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Fargo Urban Renewal Agency. Main Avenue (ND R-2) Project Records

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 149

Scope and Contents

The Fargo Urban Renewal Agency Records for the Main Avenue project document, in very good detail, the operations of the agency and this particular project. The records were received in relatively good order. The fifteen series and general arrangement reflect closely the original order. Weeding was limited to multiple copies found within the records. The Urban Renewal Agency Meeting Minutes Series is very extensive and complete, documenting the agency from its establishment to 1974. Much of the discussion is recorded and in some cases an actual transcript of the proceedings. The early years also cover Fargo's first urban renewal project (Fourth Street ND R-1). Agendas have been kept because in some cases they include attachments not found with the minutes. Also included is a chronology (1956-1974), with a short synopsis, of all resolutions passed by the agency. The Correspondence Series is extensive and retains the original chronological order with several specialized subseries, organized by agency and with Mayor Lashkowitz. These files deal only to the Main Avenue project. There is one file of "memoranda for the record" of office meetings and conferences. The Loan & Grant Application Series contains the various survey planning, loan and grant applications made by the agency and city to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They are arranged chronologically and itemized in the box listing. The Appraisals Series contains three subseries of appraisals done for the project. The Patchkin appraisal deals with furniture and other fixtures in various buildings. The Hagen and Wenge appraisals deal with the structures and property. They are organized by parcel of land and contain black and white photographs of most of the structures involved. The Land Acquisition Series contains the records concerning the purchase of all properties in the project area. There are small files of HUD correspondence, reports and a general list of names. The major portion of the series is the individual file organized by parcel number. These files include correspondence, legal papers, a file checklist and sometimes a copy of the actual appraisal. The box listing includes the name of the property owner. The Relocation Series deals with the relocation of individuals and businesses that had to find new homes or business locations in Fargo. The General subseries includes a variety of documents dealing with this matter such as correspondence lists, and progress reports. The other two subseries contain a one-page data sheet for each person, organized by parcel relocations. The latter includes Fargo Foundry Steel & Manufacturing, Dakota Monument, Gamble-Robinson, Charles Yellowbird, Salvation Army and Mrs. Al Geller. The other parcel files were weeded. The Contract Series contains original copies of the numerous contracts between the agency and various parties, such as lawyers, appraisers, contractors, HUD. They are organized by the agency's own alpha-numeric system. There are two subseries within the Land Disposition Series: general documents and specific property files. The general files contain correspondence, redevelopment proposals, and specific developer files. The specific property files are organized by land parcel containing specific proposals, both successful and unsuccessful. The Close-out Series consists of the various documents associated with the final years of the project (1970-1978). There is correspondence with city government and HUD, summary documents on the project, and a file on the one land parcel still not developed. The files in the General Files Series apparently constitute the general agency administration office files and contain a wide variety of reference and business material. Included areas are accounting budgets, Fargo Board of City commissioners, agency publications, news releases, 1963 special election, and the city's "Workable Program for Community Development" (1959-1972) submitted to the House and Home Financing Agency. The Finance Series contains the official correspondence and documents related to the various loan notes issued. There are also files on direct Federal financing and non-cash grants-in-aid. The small Insurance Series contains general documents on bonding, liability and property insurance held by the agency in relation to the project. The reports in the Report Series cover a wide variety of reports forwarded to HUD. They include financial, labor, audit, physical progress, relocation of businesses and families, progress status and budgetary status. The maps in the Maps and Architecture Drawings Series (Oversize Collection 12) document various aspects and progress of the urban renewal project. The architectural drawings are for the various structures built in the project area, and a "regional shopping center" proposal submitted by William A. Schlossman but never developed.

Dates

  • 1955-1978

Creator

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyright held by the State of North Dakota.

History

1955: City of Fargo submitted a Survey & Planning Application to the Department of HUD for both the Fourth Street and Main Avenue projects. They were advised to concentrate only on the Fourth Street project and thus rescinded the Main Avenue application. May 5, 1956: Fargo Urban Renewal Commission held its organizational meeting, having been established May 1. June 5, 1956: Earl E. Stewart hired as executive director and the bylaws passed. June 27, 1956: Fargo Board of City Commissioners changed the name of body to Urban Renewal Agency. May 31, 1961: Fargo submitted a Survey and Planning application for the Main Avenue project for $45,166.00. December 21, 1961: Application was approved January 2, 1963: An amendatory application submitted to enlarge the project area to include the property between Fifth Street South and Broadway between the NP tracks and First Avenue South. June 12, 1963: Amendatory application approved October 22, 1963: Special election held to allow a city 1 1/2 mill levy for up to 10 years to provide the city's one-fourth share of project cost (vote was 53% in favor of the project). January 17, 1964: The initial Urban Renewal Plan was submitted to HUD. January 22, 1964: The Loan and Grant Application was submitted to HUD. August 14, 1964: Earl E. Stewart resigned as executive director, and William G. Johnson hired as special assistant. August 15, 1964: M. Danny Wall named project director. November 9, 1964: Contract signed by Fargo & HUD for carrying out the urban renewal project. October 11, 1965: Fargo Urban Renewal Agency approved a revision to the urban renewal project. November 16, 1965: Revised plan approved by the City of Fargo Board of Commissioners. May 18, 1967: A revision to the Revised Urban Renewal Plan was approved by the Fargo Urban Renewal Agency and by the Fargo Board of Commissioners on June 6, 1967.

February 12, 1970: An Amendatory Loan and Grant Application was submitted to HUD. It was to enlarge the acquisition area to include the remaining buildings along the railway right-of-way from Broadway to Third St. South and to provide non-cash credits for the construction of the Second Street underpass. May 31, 1971: M. Danny Wall resigned as director. September 15, 1971: Peter C. VandenBurg named director, leaving Summer 1974 to Cowgill Agency, Inc. April 20, 1972: Amended Revised Urban Renewal Plan "Main Avenue Project N.D. R-2" approved by Agency. June 30, 1974: Agency closed out, with one property remaining (Parcel E), and succeeded by Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Fargo.

Extent

16.9 Linear Feet (16.9 linear feet)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

A collection related to the renovation and renewal of a major traffic and business area in Fargo.

Provenance

Donated by Fargo Planning & Development Office with concurrence of State Archives, State Historical Society of North Dakota, 1985 (2129)

Property rights

The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Finding Aid to the Fargo Urban Renewal Agency Main Avenue Project (ND R-2) Records
Description rules
Appm
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository

https://library.ndsu.edu/ndsuarchives/collections/institute-regional-studies-archive-collection
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States

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