our housing efforts to date,
along with a redefinition of total housing
needs by location, type, size and rentals and
sales price ranges.
Mayor Allen said that the HRC should be involved in this matter
and assist the Planning Department in the development of the scope
of this study and in obtaining political acceptability and support.
At present a joint Atlanta-Fulton County Housing study is being
proposed,
2. Eric Hill and Associates has just completed
its report for the Model Neighborhoog Progran.
This report contains much food for thought in
the area of lowering the costs of low-income
housing, HRC should take the initiative and
explore ways and means to implement those
pertinent recommendations deemed feasible on
a city-wide basis.
3. Conventional urban renewal projects, the
Neighborhood Development Program and Model
Cities Program can provide much needed land for
housing development and improvement purposes,
In this regard the HRC can assume a very
important role, ‘
4, Outside of the boundaries of conventional
urban renewal projects, the Neighborhood
Development Program and Model Cities Progran,
the procurement and development of sites for
housing can best be expected to come along by
themselves because of the momentum generated
in the initial two years. If there is a need
for prodding here, it is in the direction of
piacing greater emphasis in outlying areas of
the City on Single-family, public housing and
higher density public housing in close proximity
to the central core of the City. HRC can be
most helpful in providing this type of direction
to city development, and
5. In general, the new housing units which have
been developed were intended as replacement
housing for slum properties. Yet, slums
still exist. in the future, HRC should seek
to devise and implement ways and means through
which one slum structure would be demolished
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for cach new low-cost houSing unit created.
Unless this is done immediately, the same
Slums will be with us indefinitely.
Mayor Allen stated that low-income housing usually improves
the neighborhood efter it has been developed. He stated that he
dees not believe that large tracts of land are going to be zoned
this year (because of impending political elections) in kesidential
areas for low-income housing. Probably the land surrounding.
already existing housing developménts can be expanded and some
new developments, perhaps in the outlying areas.
Mx. Alexander agreed with Mayor Allen on the elimination of
slums in the Atlanta area and emphasized the importance of the
Mayor's role in the cverall program.
Mr. Aiexander then commented on the Broad Functions set up
for the Committee (copies distributed and with file copy only of
these minutes). He explained the functions of the Business
Participation and Finance Panel, Construction and Design Panel,
the newly organized Housing Locations, newly organized Housing
ReSstudy, Legal, newly organized Moderate and Upper [Encome in-
Town Housing, Public Relations and Social Aspects Panels of the
Committee,
At this point, Mr, Archer D. Smith, III, Chairman of the
Legal Panel, asked Mayor Allen if his new direction letter to
the Chairman meant that the Housing Kesources Committee should
discontinue its previous efforts in promoting sites for low and
medium income housing and assisting developcrs by supporting
rezoning of certain proposed tracts considered appropriate for
this purpose,
Mayor Allen responded that he did not intend to restrict
activities of the HRC in any of its efforts in providing low-
income housing; that his letter to Mr. Alexander was intended
to re-define and provide direction for new additional efforts
by the Committee.
Mr. Alexander then introduced Mr. M. B. Satterfield, retiring
Executive Director of the Housing /uthority. He praised Mr.
satterfield for his excellent contribution to the housing situation
in the City of Atlanta, and as a token of the Committee's
appreciation for Mr. Sattefield's cooperation, assistance and
accomplishments in the Low~income Housing field, presented Mr.
Satterfield with a copy cf “Atlanta Century". Autographing was
initiated by Mayor Allen,
Mr. Erwin Stevens of the octal Aspects Panel asked what the
rent was for a single person who lives in a Public Housing unit.
Mr. Satterfield explained the minimum is $25.00 for a single
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person, with utilities not more than $10.00 additional; that in
general the rent charged in Public Housing units is 20-21% of
net family income,
The Chairman then introduced Mr. Cary Hooks, Director of
FHA, to comment on funding and progress to date in Atlanta on
PSA Low-income housing projects.
Mr. Hooks stated that under Section 221 d(3) in the
Metropolitan Atlanta area there are 18 projects Completed with
1,944 units, Under Construction - 15 projects with 1,750 units
and under Final Committment, 5 projects with 628 units and 6
projects with 66 units under Conditional Committments. Under
Section 236 there are 7 projects with 233 units. This makes
a total of 51 projects with 5,329 units. Mr. Heoks also stated
that the Rockdale JU. H. Project has 325 units Under Construction
with an additional €25 units In Planning plus an additional 260
units. There are 300 of these units under the BMIR (Below
Market Interest Kate).
Mr. Hooks stated that anyone with a project can taik to
him about it.
Mix. Hooks commented on the funding of some of the low-income
housing programs. He stated that there are no funds available
under Section 236 which is taking the place of 221 d(3). Kent
Supplement is in same situation and funding of $100,000,000 has
been requested. Some Section 236 end Rent Gupplement funjs have
been reallocated. Section 235 §) and 221 (h) program funds are
Still available. He stated that the 106 program provides for
seed money to lend to nonprofit organizations with up to 80%
loan, but admitted that none of these funds have been used in
Atlanta and that the program is little known. Under Section
237 a person who has had bad credit can have a loan approved
for him, if he has gone through the local counseling service
and is so recommended by the counselors. The size of the loan
has to be determined. ‘The person has to go through the counsel-
ing service and there is not cost to the person himself,
Mr. Alexander asked Mr. Hooks what is the lowest cost per
month for a 1-2-3 bedroom unit? Mr. Hooks answered that under
Section 236 program it is $100 for a 3-bedroom unit with a $52,00
rent subsidy, which makes the total payment $56.00; that Rent
Supplement income limits are the same as for Public Housing.
Mr. Hooks then stated that there are 300- Rent Supplement units
in the Metropolitan area.
Chairman Alexander assigned three proposals by HZric Hill
and fssociates for updating and expanding housing needs studies
to the dcusinue 2 utudy Pencl for furth-r study and te ropert
beck te the oxecuti.-: Group,
Page 5
He also assigned the National Coalition Draft Position
paper on housing to the Business Participation and Finance Panel
for study and report of recommendation to the Executive Group.
Chairman Alexander then called on Maicolm DB. Jones, Housing
Coordinator, to report on the Membership List of the HRC and
the Summary - Status of Accelerated Low-Income Hcusing Program,
January 15, 1969,
Col. Jones referred to the newly organized Membership
List and stated that if any addresses or telephone numbers were
wrong on the Membership List to please get in touch with the
Housing Resources Committee office for any change. (Copies
distributed and attached to file copy of Minutes)
Col. Jones then commented on the Summary of January 15,
1969, (copies distributed) stating that as of January 15, 1969,
3,365 units have been Completed, 6,559 units are Under Construct-
ion, and 8,335 units are In Planning with a total In Sight of
18,259, and Being Considered (in all categories) is an additional
7,630 units. In addition, 1,019 units have been leased for
Public Housing; 800 of these are now occupied or available for
occupancy. Also that 15,165 units have been reported by the
Housing Code Division as repaired or rehabilitated; and explained
that while these do not add additional units to the inventory,
that it does increase the number of standard units.available.
He also pointed out the trend during 1963-68 of total housing
permits in the City and showed that during the existance of the
HRC, 2,469 units have been demolished under the HouSing Ccde,.
He also referred to the Public Housing Summary, which was attached.
Chairman Alexander then announced that the Model Cities
Executive Board was having a presentation by Eric Hill and
Associates on May 14, 1969, at 10:30 A.M, in Committee Room 2,
and all Members of the HRC are invited to attend. Eric Hill
and Associates will present a Report to the Atlanta Model Cities
Agency - “Lowering the Cost of Housing - Research on Strategy
and Policy". (Subsequent to the meeting, the Construction and
Design Panel was requested to attend the meeting and to make
report and recommendation to the Executive Group for implementing
on a city-wide basis appropriate portions of the Eric Hill and
Associates proposals.)
My. Alexander then introduced Mr. Donald J. Roe and
Mr. Bob Clayton, Citizens and Southern National Bank, who
showed a film on the Savannah Project, a clean-up campaign
last year by the Citizens and Southern National Bank.
The Film was very impressive and well received. It
protrayed the cleaning up of the slums in the Savannah area,
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where students from White and Negro colleges worked together
with the residents of the slums of Savannah.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 12:00 noon.
Respectfully submitted,
Po teclar
Malcolm D, Noage~
Housing Codrdinator
mec
Encls: As stated (with file copy only)