Contact Gary Penn to buy a copy.
In these minutes:
The June meeting of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association saw a large and
diverse crowd as area residents gathered to hear news and debate policies
ranging from the City's new noise ordinance to plans for the Elizabet Ney
museum. These fun and informative gatherings take place the first Monday of
every month at 7 p.m. at the Hyde Park Methodist Church on Speedway.
Co Presidents Bob Breeze and Gary Penn presided over a crowded agenda and a packed meeting room. People introduced themselves around the room giving their name and residence address.
Austin Police Department's representative to Hyde Park, Officer Brent
Dupree, reminded neighbors of the importance of keeping their doors locked
at all times, and informed them that police were searching for the owner of a
white two door Ford Explorer who is believed to have harassed woman joggers in
the area on several occasions. All incidents to place in the early morning.
Anyone wishing to be alerted on breaking crime news may contact Crime and
Safety Chairman Bruce Nadig at 452-0781.
Gary and Bob announced an alarming ultimatum given to the Neighborhood by the City of Austin. The city's trash trucks are once again finding it hard to navigate the area's alleys. Brush, tree limbs and detritus are again clogging the alleyways of Hyde Park making trash removal difficult. The "back of house" access has always been one Hyde Park's unusual and charming features and has been cited statewide an excellent quality of life bonus in a well planned neighborhood. But the narrow alleys have not always been popular with the City who would prefer a more "one size fits all" approach to trash collection. On numerous occasions, area residents have had to fight to preserve this amenity.
It is the homeowner's responsibility to keep their area of the alley clear.
All area residents are urged to spend an hour or so cleaning up their alleys and clearing out the overgrowth. Back of House waste disposal is a privilege that this neighborhood could lose.
A curious little controversy is brewing right here on the banks of Waller
Creek. Last month readers of the Pecan Press might recall a visit by Mary
Collins Blackman of the Elizabet Ney Museum in which she shared her vision
for a Ney Liberal Arts Academy on the grounds of the Ney itself, Formosa.
Creation of the academy would displace the current residents of "The Lodge",
the small structure due North of the museum fronting 45th street. The Austin
School of Sculpture, an non-profit, is none to eager to vacate its almost rent
free lease. Scott Sustic, a member and instructor at the school, and
Bob Brookings,
a long time board member of
both the school and the Ney, urged neighbors to support the retention of the
sculpting school in its present location. The Board of the school is seeking
to remain in Hyde Park and to institute and maintain a cooperative relationship
with the museum. This would entail of course, a long-term agreement with the
City for the use of the facility.
Concerned neighbors questioned both sides as to why these two plans could not work together, but an answer was not forthcoming. Planning and zoning maven Wanda Penn hinted that from a land use perspective the two plans could hardly be more alike. The item was not opened for debate nor did any party seek a course of action. Those wishing to contact the Austin Sculpture Center may call 371-7606.
Long time Hyde Park advocate Cathy Echols, accompanied by her beautiful toddler Tessie, advised neighbors that she was seeking input to incorporate into her report to the City on neighborhood issues. Cathy, who helped lead the charge in the Triangle Development fight, is gathering feedback from neighbors to help the City prioritize its spending efforts. With its budget in dire straits, Austin is trying to form a priority list among such competing concerns as traffic calming, libraries, pedestrian safety and infrastructure, parks and police protection. Cathy urged anyone wishing to help shape this list to contact her at echols@psi.utexas.edu.
Neighbors cheered and passed unanimously a resolution to support adding the home of Steve Wexler and Marie Carmel on Ave. C to the nation registry of historic homes. The home was originally built around 1897. The original owner was Henry Sears, chaplain of the Lunatic Asylum and the Texas State Senate, presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Austin division, and confederate war veteran. He passed the house on to his adopted daughter, Florence Sears King who was married to Frank W. King, a dealer of Cedar products. She lived there until 1975, and the property became rental property (occupied by 'hippies so thick you couldn't stir 'em with a stick' in the words of one neighborhood resident) until 1986, when Larry Mueller and Cevin Cathell bought it. Steve and Marie bought the house from Cevin and Larry in 1993. It has played a pivotal role in negotiations limiting non residential development in the area.
Planning Chairwoman Karen McGraw announced that changes in the allowed
plot sizes for homes North of 45th are underway by the City.
This could impact
the look and feel of northern Hyde Park, but the changes may be nullified by
the completion of a Neighborhood Combining and Conservation District for that
area. The call again went out for neighbors to involve themselves in this
process. Anyone interested is asked contact Bruce Nadig at 452-0781.
Austin Police Department's Officer Desiree Small gave an update on the
status of the City's proposed noise ordinance. Noise complaints are difficult
to process due to the somewhat lax operating procedures currently in place. A
fourteen person committee has been formed composed of seven business owners
and seven concerned residents and has been given an eight week deadline to
draft a proposal. In the mean time says Officer Small, careful documentation
is the best way to resolve a noise complaint in your favor. Interested
neighbors may contact Officer Small at desiree.small@ci.austin.tx.us or
Co-President Gary Penn at 452-3103 for more information.
An extensive beautification project will begin in the area around this time next year. Julie Strong, Renee Orr and Paulinda Lanham-Mackie from the City's Department of Public Works gave a joint presentation on the North Guadalupe Beautification Program. As well as a much needed smoothing out of Guadalupe between 24th and 38th streets the project will entail an new waterline and extensive aesthetic upgrades of the walk and bike lanes along the street. The City appears to be delivering on its plans to make the area more pedestrian friendly. It is unclear, observed some neighbors, if the project will make for a more bike friendly route to and from the University.
It was a full evening for the Association, but enthusiasm for the upcoming
Homes Tours kept the meeting alive and interesting. Bob reminded
everyone it was 2 weeks away and everything was in place.
Co-President Breeze adjourned the crowd amid smiles and high hopes.
-- Glen Coleman, Secretary
glen@kdi.com