HomeMy WebLinkAboutRM 05-07-59REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
7 May 1�9
4:00 P:
Redevelopment Comm'n
129 W. Colfax Avenue
Commissioners Present: Virgil Place, James Louis, Fred Helmen,
Frank Kocza.n
Absent: Clyde Williams; Sr;
Also Pre ent: Attorney - Fred Baer
Assistant Director - James Neidigh
Director - Henry Sucher
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Virgil Place, President. Minutes
of the Meeting of 2 April were read and approved, upon motion made by
Mr. Louis and seconded by lair. Helmen.
The folio in-a business was discussed:
ll . AIEDI["It®WAM ®E' 3i1II[.ff S
May
Office Supplies
Garage (Service on Station Wagon)
Drafting Supplies
Printing Supplies (10 rolls film & processing of same)
Travel E penses:
Mr. Sucher -NAHRO Conference, Madison, Wis;
Mr. Neidigh- " it 11
V. Nowlin - Relocation Work in SS Area
TOTAL
4.41
16.15
33.34
48.31
67. 15
52.15
6.24
$227.75
2 . IRIEP7KY ON 1F A1811RO (CONIF]EIRIENGIE - MAIMIS ON , W]ISiC ;GNSiIIN
April 5 - 8, 1959
Mr. Sucher Igave a brief summary of the NAHRO Conference which he and
Mr. Neidi-ah had attended in Madison.-
Included in is summary were examples of how different "Fight Blight" organi-
zations could be quite effective. A staff interprets the city's rehabilitation
requirements to the property owners, and obtains lists of approved contractors.
In some cases where the families involved don't have the money, the work is
done by taking the monies from a revolving fund and paying the contractor with
same. The family will then pay back into the fund. on a monthly basis. The
money originally supporting this fund comes from private citizens, with $10, 000
being the original investment (in Wilmington, Delaware).
He also rep rted that in general rehabilitation needs more ironing out. In some
cities private construction firms have gone in and bought run down homes in sound
neighborhoo s, rehabilitated them, and after the rehabilitation, got FHA commit -
ments ands ld them at a profit.
3. EDIRG 051EED 'I�K1I&' YQ JERK IIUH.R11�3.� N IRIENIEV AIL, AIIDMIINIISiUIRA -
'1 I1O ®FIFIICCIE - CCIIHIIICAGO
Mr. Helmen brought up the fact that the planning process of the Sample Street
Project seerned to be moving rather slowly, and wanted to know how faster
action could be obtained.
Mr. Sucher stated that our proposal was to complete the planning, and obtain
the necessary approvals by the Planning Commission, City Council and Urban
Renewal Administration on the project by July 1960. Some of the requirements
just necessitate that amount of time, such as the three separate sets of appraisals
for each of t e 350 properties in the area, with individual plan sketches and
photos of all units, etc. The date of July 1960 has been based on the amount of
work yet to e done.
Mr. Sucher went on to explain that each major step takes one to two months for
federal reviews. In the future, while federal reviews are being conducted, we
hope to be able to spend this time on another project.
After a brie
that some o
Office in or
action. Th,
take to com
be taken at
planning ste
missioners,
discussion of the project planning barriers, Mr. Louis suggested
the Commission members go to Chicago and visit the URA Regional
der that they may more fully understand the situation and press for
re should be inquiries as to the minimum amount of time it will
,fete the planning stage, and whether or not three or four steps could
time rather than only one. In general, finding any way in which the
;e of the project could be expedited would be the aim of the Com-
Mr. Helmen then made a motion that Mr. Place, President, Mr. Sucher, Director,
Mr. Baer, Attorney, and himself make the trip to the Chicago Office in the near
future for die purpose of expediting the planning stage of the Sample Street Project.
Mr. Louis seconded the motion and it was unanimously carried. Mr. Sucher was
directed to Triake the appointment with one of the URA officials for the occasion.
4.
The resoluti
for the eligi
deterioratin
unimproved:
purposes. '
mental influ
plated by the
of the envir(
Mr. Louis
and it was
5 . IP IR
Proposed ne
per year); o
per half yea
of 1960 ($3,
six months
uIQi7I'IION ON IEIL.ILGIE BIILETY ®IF SiAMIPILE S YIRIEIEY
C Y AIRIEA
)n states that the project area conforms to the federal requirements
ility category of a developed, clearly predominantly residential,
area, since only 11.3% of the total land 'in the project area is
and 88% of the privately developed area is used for residential
he project area is subject to a multiplicity of detrimental environ-
nces, and rehabilitation would not accomplish the purposes contem-
federal and state urban renewal laws, since the detrimental influences
ament could not be thereby eliminated.
a motion to pass the resolution, with Mr. Koczan seconding it,
iously carried.
Il%(6t0 BffiImG1EU
w personnel for 1960 would consist of one full time Inspector ($5, 000
ie Relocation Director covering the last six months of 1960 ($3, 000
•); one Community Organization Worker covering the last six months
X00 per half year); one Administrative Assistant covering the last
f 1960 ($2, 700 per half year).
With our wn Inspector (on our payroll, but working out of the Building Com-
missions 's Office) we will get full time slum prevention for monies spent.
A Relocation Director will be necessitated during the last half of 1960 because the
execution of the project will then take place, involving the purchasing of properties,
and displacement of families.
A Community Organization Worker would also be an asset in any rehabilitation
effort, since he could get neighborhood organizations started and develop citizens'
cooperation.
Two raises have been proposed - one for the Draftsman (/ $400 per year) since
he will take on additional work of part -time Inspector - and one for the staff
Secretary (� $300 per year) since she will be taking on the additional duties of
Bookkeeper.
The proposed 1960 Budget. shows a decrease over the 1959 Budget of $8, 650.
Factors contributing to the decrease are the fund balance from last year, the
anticipated federal contribution and the omission of a General Fund Loan. The
total estimated budget for 1960 comes to $79, 400, which in turn reduces the
required redevelopment tax to .9�.
The prop sed budget sheets were distributed to the Commissioners for their
individual study and review, so that they will be prepared to discuss the budget
in more detail at the next monthly meeting.
6. IIDUS CUS;SI18M GIF 1F ON —AS;S US;'I EID) I RIE13$AMILI1'IE'AU]ION EDRC7TI;C;Y
There was discussion of the possibility of undertaking "non- assisted" rehabilitation
or con-oer ation projects in areas where the public investment would not have to
be very substantial. This could be done even if no 1959 Housing Legislation is
approved by the White House.
Several p�ssible areas of this kind were mentioned.
7. PUIR
After due c r.
the concensai
(tax exempt .
Since an ad
motion was
to approve
MEETING I
1E OF AIPDIDIING }9cllACIRIINE
sideration and discussion of three different types of adding machines,
favored the Friden 8 Keyboard Adding Machine at a cost of $339.00
.ing machine will be necessary in the future accounting work, the
made by Mr. Louis, seconded by Mr. Koczan and unanimously carried
he above mentioned machine.
ADJOURNED: 5:30 P.M.
Vigil jA. Place, Presiden