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August 22, 1978
<br />
<br /> The proposed Cradock Conservation District will be bounded general~by George Washington
<br />Highway on the west, Victory Boulevard on the south and east, and Paradise Creek on the north
<br />as shown on the e~hibit at the front of the room. This undertaking is consistent with the
<br />objectives of the general neighborhood plan previously adopted by the Cradock community and
<br />primarily involves making available rehabilitation loans to the property owners in the area.
<br /> The Cradock neighborhood contains over 1550 residences. Many homes, of course, are already
<br />in good condition and will need no treatment under the conservation program. However, the
<br />magnitude of this undertaking will require that activities be phased in an orderly fashion ove~
<br />the life of the conservation program. In this regard, the Cradock Property Owners Assodiation~
<br />which was instrumental in drafting the Conservation Plan and related Property Rehabilitation
<br />Standards, will be called upon very heavily to provide assistance in prioritizing phase areas
<br />and to actually assist on a regular basis in the implementation of rehabilitation activities.
<br />It should be emphasized that the success of any conservation program is very much dependent on
<br />continued community involvement and the support of individual property owners residing in areas
<br />where rehabilitation assistance is available.
<br />
<br /> In connection with the specifics of the proposed Conservation Plan, with the approval of
<br />this program by the City Council and the Board of Commissioners, the Authority will be permitted
<br />to make low-cost loans and provide technical assistance to property owners to undertake re-
<br />h~bilitation work to upgrade their respective structures. From a thorough analysis of the
<br />conservationarea, it has been determined that this course of action is appropriate and should
<br />effectively address and eliminate deterioration and blighting influences in the neighborhood.
<br />In connection with these rehabilitation loans which will be made on a voluntary basis and upon
<br />request by property owners, primary reliance will be given by the Authority to the Federal
<br />Section 312 Rehabilitation Loan Program, which is sponsored by the Department of Housing and
<br />Urban Development. However, it should be clearly pointed out that in the past the Federal
<br />Section 312 Program has been inadequately and sporadically funded. While efforts are being
<br />made to hopefully eliminate this severe problem by virtue of increased 312 appropriations
<br />nationally, with the history of this program being what it is, the Authority will continue to
<br />use its best efforts to provide alternane means of rehabilitation financing using Community
<br />Development or other funding sources.
<br />
<br /> In recognition of the special housing needs of the elderly, handicapped, and/or disabled
<br />persons in Cradock, a special financial assistance program tailored to the specific circum-
<br />stances of these individuals will also be made available by the Authority. This "Elderloan"
<br />program, as this effort will be called, will be funded from the City's Community Development
<br />Program and will carry with it a very stringent set of requirements. Other forms of rehabili-
<br />tation assistance which will hopefull be made available to assist 5oth residential and non-resz
<br />dential property owners will include funds from the Virginia Housing Development Authority,
<br />and other sources both public and private.
<br />
<br /> We should also mention, however, that in connection with actual rehabilitation work,
<br />since a portion of the Cradock project has been designated as an Historic District, all
<br />alterations affecting the exterior appearance of a property in this district must be approved
<br />by the Commission of Architectural Review. The Authority has worked very closely and very
<br />successfully with the Commission in the Olde Towne Project and this coordination will continue
<br />in Cradock."
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Zelma kirin, Chairman~ Planning Commiss'ion, made the following remarks:
<br />
<br /> "That Council should be aware of the fact that this activity originating w, ith citizens
<br /> working through the Planning Commission and then being implemented by the various departments
<br /> of the city, and then a perfect exercise of City Planning."
<br />
<br /> Rev. Charles Kettlewell, 5 A~ton Parkway;~ice~Pr~esi,da~t o~the Cr~dack~.~Pre~rt~ Owners
<br />As~o~i. on, presented the following statement: -
<br />
<br /> "We endorse the Cradock Conservation Pland and will work toward its implementation--even
<br /> though we know details will have to be negotiated because we belisve that Cradock ~s worth
<br /> conserving and that results in our neighborhood can be beneficial to the whole city.
<br />
<br /> We promise to continue our cooperation with elected and appointed officials, other volun-
<br /> tary associations, residents--both home owners and renners--and business interests.
<br />
<br /> We warn you of something you already know: there will be details to be negotiated. Some
<br />conaerns have already surfaced, such as the future of existing businesses in Alton Square, and
<br />the extent to which alterations and improvements to homes will be regulated or required. These
<br />sorts of things are to be expected, if people, with their varied interests, are to be involved
<br />in implementing the Cradock Conservation Plan. I think we will be able to work together and get
<br />something done if we can agree the future is open rather than closed, and if we can agree that
<br />the Cradock work is aimed at the conservation of a living community instead of a restoration to
<br />an idealize~ past or a redesign toward an ideai-~z~d-~ture. What we need is an accurate, re-
<br />sponsive tracking of the emerging community~-historically based and goal oriented, of course,
<br />~ng first a~-{en-~on to pres~ r--~[ty as it is found in the hopes, dreams, and efforts
<br />of the people who are the Cradock communizy.
<br /> Cradock is worth the effort to conserve it. It is, as you know, an early and si,gnificantl%
<br />large example of a planned community. Cradock was so well designed th~-{ part of our problem
<br />~ results from people settling here when they were in their twenties, rearing their childre]
<br />and then living out their retirement here. I don't know if anyone designing PUD's today has
<br />such a lofty aim. Certainly if a Planned Unit Development goes into Williams Court, and if it
<br />is built half as well as was Cradock, the planners will have done very well indeed.
<br />
<br /> Now Cradock, with its sound housing stock and good percentage of owner occupied dwellings
<br />and relatively involved citizenry, can serve as ~ model for conserving a neighborhood. What
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