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HOUSING RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Minutes
December 12, 1968
The Second Annual Meeting of the Housing Resources Committee
was held on Thursday, December 12, 1960, in Committee Room 2,
Second Floor, City Hall to review and discuss the work of the
Committee in the low-income housing program during the past two
years. November 15 marked the completion of the second year since
the Mayor established the Housing Resources Committee on
November 15, 1966, in his Conference on Housing.
Copies of invitational notice, list of those invited, with
attendance indicated, and other related documents are attached to
the file copy of these minutes only.
Chairman Alexander opened the meeting at 10:30 a.m. and calied
on Alderman Cotsakis for a statement which he had asked to make.
Mr. Cotsakis commented on revision of the Building Codes for
the City of Atlanta, particularly to allow experimental housing
to be built in the Model Cities area. He said that if any one
had any chnges of the Building Codes which they desired be made,
that they should bring proposals for specific changes to the attention
of the Building Committee.
Mr, Alexander then called on Malcolm Jones to cemment on
the accomplishments of the Housing Resources Committee,
Mr. Jones said that November 15, 1968, marked the completion
ef the first two years’ activity of the Kousing Resources Committee
in its effort to promote and accelerate the Loweincome Housing
Program in Atlanta, for which the goal was 16,800 low and medium
income housing units during a five year period (1967-71), announced
by the Mayor in his Housing Conference establishing the HRC on
November 15, 1966.
He then stated that tho five. yoar goal is new in the pipeline
and that the current status of the lew and medium income housing
program shews;
Conpleted 3,217 units
Under Construction 6,278 units
In Planning 7,337 units
In Sight YeCST units Total
This slightly exceeds (by 32 units) the 5 year goal of 16,800
units and is enly 305 units short, in the first two categories, of
the ag@ticipated need for 9,800 units during the first two years of
the program,
Page 2
He also stated that the Housing Resources Committee has
accomplished:
1.
26
ic,
il,
iz,
13.
Promotion of low and medium income housing and
coordination of efforts in this field.
Establishment of the Greater Atlanta Housing
Development Corporation to assist local non-
profit housing corporations.
Acceptance by the Federai Government of use of
prefabricated relocateable units as temporary
relocation housing.
Expansion of the base for Federal Grants and
Girect Loans, now authorized in the 1968 Housing
Act.
Urged early adoption by the City of miniature
Urban Renewal projects, to clear slums, under the
newly adopted Neighborhood Development Program
authorized by the 1968 Housing Act.
Urged revision of previous conventional planning
concepts in an effort to get certain areas rezoned
to permit improvement of such areas for residential
use.
Urged the dispersal of future Public Housing in
smaiil developments on scattered sites.
Creation of interest in the low-income housing
program by nonprofit organizations and formation
of several such organizations.
Served as a catalyst in neighborhood interest for
improvement of Vine City through Urban fenewal.
Proposed and obtained concurrence of the Board of
Education to draft legislation to authorize
developers to build schools simultaneous with develop-
ment of housing projects, except in Urban Renewal
areas.
Participated in ftlanta Conference on Equal
Opportunity in Housing.
Worked with Model Cities' staff in establishing
its rehabilitation program and in site selection
for experimental housing.
~ointed out to City officials the necessity for the
principle that site selection for low-income housing
Should include a planning function and responsibility.
Page 3
ir. Jones then stated the six requests which were made to
the Planning and Development Committee and the Zoning Committee
in Special Meeting on August 2, 1968:
1. Asked the Mayor to designate either an existing
committee or appoint a new committee of the
Board of Aldermen to assume a responsibility in the
field of low-income housing.
Ze Revision of the Building Codes for the City of
Atlanta, particularly to allow experimental housing
to be built in the Model Cities area,
Ze Revision of the Ordinance governing non-conforming
use of land to allow structural changes in improving
dwelling units to meet requirements of the Housng
Code,
4. Accelerate the urban renewal program particularly
in the Nash-Bans, Vine City, and other areas outside
the Model Cities area,
Se Authorize the Atlanta Housing Authority to request
2,000 additional units of public housing.
6. Adoption of a revised district zoning map based on
the new Land Use ttap to include adequate areas for
low-income housing.
Mr. Jones then pointed out results to date of the above
indicated requests,
Mr. Alexander then called on Mr. W. W. Gates, Consultant
te the Committee, to discuss the Implications of the 1968 Housing
Act.
Mr. Gates opened by stating that the National Housing Act
was passed by Congress on August 1, 1968, that the legislation
provides the tools ,zincentives and success in meeting the
national objective wili large depend on:
1. Sponsor interest
a2. Availability of land at a reasonable price
3. the mortgage money market
4. Municipal cooperation
5S. Funding by the Congress in 1969
6. Building code and zoning restrictions
Mr. Gates then discussed four sections of the Act: Section
238, Section 237, Section 236 and Fection 235.
Section 238: Establishes a new Epecial Risk Insurance
Fund which permits the Federal Housing Administration to assume
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higher mortgage insurance risks in connection with both location
and credit charachteristics that were unacceptable under the
mutual mortgage insurance fund,
Section 237: Provides, on an experimental basis, FHA
mortgage insurance to finance home ownership for low income
families who wouid not qualify under normal credit standards.
Section 236: The tenant under this program will pay 25%
of his famiis © income and HUD will pay the difference between
the amount collected and the amount of the rent. Limited to
families whose incomes are not in excess of 135% of initial
admission levels of public housing.
section 235: This section places heavy emphasis on home
ownerShip and provides that if the purchaser of a new home or
2 living unit in a condomimium will pay at least 20% of the
family's income and HUD will pay the balance of the monthly
mortgage payments,
Mr. Gates closed his discussion by stating that “The
impact of this bill on housing should be tremendous, The
tools are available as never before."
Mr. Alexander then discussed Future Direction of the Committee.
He said that the Committee requests that the Mayor and Board
of Aldermen give consideration to these proposals and advise us
accordingly in a revised statement of mission for the Committee;
i. All bodies concerned with housing review the present
and continuing need for low income housing.
2. Eliminate existing slums and provide housing
as needed in the area for those who wish to
remain there,
3. Place housing near jobs and public facilities in
the City of Atlanta and throughout the metropolitan
area.
4, Continue efforts to promote innovative low-income
housing construction in Atlanta.
5. Continue to aid efforts to climinate social problems
connected with housing,
6, Further involve the business community in the housing
program.
7. Assist nonprofit groups and developers in their efforts
to obtain land and construct housing.
Page 5
8. Promote and explain the new general housing act and
the fair houSing act.
9. Consider national and local legislation usefull to
the housing program.
19. Assist in the stabilization of existing neighborhoods
and encourage the construction of middle and upper
- income residential developments in the City of Atlanta.
ll. Attempt to involve persons in the slums in the business
side of demolition, rehabilitation or erecting new
units,
12, Continue efforts to seil the need for low-income
housing to the people cf metropolitan Atlanta,
Mr, Alexander then discussed Unfinished Susiness. Some of
the phases of the initial program which are not finished are:
1. Completion of projects now in planning.
2. Legislation ‘pending that will allow the city to lease
schcols to be built by developers simultaneously with
housing projects, except in urban renewal areas.
3. Investigation of problems relating to code restrictions
of innovative building.
4, Activation of Board for the Greater Atlanta Housing
Development Corporation.
5S. Obtaining of additional sites in areas where low-income
housing is needed,
Mr. Alexander made a closing statement thanking the staff,
members of the committee, Federal Agencies, Atlanta Housing
Authority, Planning Department, Building Department, Public Works
Department, members of the Board of Aldermen, Mayor Allen and the
members of the Press, Radio and TV Organizations for their
ecoperation and assistance,
Mr. Alexander then called on Mr. Charles F. Palmer, member
of the Public Housing Panel of the Committee, to discuss a
Resolution the Panel had prepared.
Mr. Palmer stated that the only logical conclusion reached
is that €1) subsidized housing must be fairly distriduted
throughout the city and, (2) that the only politically feasible
way to do this is by a “package deal" simultaneously presented
to Council by the Mayor and Atlanta Housing Authority with
overwhelming community support.
He stated that the opion of the sub-committee is that it is
not too late to resubmit those rejected zoning applications
through the "package plan" on a simultaneous basis to meet
the city's needs for subsidized housing and that the Mayor,
the Board of Alidermen and the Atlanta Housing Authority should
proceed to de so forthwith.
Mr. Palmer then stated that if the same energy, zeal and
leadership of our "power structure" and city officials that was
mobilized to build our dazzling stadium, luxury apartments and
magnificent hotels and office buildings in our urban redevelop-
ment areas had been applied to providing subsidized housing for
those who were buildozed out of slums to make room for these
majestic structures, the goal of public housing which our Mayor
proclaimed so long ago would now be nearly reached.
Then, as spokesman for the Chairman of the Sub-Committee
on Public Housing and on the sub-commnittee's behalf, moved
that our full Committee does now reaffirm its position on
“package rezoning", and calls upon its fellow organizations
of the City and those responsible for its implementation to
cooperate to put it into effect,
The Resolution was duel seconded and the Chairman called
for discussion.
Mr. Alexander then suggested that since this was included in
the requests made on Augusut 2, 1968, to the Zoning Committee
and the Planning and Bevelopment Committee of the Board of
Aldermen and had been referred to the Planning Department, the
Committee should first address the Planning Department as to
current status of the proposal,
Mr. Palmer declined the suggestion and asked for a formal
vote on the motion to adopt the Resolution. It was adopted
unanimously.
Mr. Alexander then showed the Committee slides that were
taken of the slums as they exist today in certain areas of the
City, particularly Lightening, and as a contrast the new low-income
replacement housing developments such as: Wheat Street Gardens,
College Plaza, Allen Temple, McDaniel Street apartments for
the Elderly, Hoilywood Road Project, Bankhead Highway, Friedship
Gardens, Thomasville J,R, Project and the London Towne Houses,
Mr. William Howland then commented on the five houses in
Linwood Park which have been rehabilitatod by CACUR under the
221 (h) program,
The Chairman then called on Mr. Dan Sweat, Director of
Governmental Liaison, for comments,
ee
Page 7
Mr. Sweat stated that the statistics released by Col. Jones
and the Committee were impressive and that the influence of the
Committee's success was not confined to Atlanta's housing program
alone but has also been felt at the national level and that housing
experts from over the country have commented on the Atlanta
approach and on the excellent program of the Housing Resources
Committee,
He stated that his fccling is that the story behind the
statistics is where the real meaning of this Committee and the
Housing Program is to be found, He said that the work of the
Committee has made all the city aware of the desperate need for
decent housing for the less fortunate, less affluent citizens of
Atlanta; that it has helped bridge the gap of creditability botween
the City - the institution - the power structure and a very large
and important segment of our community, and most important, this
program started the City cut on a new direction so long needed.
He stated that the Aidermen understood this need when they
refused to pass Urban Renewal Survey and Plannin applications
until the housing relocation needs were met. The Mayor realized
the need when he called the Housing Conference and established
this committee and it was obvious that the private business
leadership recognized it when, the members of the Housing Resources
Committee, responded as has been done,
Mr. Sweat then pointed out that the resultant changes are
reflected in a report given by Howard Openshaw, Director of
Redevelopment of the Housing Authority, at the last CACUR meeting.
Mr. Openshaw pointed out that of the 10,033 units begun in
urban renewal projects in 1968, 884 units have been completed
which is 21 times the number of housing completed the previous
year in urban renewal areas. During the same period, only 484
units were demolished in urban renewal areas. So, for the first
time in the history of Atlanta's urban renewal program, more
housing units were completed in urban renewal areas than were
demolished,
Mr, Sweat concluded by saying, "We have finally turned the
corner in cur urban redevelopment program and are headed in a
new direction so long sought."
Mr. Archer D. Smith, Iii, Chairman of the Legal Panel, made
a warning statement that we-are deluding ourselves if we take the
figures presented and quit working; that we have got to be realistic
and get behind the package zoning plan.
Upon inquiry from the Chairman, Mr. Jones confirmed that sites
for all of the 7,337 units shown as In Planning, have not yet been
rezoned.
Page &
In reference to the figures pertaining to Public Housing,
contained in the Summary of Status Report (Encl. 2, Second
Annual Report), attention is called to the fact that although
the 5,476 units shown as Completed, Under Construction and
In Planning categories, fall short by 4,100 units of the 5
year’ goal, it is however within 110 units of the 2 year goal
of 5,586 Public Housing units announced in the Mayor's Housing
Conference, November 15, 1966,
The meeting adjourned 11:30 a.a,
Respectfully submitted,
* rabeabinr oh
Malcolm D, n
Housing Coordifiator
MC
Encis: Resolution by Sublic Housing Sub-Committee
Article, Atlanta Constitution, December 13, 1968
Editorial, Atlanta Journal, December 14, 1968
Editorial, Atlanta Constitution, December 16, 1968
An Official Cpinion of WSB-Radio/Atlanta, Dec, 22, 1968
Editorial, WSB-IV, January 2, 1969.
Editorial, WSB-TV, January 3, 1969