Box 5, Folder 17, Document 25

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MINUTES
HOUSING RESOURCES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

APRIL 6, 1967

Members of the Housing Resources Committee Executive Group met on
Thursday, April 6, 1967, at 10:00 a.m. in City Hall. The following
members were present:

Mr. Cecil A. Alexander, Chairman

Mr. Lee Burge, Finance Panel

Mrs. Sujette Crank, Social Problems Panel

Mr. Virgil Milton, Business Participation Panel
Mr. Ray Moore, Public Information Panel

Mr. Moreland Smith, Construction and Design Panel
Mr. Charles L.Weltner, Legal Panel

Mr. John Wilson, Non-Profit Funds Panel

The following panels were not represented at the meeting:

Land Acquisition Panel
Public Housing Panel

Mr. Alexander reviewed the general functions of the Housing Resources

_ Committee and informed the participants of the Housing Resources Committee
Office that had been established in the City Hall. He also advised that

Col. Malcolm Jones has been assigned to coordinate the housing program

and Mr. William Gates, as consultant on FHA matters, is assisting in the
office one day each week. He announced that the City has also just approved
a secretarial position for this office to be filled as soon as possible.

Mr. Alexander then introduced Mr. M. B.Satterfield, Executive Director
of the Atlanta Housing Authority, who briefed the group on the public
housing program.

Mr. Satterfield reported on the number of public housing units at the present
time:

1. There are presently 8, 874 units with virtually no vacancies,
2. 650 units are under construction at the McDaniel Street Project.

3. A bid has been accepted for 140 units extension to the Perry Homes
Project. :








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350 units in the design stage have been submitted to the Federal Housing
Administration for review. The Housing Authority expects to let bids
on these units this summer.

5. 140 units are under lease under the leasing program,

_He pointed out these different projects on a city map to give the Committee
members an idea of the location of this housing. He stated that some concern
has been expressed for the need of public housing in the eastern quadrant of
the city and explained that the main difficulty is in securing any open land in
this area that would be useable. Developers are being encouraged to consider
this section of the city. He explained that the Atlanta Housing Authority
presently has 4, 200 units reserved (allocated) by the Federal Government,

He then reviewed the different programs available in providing this low-
income housing. These include:

1. Direct construction by the Housing Authority and the Turnkey Program,

2. Purchase and rehabilitation of older and existing houses.

3. Leasing by the Housing Authority of standard dwellings.

At this point Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. spoke to the group briefly regarding the
housing program. He said that he was greatly impressed with the interest
being shown in efforts to gét more low-income housing underway in the city.
He pointed out, as Mr. Satterfield did, that the main problem he has
encountered is in securing suitable and available locations for these units.
He expressed a desire to see more non-profit sponsors willing to carry
through on a project to construct such housing units.

Col. Malcolm Jones then reviewed with the members of the Committee the
various pieces of informational material made available to them today and
brought these reports up to date on changes that have taken place. He also
pointed out the different proposed projects on a map of the city so the
members might see the distribution of the units.

The following revisions were reported in the February 20, 1967, report:






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Estimate When Available

Cc No. Units 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971

ate gory
Firm 3092 (1226) (1550) (316)
Probable 4685 sae (2573) (912) (500) (700)
Total TELE (1226) (4123) (1228) (500) (700)
Under Consideration 3405
Doubtful 2968
Total 14, 150
Col, ones also distributed a report concerning the problem areas of the
program. Currently there are 4, 900 units in all categories which are facing

serious difficulties for various reasons, This report was to advise the
Committee of the situations existing.

The Chairman next recommended and requested the following to the Committee:

1. A monthly meeting date. It was established for the first Thursday of

the month at 10:00 a.m,

He requested all panels to submit the names of their Chairmen and
Vice Chairmen as soon as possible,

He requested the Legal Panel to investigate the feasibility of amending
and broadening Federal legislation concerning financial assistance to
home owners in urban renewal and code enforcement areas whose homes
are condemned. At present, home owners in urban renewal areas and
Federal approved code enforcement areas are the only persons eligible
for such assistance. He feels that such assistance should be city-wide.

Mr. Alexander asked that encouragement be given to neighboring
communities to have good Workable Programs, Atlanta's program
is in good order but this does not apply to all other communities in
Metropolitan Atlanta.

He asked the Legal Panel to investigate the State tax laws. He feels the
present tax laws are favorable to retention and creation of slums.








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10,

UTS

12.

13.

14,

He announced that the Finance and Non-Profit Panels have been combined.

He advised that he and Mr. Lee Burge are looking into the need for
formation of a Housing Development Corporation. Suggestion was made
that the Chamber of Commerce be asked to look into the matter and to
assist. :

At the present time he is trying to get some information from the City
Planning Department regarding the available land in the city. However,
it will be some time before this information is complete.

He expressed his concern over the difficulties that are being encountered
in securing approval of sites. This is caused by various reasons, as
indicated in the special report distributed by Col. Jones. He feels

that this is becoming a very serious problem and that something must

be done as soon as possible to try to provide solutions to these problems.

The Committee and office staff have been approached many times by
developers requesting that they refer them to lawyers and architects
familiar with the housing programs. The professional organizations of
these groups have been asked to supply the Housing Resources Office
with a list of those persons familiar with and interested in this field
and these lists will be furnished the devélopers upon request.

He recommended to the Construction Panel that they take under advise-
ment the various codes of the City of Atlanta and other agencies to
determine if such codes are practical and feasible.

He requested assistance from the Social Problems Panel in providing
solutions to the many problems being created in the location of these

housing units.

There are several areas of the city that have not been touched for
additional low cost housing and he feels a much more aggressive pro-
gram is needed. He referred to such areas as Vine City and
Mechanicsville.

He asked the members to consider the problem of relocation of people
displaced while units are under construction and to come up with some








a?

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workable way to build these units without completely disrupting the
neighborhood.

15. He proposed that a task force be set up in the areas of prime
consideration to improve communications with the residents.

After a short discussion period the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m,
Respectfully submitted,
AA, Leelee. By: Ligh Tit
Malcolm D. Sone

Supervisor of Inspection Services
Director

MDJ:fy




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