IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 2nd day of May, 1955.
No. 12381.
A RESOLUTION approving the Redevelopment Plan for the Commonwealth Redevelopment Project in the northeast section of the City of Roanoke and finding that said Plan conforms to all adopted plans of the City of Roanoke.
WHEREAS, the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, has completed studies and surveys of the Commonwealth Redevelopment Project area hereinafter described, and based thereon, has prepared a Redevelopment Plan for said Redevelopment Area, designated as Project U. R. Va 7-1, pursuant to those resolutions of approval adopted August 7, 1950, and June 11, 1951, by the Council of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and financed with funds advanced by the United States of America by virtue of contracts dated September 27, 1951, October 25, 1952, and January 2, 1953, by and between the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the Housing and Home Finance Administrator, under the terms of Title I of the Housing Act of 1949 (Public Law 171–81st Congress, First Session), under which contracts the Federal Government has advanced or agreed to advance the sum of $63,324.00 to be used for the preparation of said Plan, all in accordance with provisions of Title 36 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended; and
WHEREAS, said Redevelopment Plan has been submitted to the City Planning Commission of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and said Planning Commission has approved said Redevelopment Plan and has found that such Redevelopment Plan conforms to the General Plan of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, by its Resolution No. 81, adopted on the 20th day of April, 1955, has submitted for the consideration and approval of this Council the said Commonwealth Project Redevelopment Plan, dated the 6th of May, 1953, for the acquisition, clearance and redevelopment of that blighted area in the City of Roanoke, Virginia, which is more fully described in the aforesaid Redevelopment Plan; and
WHEREAS, the blight and slum conditions existing in said Redevelopment Areas resulting from the degenerative effect of unsafe and insanitary housing accommodations, caused, among other things, by age, deterioration, dilapidation, overcrowding, excessive land coverage, lack of ventilation, light and sanitary facilities, are detrimental to the safety, health, morals and welfare of the people of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and such blight and slum conditions should be eliminated in the public interest; and
WHEREAS, the extensive surveys by the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority in the Commonwealth Redevelopment Project area conducted in August, 1953, have disclosed, among other things, the following facts:
- That the Commonwealth Redevelopment Project consists of an area of approximately 83.5 acres which is predominately residential but contains some commercial uses and vacant land.
- Of the 438 residential structures within the project area, 76% are substandard, 248 of which are in a complete dilapidated stage.
- Of the 438 residential structures it was found that 69 have no bath, 5 have no toilet inside or out, 64 have outside privies, 2 have no water, 10 have yard water only, and 7 have no electricity.
- The existing paved residential streets in the project area are narrow and do not conform to existing City of Roanoke subdivision regulations. There are approximately 6,750 feet of unpaved streets and alleys and many streets have an excessive grade.
- The water distribution system is adequate for single family consumption requirements, however, there are a number of single family structures being used for multi-families. The 21 fire hydrants existing in the area, some of which are on 4 inch mains, are far from adequate for fire protection.
- The existing residential building lots fall far short of the requirements of existing subdivision regulations, the result is overcrowding and inadequate light, air and ventilation;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority is authorized to obtain further financial assistance under said Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, to carry out said Redevelopment Plan, and the findings, determination and actions herein made, taken and authorized by the adoption of this resolution; and
WHEREAS, such further Federal financial assistance will provide a loan in an amount equal to the cost of the acquisition of said Redevelopment Area, the clearance and demolition of the slum structures and the construction of site improvements, in accordance with the Redevelopment Plan, and such Federal financial assistance will also provide a capital grant to enable said City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority to make said land available at its fair value, for the new uses specified in said Redevelopment Plan, in an amount not exceeding two-thirds of any net loss, if the remaining one-third of any net loss is provided by the City of Roanoke, in the form of either (1) cash grants, (2) donations of land, demolition or removal work, site improvements in the Redevelopment Area, or (3) the provision of parks, public buildings or other facilities necessary to serve and support the new uses of land in said Redevelopment Area; and
WHEREAS, said Federal financial assistance under said Title I of the Housing Act of 1949 by way of a loan and a capital grant, together with the local grants-in-aid on the part of the City of Roanoke, as required by said Redevelopment Olan, and as herein approved and authorized, are necessary to finance and carry out the acquisition of said Redevelopment Area, the clearance and demolition of the slum structures and the execution of said Redevelopment Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority caused to be published in the Roanoke World News, a daily newspaper of general circulation in the City of Roanoke, Virginia, in the issues of April 1st, 11th, 16th, and 23rd, 1953, legal notice that said Authority would hold public hearings on the 15th day of April and the 1st day of May, 1953, at 7:30 o’clock, p.m. in the Lincoln Terrace Auditorium of the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority relative to the Commonwealth Redevelopment Project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority held said public hearings on the proposed Commonwealth Redevelopment Project, in the said auditorium of the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority on the 15th day of April and the 1st day of May, 1953, at 7:30 o’clock, p.m., in sessions, and heard all persons appearing at such public hearings who desired to be heard, and gave full consideration to the matters and things presented at such public hearings; and
WHEREAS, this Council, after hearing and duly considering the arguments of numerous persons, both for and against the Project, who voluntarily appeared before it at its regular meetings, concluded to hold a public hearing in the premises. Therefore, after causing legal notice thereof to be published in the said Roanoke World-News, this Council held such public hearing on said proposed Commonwealth Redevelopment Project, int eh Council Room in the Municipal Building, in the City of Roanoke, on the 28th day of October, 1953, at 8:00 o’clock, p.m., and then and there heard all persons appearing who desired to be heard and gave full consideration to the matters and things presented at such public hearing; and
WEHREAS, this Council, having duly reviewed and fully considered said Commonwealth Redevelopment Plans, and supporting exhibits and data, and being fully advised in the premises, hereby determines that the findings, determinations, and actions herein made, taken and authorized, are in the public interest and for the protection of health, safety, morals and welfare of the people of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, all in accordance with the charter of the City of Roanoke and the aforesaid State and Federal Statutes.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Roanoke as follows:
Section 1. That it is hereby found and determined that the within-designated area in the city of Roanoke, Virginia, designated as the Commonwealth Redevelopment Project, is a slum and blighted area, as defined by Title 36 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, and that the blight and slum conditions existing therein are detrimental to the safety, health, morals and welfare of the people of the City of Roanoke, Virginia; that said Commonwealth Project should be acquired by the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority; that such blight and slum conditions should be eliminated and the Commonwealth Redevelopment Plan carried out in the public interest; and that said Commonwealth Redevelopment Plan for the Commonwealth Redevelopment Project, designated as Project U. R. VA 7-1, as prepared and certified by the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority as of May 6, 1953, and duly filed with the City Clerk of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, be, and the same is hereby, APPROVED.
Section 2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is further found and determined (a) that said Commonwealth Redevelopment Plan conforms to the general plan of the City of Roanoke as a whole, and (b) that said Commonwealth Redevelopment Plan in all applicable particulars fully and satisfactorily: (1) indicates its relationship to definite local objectives as to appropriate land uses and improved traffic, public transportation, public services, recreational and community facilities and other public improvements; (2) indicates proposed land uses and building requirements in the Redevelopment Area; (3) indicates land in the area to be made available and designated for private or public enterprise, and (4) indicates the method for the temporary relocation of persons living in the Redevelopment Area and the method of providing decent, safe and sanitary dwellings substantially equal in number to the substandard dwellings to be cleared from the Redevelopment Area at rents within the financial reach of the income groups to be displaced from such substandard dwellings.
Section 3. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Federal assistance under said Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, and in effect prior to August 2, 1954, by way of a loan and capital grant, together with the local grants-in-aid on the part of the City of Roanoke are necessary to carry out the acquisition of said redevelopment area, the clearance and demolition of the structures in said slum and blighted area, and the execution of said Redevelopment Plan.
SECTION 4: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is hereby further found and determined that said Commonwealth Redevelopment Plan for said Redevelopment Area will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the locality as a whole, for the redevelopment of such area by private enterprise.
SECTION 5. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Roanoke will timely provide the necessary local grants-in-aid require pursuant to said approved Redevelopment Plan, and that in order to implement and facilitate the effectuation of said Redevelopment Plan, hereby approved, it is found and determined that certain official action must be taken by this body with reference to, among others, changes in zoning, the vacating and removal of streets, alleys, and other public ways, the establishment of new street patterns, the location and relocation of sewer and water mains and other public utilities and, accordingly, this body hereby (a) pledges its co-operation in helping to carry out such redevelopment plan; (b) requests the various officials, departments, boards and agencies of the locality, having administrative responsibilities in the premises, likewise, to co-operate to such end and to exercise their respective functions and powers in a manner consistent with said Redevelopment Plan; and (c) stands ready to consider and take appropriate action upon proposals and measures designed to effectuate said Redevelopment Plan.
SECTION 6. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is further found and determined that Federal financial assistance under said Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, and in effect prior to August 2, 1954, by way of a loan to finance the acquisition of said slum and blighted area, clearance and demolition of the structures in said slum and blighted area and the construction of site improvements thereon, in accordance with the approved Redevelopment Plan, together with a Federal capital grant to enable the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority to make said land available at its fair value for the new uses specified in the said Redevelopment Plan, and accordingly, approval is hereby given the City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority to apply to the Housing and Home Finance Administrator for such Federal financial assistance.
APPROVED
