St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 57

SOUTH ZONE Serving South St. Louis City and County and Jefferson County PAGES 1 4S ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1971 One of Two Sections PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY TW1 ITlf IF1 itfT iJIlliiltllli Some Taking Objective Stand On South Side Housing Plan l-r; McCraig, director of the Patch Center, into silence before she could give her views. Weathers himself was cut off, but he was able to let the audience know that his group would look at the proposed project objectively. Weathers said his group planned to invite HUT) officials, as well as those of thp cry to the group's next meeting tc plain the project before any position is taken.

The Federal Government announced recently that preliminary approval had been given the Turnkey project on a five-acre site at Catalan Street and Minnesota Avenue. The project calls for 88 dwellings, each with three to five bedrooms. So far, the Metro South-Citizen's Council, and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Council for White Civil Rights have officially opposed the project. Petitions are expected to be circulated by those groups in opposi- By JOHN R.

BROPHY Of the Post-Dispatch Staff Despite stiff opposition to the proposed Turnkey housing project on the far South Side, a number of groups as well as individuals are taking a "wait-and-see" attitude before deciding whether to oppose it. To this end, Patch Neighborhood Development Center and Carondelet Community Betterment Federation directors hope to have city officials and representatives of the Department of Housing and Urban Development explain in detail what the project involves. Lenly G. Weathers, president of the Carondelet Federation, who attended the meeting Wednesday -f the Metro South-Citizens Council, admonished participants for not following the democratic process, letting various persons have their say. Weathers scolded the audi-enee for booing Mrs.

William tion to the project. Weathers said the Carondelet Federation would meet May 23, but the place had not been selected. He said that he and another member of his group would meet with a representative of the St. Louis Housing Authority, which would ultimately manage the project, and other officials, to invite them to the meeting. "We haven't taken a position on this," he said, "simply because we don't know what it's about and I don't think many people do.

We plan to discuss it objectively." He said there were many questions that need to be answered and much information that should be presented to the people of the area, stressing that the meeting of the Metro South-Citizen's Council was strictly negative and designed to play on the fears of people. "It (the meeting) was absolutely racist," he said. "The people were given a bigoted report, playing on the fears of residents. This is how you get red necks going." All of the people who belong to the federation, he said, are long-time residents of the Carondelet area which takes in the site of the proposed housing project. "The sole purpose of the group is to take steps to prevent decay, which means going to your alderman or pushing within the confines of the law, to get something done down here," Weathers commented.

Mrs. McCraig, who personally opposes the project, tried to express the other night the same point Weathers tried to make ARGUING A POINT: Lenly G. Weathers, pres ident of the Carondelet Community Betterment Federation, which represents a cross section of many ethnic, religious and social groups, speaking at a meeting of the Metro South 'Citizens Council on a proposed Turnkey housing project at Catalan Street and Minnesota Avenue. Talks On Coffeehouse Plan For Roxy To Continue that an objective, rational approach to the project should be taken. Mrs.

McCraig said she was opposed to the project because it would severely tax Carondelet School, which is crowded now and needs to be replaced. It is over 100 years old. "My own personal position is that I am against it because the schools are already overcrowded," she said, noting that two classes each are being conducted in two classrooms now. She echoed the feelings of others who have questioned the selection of the site. Mrs.

McCraig said: "The site is on the banks of River des Peres which floods that area. The air pollution is bad." As to the type of project, Mrs. McCraig said such a plan probably would be acceptable to many people if there was some assurance that families living in cramped, inadequate quarters in the area would have first choice in renting the dwellings. "If our people would be offered this type of housing it would be wonderful," she said. "I can name at least 10 families with at least six children each living in three to four rooms down here, and they're all long-time.

residents." Referring to her treatment at the Metro South-Citizen's Council meeting, Mrs. McCraig said: "I tried to tell them, 'Let's look at this objectively. Did anyone ever think it could be good for south St. The i of the Patch Center said the governing body of the organization met last night on the question. After a long discussion, with most of the 32 persons present indicating they opposed the project, Mrs.

McCraig was successful in persuading the group to invite officials familiar with the project to come down and discuss it before the group goes on record as opposing it. Alfred Waldemar, president of the Carondelet Improvement Association, said the board of directors of the group would meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Arthur's restaurant, Grand Boulevard and Eiler Street, to take Rock Hill Acts On Committee For Recreation Rock Hill Mayor Lincoln Wagner has begun appointing members to a Recreation Committee that will build a recreation program for the city. There will be nine members, as recommended by the Mayor's Committee for Recreation, who will elect their own chairman. Alderman Gary D.

Fox, who headed the research committee, will act as liaison with the board. The board allotted $5000 in its budget this year for the recreation program, half of what the committee had recommended. Mayor Wagner has said the amount "isn't enough for a good program, but it's a start." He said that once the public had some proof as to how good a recreational program could be, the issue of a tax for the program would be put on the ballot. on ways to prevent the Roxy from being turned into a coffeehouse. Alcott said yesterday he had not succeeded in the task, but was "working on it." The Rev.

Mr. Paget, in a letter to steering committee members, cited the following "interesting possibilities and observations:" (1) A Kenrick Seminary student, a resident of the Roxy neighborhood, has volunteered his services and offered to recruit other seminarians to help staff the coffeehouse. (2) Alderman Leonard H. Burst Sixteenth Ward, has suggested that the committee check on properties owned by the city for possible use. Burst said community centers, or possibly some unused buildings on Arsenal Street would be available.

(3) One person suggested that the coffeehouse be made mobile during the summer. The Rev. Paget said "a bus, a van, or just rented tents could be used for storing equip-m and dispensing refreshments." (4) Other sites have been suggested (5) Some persons have suggested that the coffeehouse idea be dropped. NO PRUITT IGOE: Glen E. Shrum, a citi zen, pointing to pictures showing scenes of a housing project on the near North Side.

Listening to his presentation at the Metro South Citizens Council meeting are Bill J. Macke (center), president of the council, and Robert Bone, another participant. (Post-Dispatch Photos) Li. sKL Albert Villa Opposes housing introduces 3 New hjee Carpets SAVINGS DURING OUR SPRING JUBILEE All are made of Acrilan acrylic fiber. Over 60 colors to choose from.

All are nationally advertised The steering committee of a gr6up seeking to have the old Roxy Theater converted into a coffeehouse for young people will meet Sunday to i possible steps toward attaining that goal. The plan has run into strong resistance from the Southampton Development League, a neighborhood group in the Roxy area. The theater is at Wherry and Landsdowne avenues. The steering committee, headed by the Rev. James S.

Paget of St. Mark's Episcopal Cto is said to represent seven churches in the area whose pastors have expressed an interest in the coffeehouse idea. Arthur Young, president of the Southampton Development League, said he planned to attend the meeting at St. Mark's to "express the views" of the league on the coffeehouse proposal. The Rev.

Mr. Paget said Young had expressed doubts about the wisdom of the church group's plan to move into the Roxy, but was willing, as head of the league, to discuss the situation. Paul Alcott, a member of the league, has been given the task of seeking an attorney's advice DIRECT ON BUY NOW I I Accolade the ultimate carpet for game rooms, dens, and family rooms-perfect for the budget minded riew Generation. FROM GENERAL ELECTRIC $650 SALE PRICE a position on the project. Most Oppose Project He said that indications were most members oppose the project on the site selected because they feel it would crowd the schools and that the pollution would be detrimental to the TURN TO PAGE 2, COL.

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