Presenter
Presented by Ms. Carlisle
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Whereas, on September 4th, 2004 the Belmar Gardens Cooperative will celebrate their 50th anniversary, honoring the original shareholders who still occupy units and are affectionately known as "The Precious Few"; and
Whereas, in 1952 executives of the Pittsburgh Courier, realizing that middle income African-Americans were overtly or subtly made to feel not welcomed in middle income white neighborhoods, decided to sponsor housing development specifically undertaken to meet the needs of this group; and
Whereas, this initiative resulted in the creation of the Belmar Gardens Cooperative, the nation's first housing cooperative built with a Federal Housing Administration insured mortgage. This cooperative consists of 118 housing units on 17 acres in the Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood; and
Whereas, the original shareholders who still reside in Belmar gardens after 50 years include Mrs. Lilea Allen, Mrs. Peggy Pierce Freeman, Mrs. Betty Fowler, Mrs. Ruth Monroe, Mr. Shadrach E. Moon, Mr. Sloss Powell, Mrs. Ellie Reese, and Mr. Howard and Mrs. Virginia Turner.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does commend the Belmar Gardens Cooperative for providing the community for this much needed housing for the past 50 years and joins them in honoring "The Precious Few" whose loyalty and steadfast dedication to the community greatly enriches the city.