May- June 2002 SLNA Scoop Archive
6/18--Update on
South Congress Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project
From the COA's Transportation, Planning & Sustainability Department (TPSD)--Bryan
On May 29, 2002 TPSD urban design staff met
with a small group of South Austin community advocates at St. Edwards.
The meeting was advertised through neighborhood associations, fliers
distributed to Avenue merchants and major media outlets. At the meeting
staff presented a review of the project's history, discussed next
steps and distributed a community survey.
Participants' opinions on how to proceed varied. One person wanted to go
ahead with lighting without further discussion. Others were concerned
that so few community members were present to participate in
decision-making and requested greater outreach.
To enhance community outreach, a web page containing the May 29
presentation, project summary and the community survey was created:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/historic/southcongress.htm.
Users will be able to submit survey responses on line, via email or fax.
Deadline for survey response is June 21. Based on survey response, staff
will prepare design scenarios of desired improvements with estimates of
probable costs. The designs will be presented for community discussion
early in July.
6/14--NEWSLETTERS!
The Newsletters are back from the printer.
They are on Carol Gibbs' front porch on Roberts St.
Please go by and pick up your your bundle, route map and delivery
instructions.
Take tape and/or stapler-tacks (for the bulletin boards if your route
includes those).
Let's try to get them all delivered by this weekend. The meeting is next
Thursday!
Thanks a million
Bryan
6/14--New Info on
South 1st Road Reconstruction
This just in from the COA Roads Dept. --BK
Construction To Start on S. First Street
Construction for the South First Street road reconstruction project
should begin Monday, June 24th.
The project will be performed in five phases with the first phase
devoted to water line improvements from El Paso to Oltorf and wastewater
line improvements from Fletcher to Gibson. After the water and
wastewater work is completed, the four road reconstruction phases will
begin. The work will be performed in phases to lessen impact on
motorists and area residents.
Message boards will be installed at both ends of the work zone area
Monday June 17th.
Phase 1, the water and wastewater phase, is the longest of the five and
is expected to take about six months. During this phase, work will occur
only during off-peak hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. under daily lane
closures between El Paso and Gibson. Two lanes, with one lane in each
direction, will be open in that area between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. At the
end of each day, the road will be returned to four lanes of traffic, two
in each direction.
Crews will begin with the water line work followed shortly thereafter
with the wastewater work.
Driveway access to businesses and residents will be maintained at all
times. Postal service and deliveries will not be affected.
If you have questions before start up or during the work, call Rick
Colbrunn, project manager. Below are other names and numbers to keep
handy, in case a need arises. Be aware that the Construction Inspector,
Alexa Locklear, will be on the street every day watching the work
progress. She also will be able to respond quickly, should an issue
arise.
We will continue to let you know about traffic control and phase changes
as the project develops.
Thank you.
Whom To Call:
Project Manager
Rick Colbrunn 974-7089
Construction Inspector
Alexa Locklear 441-8785
Construction Inspection Supervisor Larry Mendez 441-8785
6/12--Meeting,
Newsletter, More...
The next SLNA meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 20 at 7pm at
Unity Church.
The yard signs are already up. Hilary put them up several days ago. We
have more being printed and Bill says they will be ready tomorrow
(Thursday). As soon as I can get the stakes cut and get them mounted
we'll put up a few more. (These new ones will not have the $10 realtor
"take one" tubes though.)
JoDee Myatt has been working on the newsletter for several days. It is
being edited as I speak and should be to the printer tomorrow afternoon.
I will hand them off to Carol as soon as they are done (hopefully Friday
afternoon). Carol and I worked on new routes last Sunday. Carol put
together an nice delivery person info kit with route, map, and do's and
don'ts.
The newsletter has the topics and programs (there are three presenters)
listed for the meeting, as well as the bylaws language change. We still
need more paper route people.
Parking ordinance is still at council. Revision number 8 is the current
version. We will vote on that and the bylaws changes at this meeting. I
think the council will have acted one way or the other before our next
meeting in August and we need a 'hood decision before then.
The infill ordinance slated for tonight's Planning commission was split
off. Only the sub-districting of neighborhood plans will be discussed.
The "two family" stuff has been postponed to some future date.
For any interested in the Vintage project, I met with the SRCC zoning
committee tonight and saw the developer's three proposals. All include a
building that tops out at 90' (Remember ROMA guidelines limit to 60')
and request MF-6 zoning (allows 90'). All proposals attempt to put 175
units, average 1000 sq ft, at that site! Hmmm, 175 unit with say
350 cars all dumping onto Riverside right at the interstate? Also, that
site is about 45' above the water, so the building top would then be
about 135' above town lake up on that hill! I'll keep ya posted on
this one because it will set a precedent if it happens.
Bryan
6/4--Planning Commission
Considers Infill Ordinance Amendments
For those following the Infill ordinance amendments, Bill has placed
links on the SLNA City
Notices page to the city documents.
Basically, this reduces the required minimum lots size for a second unit
(house/duplex/garage apt) from 7000 to 5750 sq. ft. Remember it was once
at 10,000! This a city wide proposal!
Planning Commission is to hear this on June 12th.
Below is an email I sent to Katie Larsen, the COA staff contact person,
concerning this issue:
Hello Katie,
Attached below are a few of the responses that were posted to the ANC
emailer within an hour of my posting of the Infill Ordinance amendment
review sheet Sunday afternoon.
Who are the 21 chairs and leaders that were polled? Was ANC included?
Were any neighborhood associations included in the process? I first
learned of this over the weekend!
I live in the south central area. It scares me to death to think of more
impervious coverage being added, especially since it has been shown that
the existing (old standards) drainage system is vastly inadequate and it
will take over $800M to bring it up to current standards. How can we
expect to raise the impervious coverage and assume this old system can
handle the load. It can't!
I am strongly opposed to reducing the current 7000 square foot threshold
to 5750 for the proposed catch all "two family" category. You can
see from the comments below, neighbors want more information. I will be
happy to relay anything you can provide to the ANCTalk list.
Feel free to call anytime, 444-9268
Thanks
Bryan King
South Lamar Neighborhood Association, President
6/4--South Congress
Improvement Project Survey
The South Congress Ave. Streetscape Improvement Project community
survey was distributed at the 5-29-02 public meeting, and we are posting
it on the web site so all can have a chance to provide input. If
you wish to participate in the survey, complete the form and return it
by June 14th to the address on the form, or fax it to 974-6525.
Click here for the survey. (PDF format)
Information on the project is at
Austin City Connection. You can also pick up a handout on the
project (which includes the survey form) at Off the Wall, 1704 S.
Congress.
FYI
Bryan
5/29--Free from APD:
Fingerprint Kits for Kids
This from APD District Rep Kenny Nash:
I'm putting together a program for children this Saturday, June 1st
at the HEB at Congress/ W. Oltorf from 10am- 1pm. I will be
passing out fingerprint kits to the parents or legal guardians of
children. These kits are for them to take home to record the
fingerprints and updated photos of the children and to stay on file at
the house in case the child gets lost or abducted. Could you please put
this out to everyone because I would like to get as many of these out as
possible. Thanks a lot and take care. Kenny
5/23-Dolphin Neighborhood
Watch Meeting 6/5
Kay Dorsey is planning a neighborhood watch meeting for her area on
Wednesday, June 5th... but everyone is invited. She plans to present APD
Officers Kraig Cassidy and Dustin Lee with a plaque for helping the
neighborhood so much.
The meeting will be at Kay's house, 3304-B Dolphin Cove, at 7pm.
FYI
Bryan
P.S. from
Webmaster Bill--mark
your calendars for Tuesday, August 6th, to participate in the 19th
Annual 'National Night Out'.
5/17/02--Developers Show
Interest in Bluebonnet Area
Prompted by emails from Ruth and Camille, I contacted the realtor for
the trailer park property. I also visited with Maria.
The realtor says the property is once again under contract. He would not
disclose the buyer. They are attempting to amass 12 acres (properties
down to Del Curto). The adjacent property owners have not all
agreed to sell, some have though. All he would say was it was to be a
"large commercial and/or retail type" development. I asked about any
residential and he said he didn't know but at the price they were paying
it would be very upscale.
Then I asked him about Maria's, her lease being the reason that the
Trammel Crow deal fell apart, and he replied that the developer had at
least a "verbal agreement" with Maria. I didn't mention to him that I
had just left Maria's house and she knew nothing of the project, not
even that it was under contract. She knew of no such agreement!
Once again, I asked that the realtor advise his client of SLNA and that
he involve us early if anything develops.
I spoke with Carol Gettinger tonight (who
owns the rock house near the corner of Del Curto and Bluebonnet). The
Gettingers have been approached by more than one developer. Nothing
solid and no contract signed, just talk at this point. She thought the
realtors were trying to buy up the trailer park, the Wong sisters
property (that behind and on either side of the rock house) and theirs,
& Herndon Baileys to houses to get up to the 10 or 12 acres.
Carol said they weren't looking to sell, wasn't in the plan to move, but
everybody has their price. Just depends on how bad the developer wants
it.
The properties in question have various zoning codes. Up by Maria's it
is CS, the trailer park is actually SF-3, the Wong's and Carol's is
MF-2, and Bailey's property is LO-CO. There would need to be some
serious zoning changes needed!
FYI
BK
5/14/02--Oak Wilt
Workshop This Saturday
Just a reminder, The South Lamar Neighborhood Association will be having
an Oak Wilt Workshop this Saturday May 18th, 9am, at 4016
Valley View ( that is just off Fortview).
Jay Culver, City of Austin Forester, will be leading the demonstration.
Anyone wishing to learn the "do it yourself" way of treating your tress
should attend. Kathryn Stern, our oak wilt chairperson, will have the
SLNA pressure treatment system there and arrangements can be made to
check this out to treat your trees (thanks to Jon Long of Oak Wilt
Specialist for the donation of the treatment rig). We will actually be
treating a tree with Alamo fungicide.
Please let anyone in the path of oak wilt know about this workshop.
Other than trenching (way too expensive) this is the only way to stop
oak wilt's march through our hoods.
A revised map of the oak wilt zone in SLNA is up on the SLNA website:
http://www.southlamar.org/resources.htm
Email me or Kathryn if you need additional information and please pass
this along to anyone / lists that might be interested.
Bryan King
5/9/02--APD Info on Scam
Artist
FYI,
Bryan
As many of you may already be aware we have an individual in the area
that is going from door to door asking for money. He is a white male,
mid 20's, usually clean shaven and does not appear indigent. We do know
who this individual is and we are trying to monitor his activities. He
is currently in custody but will not be held for long. It is my belief
that in the coarse
of panhandling for money at residences he is also casing the areas for
burglary opportunities. He usually knocks on the door and requests
around 10-15 dollars for gas or a flat tire etc. He drives a blue
Cadillac that we have on record. We do not have this person connected to
a crime other than panhandling at this time. I am requesting that you do
not let this individual into your home or give him money. If he does
come to your
door you can contact 311, or in the event of an emergency 911. If you
wish to just report a past encounter you may e-mail me at
Jas.scott@ci.austin.tx.us.
Please be careful who you open your door for and report all suspicious
persons to the Austin Police Department. Thank you.
SWDR James Scott
Austin Police Department
512-974-4420
5/9/02--Lawn Parking Ordinance
The latest version of the lawn parking ordinance can be viewed at
http://www.main.org/parking/index.html. It is coming up for
second reading at council in a couple of weeks. Now that the language
and scope of the ordinance has firmed up, we will need to take an SLNA
vote at the June meeting as whether to be included or not. It seems that
most of the problems that were in the ordinance early on have been
resolved.
Any ticketing will only happen when a complaint is made, and the
District Rep will come out and make several warnings before actually
ticketing anyone. Patrol officers will not be enforcing this, nor will
they be cruising the streets looking for violation. So, washing your
car, having a lot of folks over for a special occasion, temporary
parking, etc.--all of that is ok.
This will be used when folks are parking cars on their front yard on a
permanent basis where there is no driveway, the curb-jumping-muddy-rut
type stuff. At present, if your next door neighbor decides to park a
dozen cars where their front lawn once was, there is nothing you can do
about it.
We need to decide if we want this ordinance as a tool to deal with this
type of problem when it exists. Now that the language has settled in and
the enforcement methods and modes are defined, it looks like this would
be a positive thing for the neighborhood. The main reason this
neighborhood initiated ordinance came about was to improve neighborhood
conditions. At present about 54 other neighborhood associations have
signed on. Should we decide not to sign on at this time, and decide to
participate later on, it will be very expensive (read the ordinance).
Again, this will be enforced only when a complaint to the APD is made.
We'll publish the current draft in the next newsletter and take a vote
at the June meeting. Please be on hand and be in good standing at that
meeting if you want to vote on this.
Thanks,
Bryan
5/7/02--Scam Artist Still
Seeking Victims
This from the SRCC neighborhood.
Bryan
FROM A NEIGHBOR ON REBEL ROAD:
On Monday night (Tuesday morning), between midnight and 1:00 a.m., a man
rang our door bell, and asked for $11 to fix his car. He offered to
leave behind his drivers license, as collateral, I suppose. I refused
his request, and did not open the door. I did offer him the use of our
phone, but he said he had already called his mother. Nice touch. He is
white, mid-20s, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and weighing from 180 to
200 pounds. He was wearing (I think) a T-shirt, light or faded jeans,
tennis shoes and a baseball cap. He was clean-shaven, and was courteous.
He parked his mid-80s, large and dark colored Cadillac in the darkest
portion of our cul-de-sac.
The Austin Police Department Officer that I spoke to advises me that
they know who he is, that he is casing homes to find vacant ones to
burglarize. Apparently I described him rather well. They have his
Cadillac's license number, but I couldn't see the plate, much less the
number. They haven't caught him in the act of a burglary, so they can't
arrest him.
I was advised by the Officer that I should have called 911 so that they
could have then patrolled the neighborhood. I now know, and advise SRCC
residents accordingly.
5/6/02--South Austin
Culture--Not An Oxymoron!
From the Chairman of the Culture Board:
Hi, South Austin Culture Lovers,
A lot has happened since our last meeting of The South Austin Culture
Club, and we're ready to show the world our South
Austin Culture. So get ready to come to the meetin' on May 29 at the
Miller Crocket Bed and Breakfast.
We'll be meeting for lunch at 11:30 and the meeting will last until
about 1:00 pm.
The featured speaker is Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman who'll be telling
us her vision of how the world and South Austin
ought to be.
South Austin cool guy Ronnie Dittmar and his band will provide great
entertainment.
A new feature is the "South Austin Face Off." Bouldin Creek Neighborhood
Prexy Sean Kelly and River City Association
President Clarke Hammond will face off on some aspect of the culture of
Austin. (sample topics, "Should body piercing be
required at all formal events in South Austin? Should yard cars be
considered public art in South Austin) We'll debate
the real serious stuff!
And more!
Lunch is being catered by Changos, on South Lamar. They are the owners
of Manuels downtown.
The cost is $10 per person, worth it at twice the price for all the fun
we'll have!
For Reservations call 512/619-7350 or email
SoAcc@hotmail.com
Who's in for the SLNA table. This is going to be great FUN!
Miller Crockett is on Academy just east of Congress.
RSVP ASAP..... e-i-e-i-o!
Click
here for the flyer promoting this event.
...and on a related note:
SOUTH AUSTINITES!!! WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!
The May 29 South Austin Culture Club meeting is just around the corner
and we need volunteers for some really fun jobs!!! (No kidding--they are
fun jobs!) The event is a luncheon at the Miller Crockett Bed and
Breakfast from 11:30 to 1. For Reservations call 512/619-7350 or email
SoAcc@hotmail.com.
Here's what we need so far for volunteers:
People to deliver posters prior to the event to local businesses,
restaurants, and clubs--Great way to stroll the 'hood.
People to help set up tables and chairs at Miller Crocket--need to
arrive around 10 AM.
People to take down tables and chairs and pick up around the grounds--be
done about 3 PM
People to work registration table (must arrive around 11)
People to act as greeters and seaters (arrive around 11)
People to take the money (but not take it and run!) and run the
merchandise table if we have one--arrive around 11
People to manage the VIPS and media
People to make clever sponsorship table signs and table decorations (any
florists in the group????? Calligraphers??) prior to event.
PUHLEEZE, PUHLEEZE, PUHLEEZE email me that you will help!!!! Don't make
me grovel--it's so humiliating!!!!!
Here's how to reach me: Carol Kallendorf
ckallendorf@delta-associates.com or 498-9780
Peace and Culture!
Carol
5/6/02--South Congress Improvement Project
FYI...Bryan
The South Congress Improvement Project (SCIP) is again on the move!
Having been put on hold twice while Austin residents considered whether
to implement a rapid transit system, the City has committed to
going ahead with streetscape improvements that will not preclude future
development of an enhanced system of transportation on South Congress
Avenue. In April, the City's Transportation, Planning & Sustainability
Department (TPSD) began working on three initiatives to accomplish
improvements based on the Enhancement Guidelines. Pollyanne Melton, an
urban designer and landscape architect with the Urban Design & Historic
Preservation Division, is Project Manager for SCIP.
Historic Resource Study
A historic preservation planning consultant will soon be hired to research
and document the history of the corridor, provide a historic resources
inventory, and develop guidelines for streetscape design sympathetic to
the corridor's unique, historic character. A Request For Proposals (RFP)
has been drafted and will be available to firms or individuals
interested in performing the work in June 2002. For additional
information or to receive a copy of the RFP, please contact Donna Lee
Bliss, at 974-2530 or email
donna-lee.bliss@ci.austin.tx.us.
Texas School for the Deaf
The School has proposed a joint development project for the South
Congress Avenue frontage of its campus. Initially, their project
included constructing a new "serpentine" retaining wall, sidewalk and
trees at street level, and relocating Capital Metro's bus stop from the
creek crossing to just north of the School's new gateway. At the City's
request, the School is amending its project to include the creation of
fifteen (15) new parallel parking spaces and a bike lane in what is now
the right turn lane east onto Nellie Street, planting a second row of
trees and installing Great Streets-style street and pedestrian lighting.
TPSD staff, the project architect: Barnes Gromatzky and Kosarek, the
School's superintendent, Clare Bugen, and the State's Project Manager,
Rob Roy Parnell, presented a schematic plan of improvements to the
Avenue Merchants Association on April 4, 2002. The plan was well
received. The
City is now doing traffic counts to validate the conversion of the right
turn lane and simultaneously drafting an inter-local agreement proposed
for City Council approval on May 16, 2002. If approved by City Council
and the State, the project could start construction in September 2002
and be complete in about six months. The project is estimated to cost
$1.35 million, with $500,000 as the City's share.
Pedestrian Improvements
The majority of the project's $4 million budget will be devoted to
implementing streetscape improvements such as such as street lighting,
street trees, limited sidewalk improvements, benches and trash
receptacles which the community considered as part of the SCIP
Enhancement Guidelines (January 1999) planning process. TPSD staff is
developing design alternatives and preparing cost estimates which will
be presented to the community for discussion and prioritization. The
first public meeting will likely occur in June 2002.
For more information, please call the Project Manager, Pollyanne Melton at
974-6459 or e-mail
pollyanne.melton@ci.austin.tx.us.