due diligence. 238 By the late 1950s, there was significant opposition to building 221 houses near White communities. White residents organized, using fear as a method to discredit the program, claiming that Black residents would encroach on their neighborhoods, bring down property values, and live in houses built with materials from the torn-down slums. 239 By November of 1960, just over half of the land slated for urban renewal had been purchased—53.7 percent of 1,200 acres. Property owners were paid about $7.5 million ($7,488,884) for plats destined to become “soaring modern building” due to their proximity to the central business district. 240 As the time for construction approached, Fletcher Coombs analyzed the impact of displacement, noting, "If I had to guess, we probably had more tenants than you had homeowners. As the years passed, homeowners moved out to the westside area." 241 Many residents relocated to westside neighborhoods such as Collier Heights and Vine City. Others moved to different areas, like Kirkwood and DeKalb County. The properties in Buttermilk Bottom were old wood-framed ‘shotgun’ houses and “were kept as neat as you could keep an old house of that kind.” 242 Beginning July 1, 1955, the Relocation Office assisted people through the rehousing program. 243 By 1958, 31 percent of displaced families had not been resettled. 244 Home purchases were facilitated through the FHA 221 Low-Cost Housing Program. With a FHA-backed, 40-year mortgage, families could purchase a home with a maximum $9,000 loan. 245 Thomasville Heights were one development of FHA 221 homes. The development was 4 miles from Atlanta City Hall, going south on Moreland Avenue. 246 The property was bounded by the Federal Prison, Southern Railroad, and a cemetery leaving much of the surrounding area was either undeveloped industrial sites or proposed for a commercial space and a school. 247 Residents moving out to Thomasville Heights would be completely isolated and dealing with environmental justice concerns. The houses were designed, built, and managed by FHA, and these one-story homes included three bedrooms, one bathroom, a dining room, a living room, a kitchen, an
238 “Implication of Relocation.” 239 Hughes, “Misunderstanding Halts Housing” .
240 Miltz, “First Bids” 241 Coombs, interview.
242 Coombs, interview.
243 "City Opens Urban Renewal Relocation Housing Office: Located in Lobby of City Hall; Aids Displaced Families." Atlanta Daily World (1932-), Oct 20, 1957. 244 Hanauer, “Negro Removal”. 245 "City Opens Urban Renewal Relocation Housing Office: Located in Lobby of City Hall; Aids Displaced Families." Atlanta Daily World (1932-), Oct 20, 1957. 246 Thomasville Urban Redevelopment Project Map, Atlanta Housing Authority, June 12, 1959. Atlanta Urban League Collection, Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library and Archives Research Center. 247 Thomasville Urban Redevelopment Project Map, Atlanta Housing Authority. Atlanta Urban League Collection, Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library and Archives Research Center.
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