A project to map housing types and other features in Windsor Park, University Hills, and Pecan Springs is underway. Housing types include, but are not limited to, group homes (registered and opportunistic), halfway houses, supervised housing, etc.

Several people have already said that they are interested in contributing data. Verification of data will be done to ensure accurate mapping.

Mapping is being done in ArcView.

If you are interested in participating in this neighborhood mapping project, you may email Lynn Marshall.

As posted to the Austin American-Statesman, April 13, 2008. (Link good for one week)

Windsor Park residents object to efficiency apartments.

There are enough similar facilities in the area, they say.

By Suzannah Gonzales

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Sunday, April 13, 2008

The way many Windsor Park residents see it, there already are assisted living facilities, subsidized housing and halfway houses in their neighborhood and east of Interstate 35.

And now there's a proposal to build a 110-unit efficiency apartment complex on a Manor Road property in their neighborhood for people with low incomes, with disabilities, who are older than 65, who are coming from transitional housing and who are formerly homeless. Local nonprofit group Community Partnership for the Homeless has proposed the project. The property is now a private park.

During a testy meeting on the proposal Thursday night, area residents told proponents and city staff members: We're saturated. We're at the tipping point.

Area residents also pointed out that the City Council last week agreed to lease land in East Austin a few miles south of their neighborhood for an RV park for homeless people.

"Our quality of life is going down, and that matters to us," resident Priscilla Bissett said.

She was among the more than 50 residents, businesspeople, neighborhood group members, city staff members and members of the Community Partnership for the Homeless who attended the meeting in Memorial United Methodist Church on Berkman Drive.

"We can't take any more," resident Patrick Harrington said.

The proposed $8.6 million project is not a homeless shelter, said Frank Fernandez, executive director of Community Partnership. Prospective tenants would undergo criminal background, credit history and reference checks. He said tenants could not be substance abusers, although some might have a history of addiction.

Community Partnership intends to keep the complex well-maintained and regulated, he said, and it is committed to being a good neighbor.

City staff members are finishing a recommendation to the Planning Commission, which is scheduled to consider the matter April 22.

Community Partnership has requested an amendment to the University Hills/Windsor Park Neighborhood Plan and a change in the zoning of 5908 Manor Road to allow for the proposed development. Under current zoning, a maximum of 12 units per acre is allowed on the 4.12-acre site. The changes would allow three times as many units on most of the property and commercial uses on the remaining portion fronting Manor Road, said Paul DiGiuseppe, a principal planner for the Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department who spoke Thursday.

Normally, an amendment to a neighborhood plan wouldn't be allowed within one year of its adoption. (The plan was approved by the council in August, and the zoning of 5908 Manor Road was approved in September.) However, because Community Partnership's proposal is 40 percent or more SMART housing — its proposal is 100 percent — the amendment can be permitted, DiGiuseppe said. SMART housing is a city program that waives fees and conducts faster reviews of projects with lower-cost housing.

DiGiuseppe estimated that on three sides, about 10 homes immediately surround the Manor Road property.

Arthur Sampson said he has owned the property for 10 years and has rented it for weddings and reunions. He said he will sell it to Community Partnership but would not say for how much. Travis County records show that it's valued at about $145,000. "I'm trying to do something good for the community," he said.

sgonzales@statesman.com; 445-3616

As posted to the list serv by the parks chair....

Summary

The park committee met last week and developed these suggestions for the redesign of the Bartholomew District Pool. The schedule for construction is in the year(s) to come because we are not first on the list. Deep Eddy Pool is actually in far worse shape than Bart. But the planning is starting. Below is the list of suggestions that will be presented at the WPNA meeting this am. You have an opportunity to provide feedback. Please email me any comments or suggestions and I will incorporate them before I take them to the City. I will set a meeting next week so please get back to me as soon as possible. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME FOR INPUT. THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP. WE HOPE TO SURVEY USERS OF THE POOL THIS SUMMER.

BARTHOLOMEW DISTRICT POOL – Suggestions for the Future Pool

Areas of Interest or Concern

• Adult lap swim usage


• Overall pool usage


• Facilities beyond pool


• Staffing and pool policies


• Accessibility/Cost

Adult Lap Swim

The majority of people who have expressed interest in the remodel of the pool are adults who use the pool for exercise. The wish list for this would be:

• Maintain a 50 yard lap pool area


• Have a guaranteed 4 lanes during prime lap swim times


• Have a minimum of 2 lanes at all times


• Depth should be sloping so that it is easy to stand at one end and deeper at the other(6-8 to 3-4).

Overall Pool Usage

• Understand the value of having separate adult from child area in case of contamination but not priority if increased cost (not two separate pools!)


• Want three distinct areas for: lap swim, mixed play (which may involve swim lessons) and graded sloped area that accommodates the smallest of children (from inches to feet like a beach)


• Want "Water Odyssey" designated area adjacent to children areas with a minimum of ten structures (a mixture of 4 fixed above ground and 6 flush mount)

FUTURE PLANS

• Want the pool heated and open year round


• Want handicap accessible chair lift in area for water aerobics and play


• Pool to be utilized for swim lessons and water exercise classes

Facilities Beyond Pool

• Create Shade! Shade structures, umbrellas etc


• Maintain some grassy area within the enclosed pool area (control the ant population so that it is feasible to sit in the grass)


• Need water fountains


• Bathrooms need to have adequate changing facilities (nothing fancy)


• Locker storage space for personal belongings (rented?)


• Picnic tables in and out of shade


• Adequate bike racks to encourage people to ride their bikes to pool

Staffing and Pool Usage

• Would like to ensure adequate staffing of lifeguards. Would eliminate diving board because this requires designated lifeguard for very underutilized feature but if it is in high demand from summer survey should consider how to work it in.


• Would like to consider having the pool "sectioned" enough that the lap swim area could be opened independently requiring only one life guard.


• Would like enforcement of lap time


• Would like extended hours for adult swim only in time period before pool is open year round.


• What is the possibility of volunteer life guards during adult swim?


• What is the possibility of some other form of chemical – bromine or saline instead of chlorine?

Accessibility/Cost

It was the consensus of the group and input from others that the pool should maintain a fee for entrance structure. The main reason is to control access to those who really want to utilize the pool BUT the pool needs to be affordable so we considered:

• Different payment options (one month passes, family passes for the summer)


• Having a designated "free day" during the week


• Cost breaks for children

Miscellaneous Items

• Survey during the summer of users to maximize input


• Fix the parking lot

STRATEGY FOR WADING POOL IN PICNIC AREA

The group decide that a water feature that is not designated specifically as a children's play park but more of a "fountain" that is interactive and offers community interaction (sit and watch the dancing water or get wet if you want even if you are over 12) would be a good use of the wading pool space and would cost less than the current planned replacements. (Think the fountain at the Triangle or Chestnut Park). This will be presented to Parks and Recs to see what the cost would be and how we can carve out a little from the pool and then perhaps raise money through grants and donations.

As posted (by another) to the neighborhood list....

Thursday’s meeting at the Memorial Methodist Church resulted in a packed house of stakeholders from Windsor Park, Pecan Springs, and University Hills to hear the latest from the City and the non-profit attempting to locate a large homeless (permanent supportive housing) living facility on five acres at 5908 Manor Road.

The meeting was moderated by Paul DiGiuseppe, principal planner with the Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department for the City of Austin.

Mr. DiGiuseppe, a complete professional in every sense, conducted the meeting in a fair and extremely even-handed manner. Since this was the first chance that many of those in the audience had to ask questions about the proposed facility, a lot of old ground was covered at the beginning. Frank Fernandez, the executive director of the Community Partnership for the Homeless, who is the applicant, continued to insist that the facility will not be for the homeless and is being unfairly labeled as such. But an area business owner pointed out that their own application to the city said that as many as 36-40 units would be for the “chronically homeless.”

1) "Why is this being rushed through and why does every new halfway house, transitional or supportive housing project, group home for parolees and sex offenders, and even the new trailer park community for the homeless approved yesterday by the council have to ALWAYS BE LOCATED IN EAST OR NORTHEAST AUSTIN?” In addition, there was a strong feeling expressed that people in the neighborhood are just now learning about this project and that it MUST BE DELAYED so that questions can be asked and answers provided. Residents said the neighborhood is now saturated with such facilities and is repeatedly being asked to bare an unfair burden. One lifelong resident of Northeast Austin said it best: “Enough is enough.”

2) The second theme expressed in questions and general discussion was that the needs of the neighborhood would be much better served if the site was purchased by the City of Austin parks department and used as a "pocket park" or as a site for a Community Center and Wildlife Study Center. The site is currently used as a "privately owned" park site known as Pavilion Park. Numerous weddings, family celebrations and reunions have been held there over the years. It is an ideal site for these events and there is no other comparable site.

3) There was also much discussion of the high rate of crime in the immediate area, particularly directly across from the park in the cul de sac on the east side of Manor Road. This is Sweeney Circle. But a resident said the police and neighbors call it "Slinger Circle" because of the crack dealers "slinging" drugs directly across from the site. One resident said "they could not have picked a worse site for this nonsense" and said that he would likely move from the neighborhood if it came in. Others pointed out the lack of adequate bus service to serve so many people (110 units) and how difficult it already is to get a bus late at night on Manor Road or to get to and from the grocery store or work in a reasonable time on this bus route

After nearly two full hours of discussion, a recorded vote was taken. The vote AGAINST THE FACILITY LOCATING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT 5908 MANOR ROAD was 53-1 with one abstention. The only vote in favor of the project was Arthur Sampson, the land owner of 5908 Manor Road.

In a second vote, people voted 53-1 to not change the current zoning from SF-6 and to not change the current neighborhood plan.

In a third vote, the crowd’s strong desire for additional green space was reflected in a 53-0 vote supporting asking the City of Austin to purchase the land for a public park.

It seems to me the neighborhood has clearly and decisively spoken.

Steve Speir, 1225 Corona Drive, (512) 451-5412

From the AISD website: News Article | Flyer (English : Spanish)

The Austin Independent School District invites the Pearce Community to participate in a Community Conversation regarding the future of the school at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15 at the school, located at 6401 N. Hampton Drive. The Superintendent, Board of Trustee members, and other AISD officials will be in attendance to listen to community concerns and answer questions. The discussion will focus on the future of the middle school.

In this academic school year, student performance could result in one of the two following actions: Pearce will be academically acceptable if all state standards are met under the state’s accountability rating system; or the Commissioner of Education could review student progress and recommend alternative management or closing the campus if it does not meet state standards. Tuesday’s conversation is to generate a discussion on how to boost student achievement and meet state standards.

A light dinner will be served before the meeting. Spanish translation services will also be available.

You are cordially invited to join your neighbors at an important event at Pearce Middle School on Tuesday, April 1, from 6-8 p.m. [AISD News Item | Flier]

Austin Independent School District
Community Night OUT For Schools
Pearce Middle School
Tuesday, April 1, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
A Light Dinner will be served
Spanish translation services will be available

In the 2007-2008 academic school year, one of the two following actions may
occur:

1. Pearce will be academically acceptable if all state standards are met as evident by the state¹s accountability rating system; or
2. the Commissioner shall review student progress and may order closure or pursue alternative management if the campus does not meet state standards.

If you live in the Pearce Community, or a feeder school to Pearce, a student, teacher, parent, PTA, CAC, DAC member we need you. We need your help in keeping the doors open at Pearce Middle School. You are a stakeholder in this school and you need to be a part of the solution. Come out and meet with others from the district and the community. Success Is The Only Option.

It Takes A Village

A School Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

Best regards,

Janis

Janis Guerrero, Ph.D.
Executive Director for Planning and Community Relations
Austin Independent School District
1111 West 6th Street
Austin, TX 78703
Phone: 512-414-9776
Fax: 512-414-9773