Box 3, Folder 6, Document 6

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EDWIN L. STERNE
CHAIRMAN

M. B. SATTERFIELD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY

LESTER H, PERSELLS

GEORGE S. CRAFT
ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

VICE CHAIRMAN

CARLTON GARRETT
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

J. B. BLAYTON GILBERT H, BOGGS

FRANK G. ETHERIDGE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING

HOWARD OPENSHAW



JACK F. GLENN DIRECTOR OF REDEVELOPMENT
624 HURT BUILDING GEORGE R. SANDER
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

JACKSON 3-6074

September 6, 1968

The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor

City of Atlanta

City Hall

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Subject: Bedford Pine UR Redevelopment Project
Dear Mayor Allen:

As was stated in our Conference, this project area, sometimes called
Buttermilk Bottoms, contains some of the worst housing in Atlanta. Much
of the worst housing was removed in clearing the land for the relief
sewer and the City Auditorium. The condition of the remainder has been
ageravated by the long period of waiting for Federal approval to execute
the Project.

In an effort to give some relief, the following actions have been taken:

(1) The Housing Code Department, working with our Project employees,
have made and are making inspections of the buildings which appear
to be in the worst condition.

(2) As complaints are received from tenants; or representatives of tenants,
the structures in which they live are also inspected.

(3) The Housing Code Enforcement Department notifiesthe owner of the
work which must be performed in order to correct those conditions
which are an immediate threat to health or safety. Our Project
employees go to the owners and attempt to persuade them to make
the corrections immediately. This approach is achieving a large
measure of success.

() In those cases where the owner will not correct the conditions,
the structure is placarded and the owner is asked to vacate the
building and board it up.
(5) In the cases of structures becoming vacant, the structures
are immediately placarded so that they cannot be reoccupied,
and the owner is required to board it up. All other vacant
structures have been boarded up, and when evidence of someone
breaking into the structure becomes apparent, the structures
are reboarded.

We believe that as a temporary measure the above procedure is
working. A meeting of the Community Relations Commission to
hear grievances was held last night, and no grievances related
to this situation were voiced.

The real solution, which should be achieved immediately, is for this Project
to be in execution. Documents are pending in Washington awaiting approval.
Mr. Hummel and his staff seem to be agonizing over a decision to proceed with
approval due to the large amount of Federal Capital Grant required by the

project. The City's one-third share of Net Project Cost appears to be in
sight due to the credits for the City Auditorium and the new C. W. Hill School.

It seems to be the desire of the Federal Agency for this Project to be converted
to the new Neighborhood Development Program. This would permit funding of the
Federal and local shares on an annual basis, thus removing the need for a large
Federal Grant reservation. Unfortunately, procedures for this conversion have
not yet been written. We recommend and urge that this Project be converted to
the Neighborhood Development Program within the next three to four months,
particularly since the City's share is already available and established through
the above mentioned improvements. It is important, however, that the Project,
as now constituted, be approved without delay, with the conversion to take place
later. We suggest that a letter similar to the suggested draft attached be
mailed to Mr. Hummel over your signature. In addition to the letter, a personal
telephone call from you to Mr. Hummel, pointing out that this is an area of
acute racial tensions, and that approval is urgent, should be helpful.

Sincerely yours,

KE lie

Lester H. Persells
Associate Executive Director

Enclosure


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