DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974 | 1968-03-03 Fort Madison Human Rights Commission to the Iowa State Highway Commission Page 1

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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1968-03-03 Fort Madison Human Rights Commission to the Iowa State Highway Commission Page 1

FORT MADISON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FORT MADISON, IOWA

631 Avenue H March 3, 1968

Iowa State Highway Commission 
Ames, Iowa

Dear Sirs;
It is the opinion of the Fort Madison Human Rights Commission, that the new concept for the routing of Highway 61 is the least favorable of concepts disclosed by the Highway Commission representatives and Fort Madison Municipal and Chamber of Commerce officials. 
The Commission understands that the concept..., at the moment, is just a concept..., a mere line on a map.
The Highway Commission said that "this relocation along the railroad tracks provides the opportunity to serve the central business district, as well as other major terminals, with excellent highway service. The current land use along the relocated portion is now in a state of conversion from low-cost residential to industrial-commercial areas." This is not true,...in fact, the residents of that area have not been approached as to the disposal of their property, and this area is not a low-cost residential area. Many of these residents have paid as much for their homes as have residents in other areas of Fort Madison. This area is one of the highest in rent costs, by comparison...and we have the facts. To our knowledge, none of the industries have secured approval from the residents that they are willing to sell their homes.

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FORT MADISON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FORT MADISON, IOWA 631 Avenue H March 3, 1968 Iowa State Highway Commission Ames, Iowa Dear Sirs; It is the opinion of the Fort Madison Human Rights Commission, that the new concept for the routing of Highway 61 is the least favorable of concepts disclosed by the Highway Commission representatives and Fort Madison Municipal and Chamber of Commerce officials. The Commission understands that the concept..., at the moment, is just a concept..., a mere line on a map. The Highway Commission said that "this relocation along the railroad tracks provides the opportunity to serve the central business district, as well as other major terminals, with excellent highway service. The current land use along the relocated portion is now in a state of conversion from low-cost residential to industrial-commercial areas." This is not true,...in fact, the residents of that area have not been approached as to the disposal of their property, and this area is not a low-cost residential area. Many of these residents have paid as much for their homes as have residents in other areas of Fort Madison. This area is one of the highest in rent costs, by comparison...and we have the facts. To our knowledge, none of the industries have secured approval from the residents that they are willing to sell their homes.