Dublin Core
Title
Box 13, Folder 16, Document 11
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OR. ALBERT M. DAVIS MRS. EUNICE COOPER DR. C. MILES SMITH
PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER
ATLANTA BRANCH
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE
859-1/2 HUNTER STREET, N. W. SUITE 105 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30314 524-8054
March 21, 1967
Mayor Ivan Allen
City Hall
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Dear Mayor Allen:
The NAACP, again, congratulates you on the vast housing program and
tremendous urban planning you have proposed for the city of Atlanta.
These projects will enhance the status of our great metropolis.
On the other hand, we criticize you on your failure to, effectively,
permit the citizens to participate in the planning of these programs. As
a result, some serious mistakes have transpired which can create some un-
necessary turbulence; one of which is potential over-crowdiness.
It has come to our attention that one of the sites now under con-
sideration for proposed construction of public houses is in the Harwell
Road-Skipper Drive-Bankhead area. Mr. Allen, we strongly oppose this due
to the fact that the Northwest-Southwest area is already saturated with
public housing and additional housing projects will only increase the
density and decrease the morale and comfort of our people.
The Atlanta Housing Authority seems to have overlooked public housing
location statistics and ignored the feelings and attitudes of Negroes who
now live and will live in a crowded environment. Statistics reveal that
of the 9404 public housing units existing 82.76% are in the Northwest-
Southwest area while none are existent in the Northeast area. This im-
balance in its most obvious and deplorable form. It seems logical that
some local remedies to this problem should be exercised rather than
augment this segregated concentration.
Mr. Allen, we recommend and insist that the Atlanta Housing Authority
consider a more balanced dispersion of additional housing projects. Atlanta
cannot and must not jeopardize its good reputation by establishing additional
ghettos or perpetuating segregation in its housing patterns.
In order to assure comfort of our citizens and tranquility of our
city and in the best interest of you, the Atlanta Housing Authority and
our citizens, we urgently request an immediate audience with you in order
to Mayor Allen
Page Zosesesses
to share some ideas and opinions. We would, also, hope that you can
encourage the presence of Mr. Alexander of the Housing Resources Committee
as well as Mr. Stearne and Mr. Satterfield from the Housing Authority.
There are some potential problems that can be alleviated before con-
struction takes place on the above mentioned site as well as other proposed
sites of which we are aware, if you can arrange to see us within the next
day or so. We are prepared to meet you at your convenience.
We realize you are busy but because this is so important we hope you
share our urgency of the need to listen and learn what our people are think-
ing so this conflict can be promptly settled..
Sincerely,
‘ %
LOY) | G+
(Dr.) A. M. Davis
Dic
cc: Alexander
Stearne
Satterfield
Fdward Baxter
A, R, Hanson
PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER
ATLANTA BRANCH
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE
859-1/2 HUNTER STREET, N. W. SUITE 105 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30314 524-8054
March 21, 1967
Mayor Ivan Allen
City Hall
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Dear Mayor Allen:
The NAACP, again, congratulates you on the vast housing program and
tremendous urban planning you have proposed for the city of Atlanta.
These projects will enhance the status of our great metropolis.
On the other hand, we criticize you on your failure to, effectively,
permit the citizens to participate in the planning of these programs. As
a result, some serious mistakes have transpired which can create some un-
necessary turbulence; one of which is potential over-crowdiness.
It has come to our attention that one of the sites now under con-
sideration for proposed construction of public houses is in the Harwell
Road-Skipper Drive-Bankhead area. Mr. Allen, we strongly oppose this due
to the fact that the Northwest-Southwest area is already saturated with
public housing and additional housing projects will only increase the
density and decrease the morale and comfort of our people.
The Atlanta Housing Authority seems to have overlooked public housing
location statistics and ignored the feelings and attitudes of Negroes who
now live and will live in a crowded environment. Statistics reveal that
of the 9404 public housing units existing 82.76% are in the Northwest-
Southwest area while none are existent in the Northeast area. This im-
balance in its most obvious and deplorable form. It seems logical that
some local remedies to this problem should be exercised rather than
augment this segregated concentration.
Mr. Allen, we recommend and insist that the Atlanta Housing Authority
consider a more balanced dispersion of additional housing projects. Atlanta
cannot and must not jeopardize its good reputation by establishing additional
ghettos or perpetuating segregation in its housing patterns.
In order to assure comfort of our citizens and tranquility of our
city and in the best interest of you, the Atlanta Housing Authority and
our citizens, we urgently request an immediate audience with you in order
to Mayor Allen
Page Zosesesses
to share some ideas and opinions. We would, also, hope that you can
encourage the presence of Mr. Alexander of the Housing Resources Committee
as well as Mr. Stearne and Mr. Satterfield from the Housing Authority.
There are some potential problems that can be alleviated before con-
struction takes place on the above mentioned site as well as other proposed
sites of which we are aware, if you can arrange to see us within the next
day or so. We are prepared to meet you at your convenience.
We realize you are busy but because this is so important we hope you
share our urgency of the need to listen and learn what our people are think-
ing so this conflict can be promptly settled..
Sincerely,
‘ %
LOY) | G+
(Dr.) A. M. Davis
Dic
cc: Alexander
Stearne
Satterfield
Fdward Baxter
A, R, Hanson
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