Item4_Letter-to-CDC-(10-6-22) — original pdf

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AUSTIN GERIATRIC CENTER, INC. D/B/A REBEKAH BAINES JOHNSON CENTER 21 Waller Street Austin, Texas 78702 October 6, 2022 Via email to jesse.gutierrez@austintexas.gov Via email to amit.motwani@austintexas.gov City of Austin Community Development Commission Attn: Mr. Amit Motwani, Chair c/o Mr. Jesse Gutierrez Dear Chair Motwani and Members: It has been a privilege for me to serve with Dr. Jacqueline Angel on the advisory group seeking to further the development of an intergenerational resource and activity center at the Nash Hernandez building. In that regard, I would like to express support of the Austin Geriatric Center, Inc., the owner of the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center (“RBJ”), for the development of the intergenerational resource and activity center as well as for the redevelopment of the Nash Hernandez building as a vital community resource. Those of us involved in the development and operation of RBJ believe that the establishment of an intergenerational resource and activity center would be very beneficial to the residents of RBJ and our neighborhood, and that the restoration of the Nash Hernandez building will result in many other opportunities for community benefit in the area of the building. As you may know, RBJ has recently completed 279 new affordable units for low income seniors which wrap around our 16 story Tower. All of the residents of the Tower have now moved in to the new units and we expect to start the first phase of renovating the Tower in the next month. After the completion of our renovation and re-occupancy of the Tower, RBJ will consist of more than 500 units of affordable housing for seniors. We are also pleased to advise you that we have recently entered into a lease with WellMed pursuant to which WellMed will finish out and operate a primary care health clinic in ground floor space in our building on Art Dilly Drive. WellMed is a leading provider of primary care in our community and a number of RBJ residents are already WellMed patients. However, this new clinic will not only serve residents of RBJ but will also be available to serve other residents of the neighborhood and will be easily accessible by bus. The adjacency of RBJ and the Nash Hernandez building would not only provide great programmatic opportunities for RBJ residents but would also make available through WellMed convenient access to primary care for others who might be participating in programmatic activities at the Nash Hernandez building. 2773054.v1 I would be pleased to visit with any members of the Community Development Commission either in person or by phone. The best way to reach me is on my cell phone which is 512-560-7825. Very truly yours, Clarke Heidrick, Chair of the Board Austin Geriatric Center, Inc. d/b/a Rebekah Baines Johnson Center cc: Mr. Paul Saldana, Vice Chair of the Board of RBJ (via email) Ms. Rosie Mendoza, Treasurer of RBJ (via email) Mr. Ricky Green, Corporate Secretary of RBJ (via email) Dr. Jacqueline Angel (via email) 2773054.v1