Transcribe
Translate
Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974
Memo: Fort Madison Human Rights Commission Page 1
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
-1- It is the opinion of the Fort Madison Human Rights Commission, that the new concept for routing Highway 61 through Fort Madison, is the least feasible of those disclosed by the Highway Commission representatives and Fort Madison Municipal and Chamber of Commerce Officials. The Commission understands that the concept, at the moment, is just a concept, a mere line on a map. The Highway Commission said that "this relocation along the railroad tracks provides the opportunity to serve the central business district, as well as other major terminals with excellent highway service. The current land use along the relocated portion is now in a stage of conversion from low-cost residential to industrial- commercial areas." This is not true...in fact, the residents of that area have not been approached as to the disposal of their property, and this area is not a low-cost residential area. Many of these persons have paid as much for their homes as have residents in other areas of Fort Madison. This area is one of the highest in rent costs, by comparison, and we have the facts. To our knowledge, none of the industries have secured approval from the residents, that they are willing to sell their homes. As we understand it, the concepts were three in number: 1. Reconstructing Highway 61 along its present route except for a possible diagonal between Avenue H and Sixteenth Street and Avenue L and Eighteenth Street. 2. Using Avenues E and F as one-way routes through the city and relocating Highway 61 from the ends of those streets to the present Highway 61 beyond West Limits. 3. Constructing a bypass to the north. Local residents rejected a plan to improve Highway 61 by widening 18th Street and Avenue L between 18th and 23rd Streets. Since the Commission
Saving...
prev
next
-1- It is the opinion of the Fort Madison Human Rights Commission, that the new concept for routing Highway 61 through Fort Madison, is the least feasible of those disclosed by the Highway Commission representatives and Fort Madison Municipal and Chamber of Commerce Officials. The Commission understands that the concept, at the moment, is just a concept, a mere line on a map. The Highway Commission said that "this relocation along the railroad tracks provides the opportunity to serve the central business district, as well as other major terminals with excellent highway service. The current land use along the relocated portion is now in a stage of conversion from low-cost residential to industrial- commercial areas." This is not true...in fact, the residents of that area have not been approached as to the disposal of their property, and this area is not a low-cost residential area. Many of these persons have paid as much for their homes as have residents in other areas of Fort Madison. This area is one of the highest in rent costs, by comparison, and we have the facts. To our knowledge, none of the industries have secured approval from the residents, that they are willing to sell their homes. As we understand it, the concepts were three in number: 1. Reconstructing Highway 61 along its present route except for a possible diagonal between Avenue H and Sixteenth Street and Avenue L and Eighteenth Street. 2. Using Avenues E and F as one-way routes through the city and relocating Highway 61 from the ends of those streets to the present Highway 61 beyond West Limits. 3. Constructing a bypass to the north. Local residents rejected a plan to improve Highway 61 by widening 18th Street and Avenue L between 18th and 23rd Streets. Since the Commission
Campus Culture
sidebar
