Box 5, Folder 1, Document 8

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Box 5, Folder 1, Document 8

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MINUTES Zo

Housing Resources Committe

October 8, 1969

. The regular monthly meeting of the Housing Resources Committee was held at
10:30 A.M., Wednesday, October 8, 1969, in Committee Room 2, Second Floor, City
Hall.

Invitational notice, Agenda, list of those invited, with attendance of members
and guests indicated, and other related documents are attached to the file copy of
these minutes.

Chairman Alexander opened the meeting by explaining the preparation of, and
filing by the City on September 19, 1969, an application for consideration by HUD for
designation of Atlanta as a prototype housing site City, under ''Operation Breakthrough";
that two sites were proposed, i.e,, a fragmented site in 3 portions in the Model Cities
area and a 33,6 acre composite site at the intersection of Carrol and Harvill Roads, N.W.

It was also explained that Atlanta had been omitted in the initial invitations by
HUD and that a very short time was available in which to prepare and submit the
application, after Atlanta was invited to do so, The Chairman complemented Urban
East, Housing Consultant Firm, which assembled the application, and other participants
in preparation of the application, including Model Cities, Housing Authority, Planning
Department, State Planning Bureau, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Metropolitan
Planning Commission. He also commented on favorable supporting endorsements
submitted by a large number of Agencies, business firms, religious groups and civic
organizations, ‘

Schedule was announced as follows:

July 11, 1969 Briefing Session (original - did not
include Atlanta)

September 19, 1969 Proposals Due

October 3, 1969 HUD will complete preliminary

site evaluation

October 17, 1969 HUD inspection teams will complete
site inspections

November 28, 1969 HUD will announce selection of eight
prototype sites
Page Two

January 1, 1970 Sites must be cleared and ready for
development

March l, 1970 Site improvements will begin

June 1, 1970 ' First housing units will be shipped

and installed

July 1, 1970 Construction and testing period begins.
HUD will control land through leases,
options to purchase and purchases, HUD

. will assume management control of the
demonstration program.

July 1, 1971 Housing units will be sold and occupied,

Mr. Howard Openshaw, Director of Redevelopment of the Housing Authority was
then called upon to present the overall Neighborhood Development Program Proposed
Activities for 1970.

Mr. Openshaw summarized the proposed overall program as shown in the attached
(Encl, 1) and emphasized the probable necessity for cut back, as indicated in letter of
September 23, 1969, from Region III of HUD (attached as part of Encl. 1).

Mr. Openshaw then introduced Mr. Robert Barnett, Project Manager of the
Vine City NDP project and Mrs. Dorothy Bolden, Vice-Chairman of the Vine City PAC
(Project Area Committee),

Mr. Barnett very ably explained in detail the process used in developing the
plan, through citizen participation (planning with citizens of the area rathet than
for them) and coordination with various agencies involved. He showed the current
‘overall plan as approved by the PAC and the specific area marked out for execution
in 1970. The overall plan includes: a 24-acre park, commercial area, garden type
apartments (no more than 2 story), town houses, single-family residences, anda
community area (including a day care center). The proposed activities for the 1970
target area are shown in enclosure l,

Mr. Openshaw then introduced Mr. Harry Adley, President of Adley and Associates
and Mr. Fred Kerpel and Mr. Lavern Parks, associated with Mr, Adley, Consultants
for the Edgewood NDP area. He also introduced Mr. Curtis Parrish, Project Manager,
Edgewood NDP.

Mr. Adley made an excellent color slide presentation of the development process
and resulting plans of the Edgewood (formerly known as East Atlanta) NDP area, See
enclosure 1 for proposed activities for 1970.

In order to conserve time, further discussion of proposed activities in the NDP
areas was concluded,
Page Three

The Chairman then asked Mr, Copenshaw if there was anything the HRC could

do to assist in preventing the drastic cut back in Atlanta's anticipated Federal capital
grant funds for 1970?; and called upon HRC members for comment, Motion was made

by Mr. Frank Clarke, seconded by Mr. Richard Harvey and after considerable discussion,
was unanimously adopted that a letter be written to the Secretary of HUD, with copy to the
Regional Administrator, pointing out the disastrous effects such a cut back would have

on Atlanta's current and future NDP activities and urging that every consideration possible
be extended Atlanta in not reducing the Federal capital grant funds. (Copy of letter

to Secretary Romney is attached, Encl. 3).

The Chairman then called on reports from Panel Chairmen, starting with Mr.
Frank J. Clarke, Chairman of the Construction and Design Panel.

Mr. Clarke presented a formal written report of his Panel, copy attached (Encl.
2), which includes:

1, His Panel's planned activities for the remainder of 1969;

2. A proposed letter for Mayor Allen to deliver to his successor
recommending continuation of the HRC and the activities of the
Construction and Design Panel;

3. A report developed in his office by an Urban Corps intern pertaining
to Atlanta's Codes,

Mr. Clarke recommended that the report on codes be accepted by the HRC and
copies transmitted to the Building Official and Chairman of the Building Committee,
Board of Aldermen. The Chairman asked if there was any objections? As there was
no objection from any member of the HRC, this will be done,

Courtesy copies of the report on codes had previously been presented to Mr.
W. R. Wofford, Building Official, before presentation of the report to the Housing
Resources Committee,

Mr. Wofford, who had previously been invited to the meeting, responded
unfavorably to the report on codes and specifically requested that certain members of
his Department be permitted then to express their views and reactions to portions of
the report which pertain to their special activities. The Chairman consented,

Mr. Wofford then introduced the following members of his Department: Mr. W.
A. Hewes, Senior Administrative Assistant, Mr. Norman Koplon, Structural Engineer,
Mr. Wylie W. Mitchell, Chief Plumbing Inspector, Mr. E. F. (Red) Wise, Chief
Electrical Inspector, Mr. W. H. Goodwin, Assistant Chief Electrical Inspector and
Mr. Romer Pittman, Assistant Chief Plumbing Inspector,

Mr. Koplon, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Wise presented their views on the report.
They were all hostile and negative in their comments and expressed strong dissatisfaction
with the report, insofar as it pertained to their activities.
Page Four

Mr. Archer Smith, Chairman of the Legal Panel, commented that he did not
consider the report pertaining to the codes as criticism or condemnation of the
Building Department, but rather in the nature of an inquiry for clarification to laymen.
He also asked Mr. Wofford that since the Atlanta Building Code is based on the National
Building Code, with modifications pertaining to Atlanta, if an index of the changes
applicable to Atlanta only has been prepared, in order to provide quick determination
of the Atlanta changes by builders and architects familiar with the National Building
Code, without them having to take hours of reading and comparison between the two,
in order to determine what are the Atlanta changes? Mr. Wofford replied that such
has not been prepared, but that changes can be determined by comparison between
the two codes,

Mr. Alexander commented that if such a listing was available that it would be
quite a convenience to architects and he presumed likewise to builders.

Since it was past time to adjourn the meeting, the Chairman announced that he
would not call for additional Panel Reports nor complete the remainder of the Agenda.

One item of interest under Other Business (not taken up during the meeting) was
announcement September 30 by the Housing Authority of the offering for bids of the
first and thus far only tract of land in the Model Cities area for redevelopment. The
offering is for a 5.43 acre tract south of Atlanta Avenue, between Connally and Hill
Streets, S. W. It is being offered on a fixed price basis, with design competition, for
not less than 40, nor more than 50, units of town houses,

The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 P. M.

Respectfully submitted,



Malcolm D. Johes
Administrative Coordinator for Housing

mc

Encls: 1, Proposed Neighborhood Development Program for 1970
2. Report by Chairman, Construction and Design Panel, dated Sept. 30, 1969
3, Copy, letter to Secretary Romney, dated Oct, 8, 1969

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