Breaking News!! Trammell Crow Withdraws Their Rezoning Application!!! Thank you Everyone!!!

Breaking News!!! Mon., Oct. 29th, 2007 - I just learned that Trammell Crow Residenial (TCR), the buyer that was under contract to purchase the Northcastle Apts, has decided to withdrawal their rezoning application!!!

This is great news for the neighborhood, Save Northcastle, Austin Housing Pinch, and everyone else involved! Thank you to everyone for your help and assistance during this process.

News Media Coverage from Austin's Affordable Housing Crisis Grassroots Assembly, Sat., Oct. 6th below and also the media coverage of Trammell Crow dropping the rezoning efforts:

- ATX Edition TV
http://atxedition.tv/

- Austin Chronicle, December 17th, 2007
"David Kobierowski led a successful movement to prevent developers from tearing down a reasonably priced apartment complex and replacing with luxury apts with double and tripple the rents". David is today's guest speaker at MonkeyWrench Books.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Calendar/index?oid=568899

- Austin American-Statesman
"Trammell Crow To Drop Rezoning Effort", Tues., Oct. 30th, 2007, http://www.statesman.com/search/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/cityhall/entries/2007/10/30/trammell_crow_to_drop_rezoning.html

- Austin American-Statesman, Tues., Oct. 23rd, "Neighborhoods Oppose Three Austin Projects That Would Boost Density", http://www.statesman.com/search/content/news/stories/local/10/23/1023apartments.html

- KEYE TV Channel 42, http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=15377@video.keye.com=

- News 8 Austin, http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=193201

- Fox 7 News Austin, http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=0497815A98895CE0C16F3F737A20E703?contentId=4565578&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

- KUT Radio (Austin's NPR Affiliate), http://www.kut.org/items/show/10187

- Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/cityhall/entries/2007/10/03/neighborhood_and_housing_advoc.html#postcomment

- Daily Texan, "Rising Housing Costs Concern for Austinites", Oct. 8th, 2007, http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/10/08/StateLocal/Rising.Housing.Costs.Concern.For.Austinites-3017783.shtml

Austin American-Statesman, Oct. 3rd, 2007, Austin Affordable Housing Crisis: Grassroots Assembly Preview http://www.statesman.com/search/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/cityhall/entries/2007/10/03/neighborhood_and_housing_advoc.html

Austin Housing Pinch Feature Story; Wed., Sept. 26th, 2007:
The pictures above are from Northcastle Apts located at 8100 North MoPac, City of Austin Case# C14-2007-0145, Expressway Southbound (Going South on the MoPac access road between Steck and Spicewood Springs Rd.)

City of Austin, Case Directory listing of Northcastle Rezoning Application, https://www.ci.austin.tx.us/devreview/d_showpropertyfolderlist.jsp?clicked=searchByCaseNumber

This is only one example in Austin where hundreds of families are being displaced.  It's sad that people that work in Austin including teachers, nurses, firemen/firewomen can't afford to live in their own community that they serve! As of Sept. 25th there are still Northcastle tenants unaware of this project. According to Jorge Rousselin, City of Austin Neighborhood Planning, "the city is not responsible for notifying tenants about the zoning change. We only have to put up a sign and inform the homes 200 feet from the apts". Jorge added that "we're sorry that someone took down the sign (stole it), but we're not responsible for maintaining the sign, we're only responsible for putting it up"...."and we will not put up another sign". I went on to ask how the tenants will learn about this proposed demolition of the apt complex that is proposed for April 08', and he said "I don't know".

Existing rents as of Sept. 2007 average about $650.00 at Northcastle Apts. But with the luxury apts that the developer, Brent Stewart of TCR (Trammell Crow Residential) plans to start building in April 08', rents will average about $1,600.00 and as high as $2,100.00! The developer wants to demolish the Northcastle Apts in March 08'.

Our West Balcones neighborhood and the tenants of Northcastle are concerned about the teachers, police officers, seniors, students, and other residents of this apt complex that will be legally evicted by January 08'. According to the development plan that I was personally handed by Brent on Sept. 18th 07' at City Hall, the developer, Brent Stewart, has a goal of legally evicting all families by Feb. 08' and starting demolition of the existing Northcastle Apts by March 08'. The construction is planned to last for about 2 years; from April of 08' till January of 2010.

We're also very concerned because our homes are very close to this site. The plethora of negative impact is expected to include massive amounts of dust, traffic, noise, pollution, water pressure issues, increase in crime, increase in over-populated density, lowering of home values in neighborhood, increase in property taxes, less privacy for neighborhood, and a precedent setting residential complex with two towers and a 615 unit above ground parking garage along scenic MoPac!!

As of Saturday, Sept. 22nd, 2007, none of the tenants interviewed had been notified of this demolition of their homes.  If the City Zoning and Platting Board approves this rezoning on Oct. 16th at 6:00pm at City Hall, the tenants will only have 2 1/2 months notice to vacate and find new homes!! Can you imagine being told you have 74 days to leave your home and find a new home? How would you feel?   How angry would you and your family be?  This begs the question, who has the voice of the people? Will the city speak up and protect these families? Or will they take the side of the developer who wants to cash in on a great business opportunity, but at the expense of the families and the neighborhood? Some of these tenants have lived at Norhcastle Apts for 30 years. This is sad.

Please contact the following people to voice your feedback about this project. Please tell them to STOP THE DEMOLITION OF NORTHCASTLE SO THAT THESE FAMILIES CAN HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE:

Jorge Rousselin, Neighborhood Planning, 974-2975, Jorge.Rousselin@ci.austin.tx.us
Betty Baker, Chair Zoning/Platting, 583-7226, BBaker5@austin.rr.com
Clarke Hammond, Sec. Zoning/Platting, 441-3861, Chammond1@austin.rr.com
Joseph Martinez, VC Zoning/Platting, 474-8148, Josephamartinez@yahoo.com
Jay Gohil, member Zoning/Platting, 258-4248, Jay@jaygohilrealty.com
Stephanie Hale, member Zoning/Platting, 252-8022, info@swhconsulting.com
Keith Jackson, member Zoning/Platting, 342-3201, KBjackson@pbsj.com
Teresa Rabago, member Zoning/Platting, 447-9613, Trabago@austin.rr.com
James Shieh, member Zoning/Platting, 499-0972, SHieh1@aol.com
Tom Arbucle, Realtor, Chair BCA, 454-9003, ArbucleTom@aol.com
Michael B. Smuck, Owner Northcastle Ltd., 504-836-5075
Brent Stewart, Developer Agent Trammell Crow Residential, 477-9900