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up with Ambassador College, were obliged to decline the appointment
to become the CRA planners. However, they have been working with,
and constantly counselling with, the architectural firm which was
appointed by the CRA. Thus the CRA planners were fully aware of,
and had completely approved the Master Plan we have been developing
for our own campus expansion.
However, it had not as yet progressed far enough to
present to the City Directors -- although the City planning
Commission are fully apprised, and in full accord with, our plans.
But the upshoot of the whole thing is that now public
attention has been focused on our plans, we are going to be forced
to proceed, without any delay, with the clearing off of the ground,
and the actual construction of the buildings. Otherwise the CRA
will find it necessary to allocate this area to certain other
usages. This would lead to the condemnation of our properties,
their acquisition by the CRA at great loss to us, and the ruination
of Ambassador College.
The CRA planning for this area cannot wait. They fully
approve of our plans. They WANT our college, as we plan its
expansion -- in fact they are enthusiastic over it. But also they
want the area CLEANED UP, as this portion of land has been a
blighted area. They would rather see our campus extended and
built into this area than any other purpose. But now WE DO NOT
DARE DELAY LONGER!
There is another factor even more serious. The entire
Los Angeles and Southern California area is in process of building
the most elaborate system of Freeways in the world. A new Freeway
is being planned to proceed north and south through Pasadena.
There are some four possible routes under consideration by State
Highway engineers. One of these would cut right through our
campus. Engineering surveys are in progress right now.
One of the things the Planners want to AVOID, if
possible, is a college or school. IF we move fast, and are
actually in process of erecting our new buildings in this area
under discussion, we feel that they will route the Freeway on the
other side of the Union Pacific railroad tracks. Our planned
campus extends to these tracks from South Orange Grove Boulevard.
But if we do not, and they route the Freeway along the WEST side of
the tracks, IT WOULD RUIN OUR COLLEGE IN PASADENA.
There is only one thing we can do: WE MUST MOVE FULL
SPEED AHEAD WITH OUR DIRELY NEEDED BUILDING PROGRAM. It will take
five or six years to carry this out. We do not plan to build but
one building at a time -- but if our program is moving along, now
that we have the entire Master Plan to present on paper to these
various Agencies, they will work with us, not against us, and I
feel the Freeway will be routed so as to spare the College.
Until now, I have been delaying the building program as
part of this "austere year" -- but now further delay would be
disastrous. We must proceed immediately.