_ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting November 05, 1969 7:30 P.M. Blackshear Elementary School Cafeteria 11th and Salina Streets The meeting was called to order with Mayor LaRue presiding. Roll Call: Present: Councilmen Atkison, Gage, Johnson, MacCorkle, Price, Absent: Mayor LaRue Councilman Janes Mayor LaRue announced that this meeting was a called Special Meeting to discuss the request for the Blackshear Project to be designated as a Neighborhood Development Project. He stated that the Council was here to obtain factual information about the NDP for Blackshear and to give each person present the benefit of all the knowledge and facts. After the meeting, no vote would be taken until the Council had had time to examine the information gathered. Dr. John King, President, Huston-Tillotson College, stated that the College stood ready to cooperate with Blackshear residents, with the City of Austin and with the people. The College needed land to continue expanding, and only three weeks ago, the Board of Trustees had reaffirmed its desire to expand. Mr. Jack Chiles, Chairman, Board of Urban Renewal Authority, explained the position of the Agency. He stated that the Agency followed guidelines established by the federal government and the Austin City Council. After the Blackshear Project had been underway, certain problems arose which the Agency felt could not be handled under Urban Renewal, and the Agency recommended that the City abandon the project. Subsequently, additional benefits became available, and the Agency now feels that the Blackshear area could be handled under a Neighborhood Development Plan. The Agency was recommending the NDP. Mr. Leon Lurie, Executive Director, Urban Renewal Agency, City of Austin, explained the Neighborhood Development Plan and how it would benefit the Blackshear area residents. The overall plan would cover a ten-year period. _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS November 5, 1969 Proponents The following individuals spoke favorably for the Neighborhood Development Plan in Blackshear: Mrs. Olive P. Brown, 807 Comal Street; Mr. Robert B. Smith, 1618 East 7th Street; Mrs. M.E. Durden. Opponents The following individuals spoke against Urban Renewal and the proposed Neighborhood Development Plan: Mr. J.E. Mosby, 1132 Chicon; Mrs. E.L. Collins, 1501 Rosewood; Mrs. Virgen M. Sorrels, 1623 East 10th Street; Mr. K.W. DelaShewah, 209 Rosewood; Mrs. Bertha Jones, 900 Niles; Mr. Jasper Glover, 1401 Leander Drive; Mrs. Parthenia Gillis, 1136 Leona; Mr. Bob Morgan, 310 East Delaware Street, Beaumont (Mr. Morgan formerly lived in the Blackshear area and served the area as a Presbyterian minister); Mrs. Andrew Ball, 1100 Angelina Street; Mr. Sylvester Stewart, 1181 Comal; Mrs. Octavia Miller, 1415 Gregby; Mrs. Lou Coffee, Jr., 1112 Lawson Lane; Mrs. Margaret McCaffery, 1106 Concho; Mrs. Lillie Robinson, 1410 East 11th Street. Miss Barbara Kazen, an attorney representing the Blackshear residents, also spoke against the proposal. Mr. Radell Galloway, 4602 Rebecca Avenue, stated that the Blackshear residents should first get correct information. He asked several questions with regard to the NDP, and those questions were answered by Mr. Lurie. Mrs. Mary Lee Clayburn, 5604 Preswyck Drive representing the Austin League of Women Voters, requested that the City Council appoint a mediating group tomorrow. The group would be composed of the following people: one homeowner from Blackshear, one tenant from Blackshear, one absentee owner of Blackshear property, one businessman of Blackshear, one representative from Huston-Tillotson College, one teacher from Blackshear Elementary School, one representative from Blackshear Resident's Organization, one Board Member of Urban Renewal, one citizen at large of Austin and one member of the City Council. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor LaRue thanked Mr. Mosby for his handling of the program. The Council then adjourned. Grace Mouse ATTEST: Asst. City Clerk ADJOURNMENT APPROVED: Mayor