DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974 | 1970-06-30 Fort Madison Branch, NAACP to Federal Highway Administration, Equal Opportunity Administration Page 2

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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1970-06-30 Fort Madison Branch, NAACP to Federal Highway Administration, Equal Opportunity Administration Page 2

2. 

deprived, economically, for years, but have worked hard and own their own homes. Some have put many dollars into improvements while others have built new homes. AT this time, the only housing available, is in the $25,000.00 bracket, which would be out of reach of most of the home-owners in this area. I have been informed, that none of the houses will be valued more than $6,000.00. That, along with the $5,000.00 Federal subsidy will not afforde these citizens satisfactory relocation.

4. Housing codes have never been enforced, here, and no attention has been paid to this particular section of the community when it came to making "general" improvements, because of the economic condition of the citizens and their lack of political awareness. Slum landlords do not keep up their property and are collecting rents which are outrageous, but are accepted by the rentors because of the fact that there is nowhere else for them to move. The landlords, also, are anxious for the Highway to be brought through the city so that they can get something for their property.

5. This is the only true multi-ethnic area in the city of Fort Madison. Largely made up of persons of minority groups, with elderly and low-income whites, it has been neglected by the city until it was decided that there was a need for rezoning the area as an industrial area. Now, it is considered an eyesore and people have been encouraged to drive through and see the conditions under which "these" people have to live. No representative of the area has been given an opportunity to let the curious see that there are many that have decent homes. Also, interested persons who are familiar with the people as human beings, who live in this area, have been denied the right to purchase time on the local radio to bring about the facts of the Highway relocation and the proposed Low-rent Housing which will have to be constructed before the Road can be built.

6. The city and the Highway Commission have mentioned, publicly, that only 146 families will be involved int he relocation. However, they neglect to mention the families who will be forced to move because their homes will be left between the Highway and the Railroad tracks.

7. Contrary to the reports that have been given to the public, the majority of the homes that are being taken, will not be "satisfactorily" replaced by the proposed "Low-Rent" Housing project, which has, according to the Agency Chairman, been approved by HUD. This, incidentally, was put before the city for the required referendum vote, on May 12, and passed by 136 votes. The ward which will be most affected by the project and the Highway, rejected. it.

8. Taxpayers are going to have to shoulder more of an expense because of the relocation costs for the pepple who are going to have to move.

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2. deprived, economically, for years, but have worked hard and own their own homes. Some have put many dollars into improvements while others have built new homes. AT this time, the only housing available, is in the $25,000.00 bracket, which would be out of reach of most of the home-owners in this area. I have been informed, that none of the houses will be valued more than $6,000.00. That, along with the $5,000.00 Federal subsidy will not afforde these citizens satisfactory relocation. 4. Housing codes have never been enforced, here, and no attention has been paid to this particular section of the community when it came to making "general" improvements, because of the economic condition of the citizens and their lack of political awareness. Slum landlords do not keep up their property and are collecting rents which are outrageous, but are accepted by the rentors because of the fact that there is nowhere else for them to move. The landlords, also, are anxious for the Highway to be brought through the city so that they can get something for their property. 5. This is the only true multi-ethnic area in the city of Fort Madison. Largely made up of persons of minority groups, with elderly and low-income whites, it has been neglected by the city until it was decided that there was a need for rezoning the area as an industrial area. Now, it is considered an eyesore and people have been encouraged to drive through and see the conditions under which "these" people have to live. No representative of the area has been given an opportunity to let the curious see that there are many that have decent homes. Also, interested persons who are familiar with the people as human beings, who live in this area, have been denied the right to purchase time on the local radio to bring about the facts of the Highway relocation and the proposed Low-rent Housing which will have to be constructed before the Road can be built. 6. The city and the Highway Commission have mentioned, publicly, that only 146 families will be involved int he relocation. However, they neglect to mention the families who will be forced to move because their homes will be left between the Highway and the Railroad tracks. 7. Contrary to the reports that have been given to the public, the majority of the homes that are being taken, will not be "satisfactorily" replaced by the proposed "Low-Rent" Housing project, which has, according to the Agency Chairman, been approved by HUD. This, incidentally, was put before the city for the required referendum vote, on May 12, and passed by 136 votes. The ward which will be most affected by the project and the Highway, rejected. it. 8. Taxpayers are going to have to shoulder more of an expense because of the relocation costs for the pepple who are going to have to move.