Dublin Core
Title
Box 5, Folder 4, Document 18
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
eo 3
+
hc ap apes
vv
July 25, 1969
The Honorable George Romney
Secretary of the United States Department
of Housing and Urban Development
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
In November, 1966, we began in Atlanta a concentrated effort to
stimulate the development of 16,800 units of low and moderate income
housing to provide safe and sanitary shelter for thousands of less
fortunate citizens.
This effort, called ''The Mayor's Housing Resources Program" was
supported by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
private banks, developers, churches, civic groups and individual
citizens at all levels.
This program has produced results. As of this date, 21,013 of the
five year goal of 16, 800 units have been completed, are under
construction, or in planning. The most recent status report is
attached for your information,
Within the next few weeks, the single most significant development
generated by our programs will be placed under construction. It is
the East Lake Meadows turnkey project, which is the largest turnkey
public housing development in America with comprehensive community
facilities.
Because of the significance of this undertaking and because it embodies
so many of the aspects of community housing action which you so
magnificantly support, all of us in Atlanta - City Hall, the builders,
our housing officials, and citizens in general - feel that we want to share
the beginning of this project with you,
Secretary Romney
Page Two
July 25, 1969
I have been asked to issue you an official invitation from all of us
to inaugurate conetruction of this most important housing development
for poor people. If you schedule will permut you to come to Atlanta
in the next few weeks, we shall schedule the ceremonies for your
convenience. It would also give us the opportunity to show you some
of the operational components of Atlanta's Model Cities program.
Highlights in the development of the East Lake Meadows Project will
give you some idea of its importance not only in relation to the solution
of urban problems of Atlanta but perhaps in other cities.
The land on which this project is located was once a golf course owned
by prominent conservative businesemen in Atlanta. They sold it to the ‘
March Ccempany, a private development company, and supported difficult °
rezoning in an area which had hitherto had no public housing. City
officials, local Housing Authority, and the Regional Housing Authority,
together with local business people, civic groups, communication media,
were ali involved. The pwoject inciudes $60 living units, 150 for elderly,
shopping center, community and health facilities, city park, recreation areas
and the dedication of school sites. An example of community support
involves the four leading banks in Atlanta who formed a consortium to
finance the tnterim construction costs in an effort to assist in the solution
of Atlanta's housing problems for its low-income citizens. This develop-~
ment represents the highest type of cooperation among city, business,
government interagency planning and implementation - a model community
effort,
Your presence here on this occasion, therefore, would serve to give
strength to the solution of the many difficult problems we still face in
Atlanta and to spotlight one of the landmark public housing developments
in America.
Those of us who are faced with the community level problems of leadership
are thankful that you are in the crucial position at HUD.
Sincerely yours,
Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor
IAS rify
cet Mr. Mdward Rayter
+
hc ap apes
vv
July 25, 1969
The Honorable George Romney
Secretary of the United States Department
of Housing and Urban Development
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
In November, 1966, we began in Atlanta a concentrated effort to
stimulate the development of 16,800 units of low and moderate income
housing to provide safe and sanitary shelter for thousands of less
fortunate citizens.
This effort, called ''The Mayor's Housing Resources Program" was
supported by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
private banks, developers, churches, civic groups and individual
citizens at all levels.
This program has produced results. As of this date, 21,013 of the
five year goal of 16, 800 units have been completed, are under
construction, or in planning. The most recent status report is
attached for your information,
Within the next few weeks, the single most significant development
generated by our programs will be placed under construction. It is
the East Lake Meadows turnkey project, which is the largest turnkey
public housing development in America with comprehensive community
facilities.
Because of the significance of this undertaking and because it embodies
so many of the aspects of community housing action which you so
magnificantly support, all of us in Atlanta - City Hall, the builders,
our housing officials, and citizens in general - feel that we want to share
the beginning of this project with you,
Secretary Romney
Page Two
July 25, 1969
I have been asked to issue you an official invitation from all of us
to inaugurate conetruction of this most important housing development
for poor people. If you schedule will permut you to come to Atlanta
in the next few weeks, we shall schedule the ceremonies for your
convenience. It would also give us the opportunity to show you some
of the operational components of Atlanta's Model Cities program.
Highlights in the development of the East Lake Meadows Project will
give you some idea of its importance not only in relation to the solution
of urban problems of Atlanta but perhaps in other cities.
The land on which this project is located was once a golf course owned
by prominent conservative businesemen in Atlanta. They sold it to the ‘
March Ccempany, a private development company, and supported difficult °
rezoning in an area which had hitherto had no public housing. City
officials, local Housing Authority, and the Regional Housing Authority,
together with local business people, civic groups, communication media,
were ali involved. The pwoject inciudes $60 living units, 150 for elderly,
shopping center, community and health facilities, city park, recreation areas
and the dedication of school sites. An example of community support
involves the four leading banks in Atlanta who formed a consortium to
finance the tnterim construction costs in an effort to assist in the solution
of Atlanta's housing problems for its low-income citizens. This develop-~
ment represents the highest type of cooperation among city, business,
government interagency planning and implementation - a model community
effort,
Your presence here on this occasion, therefore, would serve to give
strength to the solution of the many difficult problems we still face in
Atlanta and to spotlight one of the landmark public housing developments
in America.
Those of us who are faced with the community level problems of leadership
are thankful that you are in the crucial position at HUD.
Sincerely yours,
Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor
IAS rify
cet Mr. Mdward Rayter
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