This series consists primarily of subject files and documentation of specific properties. The collection is arranged in three series: TRIANGLE URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT, BRITTINGHAM PROJECT, and PHOTOGRAPHS; with the following subseries for each project: SURVEY AND PLANNING; FINANCIAL; BUILDING CONDITION SURVEYS AND RENEWAL PLANS; PROJECT ADMINISTRATION; CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPROVEMENT; LAND ACQUISITION; LAND DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT. Files about each parcel acquired in the Triangle Project are also present.
When the series was transferred to the archives, it was apparent that files were missing. It did not include summary data or a final report and there was little public relations information. Nonetheless, the strength of the collection is in the parcel files, which detail the history of each property and dwelling during the development process (Box 10-26). A parcel file may include photographs of dwellings; reports on the condition of some of the dwellings in the redevelopment area; appraisals; and the various maps and plats of the project areas.
Perhaps the best overview of the project can be obtained through the various versions of the “Approved Urban Renewal Plan and Resolutions” (Box 4). These document how the plans evolved and were amended several times between 1961 and 1975. Also, the “Project Closeout” (Box 5) file contains the net project costs.
The SURVEY AND PLANNING subseries consists of a small quantity of public information (primarily newsletters and news clippings) and funding applications to the Housing and Home Finance Agency of the Urban Renewal Administration. Material supporting the applications details the work plan for clearing and revitalizing the area, the survey data used to formulate the plan, and maps. Project Eligibility Reports contain project data, information about property eligible for relocation, and relocation data. Loan and Grant applications [to the federal Housing and Home Finance Agency] contain correspondence including from groups and individuals opposed to aspects of the project, financial, community information, planning proposals, minority group information, relocation, improvements, land disposition reports, cost estimates, legal data, amendments, and maps of the project area. Only those amendments in which the plan was revised were retained: those with budget changes only were not retained.
The FINANCIAL subseries consists of project budget information and administrative and project correspondence. The majority of this series consists of audit reports, which, in the absence of a comprehensive or final budget, provides basic financial information.
The BUILDING CONDITION SURVEYS AND RENEWAL PLANS subseries consists of General Project Planning which includes correspondence and interim reports; Building Conditions and Eligibility Reports which includes maps, structure survey information and descriptions of individual dwellings; and Approved Urban Renewal Plans including resolutions concerning the project, an urban renewal plan outlining the project, land use plans, project proposals, and provisions to meet state and local requirements. The structure surveys in Box 3, Folders 9 and 10 are arranged by survey parcel number. The structure surveys in Box 4, Folder 1 are arranged by block number and an accompanying map acts as a key. Photographs, appraisal reports, and other information about these structures can be found in the parcel files. Use the Acquisition Parcel number to find the corresponding parcel file.
The PROJECT ADMINISTRATION subseries contains general project correspondence; information about cooperation with the city for non cash services; and information about public hearings including excerpts of minutes. It also includes index cards that staff used to manage the workload (Box 30). The original order has been maintained. The cards are divided into “Cases in Workload” and “Cases out of Workload.” The arrangement of the cards within these categories is not apparent. The cards are useful to find the parcel numbers of owners or renters whose names do not appear in Appendix A, “Name Index to Parcel Numbers.”
The CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPROVEMENT subseries contains information concerning the installation of private and public utilities. It consists of correspondence, resolutions, maps, and city non-cash grants-in-aid for demolition and infrastructure upgrade.
The LAND ACQUISITION subseries consists of contracts for individual appraisers to appraise specific property and related correspondence; monthly progress reports for land acquisition with financial information; and general condemnation information. The actual appraisals for the Triangle Project properties can be found in the PARCEL FILES subseries. The “Land Acquisition - General” folder contains acquisition data in table form for each parcel including the assessed value, appraised value, and adjusted total. Other tables show purchase price, assessed value, and date acquired. Also included is an analysis of the acquisition process. For the Brittingham Project the “Acquisition Appraisal Reports” consist of contracts, photographs, and assessments of comparable property (throughout the city), and include the appraisal. Folders contain photocopies of photographs of the dwellings, the originals of which can be found in PH Dane Series 326.
The LAND DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT subseries consists of correspondence regarding disposition agreements such as proposals to purchase property, redevelopers statements, and contracts for land sales; correspondence and proposals from developers interested in property in the redevelopment area; an analysis by Redevelopment Authority staff comparing developer's proposals; a report assessing the re-use value of selected parcels; and a plan for providing low-cost housing for those displaced by the project (Parkside apartments); and a federal Housing and Urban Development grant for improvements to low cost elderly housing in the Brittingham Park neighborhood.
The PARCEL FILES contain photographs and textual descriptions of each of the properties and buildings acquired by the Authority. Files are arranged by parcel number. To find a specific parcel file, consult the name index to parcel numbers attached to this register (Appendix A). The index was created from the folder title information on the Parcel Files and includes the parcel number, address of the property, and owner. The owner name was determined by the Redevelopment Authority and is likely the name of the owner at the time of sale to the City. If known, the Wisconsin Historical Society has added other names associated with the property. Note: this index is probably not comprehensive if you are searching for a parcel number by name. A secondary strategy is to search by address. If you do not find the name you are looking for, try the card index in Box 30.
A typical parcel file includes correspondence, appraisal, descriptions of both exterior and interior conditions of the building or parcel, and its use at that time as well as documents terminating leases and mortgages and/or transferring ownership to the redevelopers (including the price that the city paid). The photographs document the exterior condition of the structure or parcel, circa 1960-1961.
In general, the same type of documentation is available for the BRITTINGHAM PROJECT with the exception that there are no separate Parcel Files. Also, the Brittingham Project files include information on several cases in which owners fought the condemnation of their property, as well as an influential case limiting the Authority's power to acquire land. Photographs from the Brittingham Project, circa 1957, include images of exteriors and interiors of buildings; people involved with the project, including Mayor Ivan Nestigen, and unidentified people, possibly residents of the area; and an exterior photograph and a copy of an architectural rendering for a new apartment complex which was built on a portion of the Brittingham Project site.
