HomeMy WebLinkAboutRM 10-24-62MEMORANDUM ON MEETING OF COMMISSION
WITH URBAN LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES
24 October 1962
10 :30 A. M.
C
Als
issioners present:
Redevelopment Commission Office
129 West Colfax Avenue
Mr. James G. Louis, President
Mr. Clyde E. Williams, Vice - President
Mr. Fred J. Helmen, Secretary
Mr. Frank G. Koczan
present:
Staflf :
Mr. Louis N. Wilcox, President of Board of Directors,
Urban League
Mr. Nelson C. Jackson, Associate Executive Director
for Programs of National Urban
League
Mr. Wm. J. Brown, Executive Director, South Bend Urban
League & Hering House
Mr. Henry Sucher, Executive Director
Mr. Brown by way of summary of the Renewal program stated:
Presently there are four projects underway. Many directly concern-
ing the minority :population in:this area -. _Oneis rehabilitation
project which has already been-.approved, Downtown Feasibility Study
just now approved... Downtown South Bend Council cooperating.
Presently the - .redevelopment of- Chapin Street Project is %getting
ready for,execution ... Sample Street Clearance is almost concluded.
Trying to highlight needed awareness of problems as far as adjust-
ment of minority group families.
Jacks on: What have you been able to do in setting up Citizens
Advi ory Committee in this area?
Sucher: We have revised our thinking on.this problem. Originally
we had ten functional committees. These are still continuing when-
ever there is a specific problem. However, we have set in motion
an.o erall:advisory committee which is what URA wants. Have trouble
gettiMy participation. Mayor made appointments including quite a
few officials on it.
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Jackson: What'exten.t do'you.'envision: the- placing of persons
front particularly 'affected areas on the advisory committee?
Suc er Have some on'Relocation Committee, etc ... "are-working
in the LaSalle Park Area withLthe. area group. We have had`on
the planning committees- re presentatye of some of the speci-
fic areas.
Jac son: What have you been able to do in terms of relocation?
Suc er: Have done = `exceptionally` - well °'in' relocation. Of . Z40
fam'lies.which we have relocated'60/.shave been`Negroes_ and
onl 2 families have moved into 'stxbstandard- housing. Thbre'..
is very substantial number of existing standard dwelling units
on the market. Rental picture is better than it is in mos -t
cites. Practically none of <;the families =have moved into mew
:hou ing howe=ver.
Brown: Our concern has been=a -trend in ;thd- <existing marker °`that
was available most.of t-he- ,people went to Southeast section.of
the City. Does this bear-out your findings in relocation ?..k
Louis: 'I received cal l:,:•from the South -.side 'trying, to explain to
me conditions in the Ohio. Street area". Told them to send°` 'us in
writing whatever they have on their mind. They have formed - "a
new eighborhood3'committee. -"
Sucher: We- have.found that relocation u.nwts' lave been.pretty
well scattered: Majority =has not settled'in the area. Those-
in .. this', is' area;- that have. be -en taken by people ',from. the the Sample
'Street Area have.been, standard units.
Inve tigated- >'.this particular area for.Urban,Renewal. Does -'not
qual'fy.for �elearance. Has barely minimum amount of substandard
unit
to qua-lnify_�( for rehdb llitation. Last .expression from `the
area is that :they; want no: Part-;.of . any federa�1- ,program.
Wi1I. an ; ,- They -have °tried to- take care :: of ` their own= n'eighbQrhood .
hf t- re are, problems they- are' "aware of them to° a `degre'ej
Jack on 1s:. much of this Urban Renewal Program in non -white
area
Sucher-. Two programs that are now in the late execution stages
or r ady - for execution-:,'- - respectively, the first - 60/ Negro are,. &;
second--is a 95% Negro„ area. In do- yMt.own,' little Negro : occupancies,.
LaSalle Park Area is 95/ Negro area.
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Jackson:,. Does Mayor appoint members of Commission? j
Sucher: Mayor appoints Board of Trustees. Trustees meet annually j
to appoint Commission.
Jackson: Is there a Nebo on the Commission?
Sucher: No, but there is on the Board of Trustees.
Jackson: Have found: there is different representation, that many
of-the problems of urban renewal phases can be minimized.
Wi1'' -iams: What kind of problems?
Jackson: Problems of- -where people are going.:to live. Kinds of
40 -wi'ng that will be ,involved, whether high -rise or garden type,
lan '.acquisitions, which can ease some of the problems. Run into
problem of where schools are located, concentration in already
s tandard and overcrowded schools,..
Koc an: No.,,problem 'like that in South Bend;.
Sucher: We wereinvolved in the decision where second public
housing site was to be ."located -
Bro Is there a relocation authority here?
Sucher: Yes,.B.ielicki, Relocation Director.
Jackson: Does URA -limit its concern to urban renewal or highway
development?
Sucher: Only outside activity is code enforcement..
Jackson: Urban League has four genexal programs, one is housing
and urban renewal program. Had number of urban renewal institutes
on regional basis. One is coming up this.fall on, the West Coast.
Br Re- are still interested that we do. have some representation
employment-wise of minority group people
There is Willa Mae Johnson, Relocation Clerk.
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s,
There is Willa Mae Johnson, Relocation Clerk.
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