University of North Carolina at Asheville
D. Hiden Ramsey Library
Special Collections/University Archives

Oral History Register
for

Lawrence D. (Larry) Holt

OH-VOA H651 La

Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection
D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNCA

Title

Creator

Dorothy Joynes for Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection

Subject

LCSH:
Holt, Lawrence D. (Larry)
Asheville (N.C.) -- History
Unitarian churches in the United States -- North Carolina -- Asheville
Urban renewal -- North Carolina -- Asheville
City Planning -- North Carolina -- Asheville

Subject

Keyword: Asheville Housing Authority ; Unitarian Church ; City planning ; Unified Development Ordinance ; HUD

Description

Abstract: Holt discusses his religious background, and the factors that led him to become a member of Asheville's Unitarian Universalist Church.  He also discusses his experience as a planner for redevelopment, and describes several projects that he has been involved with over the years.  He outlines the development of the Asheville UU church and describes changes that he has seen over the years.  He discusses factors that influence the redevelopment of cities, and talks about specific areas that have been a problem in Asheville's redevelopment.  He discusses changes that have occurred in the city over the years, listing several specific initiatives and projects that have influenced these changes.

Publisher

D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804

Contributor

Date

Electronic Record Issued: 2002-05-09

Type

Sound ; Text ; Image

Format

Physical Description: 9-page abstract ; 1 90-minute audiocassette and 1 copy ; 2 color photographs ; newspaper articles and brochures

Identifier

Source

OH-VOA H651 La

Language

English

Relation

References: VOA Ken Michalove Oral History ; VOA William Moore Oral History

Coverage

Acquisition

Donor number: 146 ;  Date of acquisition: 1998

Processed By

Dorothy Joynes, Ruth Beard and staff

Interview Date

Interview Location

Biography

List of names

[2/328] [2/399] Beverly, George
[2/328] Beverly and Grant
[2/328] Beverly and Hanks
[1/173] Andrews, John
[1/173] Andrews, Lisa
[1/244] Birdsell, Bob
[1/244] Birdsell, Jo
[1/348] Brewer, Barbara
[1/244] [1/348] Brewer, Jim
[1/91] Brightwell, Lynn
[1/91] Brightwell, Tom
[1/91] Campbell, Chuck
[1/91] Campbell, Sara
[2/523] Cannon, Al
[1/91] Dill, Tom
[2/288] Ellington, Douglas
[2/453] Fields, Karen
[1/485] [2/288] Gaines, Charles
[2/399] Grove, Dr. Edwin
[1/319] [1/503] Hammond, William
[1/47] [1/348] [1/450] Holt, Lisa Green
[1/348] Houff, William
[1/91] [1/173] Keever, John
[1/91] [2/90] Keever, Patsy
[1/450] Killoran, Maureen
[1/78] King, Wilbur
[2/3] Larson, Bruce
[2/3] MacPherson, Robert
[2/453] McGuire, Roger
[2/359] Michalove, Kenneth
[1/91] Moore, Dick
[1/503] Neal, Don
[1/503] Neal, Vesta
[2/136] Nixon, Richard
[1/91] [1/283] [1/503] Pullman, Tracy
[2/523] Stevens, Cissie
[2/51] Tolleson, Peter
[2/399] Vanderbilt, George
[2/248] Wolfe, Thomas

Side 1:

Introduction—Deputy Executive Director of the Housing Authority.

[7] His father was a Southern Baptist minister. As a child he spent six hours a week in church which, he said, is why he has been so active in the Unitarian Universalist church as a "come-outer." 

[18] He met the Greenville, NC Fellowship while trying to acquire property for the city Redevelopment Commission.

[47] His wife was second generation Unitarian and when he visited his in-laws he attended a real church. [Lisa Green Holt]

[57] Theological questioning at home was discouraged but he was concerned about missionary efforts and concept of hell.

[78] He was recruited to come to Asheville in 1972 to work on redevelopment housing. The church was nearing completion and ready for expansion. [Wilbur King] 

[91] In Jan 1973 he and Lisa attended a service and met other young couples. A social get together was held and the couples became lifetime friends. A group which named itself the "Unicorns" became a major outreach and young couples were attracted to the church. One member, Sara Campbell, a teacher, studied for the ministry and now has the largest female-led congregation. Five to six couples have been renting a house together for vacations for 15 years. [John and Patsy Keever, Tom and Lynn Brightwell, Tracy Pullman, Tom Dill,  Sara and Chuck Campbell, Dick Moore]

[203] Hiring a man to help with the canvas polarized membership because volunteer offers had not been accepted and some resented paying for the service. The church budget had been $50,000-60,000 annually and with a professional, $250,000-300,000 to be paid over a 3 year period, was realized.

[244] The furniture for the Board Room/Library was commissioned (see photo). Soft sculpture wall hanging and painting were donated. [Jo and Bob Birdsell, Jim Brewer]

[283] When he joined the church he found the minister both a preacher (orator) and pastor (warm and caring) but not an administrator. With the increased budgetary concerns, after Pullman retired, an orator with administrative skills was sought. [Tracy Pullman]

[319] The building committee involved 2/3 of the congregation. Hammond was a "head person" and an orator. [William Hammond]

[348] When Hammond left, the search committee found a pastor with warmth. He had been in Virginia during the desegregation. However when his daughter took her own life, a major problem of unresolved grief created a dysfunctional congregation. An interim minister, after Brewer’s departure, acted as a healer. [Jim Brewer, Lisa Holt, Barbara Brewer, William Houff]

[450] The search committee after an extensive assessment as to the needs of the congregation, found our present minister. Under her leadership the church has grown. [Lisa Holt, Maureen Killoran]

[485] A representative from Boston ignited a fire to expand and the church is on the move. He believes January 1993 will be the beginning of major growth. [Charles Gaines]

[503] In the mid-70’s, $10,000 was embezzled by the treasurer. A civil judgment with no contest and an admittance of guilt was handled discreetly. There was however no compensation. [Tracy Pullman, Bill Hammond, Don and Vesta Neil]

[580] Unitarian Universalists have been active as individuals in civic affairs but the church had not been identified with issues in the 70’s.

Side two:

[2/3] A plaque was awarded by the Red Cross to the church as #1 donor to the Blood Bank. [Bruce Larson, Robert MacPherson]

[2/16] In the 70’s the church did not take a stand on the Gay Rights issue.

[2/31] Over time we have had minorities in the congregation but they feel overwhelmed as "royal guests" and uncomfortable.

[2/41] There was no consensus of opinion concerning Vietnam refugees.

[2/51] Some members still have questions but a consensus has been reached to support the rights of people with other sexual preferences and the church by-laws have been amended to reflect this. The church has made a public statement accepting all people. [Peter Tolleson]

[2/73] A pro-choice celebration has recently been held in the church. [President Clinton abolished the "gag" rule which would limit the Roe vs. Wade Court decision.]

[2/90] There was a smear campaign (paid ad in the paper) regarding Patsy Keever’s statement that she does not discriminate. Part of the smear was that she was a U.U. She was #3 vote getter. [Patsy Keever]

[2/108] He was a planner by education and was employed by the Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD), a program created from other departments in 1967. He had been working in Greenville as a real asset acquisition and disposition specialist.

[2/122] In 1972 he was asked to come to Asheville to work on the largest development project in terms of land use, in South Eastern US (NCR 48—North Carolina Redevelopment 48). He came 8/1/72.

[2/136] The Housing Community Development Act of 1974 put all development programs (model city, urban renewal, water, open space, sewer, under Federal community development block grant umbrella) and turned it over to the cities. The philosophy was to have the cities weaned from Federal funds over a five-year period. Congress still supplies funds. [Richard Nixon]

[2/166] Land-of-Sky Regional Council deals with State and Federal Governments (see Ed Shepherd tape)

[2/226] He came to work with the East Riverside Redevelopment Project (Asheland, McDowell, South French Broad), a railroad community (retired Pullman porters, conductors, engineers) and some of the worst housing in the city.

[2/248] The NCR13 (around Woodfin) was a total clearance project, removing single family frame buildings that had deteriorated. They had been built between the arrival of the railroad (1880’s) and the Depression. [Thomas Wolfe]

[2/267] Between 1890-1930 the population doubled every 10 years. Between 1930-1980 the difference was less than 1000. In 1930 the population was 50,000 and 1980 about 51,000.

[2/288] The First Baptist Church quadrupled land and the YMCA and Health Department were built. [Douglas Ellington, Charles Gaines]

[2/328] The old David Millard school was removed and major developments put in the cleared area - Southern Bell, Executive Parks 1,2,3,4,5. [George Beverly, Beverly and Hanks, Beverly and Grant]

[2/335] Streets were recreated by the Department of Transportation. The project was in operation when he came and closed out in 1976.

[2/359] One of his jobs was inspecting installed utilities. [Mayor Ken Michalove]

[2/370] Utility lines were put under ground.

[2/399] He refers to a cartoon (enclosed) and says that, except for Beverly, most of the energy and funds have come from the outside. [George Beverly, George Vanderbilt, Dr. Grove]

[2/400] The 2010 plan included many citizens. This is to serve as a blue print for elected officials and is updated every year.

[2/444] The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is a guide for property development in the metropolitan area.

[2/453] Asheville Buncombe Discovery is actively involved in the 2010 plan and helps groups keep on track in terms of future development. [Roger McGuire, Karen Fields]

[2/475] He was class representative in the 5th annual Leadership Asheville Program (now in 11th year) which briefs leading citizens in the past, present, and future of the city.

[2/483] Various groups are trying to mediate between the pro-growth and no-growth groups - e.g. Sierra Club, Coalition for Scenic Beauty and the Council of Independent Business Owners (CIBO), which was born because of the sign ordinances.

[2/523] The Chamber of Commerce mediates between interest groups and, with UNCA, is responsible for the Leadership Asheville Program. [Alf Cannon, Cissy Stevens]

Thanks.

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