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Mayor: Ivan Allen Jr. (1962-70)

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1962-70

Summarize this time period here 

1963

Atlanta Housing Code updated to require landlords to provide hot water, access to electricity and heat in addition to a bathtub or shower[1]

 

[1] Ed Hughes, “Profits from Poverty: Housing Code Unenforced,” Atlanta Journal, 19 May 1959. 

1964

Bowen Homes Built

First Black Commissioner of the BOD of AHA appointed: Jesse Blayton

1965

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency created by Congress to consolidate (1) Public Housing administration, (2) US Housing authority, and (3) House and Home Financing Agency [CITE to act of congress]

Antoine Graves Highrise opened -- it was located adjacent to Grady homes and was the 1st multi story elevator equipped low-rent apartment for the elderly in Atlanta[1]

Construction began on Braves Stadium (in the Mechanicsville neighborhood)

Bedford Pines project” becomes Atlanta’s 11th “urban renewal” project[1] -- projected to remove 966 families from the area.[2]

 

 

[1] https://www.atlantahousing.org/about-us/ah-history/

[1] Stone, Economic Growth and Neighborhood Discontent, 102. 

[2]“Atlanta Seeks 11th Renewal,” Atlanta Constitution, 23 July 1965. 

1966

"Summerhill Riot" -- began Sept. 6th after shooting of Harold Prather by Atlanta police officer, but was said to bring attention to the conditions in underdeveloped areas of the city and the large number of people who had been displaced but not yet resettled from “urban renewal” projects. The frustrations of the displaced were felt through the intensity and duration of the "riots" and specifically gained the attention of Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. [1]

Mayor Allen later holds conference on housing, in response to pressures related to re-housing displace residents after the Summer hill riot. At this conference he imposes a moratorium on urban renewal in Atlanta until the city addressed how to improve to re-housing process. 

The mayor used the conference setting to introduce Atlanta’s "modified approach" to urban renewal; where the city once valued renewal projects for their economic potential, the City's Workable Program would be modified to emphasize neighborhood improvement, citizen participation, and the expansion of lowcost housing.

Allen set an ambitious goal. He proposed that the city would create 16,800 additional low and medium cost standard housing units over the next five years [3]

 

 

By March 1966, due to overlap, the Buttermilk BottomsBoulevard General Neighborhood Renewal Plan was terminated. [2]

[1] https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/holliman_irene_v_201005_phd.pdf

[2] See Environmental Impact Statement for Portions of the Bedford Pine area, 1979, Georgia Room Vertical Subject Files, Urban Renewal, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Library, Athens, Georgia.

[3] Stone, Economic Growth and Neighborhood Discontent, 128‐9; Collier Gladin, The Renewer: Newsletter of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Urban Renewal 4, no. 10 (November 1966), WBH Papers, Box 40, Folder 12, MARBL, Robert W. Woodruff Library, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia; Marion Gaines, “Crash Housing Program is Proposed by the Mayor,” Atlanta Constitution, 11 November 1966, 6.

1967

McDaniel-Glenn housing project built

1968

Integration of Atlanta Housing Authority projects

Neighborhood Development Program (NDP) authorized by Congress – providing funding for selected renewal initiatives and required citizen participation in those activities. This was a source of funding for building projects.

HUD approves Atlanta’s “Model City” Plan and award $15.7 million for the first year implementation grant, funds to be used for urban renewal in the 3,000acre “Model City” site.[1] – finally reduced to an initial $7.2million after Nixon administration revamped Model City program prior to funds being released to city of Atlanta.[2]

 

[1]Ken Hartnett, “Model Cities Under Attack: $27 Billion Projection for 5 years Splits Cabinet Level Nixon Aides,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, p.2A. 

[2]  “Model Cities Board Accepts $7.2 Million Grant,” Atlanta Constitution, 15 May 1969, p.31. 

1970

Two housing Projects built this year: Bankhead Courts and Englewood Manor

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