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212
<br />
<br />February l0s 1981
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Freddie Molle~n, 4603 Westmoreland Terrace, representing Central Mid-City Civic
<br />League and Simonsdale Civic League, spoke in opposition.
<br />
<br />Clifton C. Molleen, 46~3 Westmoreland Terrace, relinquished his t&me to Mrs. Molleen.
<br />
<br /> S. L. Whitehead, 4415 County Street, representing Mid-City Civic League, spoke in
<br />opposition.
<br />
<br />Marie Whitfield, 40t0 Clifford Street, relinquished her~time ~o Mr. Whitehead.
<br />
<br /> Frank H. Wright, 1518 Augusta Avenue, speaking for self, spoke incopposition: of sub-
<br />§idized housing in the Westhaven & Simonsdale areas.
<br />
<br /> Robert E. Perkins, 406 Westmoreland Avenue, representing Central Mid-City Civic League
<br />and Simonsdale Civic League, spoke in opposition.
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Velma Topping, 4618 South_Street, representing Central Mid-City Civic League,
<br />spoke in opposition.
<br />
<br /> Mrs. Rose E. Perkins, 406 Westmoreland Avenue, represent~Central Mid-City Civic League
<br />and Simonsdale Civic League, spoke against subsidized housing in Westhaven and Simonsdale
<br />and had petitions signed by almost 5,000 residents of dommunities of Simonsdale and Westhaven
<br />and surrounding areas. (The petitions were not received by_the City Clerk, but received by
<br />mail on the 12th of February.)
<br />
<br /> Joseph E. Knight, 4820 Portsmouth Boulevard, representing Simonsdale Civic Club, spoke
<br />in opposition.
<br />
<br /> Rem. Don Sheffield, Chairman of the BoArd of Directors, The Emily Green Home, made the
<br />~following presentation:
<br />
<br /> "At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors for the Emily Green Home, whic~
<br />was held Monday night, February 9, matters relating to the 56 apartment units on King and Pow-
<br />hatan Streets being converted into subsidized housing units were discussed. The Board of
<br />Directors asked me ~o present a letter to you stating their opposition to this change and thei
<br />reasons for it.
<br />
<br /> The Emily Green Home is owned and operated by the Portsmouth Baptist Association which is
<br />comprised of 28 churches with an aggregate membership of nearly 20,000. The Home provides a
<br />place for o.lder citizens who, for one reason or another, need and want what is offered there.
<br />
<br /> Our opposition ~o changing these apartments into subsidized housing units is because of
<br />the following reasons:
<br />
<br />The strong possibility that there could be people placed in these units who have
<br />little or no regard for other people or their proper~y is a matter of great zoncern.
<br />It has happened before that because of these same ccnditi~ns~cpeople have suffered
<br />financial loss in the devaluation of their property, and some eventually had to move
<br />in order to find a place that offered some semblance of peace and security. The 80
<br />residents of the Emily Green Home are older citizens who enjoy the freedom of being
<br />able to get out for a walk in the community. With the possibility of trouble-makers
<br />moving into subsidized housing units adjacent to the home, steps will have to be
<br />taken by the administrator and the Board of Directors to provide protection, even if
<br />it means curtailing outside activities.
<br />
<br />As Chairman of the Board of Directors, I attended the meeting which was held in the
<br />Westhaven Elementary School on Saturday afternoon, January 31. I spoke on behalf of
<br />the Board about ~hese matters which disturb us. The only response came from one
<br />man representing the city, Chet McGinnis, who implied that we were over estimating
<br />the potential problems. My reaction to this response was that it was his feelings
<br />over against the feelings of some 1S00 people who attended the meeting at Willett
<br />Auditorium, the residents of Cavalier Manor, and over 400 people who were in attendan~
<br />at that Saturday afternoon meeting. It was a reflection agains~ the integrity of the~
<br />concerned citizens of our city.
<br />
<br />We are also concerned about the water behind the Emily Green Home. Who is going to
<br />be responsible for the little children, who could become residents of the subsidized
<br />housing units if they were to wander out into the water and d~own? Will the city, o~
<br />HUD, accept t~e responsibility and consequences if something like this should happen?
<br />
<br /> We are a~ a loss for an answer~when it comes to the question as to why steps were taken
<br />to have this property earmarked for subsidized housing units, and we were no~ contacted and
<br />given an opportunity to talk with the persons responsible~for this action. Responsible city
<br />leadership calls for a close and working relationship with the residents of the community.
<br />The way this was handled leads us to wonder if the persons responsible for this action either
<br />did not know the fair and proFer procedure, or that they knew it, and did not wanz to become
<br />involved in any dialogue with the residents of the community.
<br />
<br /> We are exgremely fortunate to have a very capable and qualified administrator for the
<br />home, Mrs. Ruth B. Hudgins, w~, with the assistance of a very fine staff, is committed to
<br />riding the best of care and protection for the residents of the home. The Board is most
<br />appreciative of their efforts. We don't wan~ to see anything happen that will change the
<br />complexion of the area surrounding this home whereby it would become a sore eye and a~isk,
<br />rather than a pleasure, to live there.
<br />
<br />pro
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