08 NPA-2025-0012.01 - 2108 and 2110 E. 22nd Street; District 1 - Additional Public Comments — original pdf

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Alex Moreland and Kevin Urrutia-O’Reilly 3102 Lafayette Ave Austin, TX 78722 To: City of Austin Planning and Zoning Department January 21, 2026 Re.: Zoning Case # C14-2025-009 Rezoning of 2108 and 2110 East 22nd Street Dear Planning Commission, We are writing to express our support for the rezoning of 2108 and 2110 East 22nd Street. We live just down the road from Este on Lafayette Avenue. Our family has deep roots in this neighborhood: my mother lives five houses away from us, and my grandparents lived in the house across the street from us in the 1950s. Individually and collectively, we have witnessed the neighborhood’s changes over many decades. When Eastside Cafe sold, we were delighted to learn that the new owner planned to rebuild the restaurant and revive the garden after years of neglect. We have long enjoyed watching the Purple Martins, North America’s largest swallow, return year after year from South America to their thriving colony at the corner of 22nd and Coleto. Our appreciation for this space led us to volunteer as caretakers of the Purple Martin houses; this will be our sixth season volunteering at the site. Throughout our time in the garden, we have met countless neighbors and passersby who are excited to learn what is currently growing and what will be planted next. Este garden hosts tours, classes, and sunflower-picking days. It has truly become a pillar of the Blackland and Cherrywood neighborhoods. And like all gardens, much like our city, it is ever evolving and always changing. While we understand that some neighbors have concerns about parking, it is prudent to consider the realistic alternatives if this business did not exist in this space. This project represents a thoughtful use of the property: it preserves the existing garden, maintains parking, and strengthens the neighborhood in ways that many other potential developments would not. The positive impact on the local economy, neighborhood vibrancy, and sense of community should not be overlooked. In addition to being garden volunteers, we are regular patrons of both Este and Bar Toti. Over the three years of visiting these restaurants, we have seen remarkably little staff turnover. It is clear that the owner, Sam, values and respects his employees, and that care is returned in kind. It is rare to see development carried out with such thoughtfulness and genuine concern for the surrounding area, as demonstrated by the entire Este team. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a beautiful, living green space that is open to all, right here in central Austin. With the addition of a daytime restaurant, Este will continue to share this special piece of land not only with neighbors and garden volunteers, but with the broader Austin community and our many visitors alike. Thank you for your time and consideration, Alex and Kevin 08 NPA-2025-0012.01 - 2108 and 2110 E. 22nd Street; District 11 of 2To: City of Austin Planning and Zoning Department Re.: Zoning Case # C14-2025-009 and Neighborhood Plan Amendment Case # NPA-2025-0012.01 Rezoning of 2108 and 2110 East 22nd Street Dear Commissioners I am writing to express my strong support for the rezoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendment of 2108 and 2110 East 22nd Street in the Blackland neighborhood. I have lived in East Austin for many years and currently reside just eight blocks away. I also own 2107 Alamo Street, located approximately fifty yards from the Este Garden. This property holds deep personal meaning for me. I first began visiting the former Eastside Café garden nearly twenty-five years ago when I was a graduate student. I spent many afternoons studying behind the restaurant, and as a vegetarian at the time, Eastside Café was an important and beloved dining space for me. The garden was my place of respite—quiet, peaceful, and uniquely Austin. When Eastside Café was sold, I was worried about the future of the garden and whether the space would be lost to development. Instead, what has happened under Sam and the Este team has exceeded every expectation. They have not only preserved and maintained the garden—they have nurtured it, expanded it, and made it more beautiful, more accessible, and more welcoming to the neighborhood. Their stewardship demonstrates genuine care for the community and the land, and it is clear that they take seriously their role as long-term contributors to the cultural fabric of East Austin. I have gotten to know Sam personally, and I could not be more confident in his intentions for the property and his commitment to honoring his word. The proposed plan—to preserve the garden, operate a small daytime restaurant with breakfast and lunch service, and construct a greenhouse and small building for washing and packing vegetables—is thoughtful, modest in scope, and entirely aligned with the history and character of the space. It balances the needs of an actively farmed garden with a neighborhood-serving café, without imposing the impacts associated with larger-scale commercial development. We are extraordinarily fortunate to have a functioning garden, greenhouse, and restaurant ecosystem in the heart of central Austin. The educational programming, volunteer activity, tours, and community interactions that take place in the Este Garden strengthen the neighborhood, support the local economy, and enrich the daily life of residents and visitors alike. Few projects strike such a balanced and community-minded approach to land stewardship. For these reasons, I respectfully ask that you approve the rezoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendment for 2108 and 2110 East 22nd Street. This project represents a rare opportunity to preserve a beloved neighborhood asset while enabling a thoughtful, appropriately scaled daytime restaurant that will serve the broader community for many years to come. Thank you for your consideration and for your service to the citizens of Austin. Sincerely, Anmol Mehra 2107 Alamo St Austin TX 78722 08 NPA-2025-0012.01 - 2108 and 2110 E. 22nd Street; District 12 of 2