Citizens Organized for Residential Protection Records
Collection
Identifier: Mss 260
Scope and Contents
Linda and Carl Elofson opposed the Twelfth Avenue North bridge and help create Citizens Organized for Residential Protection (CORP). These records originated from the Elofsons' involvement in CORP and have been organized into eight series: Correspondence; Municipal Actions; Publications; Bridge Planning Documents; Environmental Impact, Laws, and Regulations; Maps; Newspaper Clippings; and Subject Files. The material dates from 1965 to 1987.
The Correspondence Series contains letters between CORP members and various government agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard about the proposed bridge. There are form letters sent by CORP members to local residents concerning the bridge project, and form letters from Fargo-Moorhead residents sent to the Army Corps of Engineers arguing points for or against the bridge. The correspondence is arranged chronologically and covers primarily the years 1976 to 1983, although there is also correspondence for the year 1987.
The Municipal Actions Series consists of minutes from the Fargo City Commission meetings regarding bridge projects along with several pages photocopied from a municipal government publication on municipal procedures and policies. There are also minutes from a Fargo Park Board meeting regarding the 12th Avenue North bridge and meeting minutes from the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments. Also included in this series are agreements made by Fargo and Moorhead concerning bridge projects. One of the documents is a resolution by the City of Moorhead to continue to support the 12th Avenue North bridge. Another document is an agreement between the City of Fargo and an engineering company for services related to the 12th Avenue North bridge.
The Publications Series includes four publications related to the 12th Avenue North bridge project. One publication is a transcript of a public hearing on expanding 12th Avenue North from the interchange on I29 to 10th Street including an overpass over the railroad tracks. The other publications included in this series consist of a highway plan, a preliminary engineering study, and a preliminary design study for the 12th Avenue North bridge.
The Bridge Planning Documents Series contains some photocopied pages from a variety of publications as well as brief reports and resource documents. Some of the documents include an alternate proposal to the bridge project, a bridge feasibility study, a preliminary engineering report, preliminary data for a permit application, and construction estimates.
The Environmental Impact, Laws, and Regulations Series consists of a photocopied portion of the Federal Register, specifically the Army Corps of Engineers and their regulations regarding the construction of dikes, bridges, and other features affecting navigable waters. There are also pages from the Proposed Regulations Governing the Construction of Dikes concerning the state regulations that would apply to a bridge project. Other documents in the series consist of environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977, an environmental statement issued by the state and federal Highway Departments, an environmental assessment worksheet pertaining to the bridge, and documents providing flood information, such as information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The Maps Series contains aerial maps of Fargo/Moorhead traffic patterns, Cass County voting districts, future land use maps, a map of the flood plain, maps of the proposed 12th/15th Avenue North bridge project, and maps showing a cut away view of the Red River. The separated maps include maps of a larger scale depicting the proposed 12th Avenue North bridge as well as a map of Jack Williams Stadium, a land use map, a road use map, and a traffic pattern map.
The Newspaper Clippings Series consists of articles from The Forum regarding the bridge controversy. The articles cover some of the early publicity of the bridge in the late 1960s, but predominately cover 1983, although some articles have no date. There are no articles that cover the actual completion of the bridge. The Subject Files Series consists of a variety of documents pertaining to the Twelfth Avenue North bridge project. These papers include the results of a survey of Moorhead residents and their desire for a bridge, lists of community needs, and lists of reasons to oppose a bridge at 12th Avenue North. The files include a permit assessment from the Army Corps of Engineers, a deed for a city lot along 12th Avenue North, a petition from Key Club members, a public notice regarding the bridge project, and documentation from the North Dakota State Engineer regarding the significance of the Red River Valley watershed area. Other papers include contact information for CORP members, various meeting notes, promotional information from CORP, and a summary report of the Transportation Task Force.
Dates
- 1965-1987
Creator
- Citizens Organized for Residential Protection. (Organization)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
The Institute owns the copyrights.
History
Citizens Organized for Residential Protection (CORP) was organized in 1968 to oppose the planned expansion of Twelfth Avenue North to become a thoroughfare. Its founder was Eddie Gall. Carl and Linda Elofson, north Fargo residents, became active in 1976. Area residents became concerned when a proposal to build a new bridge from Twelfth Avenue North in Fargo, North Dakota, across the Red River of the North, to Fifteenth Avenue North in Moorhead, Minnesota was added to the plans. The members of CORP were fearful that the building of the bridge would increase traffic through a residential area, creating a hazard for local children and for a local park. They also were concerned about flooding dangers, decreased property values, and increased taxes. CORP members rallied other residents for support and communicated with a variety of government agencies to increase awareness and knowledge of the issue.
Eventually, in 1987, a bridge was built across the Red River connecting Twelfth Avenue North in Fargo and Fifteenth Avenue North in Moorhead. The bridge that was built at Twelfth Avenue North was different than originally planned due to the efforts of CORP. The bridge is a small toll bridge built by a private firm rather than a large, four-lane bridge built by the city. Although CORP did not succeed in stopping the construction of the Twelfth Avenue North bridge, they were successful in stopping the construction of a four-lane highway from I-29 in Fargo to Highway 75 in Moorhead.
Extent
0.6 Linear Feet (0.6 linear feet)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
CORP was organized in 1968 to oppose the construction of a bridge at 12th Avenue North in Fargo.
Provenance
Donated by Carl and Linda Elofson, Fargo, N.D., 1999 (Acc. 2564).
Property rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
Creator
- Citizens Organized for Residential Protection. (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Citizens Organized for Residential Protection (CORP) Records
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu