I’m postponing my Green Building blog for just a bit while I pass on some information I received an email today and had heard about this problem before as well.
http://extendourtrail.org/
This is a development issue if you’d like to make your voice heard in this day and age of re-thinking the way the city handles new construction and development, especially in sensitive areas like those right on Town -er Lady Bird Lake.
There are plans for new development at this old site to either rebuild on the current footprint or allow the Hike & Bike trail to go through.
Do you support the trail or the building? If you support the trail, visit the link above for more information and to sign a petition online.
It isn’t just about Austin’s joggers… This is a similar but different issue than allowing homeowners to add a bathroom or garage apartment for a caretaker or a builder building a 2500 square foot 2-story home where there was once a 1200 square foot bungalow in central Austin. I really believe this should be argued separately since this is for a large apartment building. It is LEGAL for the developer of this issue to develop either way but responsible building should be supported. If you have followed my projects in central Austin you’ll know that I do build larger homes than those build 80 years ago but they fit into today’s idea of central Austin architecture as well as functioning family spaces (more kitchen space, more than 1 bathroom).
Aria McIntosh
Builder, Realtor®, e-Pro
Corias Homes, Inc. & BridgeOne Properties
(512) 771-1776
aria@ariamcintosh.com
ariamcintosh.com
coriashomes.com
bridgeoneproperties.com
The extendourtrail website is a sham by the developer. See the Chronicle blurb.
“When you can’t get what you want, you should lie, distort, and take advantage of the innocent public for your own gain, right? Guess that’s what they teach in developer school.”
The developer’s proposal would increase greenspace along the lake by providing a setback of 150 feet, would remove the existing buildings that are within 20 feet of the lake, would provide public access to this portion of the lake, and would extend the trail along the lake and East Bouldin Creek to Riverside Drive. The 150-foot setback would be further back than the setback provided in the PUD for the Statesman site to the west and equal to the setback provided in the Lake sub-district on the other side of East Bouldin Creek.
“AusJeb” isn’t exactly an unbiased observer. He’s a lobbyist for the developer. And Extendourtrail.org isn’t an organization at all, it’s a front for the developer created by AusJeb’s lobbying firm.
That lobbying firm, by the way, specializes in attempting to neutralize neighborhood opposition to large development projects for large corporations like Wal-Mart.
Setbacks? What about building heights? 17 stories? That’s almost as tall as the new AMLI at 4oo W 3rd street. That height would definitely set a precedent for a canyon affect on L.B. Lake.
I dunno folks. On the one hand we have AusJeb who may be a lobbyist for the developer. On the other hand we have harold who appears to be an austin activist potentially against growth. How about the people this will actually impact? What do the joggers, bicyclists, and actual daily users of the trail say? Anyone who runs the seven mile or ten mile loop has to hate the concrete on Riverside and would welcome additional trail space. Is a boardwalk just as good? Not really for a runner. Really, I do want the trail extended. Now the only question is how many stories am I willing to accept as a compromise?
He’s not a lobbyist for the developer, at least not a paid one. It’s even worse — “AusJeb” is an appointed city official who is actively shilling for the developer.
Larrytate is thinking of JED Buie, pesident of the developer’s lobby firm.
Hmmm. Well folks, would the developer’s proposal actually increase the setback from the lake? Would it provide room for the trail to be extended? If so, I am all for it! Why in the world does it make any difference to the green crowd how tall the building is?