Box 20, Folder 20, Document 12

Dublin Core

Title

Box 20, Folder 20, Document 12

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

am



oy 4

Si

fe

Some
z

in}
Y
<<
Lu
Oi:
as
=
—_
Oo
©
O
ao



February |7, 1967

A regular meeting of the Urban Renewal Policy Committee was held on Friday,
February |7, 1967 at 10:00 A. M. in Committee Room #2, Second Floor, City Hall.

The following Members were present:

Rodney Cook, Chairman
Edwin L. Sterne
George Cotsakis

Hugh Pierce

Gregory Griggs

Absent:

John Flanigen
Frank Etheridge

Also present were:

M. B. Satterfield, Executive Director, Atlanta Housing Authority.

Les Persells, Director of Redevelopment, Atlanta Housing Authority.

Howard Openshaw, Chief, Planning-Engineering Department,
Atlanta Housing Authority. .

Collier Gladin, Planning Director, City of Atlanta.

George Berry, Comptroller's Office.

Robert L. Sommerville, Atlanta Transit Company.

Representatives of various City departments were present; also, several representatives
of Georgia State College were present, i.e., Dean William Suttles; Andrew Steiner;
V. V. Lavroff and Jesse Draper, Member of the Board of Regents.

The Chairman called the meeting to order and the following business was considered:

Public Hearing on one block amendment to Georgia State Urban Redevelopment Plan,
said block being immediately north of the Atlanta Police Station and bounded on the
north by Gilmer Street, on the east by Butler Street, on the south by Decatur Street
and the west by Piedmont Avenue.

Mr. Howard Openshaw gave the following pertinent information relative to this
amendment: The original Urban Redevelopment Plan was adopted by the Board of
Aldermen on March 19, 1962. Notice of today's public hearing was advertised in

The Atlanta Constitution on February 3 and February 10 in accordance with Federal
regulations. The plan consists of a ten page narrative and two maps, indicating the
project boundary, properties to be acquired and proposed land use. All| urban
redevelopment activities have been completed in the original project area - acquisition,
relocation, demolition, and disposal of land to the Board of Regents. The proposed
addition involves a total of 6.6 acres, comprising |3 properties which are proposed
X

Minutes
Urban Renewal Policy Committee
February |7, 1967 Page 2

for acquisition. The properties will be appraised by two competent appraisers and every
effort made to acquire the property through negotiation but if necessary, the property

will be acquired through the power of eminent domain. All fifteen existing structures will
be demolished. There are no families to be relocated. Relocation assistance will be
made available to the existing thirteen businesses in the area. An information statement
describing the financial assistance available was distributed to the business concerns on
February 10. The actual moving expense for any one business concern to be paid by the
Federal Government cannot exceed $25,000; under certain conditions a small business
displacement payment may also be available. The area to be added is presently zoned
M-lI and no change in zoning is proposed, however, certain controls will be placed on the
land restricting its use to college and college-related uses; 4.5 net acres will be sold

to the Board of Regents for redevelopment in accordance with the Comprehensive Master
Campus Plan. The amendment will increase the net project cost $1,147,072. The local
share, one-third of the net project cost, will be provided by the Board of Regents. The
City of Atlanta will provide an estimated $77,647 for street, sidewalk, sewer and traffic
improvements.

Dr. Suttles briefly explained how this additional block would fit into Georgia State's
Comprehensive Campus Master Plan. :

Andrew Steiner, Georgia State Consultant, briefly explained the composition of
the proposed buildings and using perspective maps, gave a visual concept of this proposal
as related to the entire Plan,

In response to an expression of concern by Mr. Cotsakis that the overall Plan should be
approved prior to the piece-meal addition of a single block, and that some members of
the Board of Aldermen were not familiar with the Georgia State Campus Plan, Mr. Cook
explained that this was the reason the Policy Committee requested the Master Campus
Plan. He commented further that he felt Georgia State had progressed far enough to
indicate that any additions would follow the guidelines as set forth in their Master Plan.
Chairman Cook was requested to alert the Board of Aldermen about the Plan as a matter
of communication (at their next meeting of February 20, 1967) and ask them to review
the copy which had been forwarded to them.

Mr. Gladin noted that there was considerable private development activities within the
Central Business District and that he felt it is in order that this Committee and other
Aldermanic Committees recognize and support the need for the development of a Central
Downtown Plan, designed to coordinate and relate all these various activities. He cited
several examples of both public and private planning being done on a spot basis, such

as the Nasher property, Portman's Peachtree Center, Georgia Plaza and rapid transit.

Mr. Cook then read into the record two communiques. One from Alderman Cecil Turner
endorsing the Georgia State Campus Plan, stating he hoped it would be approved and


Minutes
Urban Renewal Policy Committee
February |7, 1967 Page 3

sent to the Board of Aldermen on February 20, 1967; a second from the Atlanta Civic
Design Commission, stating "it is the consensus of opinion of members present at the
February 9 meeting that the Atlanta Civic Design Commission strongly endorses, on
the Georgia State College Master Plan, the concept of the Plaza system, which
includes the separation of vehicles from pedestrian traffic by different levels".

No one from the public appeared to be heard, and upon motion by Mr. Griggs,
seconded by Mr. Cotsakis and unanimous vote, the one block amendment to the
Georgia State Redevelopment Plan was approved.

RREKKEKEREREEKRE

Ebenezer Church - Proposed Expansion.

Mr. Openshaw pointed out, on an accompanying map, the existing property of the
Church on Auburn Avenue and stated that the property in question lies adjacent
thereto to the east; that he understands from the Church members the City Building
Inspector has required them to remove a back portion of their building to allow for a
fire escape and this eliminates a great deal of their parking; that this request is to
purchase an additional 150 feet along Auburn Avenue, extending through to Jackson
Place, to be used for church parking. He exhibited a second map illustrating the
property on a larger scale.

The Committee noted that this property and the adjoining properties extending to

the intersection of Auburn Avenue and Boulevard were designated for commercial use
and the ensuing discussion centered around the existence of a liquor store situated
on the southwest corner of the intersection and whether or not this owner's rights
would be abridged by extending the Church property 150 feet, thereby placing his
business in such a proximity to the Church so as to prohibit him from ever selling his
business under the State statute relative to required distances from Churches for

such uses.

Alderman Pierce felt the liquor store owner's rights should prevail should he decide
to sell his business since it existed prior to this request.

Mr. Cook was of the opinion, and the other committee members generally agreed,
that the question of the store owner's rights is immaterial in considering the merits
of allowing the Church to expand and that the remedy to his problem, if and when it
arose, would lie elsewhere, perhaps within the courts.

Mr. Sterne raised a question as to how the commercial development of the remaining
properties might be affected by the use of this 150 feet for church purposes.
)

Minutes
Urban Renewal Policy Committee
February 17, 1967 Page 4

Mr. Satterfield stated it was his opinion the remaining |.63 acres would be just as
saleable, if not more so, than if it were a part of the whole parcel.

In response to questioning by Chairman Cook, Mr. Openshaw stated the Butler

Street Project originated in 1959. A brief discussion then ensued about the type of

problems prohibiting consumation of the project. Mr. Openshaw explained there

have been no expressions of interest in the remaining properties to date and it has not
been previously advertised, but preparations are being made to offer the property for sale.

Mr. Persells explained that because there had always been a demand for property

in the Butler Street Project, the general policy pursued by the Housing Authority had
been to advertise the property after there had been a specific expression of interest
in a particular piece of property so there would be competition; that the project had
now reached the stage of a few remaining "tag ends" and the Authority is working on
a general proposal to place these on the market.

Chairman Cook concurred, stating he would like to see a concentrated effort to
complete this project. ;

The Committee then unanimously approved the Church expansion as requested.

KREKKEKKKEEKERERE

Rockdale Urban Renewal Project - Fulton County Property.

Mr. Openshaw pointed out, on an accompanying map, the property owned by Fulton
County, lying generally to the east of Grove Park Place, and he stated that he would
like some direction from this Committee as to how to acquire the County's interest
and a clear title to this property. He explained that another individual is claiming
an interest in the lots, therefore clouding the title and prohibiting clear acquisition
of it; that Mr. Sheats is willing to give a quit-claim deed for the County's interest at
the approved price of $7,300. However, Mr. Persells explained the County is not
willing to take the necessary steps to clear the title because of the cost involved and
that the Federal Government will not participate as it would be an ineligible cost.

After other discussion, the Committee unanimously agreed that the Housing Authority
should take this matter up with the County Commissioners with a minimum of delay
and that Chairman Cook would furnish the Housing Authority with a supporting letter
in behalf of the Policy Committee, urging the Commissioners to undertake to resolve
this problem as soon as possible,

RHEKEKRKREKERERERE
i)

Minutes
Urban Renewal Policy Committee
February |7, 1967 Page 5

With further reference to the Rockdale Project, there was a brief discussion as

to FHA policy relative to allocation of units within the Area, The Housing Authority
maintained their previous position on the matter - that the initial allocation

of 150 units for the first project was impractical (see minutes of November 18, 1966,

Page 4) but Mr. Satterfield, in response to questioning by the Committee, stated that

he had not received any indication on the part of an proposer that they were withdrawing
from the competition because of the restrictions being imposed by FHA, but they

have voiced some objections.

Mr. Persells stated he understood the Mayor's Housing Resources Committee is going
to urge FHA to increase the allocation of units and he felt it would not be amiss for
this Committee to direct a letter to FHA suggesting that every consideration be given
to a larger allocation of units.

It was the unanimous decision of the Committee that Chairman Cook would direct
such letter to FHA.

RREKKEKRKEKRKEKKEKRE

Rawson-Washington Urban Renewal Project - Industrial land adjacent to public housing.

Mr. Openshaw pointed out on a map of the project area Parcel N=3, owned by
Swift and Company and the adjoining small parcel (B-4) being offered for sale by the
Housing Authority.

Parcel N-3 is presently occupied by a small office building for Swift and a hydrogen
gas tank; parcel B-4 is vacant. Both tracts are zoned M=2 and lie adjacent to
proposed public housing.

Mr. Openshaw explained that a bid ($6,300) has been submitted on Parcel B-4

and the proposal is for a motorcycle repair shop by Atlanta Motorcycle Sales; that

he would like an expression of the Committee's feelings about this proposal. He commented
further he also discussed with Swift their plans for their property but was advised that

he would have to write the company in Chicago.

Mr. Sterne commented that the Hous ing Authority's Board of Commissioners was
strongly opposed to it, feeling it would not be desirable to place such a use in the
midst of public housing where it is presumed there will be a concentration of children.

Messrs. Satterfield and Persells stated that it may well be the Housing Authority would
want to acquire both tracts and include them in the project in the future, but in the
©

Minutes
Urban Renewal Policy Committee
February 17, 1967 Page 6

interim, they did not feel the use of the property for a motorcycle repair shop
would be conducive to the surrounding neighborhood.

The Committee unanimously denied the bid and requested that the Housing Authority
determine from Swift (by writing the Chicago headquarters) their future proposal
for Parcel N=-3.

KREREKKEREREREE
The Committee then considered the following unfinished business:

Citizens Trust Property, Parcel A-5, Butler Street Project.

Mr. Openshaw was requested to report at the next meeting whether or not a
building permit had been obtained by Citizens Trust.

Status of request for up-to-date appraisal from Walt Sullivan on cost of moving
public housing building from Hilliard Street.

The latest appraisal from Mr. Sullivan, obtained by George Berry of the Comptroller's
Office, was in the amount of $62,000. The Policy Committee felt this was entirely
out of the question and agreed that the Housing Authority would pursue the idea of
placing public housing on the property.

Motel proposal, Parcel D-9, Rawson-Washington Project.



Mr. Persells stated the proponents are continuing to pursue this matter; that they
requested and was granted an extension of time by paying an additional earnest fee
in excess of $50,000, which will not be refunded should the project not materialize.

Block 27, West End Boys' Club, Inc.

Requests plan change to designate parcels | thru 8 "To Be Acquired", and re=classify
Block 27 for institutional use. (A-I zoning district). Deferred from January 13, 1967
meeting.

The Committee unanimously approved this plan change, subject to verification
by Ken Byers, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee for West End.

Status of study of traffic problems around auditorium complex.

Mr. Gladin stated the City has acquired land on Forrest Avenue and
is ready to begin the street widening. :
Minutes
Urban Renewal Policy Committee
February 17, 1967 Page 7

The remaining unfinished business of the Committee was postponed until
the next regular meeting with a request that the Housing Authority be
prepared to submit status reports on all items.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.





Approved: Respectfully submitted,
>< same. ‘Dil eo
Rodn ook, Chairman UV Joanne Parks, Secretary

JP

Comments

Document Viewer