Box 5, Folder 7, Document 22

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Box 5, Folder 7, Document 22

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Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. - 2 - April 25, 1968

Because of the innovative character of our operation, we are desirous
of proving our cage in an urban setting as contrasted with the usual
subdivision effort. To accomplish a cost reduction in a rural area is
not ae significant as to accomplish the same savings in the heart ofa
city like Atlanta. These are days of careful experimentation in every-
thing having to do with human relations, and we mean to perform a
significant social service in the process of making the revolutionary
changes in construction techniques that will mass produce the dwelling
units.

Iam eure that regulations require a competitive setting for the disposi-.
tion of the Federal i’enitentiary land, but, by the same token, the F. d-
eral Government, as you know, is almost desperately anxious to 6ee
cost savings accomplished that will make it possible for low and middle
income people to afford new homes without the onus of massive financial
subsidy. This we propose to do and for this reason we earnestly request
the privilege of using the Honor Farm land in the massive experiment
for which we are now tooling up.

We are looking at various factory sites for rent inside the Atlanta city
limits and, naturally, are anxious that the land we will use for the
actual subdivision will be in close proximity. The nature of the manu-
facturing process will not require a great many already trained people.
This works another advantage for the urban setting. We will be able to
give unskilled workers the modest training necessary to manufacture
and fabricate the components. As we see it then, our program for using
the Honor Farm iand will provide three immediate benefits. First, it
will enlarge the housing inventory at very reazonable cost to the tenant
and to whatever agency is charged with subsidizing the tenant rent or
purchase. Second, it will provide employment for a significant number
of semi-skilled and unskilled people in Atlanta. Third, the experimenta-
tion will naturally have geographic significance so that my favorite city
can be known as having continued in its course of leadership with regard
to national urban problems.

We are already into the basic site design, we propose single family and
multi-family detached units in addition to a modest highrise for the
elderly and whatever shopping center would be feasible. We will utilize
our fibreglass materials and techniques in all of the construction in
whatever degree the particular structure makes possible.
Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. - 3 - April 25, 1968

With such a program, the first question is always "when?". The
machinery with which we will manufacture our srototype models
is already assembled and will be shipped to Atlanta as soon as we
have the factory site ready. The larger machinery will be pur-
chased and brought into operation as needed. We are counting our
time in weeks and will produce upwards of five hundred housing
units during our testing.

We will anxiously await the outcome of Tuesday's meeting, and will
consider it a privilege to work with your people in the service of
the citizens of Atlanta.

COAST Mets

Richard L. Fullerton

RLF*jl

ce: Mr. Dan Sweat
Director of Government Liaison
City of Atlanta

Mr. Cecil Alexander, Chairman
Housing Resources Committee
City of Atlanta

Senator Paul Douglas, Chariman
President's Committee on Urban Problems
Washington, D.C.

Mr. William O. Burke, Director
Industry Division
Georgia Department of Industry and Trade

Mr. George T. Scharffenberger, (resident
City Investing Company
New York City

Mr. David E. Kahn
New York City

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