Peek at the Past

Here’s what made the news in the Sept. 21 and 28, 1972:

Point MacKenzie Annexation heads for Oct. 13 hearing

The specter of a city of Anchorage annexation of Point MacKenzie, which has been waiting on the back burners for the past two years, was raised again this week with the announcement Local Boundary Commission public hearing to consider the city’s petition. Borough manager Wes Howe stated that in addition to citing the planning already undertaken, the Mat-Su borough is the logical unit to coordinate development of Point MacKenzie as a deep-water port. If the city of Anchorage is granted its annexation request, borough attorney Bill Tull said today, the borough will lose jurisdiction entirely. A recent ruling by the Alaska attorney general has said properties annexed to a city also become a part of the borough where the city in question is located.

Three-year plan for service roads made up

The Mat-Su borough local roads and trails committee last week passed on a revised three-year plan for allocation of the borough’s share of the local service road program. Since the program was first announced last year, it has undergone several changes, pushing the dissection of secondary road construction standards and making the borough responsible for procuring enlarged rights-of-way for the proposed roads. Because the program has no provision for acquiring right-of-way by purchase or trade and the borough cannot condemn, many roads have and will be stalled now that the Department of Highways is insisting on 100-foot easements.

170-acre annexation plan heard by city council

Only two main items occupied the Palmer City Council at its latest meeting, a large annexation request and a renewed option on city land for a planned professional building. The annexation request introduced by Dr. Albrecht and Howard Estelle would greatly enlarge Palmer to the northwest, if granted. The Estelle property involved is only 10 acres, bordering the Glenn highway, and would provide an avenue of land contingent to the city limits now for the 160-acres owned by Albrecht. City manager Bill Curtis said a well just south of the Albrecht land would involve about one quarter of the cost to the city. From there, booster pumps could be used to serve the proposed added area. Albrecht’s plans include lots zoned for both low and medium density housing and some commercial space. He told the council a firm has contacted him to build a hotel of at least 150 rooms on the property fronting Glenn highway, if it were developed.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in 1972 you could:

Buy seven cans of Pillsbury biscuit dough for $1;

Buy a six-pack of Coca Cola for 99 cents;

Purchase a three-bedroom home for $29,000;

Enjoy a champagne brunch for $3.50 a person