Minutes 08/21/1972 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 21, 1972 No resident of the area has voiced objection to this plan. Those few who had reservatio~ and let it be known have been given full information about the plan - have agreed to it - indeed, some of these have become its~most ardent advocates. If there be any resident of the Mt. Hermon area who has opposition to this plan -I'~assure you you he or they - will surface tonight for the first time. I would like to point out that this group which I speak for tonight is noi~one of those organizations that exists in name only. Since its inception the Mt. Hermon Southside Communi League has had over 200 meetings of either the membership or the Board of Directors. 175 of these were publicly announced meetings, usually throughtthe press. In addition, the Project Area Committee - which takes its membership from the Mt. Hermoni Southside Community League has had almost 200 meetings since it was established. ~ point this out to indicate to you the honest and sincere depth of interest in this proposed project throughout the commmnity involved. The allocation of $10.4 million announced on JUne 29 was the fruition of 5 years effort on our part and untold work by Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the City Administration. ~y We, as you, are hopeful that the Congress will act to relieve the City of its ~elocation costs incident to this plan. Indications are that it may do so. But in any event, the increased taxable values to be produced by this plan will surely-~able the City to recoup its invest- ment in record time. We think it only appropriate to point out that businesses along the High Street area will be able to obtain relocation benefits just as will displaced residents - and this at a time when the London Boulevard diverts more and more commercial traffic from:the area. The Mt. Hermon Southside Community League supports this project wholeheartedly - We earnestly petition the Council to act favorably on it so that our past efforts - and those of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the City will hot have been in vain~" Telegram - Joseph Parker, President, Mt. Mermon South Side Civic League - from Congressman Bill Whitehurst, Federal Bldg., Norfolk, Virginia "Regret I cannot.be present this evening - please be assured that the Mt. Hermon project will continue to have my wholehearted support - I ~hare your hope that full approval will be given to this project without delay. You can count on my continued assistance." Richard J, Davis, President, Community Action, Inc., endorsed the Plan as presented. George R. Walker, 1749 Spratley Street, spoke in opposition to Plan. Delegate Robert E. Gibson, Chesapeake, eDdorsed the Project. Jessie W. StephensOn, 3104 Glasgow Street, spoke in opposition. The following letter from Dr. M. E. Alford, Superintendent of Schools was read: "In a conference with the Director of Planning it?as learned that a net gain of 312 units will result from construction in the Mount Hermon Conservation adh Redevelopment Pro- ject. Each unit will produce an additional 240 students, grades 1-12 in the satellite zone. If kindergarten is to be included, the total estimate of additional school children in this zone ~ould be 265. These children would attend the Churchland schools which are presently operating at capacity. Based upon construction cost data, School Management, 1971, of approximately $2000 per child, the estimated cost for providing space for these children in the Churchland zone is $530,000. School planners caution those concerned with the above project. Should the density of the houses be increased or should a larger number of parents with young children choose to reside in this area, the number of children per household may be increased to 1.5 per unit. Utilizing the larger estimates, spaces must then be provided for approximately 468 children at an estimated cost of $936,000. Attached is a copy of the data compiled by the Department of Planning. 'Attachment Mount Mermon School C~itdren Projection (Toward 1980) Present dwelling units to public school children ration = 0.7?. Proposed net unit gain due to renewal project 312 units. Based upon present dwelling unit to school children ratio and assumption that no other new dwellings will be built in this area. There will be approxmmately 240 more public school children. Arguments can be made for higher or lower projections. Lower projections could be argued based upon the fact that there will be at least 360 new dwelling units for the elderly which would not produce any public school children. For higher projections arguments dan be made that most elderly people living in present single family dwellings will vacate those units and will make them available for families with children and thus ther will be more school children than at present. Higher shcool children projections can also be justified based upon federal requirements that you must have. at least 50% of the units in low and moderate income range and at least 20% of those must be in low income range.- Lower income dwelling units usually produce a higher number of children per dwelling unit.