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WELCOME
to the
SITE
of
ATLANTA'S. LARGEST
LARGEST IN. THE SOUTHEAST
SECOND IN THE NATION
TURNKEY LOW RENT HOUSING PROJECT
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SHEETZ AND BRADFIELD/ARCHITECTS/INCORPORATED/A.1.A.
H.L.C. AND ASSOCIATES, INC. DEVELOPER
COBLE-WEAVER (JOINT VENTURE) CONTRACTOR
Totak Cost:
Cost of
Site:
Architects:
Developer:
Contractor:
BANKHEAD PROJECT GEORGIA 6-28.
45,40 Acres to the North and South of Bankhead
Highway at Maynard Road, just East of the
Chattahoochee River.
500 - consisting of 1 to 5 bedrooms in two
and three-story building.
No separate facilities for the Ekderky.
Community Burlding.
$9,356, 094.00
To be compketed in four increments.
First Phase to include 132 Units
Second Phase 108 Units
Third Phase 148 Units
Fourth Phase 112 Units.
Approximately $350,000.00
Sheetz and Bradfield/Architects /Inconporated/A.1T.A,
Atlanta, Georgia
H.L.C. and Associates, Inc.
Greensboro, North Carolina
Cobke-Weaver (Joint Venture)
Greensboro, North Carolina
ATLANTA'S LARGEST TURNKEY LOW RENT HOUSING PROJECT
GROUND BREAKING CEREMONIES
3475-76 Bankhead Highway, Northwest Monday, May Twenty-Seven,
Atkanta, Georgia Nineteen Hundred & Sixty-Eight
Hosts: Mr. Faancts B. Sheetz, Jn., A.1.A.
Mu. Richard H. Bradfield, A.1.A.
Guest Speakers: Mt. Edwin L. Sterne, Chavunan
Housing Authority of the City of Atkanta
Dx. Benjamin E. Mays, Co-Chaiuman
Housing Resources Committee
Mt. Edward H. Baxter, Regional Administrator,
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Honorable Ivan Abken, Jn., Mayon,
City of Atkanta
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT.
"CHILDREN OF POVERTY TODAY WILL BE THE PARENTS OF POVERTY
TOMORROW." So said Mrs. Marie McQuine, former United States
Commissioner of Public Housing. ;
There is a need - in Atkanta - for over 16,000 decent, safe, and
sanitary dwelling units, a deteunination made by our Mayor when
he enlisted the aid of many substantial citizens of the City to
begin his campaign and efforts to relieve the depkonrable con-
ditions of many of Atkanta's citizens. His recognition of the
degraded condition of many areas of the City and the growing
deterionation of extsting dwellings began what was almost a
"One Man War" against these unfortunate conditions of the poor.
The facts were gathered and revealed.
The Mayor appealed to industry to meet this need. Sufficient
dineentive motivated great interest. However, as private interests
began to work, surprisingly every effort was stymied by one
obstacke - - private vested interests.
Several small parcels were successfully zoned to receive housing
and were used. Subsequent re-zoning efforts inonically brought
opposition from every quarter of the City -- no race or xeligion
excluded. This was the voice of the people! To this date, this
voice has been heard on practically every petition. Fortunately,
this site was an exception.
Voiced objections and resentments put the Board of Aldermen —
in a position of rekuctance to act on any petition for Housing
purposes. Their responsibility 4s to serve the wishes of the
majority of the people. 1% this be it -- the people of Atlanta
have turned their backs on those Less fortunate, and this, in
itsekh, breeds trouble.
The aim and purpose of the Federal Housing Assistance Admin-
sstnation have not been understood by the people of Atkanta.
Here 45 a program of assistance and benefit - and we tuin our
backs.
The first result and accomplishment of this program puts a
substantiak roof over the heads of people. That they are
waun, dry, and possibly comfortable is secondary. The first
nesukt and accomplishment 1s Lifting them out of an environment
that has bred crime and moral degeneration. Yet - we tuzn our
backs. We complain of a tax burden?
Is this a tax burden - to move people out of slum areas - to
enforce the Housing Code - to tnitiate a Workable Program to
bring these areas up to standard or demokish them - to relieve
our Police of the exposure to these areas -- 4s this a burden?
Many have stated - as soon ads these slum areas are vacated -
before anything can be done - others move in from out of the
City because of decreased job opportunities in the rural areas
and other cities. Jobkess people must seek. Naturally they
turn to Atkanta - a Mecca - a City on fine - one of the most
thriving metropolitan areas in the Country. Never will they
stop coming. This migration wtke continue whether additional
housing is provided on not - - and 4§ not provided, the slum
areas uikl Spread Like cancer.
What alternative do we have? Shall we ket this influx create
onritical areas where one 44 afraid to wakk -- areas which even
Police cannot control? Ane we intentionally creating schools
of crime and conuption? What ignites the fuse? We have seen
explosions tn other ertres.
1s this what Atkanta wants?
1s this the American way?
Is this the Christian way?
1t & the fortunate and the able citizens who must help, else
they destroy themselves. Atlanta cannot and must not turn 14s
back to receive the poverty-forced stab of vengeance of those
who are impaled upon the filth and hate of the skums?
Who among us has never had the facrkities of a totket, cooked
on a decent stove, on, as in the past, washed dishes in a pan
and thrown the water out a window? Yet this 4s the Life of
many today.
This start of Atkanta's Largest Public Housing development under
the Twmkey System is a substantial realization and a mlestone
in our Mayor's wart. Five Hundred new homes to house Twenty-Five
Hundred citizens of Atlanta.
Rather than a Ground Breaking, we should say this 44 a Dedication
to the Beginning.
Providing housing and moving people from the slum areas into
decent, safe and sanitary surroundings does not end - it begins
the job.
So, education has become an Amportant part of the Housing Program.
Instead of education, we can better term it the revitalization of
inherent qualities of man. To revitalize the need and urge to
Live property in a welk-butlt, attractive home; to revitalize
the neakization of a continually tmproving environment; to
nevitalize the desine to maintain and upki{t the standard of
such envinonment - to this we pledge ourselves so that he, too,
can go with dignity and pride among all men - - and his children
after hun.
In some instances we may fail - but we will put these failures
behind us as the price we pay to insure our society for posterity.
Thank you s0 much for participating.
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