Minutes 03/24/1959 - Laserfiche WebLink

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set forth on Plan E appear: to be the most desirable, and the cost estimates sub- mitted at said joint conference appear to make the proposed redevelopment economi- cally feasible, indicating the City's gross financial contribution to be approxi - mately $530,000. NOW, THEREFOP~, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that the Council continues its support of the Lincolnsvilte Redevelopment plan and authorizes the Portsmouth Redevelopment and ~ousing Authority to apply for a loan and grant to the Urban Renewal Administration upon the basis of the aforesaid Plan E and related cost estimates, with the request that the Urban Renewal Administra- tion review and process said application as expeditiously as possible; it being the sense of the Council that no further action on its part shall be required until the holding of the public hearing as required by law." Mr. Breedlove spoke in opposztion to the motion to adopt a resolution expressing contin - ued inteeest of the Council in the Lincolnsville Urban Renewal project and said that while he favored slum re - mo~al he felt that objective could be obtained through enforcement of the City's Minimum Housing Code. He stated that if the project was activated it would require expenditures by the City in excess of one half millionl dollars of taxpayers' money and in effect would be a subsidy for private gaZno needed for the project would have to be taken from further that the land one group of people and sold to another group and this was a violation of the Fifth Amendment of the United Stat~s Constitution. He argued that the Lincolnsville project was the fruit of a carefully conceived and executed pro -! paganda program put on by The Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority with the aid of a written report prepared by The Washington Regional Office of The Public Houszng Administration. He urged the Council to unite in efforts for slum removal under the Minimum Housing Code rather than through the Urban Renewal program and thus save the public purse and the dignity and constitional rights of the individual. Mr. Seward made the following statement: "I rise to a point Of persosal privilege. I realize the controversy that has arisen over Lincolnsville Perhaps no member of this Council has had as much pressure applied for its defeat as I have. [ ·I have tried to study its possible benefits. I have asked myself the question - what geco will Portsmouth get out of it. Do we need it? I know that my support of Lincolnsville can very easily swing the proposal from instant defeat to accomplishment. Even without individual and group pressures to vote against it, I realize my vote is important. If yon will permit me, I would like to restate my campaign promises. I think ti is im - portant that I do so. I first announced as a single candidate. Then, Mr. Breedtove, Mr. Walker and I formed an alliance v~th a single platform. We ptedged three things - tax equalizatiun, changes in City management and replacement of the assessor. Then, we said we would exercise independent thought and'action in all other matters. At no time did I tell the voters I would,fy to defeat public honsing, U~ban renewal and Lincolnsville were never dis - cussed. For the records, I have stated I 1 think we have enough public housing. I voted for stree' closing in Lincoln Park because the City had already contracted with the Federal Goverament for the build~ing of that project, just as it had for Billy Goat Alley. I want to do everything in my power to change Billy Goat Alley ~o Urban Renewal%.and private development. I do not consider Urban Renewal as Public Housing. It is Slum Clearance, with the Federal and City Government t~king part for the City's benefit. When the land is resold to private developers, land and building values are increased. Therefore, the City's tax values increase. I know that my stand on Lin- colnsville is unpQp~lar in some quarters. I have been threatened with poli~cal reprisals. But, if I am to serve the people of Por~smout~ with integrity, I must use my own judgment in casting my votes. Since I bel{eve my vote shall be in the best interests of my City, if I should cast it against Urban Renewal, I just honestly believe I would be voting against my City. I expect criticism. It will be nothing new. But, in voting my convictions I can live with myself later. In such time as I remain on this Honorabl9 Council, I ,,All always ~ote for the things I belier. Portsmouth needs, On motion of Mr.Weiseman, the resolution was adopted, and by the following vote: Ayes:' Bartlett, Seward, Smith, Weiseman Nays: Baker, Breedlove, Walker The following reports from the City Manager were read: 59-80 - "It is necessary that we appoint an acting City Collector for a period of ap proximately three months - April, May and June. This is the approximate time it will take to consolidate the of- fice of the City Collector with the Commissioner of Revenue and the City Treasurer. I recommend that Miss Edna Epes be elected acting City Collector for this period of time." Motion Of ~r. Bartlett t~ go into the election of an acting City Collector was adopte~. Mr. Weiseman nominated Miss Edna Epes. Motion of Mr. Walker ~o close nominations was adopted. Vote being taken, Miss Edna Epes was elected acting City Collector, without dissenting 59~81 - "I submit the following ordinances and recommend that they be placed on first ~eading. These ordinances are amendments to the License Tax ordinance. The ordinance on the laundromats sets a license fee of $25.00 per machine on unattended laundromats. The other ordinance sets the penalty on li - cense tax at $2.00." On motion of Mr. Weiseman;~he following ordinance was placed on first reading: