February Minutes
The second meeting of HPNA's 2004 year has brought some new faces
out to the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association. It's good to see
members of our immediate community getting involved and helping
to influence this place we call home. We want to encourage EVERYONE
to come out to the meetings that take place the first Monday of
every month at 7:00 P.M. in the Hyde Park Methodist Church
auditorium at 40th and Speedway.
Recap on the February meeting minutes:
Sri Atmananda School
You're invited to coffee, every Thursday at the Mansion on 4100 Red
River from 9am-10am. Come see the Sri Atmananda campus and find out
about the programs they offer! Nancy Moore and Joanne Clark
with the Sri Atmananda School began the night with a brief introduction,
history, and information on this private, non-sectarian school located
at 4100 Red River. The Sri Atmananda School was established in 1995
here in Austin as the only school of its kind in America. The model
and inspiration for this comes from the other side of the world in the
country of India, where this program has its roots. Students here are
self-motivated and self-direct their own learning, "with the help and
monitoring of teachers". This teaching approach is known by the initials
of its founder, and is therefore called the KPM teaching method.
University of Texas Professor and former skeptic of this approach to
teaching, Dr. Gary Borich, did his own investigation into the
effectiveness of KPM. After two years of research which took him to
its birthplace in India, he is now a believer and advocate.
The Triangle Project
Up next to present an update on The Triangle Project Saga, Cathy Echols
delivered the latest information complete with design and concept maps.
This much-debated piece of property has been owned by the State Department
of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR). Over the last six years
many projects have been proposed. Everything from movie theaters to grocery
stores to luxury apartments have been considered.
I'm sure it is hard to miss the fact that construction has indeed finally begun and the first phase is in motion. I was excited to learn that the giant hole that has been carved through the middle of the property will in fact be a pond and integrated with a large pedestrian-friendly park along the south end of the triangle. Cannot wait for that! The former "anchor" for this development, Randall's Grocery Store, has pulled out due to financial reasons. It is not determined what their original space will now be used for.
There will be two phases to this project. The first phase begins at the
northern tip and will include 335 apartment units with structured parking,
an urban park with tables and chairs for lounging, light retail stores
such as clothing and coffee shops, and a few retail units with apartments
