A.1.a - 416 W. 12th Street - applicant's submittal (one-pager) — original pdf

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416 W. 12th St. One-Pager: Keeping DKG Working for Women Educators The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG) is proposing a downtown project that will allow DKG to revitalize and better achieve its mission and vision while helping the city meet its housing goals.  DKG is requesting DMU zoning, which would allow for development of a transit-supportive downtown project along a future rail line, with 280 units above ground-floor commercial.  The project would be accomplished through participating in the Downtown Density Bonus program. DKG has a strong legacy of supporting and empowering women educators and leaders.  Dr. Annie Webb Blanton, the first woman elected to statewide office in Texas and the third woman ever promoted to the rank of professor at UT, founded DKG on UT’s campus in 1929.  Dr. Blanton founded DKG at UT campus as a way to organize women to fight gender discrimination, advocate for pro-education legislation, and assist women educators in their professional development.  Today, DKG’s grants and programs provide support to female educators and students across the world. DKG’s membership has declined in recent years. As a result, its current leadership is looking to revitalize and expand the organization in order to deliver on Dr. Blanton’s vision.  The building’s age is forcing DKG to divert resources from its mission to pay for maintenance and is preventing DKG from retrofitting it for modern technology, The Historic Landmark Commission has initiated an historic zoning case for DKG’s office building. If approved, historic zoning would directly threaten DKG’s ability to carry out its mission.  Under the requested DMU zoning, DKG could strategically target resources toward mission-oriented activities. In contrast, historic zoning would preclude DKG from carrying out this plan, forcing them to divert more resources to building maintenance and threatening their financial stability.  Dr. Blanton never saw the office now being considered for historic zoning. Four other locations served as DKG’s headquarters before they relocated to 416 W. 12th St. While DKG’s office is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that application was completed as part of a student’s class project, and DKG was explicitly told it would not restrict the property.  In a February 2011 email exchange, the National Register coordinator told DKG explicitly that “Listing in the National Register imposes absolutely NO RESTRICTIONS [sic] on private property.” Approving DMU zoning instead of historic zoning would help DKG revitalize and help the city meet its goals. It would provide 280 new units of housing downtown and provide over $2 million annually in tax revenue to the city, school district, county, healthcare district, and community college.  Outcomes DMU Zoning Historic Zoning Figure 1. Outcomes Under Requested DMU Zoning vs. Historic Zoning DKG Revitalization. Allows DKG to revitalize and continue supporting the professional development of women educators. Helping Meet City Housing Goals. Provides 280 units downtown, helping the city meet its goal of 135,000 new units by 2027. Permanent Supportive Housing Funding. Contributes to permanent supportive housing through the Downtown Density Bonus. Transit-Supportive. Provides ample housing and active commercial along the MetroRapid line and future Orange and Blue rail lines. Structural Preservation. Preserves the office, requiring DKG to divert resources to the structure and jeopardizing their future. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✓ {W1019026.3}