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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Hamilton Park occupies a unique place in Dallas |
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history as one of the city's oldest and most cohesive African |
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American neighborhoods; and |
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WHEREAS, In the years after World War II, commercial |
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development, residential segregation, and mounting racial violence |
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combined to cause a severe housing shortage for African Americans |
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in Dallas; business and community leaders were deeply concerned, |
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and the Dallas Negro Chamber of Commerce and Dallas Citizens |
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Council formed the Dallas Citizens' Interracial Association to find |
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a solution to this problem; and |
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WHEREAS, The association purchased 233 acres of farmland in |
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North Dallas with a loan from the Hoblitzelle Foundation and |
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borrowed money from three banks to finance infrastructure for a new |
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subdivision; Hamilton Park was named after Dr. Richard T. Hamilton, |
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an African American civic leader and physician, and officially |
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opened in May 1954; within seven years, the well-appointed |
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neighborhood had almost 750 single-family homes, as well as an |
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apartment complex, a shopping center, a park, several churches, and |
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a school; and |
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WHEREAS, The area attracted doctors, teachers, businessmen, |
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and other middle-class professionals, many of them veterans, who |
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took great pride in their new community; they formed such groups as |
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the Civic League, the Parent-Teacher Association, and the |
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Inter-Organizational Council to care for and improve Hamilton Park; |
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focused on church and school, young families enjoyed the friendly |
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atmosphere and a strong neighborhood identity developed; and |
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WHEREAS, The surrounding area has continued to evolve through |
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the years with the growth of the Metroplex, and the subdivision now |
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holds a prime location next to the High Five freeway interchange; |
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commercial developers have made numerous overtures to homeowners |
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through the years, and as the real estate increases in value, both |
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individuals and such organizations as the Hamilton Park Historic |
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Preservation Foundation strive to balance economic considerations |
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and the desire to protect a rich heritage; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Hamilton Park may be on the verge of a new |
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and very different era, a sense of community thrives among its |
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residents, and those who have been privileged to experience this |
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spirit of neighborly cooperation will treasure it always; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the Hamilton Park neighborhood of |
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Dallas and extend to its past, present, and future residents best |
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wishes for continued happiness. |
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Kent |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 608 was adopted by the House on March |
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5, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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