Box 17, Folder 11, Document 43

Box 17, Folder 11, Document 43

PLY 3 3F0~ Ray

For release upon receipt of Judge Whitman's
Decision adversing the City's action in putting
up Road signs on Peyton and Harlan Roads

Iam issuing immediate instructions to Mr. Ray Nixon, Chief of
Construction for the City, to immediately remove the road closing signs on Peyton
and Harlan Roads, in keeping with the court order rendered by Judge Wiiitenna:

lam asking the City Attorney, the Honorable Jack Savage to take no
further action in this case until directed by the Board of Aldermen.

The difficulties which brought about the necessity for the abandonment
of the portions of Payton and Harlan Roads have served to focus the attention of the
people of this great city to the many problems of finding ample living space for a
large Negro population.

In order to prevent any reoccurrence of a similar nature as that in the
Peyton Forrest Area, and in order to conform with the decision of the courts, Iam
asking the Board of Aldermen to take the following attion at their regular meeting,
Monday, March 4:

(1) That the Board of Aldermen instruct the City Attorney not to appeal
the debision rendered by Judge Whitman.

(2) In order to assist in the handling of transitional areas in the City of
Atlanta, Iam requesting the Board to pass a resolution to create a special real estate
commission of six real estate men charged with the responsibility of preparing a code
of ethics covering the sale and use of property in such areas, so that peace and harmony
may prevail among all races in the City of Atlanta.

(3) Further, Iam requesting that the Board pass a resolution which will
instruct the City Planning Department to immediately institute a complete and
comprehensive study of all available land within the limits of the City of Atlanta

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that in the past has been zoned for commercial and manufacturing establishments,
for the purpose of determining which of said areas could properly and equitably be
zoned for open housing.

(4) Iam also requesting the Board to pass a resolution directing me,
as Mayor of Atlanta, to call together the respective groups and parties at interest
in the Peyton Forest area for the purpose of discussing and seeking a fair and.
just agreement on a voluntary basis to fix a cooling-off period for all parties
concerned in the Peyton Forest disturbance; and, furthermore, that all parties
at interest be urged to approach the difficulties presented with fair and open minds
in an effort to reach a solution to the controversaries which are noWexisting and

which may exist in the future,

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