B-01 and B-02 (Letters of Support).pdf — original pdf

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Dear City of Austin Planning Commissioners: I am writing to express my support for Foundation Communities' Parker Apartments project at 2105 Parker Lane, which will be discussed at the April 13 Planning Commission meeting. I have lived in the East Riverside neighborhood since 2005 and know the property well. Until the church closed, I voted there in every local and national election for more than a decade. I also know Foundation Communities well, as I have taught in the evenings in a college access program on their properties since 2007. Those properties--Vintage Creek and M Station--are similar family properties with community-focused amenities, including learning centers that support programs geared toward the community. In our classroom, FC residents sit besides people from all over the community and are taught by faculty from UT and ACC, for free, in courses that award college credit and are often a turning point in an individual's life. My experience with FC is that they are true community partners, and the kind of partners we need here in the East Riverside neighborhood. The proposed site will include a learning center with fitness classes, a food pantry, and education classes. It will maintain space for UMC-affiliated programs already in place and expand partnerships to organizations such as Meals on Wheels and the Central Texas Food Bank. And it will provide new, well-designed apartments to low-income families. Austin needs affordable housing, and this central, well-connected neighborhood is an excellent place for it. I urge you to support this project. I believe FC will be an excellent community partner and that their property will be an asset to our neighborhood and city. Best regards, Vivé Griffith 1500 Inglewood Street Austin, TX 78741 512.736.3594 -- Vivé Griffith Writer | Educator | Advocate  April 9, 2021 City of Austin Planning Commissioners and City Council Members: I am writing to express support for the Parker Apartments project at 2105 Parker Lane, which is scheduled as a discussion item on the April 13th Planning Commission’s Agenda. Foundation Communities is a valued community partner, and they share a similar mission to Any Baby Can by supporting families’ success. I look forward to being able to continue offering parenting classes at Foundation Communities Learning Centers and possibly including the Parker Apartment location. Any Baby Can is a tax exempt 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that serves the community in which the development site is located. Any Baby Can partners with families to overcome obstacles and achieve well-being. With programs that meet clients where they are – at home, work, or school – Any Baby Can helps build stability, develop skills, and navigate systems so children and families reach their full potential with a primary purpose of building strong communities. The opportunity for the families we serve to live in safe and affordable housing is of importance to us. Please see attached 501 (c)(3) determination letter. We have also attached a link here, to our annual report which shows that we serve the Austin community and the area where this proposed project is located. Our website is anybabycan.org and it provides more information about our services and organization. Thanks for your consideration of this project. Sincerely, Veronda L. Durden, M.S. President and Chief Executive Officer    BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kevin Wood, Chair Marisol Rawlins, Vice Chair Jesse M. Holguin, Treasurer Tracy Letzerich, Secretary David DeStefano, Past Chair Brett Rodgers Casey Knust David Bank, M.D. David Bader Greg Van Wyk Jacquelyn Dosch McDonald, PhD Kelley Hawkins Kimberly Levinson Kirby Baird Leo Ortega Michele Scott Sarah Churchill Llamas Shafeeqa Giarratani Sonya Thorn TiWanna Kenney