3873 RESOLUTION NO. 31873
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE
ROCK, ARKANSAS , APPROVING A REVISED URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AND
THE FEASIBILITY OF RELOCATION FOR THE HIGH STREET AREA,
PROJECT ARK R-6
WHEREAS, under the provisions of Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as
amended, the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development is
authorized to provide financial assistance to Local Public Agencies for under-
taking and carrying out urban renewal projects ; and
WHEREAS , it is provided in such Act that contracts for financial aid
thereunder shall require that the Urban Renewal Plan for the respective project
area be approved by the governing body of the locality in which the project is
situated and that such approval include findings by the governing body that:
(1 ) the financial aid to be provided in the contract is necessary to enable the
project to be undertaken in accordance with the Urban Renewal Plan; (2) the
Urban Renewal Plan will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound
needs of the locality as a whole, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of
the urban renewal area by private enterprise; (3) the Urban Renewal Plan
conforms to a general plan for the development of the locality as a whole; and
(4) the Urban Renewal Plan gives due consideration to the provision of adequate
park and recreational areas and facilities , as may be desirable for neighborhood
improvement, with special consideration for the health, safety and welfare of
children residing in the general vicinity of the site covered by the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Authority of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas ,
(herein called the "Housing Authority") has entered into a planning contract
for financial assistance under such Act with the United States of America, acting
by and through the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development,
pursuant to which Federal Funds were provided for the urban renewal project
(herein called the "Project") identified as the High Street Area, Project
ARK R-6, and encompassing the area in the City of Little Rock, State of
Arkansas , (herein called the "Locality") , generally bounded as follows:
On the north by a line drawn half-way between 7th and
8th Streets; on the east by Arch, Izard, Gaines , and
State Streets; on the south by 11th , 14th , 15th , 16th ,
18th and 19th Streets; and on the west by Marshall ,
Bishop and High Streets; and
WHEREAS , the Housing Authority has applied for additional financial assistance
under such Act and proposes to enter into a contract or contracts with the
Department of Housing and Urban Development for the undertaking of, and for
making available additional financial assistance for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Authority has made detailed studies of the location ,
physical condition of structures , land use, environmental influences , and the
social , cultural , and economic conditions of the Project area and has determined
that the area is a blighted, deteriorated and deteriorating area and that it
is detrimental and a menace to the safety, health , and welfare of the inhabitants
and users thereof and of the locality at large, and the members of this Governing
Body have been fully appraised by the Housing Authority and are aware of these
conditions ; and
WHEREAS, there has been prepared and referred to the Board of Directors
of the Locality (herein called the "Governing Body") for review and approval ,
a Revised Urban Renewal Plan for the Project area, dated February, 1967, and
consisting of five (5) pages , three (3) maps , and two (2) exhibits , and supported
by certain supplementary material , data, and recommendations , which material ,
data, and recommendations are not a part of said Revised Urban Renewal Plan; and
WHEREAS, said Revised Urban Renewal Plan has been approved by the Board of
Commissioners of the Housing Authority, as evidenced by the copy of said Board's
duly certified resolution approving said Revised Urban Renewal Plan which is
attached thereto; and
WHEREAS, a general plan has been prepared and is recognized and used as a
guide for the general development of the Locality as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the Little Rock Planning Commission , which is the duly designated
and acting official planning body for the Locality, has submitted to the Governing
Body its report and recommendations respecting said Revised Urban Renewal Plan
for the Project area and has certified that said Revised Renewal Plan conforms
to the said general plan for the Locality as a whole, and the Governing Body
has duly considered said report, recommendations , and certification of the
planning body; and
WHEREAS, this Governing Body, having duly considered said Revised Urban
Renewal Plan and supporting data and being fully advised in the premises ,
hereby determines that the findings , determinations and action herein made, taken
and authorized are in the public interest and for the protection of the health ,
safety, morals and welfare of this community, and all in accordance with the
Ordinances of the City of Little Rock, Act 212 of 1945 of the General Assembly
of the State of Arkansas as amended by Acts 189 of 1957 and 119 of 1959 of the
General Assembly of the State of Arkansas ; and
WHEREAS, said Revised Urban Renewal Plan for the Project area prescribes
certain land uses for the Project area and will require , among other things ,
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 facilities , and other public action ; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Authority has prepared and submitted a program for
the relocation of families that may be displaced as a result of carrying out
the Project in accordance with said Revised Urban Renewal Plan; and
WHEREAS, there have also been presented to the Governing Body information
and data respecting the relocation program which has been prepared by the
Housing Authority as a result of studies , surveys , and inspections in the
Project area and the assembling and analysis of the data and information obtained
from such studies , surveys , and inspections ; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Governing Body have general knowledge of the
conditions prevailing in the Project area and of the availability of proper
housing in the Locality for the relocation of families that may be displaced
from the Project area and, in the light of such knowledge of local housing
conditions , have carefully considered and reviewed such proposals for relocation ;
and
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the Governing Body take appropriate official
action respecting the relocation program and said Revised Urban Renewal Plan for
the Project, in conformity with the contract for financial assistance between the
Housing Authority and the United States of America acting by and through the
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS , the Governing Body is cognizant of the conditions that are imposed
in the undertaking and carrying out of urban renewal projects with Federal
financial assistance under Title I , including those prohibiting discrimination
because of race, color, creed, or national origin with respect to housing,
facilities related to residential use, and all public facilities within a
project area; public facilities proposed as non-cash local grants-in-aid; and
employment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS :
Section 1 . That it is hereby found and determined that the Project is
a blighted, deteriorated and deteriorating area and qualifies as an eligible
Project area under Act 212 of 1945 of the General Assembly of the State of
Arkansas as amended by Acts 189 of 1957 and 119 of 1959 of the General Assembly
of the State of Arkansas , and that the conditions existing therein are detri-
mental to the safety, health , morals and welfare of the inhabitants of the
Locality, and such conditions should be eliminated and said Revised Urban
Renewal Plan carried out in the public interest.
Section 2. That said Revised Urban Renewal Plan for the Project afore-
mentioned, having been duly reviewed and considered, is hereby approved, and
the City Clerk be and is hereby directed to file a copy of said Revised Urban
Renewal Plan with the minutes of this meeting.
Section 3. That it is hereby found and determined that said Revised Urban
Renewal Plan for the Project area conforms to the general plan for the municipality
as a whole.
Section 4. That it is hereby found and determined that the financial aid
provided and to be provided pursuant to said contract for Federal financial
assistance pertaining to the Project is necessary to enable the Project to be
undertaken in accordance with the Revised Urban Renewal Plan for the Project area.
Section 5. That it is hereby found and determined that the above-mentioned
Revised Urban Renewal Plan for the Urban Renewal Area will afford maximum
opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the Locality as a whole, for the
urban renewal of such areas by private enterprise.
Section 6. That it is hereby found and determined that the Revised Urban
Renewal Plan for the Urban Renewal Area gives due consideration to the provision
of adequate park and recreational areas and facilities , as may be desirable for
neighborhood improvement, with special consideration for the health , safety,
and welfare of children residing in the general vicinity of the site covered by
the Plan.
Section 7. That it is hereby found and determined that the program for
the proper relocation of the families displaced in carrying out the Project
in decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings in conformity with acceptable standards
is feasible and can be reasonably and timely effected to permit the proper
prosecution and completion of the Project; and that such dwellings or dwelling
units available or to be made available to such displaced families are at
least equal in number to the number of displaced families , are not generally
less desirable in regard to public utilities and public and commercial facilities
than the dwellings of the displaced families in the Project area, are available
at rents or prices within the financial means of the displaced families , and
are reasonably accessible to their places of employment.
Section 8. That in order to implement and facilitate the effectuation
of the Revised Urban Renewal Plan hereby approved, it is found and determined
that certain official action must be taken by this Body with reference, among
other things , to 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 facilities , and other
public action, and, accordingly, this Body hereby: (a) pledges its cooperation
in helping to carry out such Revised Urban Renewal Plan; (b) requests the various
officials , departments , boards , and agencies of the Locality having administrative
responsibilities in the premises likewise to cooperate to such end and to exercise
their respective functions and powers in a manner consistent with said Revised
Urban Renewal Plan; and (c) stands ready to consider and take appropriate action
upon proposals and measures designed to effectuate said Revised Urban Renewal Plan.
Section 9. That additional financial assistance under the provisions of
Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, is necessary to enable the land
in the Project area to be renewed in accordance with the Revised Urban Renewal
Plan for the Project area and, accordingly, the filing by the Housing Authority
of an application or applications for such financial assistance under said Title
I is hereby approved.
ADOPTED: November 6, 1967
ATTEST
APPROVED:
City Clerk �e Mayor