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January 31, 1949
A meeting of the Planning and Development Committee of the Board of
Aldermen was held on Friday, January 31, 1969 at 2:30 P. M. in
Committee Room #2, Second Floor, City Hall.
All committee members were present as follows:
Rodney Cook, Chairman
Gregory Griggs, Vice Chairman
John Flanigen
Charlie Leftwich
Jack Summers
Q. V. Williamson
George Cotsakis
Other Aldermen present:
Everett Millican, Fifth Ward
Sam Massell, Vice Mayor
Other city officials, department heads, representatives of civic organizations,
the Atlanta Housing Authority, Model Cities Program, and the press were
also present. .
j
Chairman Cook explained the purpose of the meeting is to meet with a group
of Congressmen from predominately rural and suburban areas to provide them
with an opportunity to see and discuss first hand the problems of our inner cities
and to assess the adequacy of current Federal programs in alleviating urban
problems. This tour is being sponsored by the United States Conference of
Mayors and is intended to be educational, rather than investigative.
He then recognized and welcomed to the meeting the following people:
Honorable Wendell Wyatt, (R) Oregon
Honorable James Mann, (D) South Carolina
Honorable James Hastings, (R) New York
Honorable Paul McCloskey, (R) California
Honorable William S. Stuckey, (D) Georgia
Mr. Lowell Beck, Urban Coalition
Mr. Eugene J. Murphy, U. S. Conference of Mayors
_Mrs. Janet Kohn, U. S. Conference of Mayors
Chairman Cook gave a brief opening statement on how Atlanta has approached
and dealt with urban problems to date; there was then a free exchange between
the Congressmen and city officials. ‘
Following this discussion, Mr. Cook asked the members of the Planning and
Minutes
Planning and Development Committee
January 31, }969 - Page Two
Development Committee to retire to Commitiee Room #1 to conduct a
business session of the Committee. He asked the Congressmen to keep their
seat for a presentation by the Department of Finance, after which they
would take a tour of the Model Cities area and continue their itinerary for
the day.
The Committee reconvened in Committee Room #1 at 3:30 P. M. and the
* following business was considered:
STATUS OF URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT AREAS - CLOSE OUT
Howard Openshaw, Director of Redevelopment for the Atlanta Housing Authority,
presented each committee member present a written status report of Atlanta's
Urban Renewal Program as of January 29, 1969. (See copy attached to original
of these minutes).
Because of the lengthy agenda only the Butler Street, Rawson-Washington,
and University Center Projects were discussed at this meeting.
The highlights of the discussion on each project follows: (Secretary's note - the
discussion on each project centered around the Status Report and reference
should be made thereto.)
Butler Street:
The Butler Street Project is the closest to completion, awaiting only the construction
contract of the middle school and disposition of a small area of land. The
conversion of the school from elementary to:middle has caused a delay in that
the architects had to start over. It appears now that the earliest date construction
can start will be the middle of August.
The Chairman then requested that Mr. Openshaw prepare a letter.for his
signature to Dr. Letson urging that every step possible be taken to expedite this
matter, ,
It was pointed out that a Resolution had been passed by the Board of Aldermen
designating the area around Ebenezer Baptist Church as a historic site (Martin
Luther King, Jr. memorial) and the Housing Authority subsequently removed
the property from the market for commercial reuse; while this will not prevent
the close out of the project, it does need to be resolved before the Housing
Authority can complete their work. ‘
Chairman Cook also asked Mr. Openshaw to draft a letter to Mr. Baxter of
Minutes
Planning and Development Committee
January 31, 1969 - Page Three
the Department of Housing and Urban Development urging rapid approval
on Parcel C-5 and to send him a carbon copy with a note reminding him to
personally call Mr. Baxter about the matter.
Chairman Cook continued to ask questions and make these requests because of
his concern, and the Committee as a whole shared his concern, about the
mounting cost to the city, through interest charges, resulting from delays in
closing out the urban renewal projects.
Rawson-Washington:
The Chairman asked Mr. Openshaw to report what the project situation would
be (relative to the 95% disposition requirement) if any two of the three
parcels (Ebenezer Project, park and school) were disposed of; specifically,
could the project be closed out under the condition that the community
facilities buildings 14% non-cash credit would be lost. He also asked Mr.
Persells to verify with HUD whether or not the credit would, in fact, be
lost, since he was not positive about the requirement.
Jay Fountain of the Finance Department was asked to explore the possibility
of the city carrying out its commitment in this project through the use of '63 Bond
Funds. :
Mr. Cook requested that Mr. Openshaw write Mr. Baxter of HUD requesting
that amendment #9 (reference status report) be carried out as quickly as possible.
Relative to amendment #9, the question arose as to the disposition of the land
in the blocks bounded by Georgia Avenue, Capitol Avenue, Bass and Washington
Streets. It was pointed out that the city's Land Use Plan and previous project
plans called for some type of commercial reuse for the area. However, a conflict
exists with this proposal and the Model Cities proposal, which calls for the _
development of temporary office facilities and a Housing Center on the sites.
Mr. Cook asked who has control of the Rawson-Washington Project and comménted
he didn't see how we could plan an area if along the way “half the area gets
usurped."
Mr. Gladin emphasized that this problem is stalemated on the basis of two
aldermanic decisions and needs to be resolved. It was noted that the Model
Cities people expect to occupy their new offices by March 19.
Mr. Cook stated the Model Cities people had well reach some sort of agreement
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Minutes
Planning and Development Committee
January 31, 1969 - Page Four
or compromise and he entertained a motion to notify them that the entire area
south of Georgia Avenue would be considered for commercial reuse.
Mr. Openshaw stated he felt we owed them this kind of direction; further,
he didn't think anything should happen to urban renewal project land without
the approval of the Housing Authority, Planning Department and this
committee.
It was the consensus of the committee that Mr. Gladin notify the Director
of Model Cities Program that the entire area in question will be considered
for commercial reuse and request that they consider another location. It
was also felt there needed to be further clarification on the line of authority
> in this matter.
University Center:
The committee unanimously approved the Housing Authority proceeding with
an amendment deleting from the University Project seven (7) Fulton County
owned lots on the south side of Hunter Street, as recommended by the
Housing Authority.
The elimination of the grade separation at Northside Drive and Hunter Street
will require a plan change to permit disposition of the property; commitments
by Central Methodist Church and the Celotex Corporation to acquire and develop
the land will be required.
In discussing close out of the Project, Mr. Persells stated to keep in mind
the expansion discussions with Atlanta University.
KREKEREREREKREKE
BEDFORD-PINE HOUSING PROJECT
After a brief discussion, the committee unanimously approved the preliminary
Bedford-Pine Housing Project Site Plan, as revised January 31, 1969. Mr.
Cook asked Mr. Persells if the number of units now proposed vrais Id take |
care of the people in the area who want to remain there, to which Mr. Persells
replied affirmatively, stating there would be a total of 66 additional units.
Mr. Openshaw stated the revised plan is the best one to date and the architects
have indicated they can live with it.
In response to questioning by Mr. Cook, Mr. Persells also stated the revised
plan had been before the Bedford-Pine Committee and approved by them.
KEKEKEEERERERRE
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Minutes
Planning and Development Committee
January 31, 1969 - Page Five
Being a member of the Model Cities Executive Board, Mr. Griggs left
the meeting to attend the Model Cities Tour with the visiting Congressmen.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Cook excused himself from the meeting to keep
a previous appointment.
KRREKEKEKREKRREEKEEEE
JOINT RESOLUTION BY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE
COMMITTEES SUPPORTING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
Mr. Gladin presented this Resolution, explaining it will give more status
to priority items.
Mr. Flanigen stated he felt the Resolution should specifically spell out
that the Planning Department would have the responsibility for implementing
the program.
Mr. Gladin explained that the Finance Department will ultimately establish
the procedures for scheduling of these programs consistent with the Capital
Improvements Program; that the intent of this particular Resolution is that the
expenditures be based on the program, rather than upon the independent
actions of the various committees.
Mr. Flanigen reiterated he felt the Planning Department should have this
responsibility. There was no further comment.
Upon motion by Mr. Williamson, seconded by Mr. Cotsakis and unanimous
vote, this Resolution was adopted. :
KREKKKKEKREEKEREKRE
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HOUSING CODE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
Mr. Gladin presented each Committee member present with a copy of a
letter (dated January 10, 1969) to Mayor ‘Ivan Allen from himself and Bill Wofford
outlining the procedures for the development of a new Housing Code Compliance
Program. Appended to this was a cover letter (dated January 24, 1969) from Earl
Landers, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, stating that Mayor Allen is
agreeable to proceeding with the development of the new program as outlined
in said Jetter and Mr. Gladin requested the Committee's support.