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The Community Improver October 1966
Vol. VII

      
The Community Improver, October 1966
Special Collections, D.H. Ramsey Library, UNCA

Housing Authority of the City of Asheville

This issue of The Community Improver begins with an article on the closing of the 86 Livingston Street Rehabilitation Office, due to low funds. A letter from W.E. Roland, Rehabilitation Advisor with the Redevelopment Commission, follows, explaining the situation to readers and thanking them for their support. Roland assures readers that urban renewal will still go forward, and encourages them “not to give up hope at this point. Yes, there will be another delay, but we have reason to believe that work will be resumed shortly after the first of the incoming year and that our dreams of an upgraded community will eventually become a reality. Be patient and keep on working – let it be known that you are looking forward to the completion of these plans.”

Two other articles also address the delay, which is attributed to the fact that Asheville has not raised its portion of the money needed for the urban renewal project. A bond issue is preliminarily scheduled for February or March 1967. Readers are reminded that the Civic Redevelopment Project faced a similar delay in 1962, but that the project “had a happy ending.” Another article addresses the departure of W.E. Roland and Vito LePore from the Redevelopment Commission.  An update is given on the building of apartment buildings for the elderly. Classes are offered for homemakers to get “help with menu planning, find out about economy meals, the use of convenience foods, learn household hints on keeping a budge, do-it-yourself repairs, reconditioning furniture, home decorating ideas, and how children can help at home.”

OCTOBER, 1966
VOL. VII

Asheville is on the move...
                   Progress Through Community Effort

Rehabilitation Commission
Phones: 252-1114 and 252-0839

THE COMMUNITY IMPROVER

REHAB OFFICE TO CLOSE OCTOBER 15
     At the September 13 meeting of the Redevelopment Commission at City Hall, Mr. Greer, the Director, announced that the Rehab office would be closed October 15. Because of the delay in the city's share of the urban renewal money, the 86 Livingston Street office will have to be closed. This will not mean the East Riverside Urban Renewal Project will be shut down. It is just a means of holding costs down in order to stretch the urban renewal money over the period of the delay until the bond election is held in February or March of next spring. Many of you have been visiting the Rehab Office for information and advice. After the 15th of October, any questions or requests should be directed to the Redevelopment Commission's central office, located on the 6th floor of City Hall, Room 604. The phone numbers are 252-1114 or 252-0839. We hope that you will continue to come to us concerning urban renewal. There will be no change in our interest in you or in the services offered.
     Dear Fellow Citizens:
     Please accept our heartfelt thanks for your splendid cooperation during our tenure at the Rehabilitation Office of the Redevelopment Commission of the City of Asheville at 86 Livingston Street. You, along with the 13 Chairmen of the Citizens Participation League who represent you, have aided in making our efforts a success.
     I am sure that the announcement of the closing of the Livingston Street Office came as a shock to you. May I say that we also had no inkling that the plans for this area would be delayed again because of the lack of funds.
     In spite of this interruption, we encourage you not to give up hope at this point. Yes, there will be another delay, but we have reason to believe that work will be resumed shortly after the first of the incoming year and that our dreams of an upgraded community will eventually become a reality. Be patient and keep on working — let it be known that you are looking forward to the completion of these plans. -over

ROLAND AND LEPORE LEAVE STAFF
     Mr. Bill Roland and Mr. Vito LePore, both valuable employees of the Redevelopment Commission, have accepted positions elsewhere.
     Mr. Roland recently joined the Opportunity Corporation as Neighborhood Center Director at the Opportunity Corporation's Bartlett Street office—(corner South French Broad and Bartlett Street). We are delighted Mr. Roland was able to relocate in the East Riverside Area. He has been of great benefit to all he has come in contact with during his tenure at the Rehab Office, and he will now be able to continue his helpfulness toward people in his work for the Opportunity Corporation.
     Mr. LePore is presently involved in a training program with the Urban Renewal Regional Office in Atlanta, Georgia. Vito is an Urban Renewal Representative, and will call upon various local urban renewal agencies, giving assistance in many ways.
     We at the Redevelopment Commission feel the loss of these important men. They have done excellent work on the staff here. Both will continue in these new positions to enlarge their fields of service.

HISTORY REPEATS
     The present delay in the bond referendum is not a new thing. It has happened before in Asheville with regard to an urban renewal project. In 1962, it was the Civic Redevelopment Project.
     In the Annual Report for 1963, we quote: "September 24, 1962 . . . the Commission received an official communication from the Asheville City Manager stating it would be necessary to obtain special legislation to increase the city's debt limit before a bond election could be held. October 2, 1962, the Commission was notified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that it would be necessary to suspend the use of planning funds under the planning contract as eligible project costs subsequent to a favorable bond vote by the citizens of Asheville. October 24, 1962, the Commission suspended its office operation..."
     The reasons for the delay are different now, but the results are similar. The debt limit had to be raised in 1963; now it is simply a matter of enough time to prepare the package and arrange for the bond election.
     But the story on the Civic Redevelopment Project had a happy ending. The bond issue was held in spring, 1963, and passed by a 7-4 majority. The project is nearly completed now.
     We have reason to believe that the story will be the same on the East Riverside Project. The bond issue will be held probably in late winter, and we think it will be successful.

     These new structures will feature special services for the elderly including a small clinic to be staffed part-time by city health personnel and two special elevators, built to accommodate wheelchairs. For those who love to grow things, there will be planters outside the windows. There will be community space for recreation and crafts.
     The space around these buildings will be planned, too. The builders will go to great lengths to retain all of the trees and to keep the natural beauty intact. There will be paved plazas and wooded courtyards and easy access to Aston Park.
     The offices of the Housing Authority will be relocated into these buildings.

ATTENTION HOMEMAKERS!
     Are you frustrated with the daily "chores", worn out by evening? Get in step... find out a better way of doing things. Get help with menu planning, find out about economy meals, the use of convenience foods, learn household hints on keeping a budget, do-it-yourself repairs, reconditioning furniture, home decorating ideas, and how children can help at home. Learn from Mrs. Phoebe Putnam, Home Economics Extension Agent, and Miss Marian Nix of the Public Service Company. Sound good? The course starts Tuesday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the South French Broad YWCA. There will be 8 sessions, each for an hour and a half, and all for $4.00. Sign up now!