15.c - 2117 W 49th St - public comments — original pdf

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Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Subject: Christina Singh Tuesday, January 6, 2026 11:00 PM Historic Preservation Office Request to postpone public hearing for demolition or deny case - Case DA-2025-142965 Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Completed You don't often get email from Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution Mr. Sturgill and commission members: I am writing as a neighbor of the former Rosedale School (2117 W 49th St) ahead of tomorrow’s Historic Landmark Commission meeting. I reside at 4913 Lynnwood St., within 500 feet of the proposed demolition site. I respectfully request that the City postpone or deny the demolition hearing for Case Number DA-2025-142965; GF-2025-146214. There is an active legal dispute directly related to this property that has not been resolved. AISD has initiated litigation against 125 nearby residents in an attempt to nullify a long-standing deed restriction governing the site. Until the court issues a ruling, any decision regarding demolition is premature and risks interfering with matters still before the judiciary. Because the outcome of the lawsuit will determine what is permissible on the site and directly shape any future redevelopment, approving demolition now would be inappropriate. It would enable work on a property whose legal status is not yet settled and could negatively affect both residents and the City. For this reason, I support the postponement request submitted by Play Fair with Rosedale and the Rosedale Neighborhood Association. The City should delay any demolition action until the court has issued a final determination and the deed restriction’s validity is clear. I respectfully urge the City to allow the legal process to conclude before making any demolition decision. Thank you for your time and consideration. Christina Singh Christina Singh (757) 619-8763 CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report 1 Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov". 2 Sturgill, Hunter From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Victoria Rios Wednesday, January 7, 2026 10:16 AM Victoria Rios Historic Preservation Office Request to Postpone a Decision on the Rosedale School Permit Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Completed You don't often get email from Learn why this is important External Email - Exercise Caution Dear Chairman Heimsath and Commission Members, I’m writing again to respectfully request the Commission to decline the petition by Austin Independent School District to demolish the former Rosedale School. All of us in this community were extremely grateful for your decision last month to allow us to see through the current court case without the distraction of the demolition. Our position continues that a demolition of the school is premature before legal matters reach their full conclusion. Over 50 direct abutters to the school and dozens more a block away from the property are dealing with the legal fight to protect their property rights and should not have to also have the demolition literally across the street or around the corner. There is time enough for that, in time. AISD continues to paint our community as NIMBYs. I assure you that our priorities continues to be, first, protection of our neighbors property rights, and next, a fair and reasonable future development of the former Rosedale School. My previous letter below provides additional context. If I can be helpful with any questions, please contact me at 719-330-7218. Wishing you all a safe and successful new year. Sincerely, Victoria Rios On Dec 2, 2025, at 4:41 PM, Victoria Rios wrote: Dear Chairman Heimsath and Commission Members, 3 I live in Rosedale, five houses away from the former Rosedale School site. I support the request by the Play Fair with Rosedale group and the Rosedale Neighborhood Association on case number: DA 25-142965 in asking the Commission to please postpone the decision to demolish the former school. AISD has sued 125 neighbors of the site to try to nullify a deed restriction that only allows one residence per lot. This will enable them to proceed with a sale to developer OHT which proposes a 435-unit building for the site, bringing with it up to 800 vehicles accessing 2-3 regular Rosedale neighborhood streets (by OHT’s own calculation). This is a current case, and it is premature to consider a permit to demolish the building until the court case is resolved. Why are AISD and OHT in such a hurry to get a demolition permit? Whether the old school building is historic or not, a permit granted to demolish the building now could be used to suggest that the City of Austin has taken a position on the project. It may also signal to others including a court that the request to nullify deed restrictions are all but a formality. You may be aware that AISD has also applied for a zoning change for the site to highest density possible to proceed with this sale. So, this fact added to the very good chance the courts will uphold the Rosedale homeowners’ deed restrictions, amount to an argument that this process has many more steps to go. A demolition permit decision is unnecessary at this time. To say the least, I’m appalled that homeowners are being sued by the school district. AISD has not been a good neighbor to Rosedale, all of which will have to live with the consequences of a massive development that is proposed. As we try for a fair and transparent process, at heart are our neighbors caught up in the court case who will be most directly undermined by AISD and impacted by OHT’s maximum density development plans. Please allow Play Fair with Rosedale and the Rosedale Neighborhood Association to explore its interests fully and properly without the distractions of a permit to begin demolition, which can be considered in good time. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Victoria Rios 4619 Ramsey Avenue 719-330-7218 CAUTION: This is an EXTERNAL email. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious or phishing email, please report it using the "Report 4 Message" button in Outlook. For any additional questions or concerns, contact CSIRT at "cybersecurity@austintexas.gov". 5