1949- City of Atlanta passed a Slum Clearance Ordinance and established the minimum standards for safe conditions in residential areas. 144 1949- Councilperson John A. White introduced a resolution to name Buttermilk Bottom a slum clearance project. 1954 Supreme Court Case, Berman v Parker, tests the constitutionality of eminent domain. 1955- The Board of Aldermen passed a resolution giving the Housing Authority the responsibility to exercise the urban renewal project, and powers given to the city by the state. Additionally, the Housing Authority was responsible for planning and executing five renewal projects (Rawson- Washington, Butler Street, University Center, Rockdale, and Thomasville). 145 1956- Butler Street Redevelopment Project adopted (February), plans later altered to not included Buttermilk Bottom due to being over the funds allocated to the project. 146 1957- The Urban Renewal Department was created to coordinate Housing Authority staff and private groups engaged in local renewal activities. 147 1959- Mayor Hartsfield inspects Buttermilk Bottom and is followed by a press tour. 1963- 78 acres of former Buttermilk Bottom was razed to make room for building the Civic Center and Auditorium. 1964- A campaign booklet passed out by the (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) SNCC entitled, “Buttermilk Bottom in the Heart of Atlanta.” 1965 Atlanta- Fulton County Stadium was completed. An urban renewal project destroying the fabric of Summerhill, Peoplestown, and Mechanicsville. 1965- Bowen Homes opens and a majority of former Buttermilk Bottoms residents were relocated to the public housing complex. 1967- Residents joined together to protest the destruction of CW Hill Elementary School to no avail. 1967 - construction of the Civic Center completed on time. Residents learned an additional 1,000 housing units were to be demolished in Buttermilk Bottom, razing the entire community. 1967- U RESCUE, (Urban Renewal Emergency: Stop, Consider, Understand, Evaluate) was formed to advocate for their community and to stop its destruction. Upon learning an additional 1,000 homes would be destroyed.
144 Mayor Hartsfield, “Resolution: Neighborhood Analysis Study,” August 17, 1959, p.8.
145 Hartsfield, Resolution.
146 Williams, “Butler St Redevelopment.” 147 Hartsfield, Resolution.
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