10 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 9 - Public Comment — original pdf

Backup

10 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 91 of 47Steering Committee Members: Stephen L. Amos, Chair Mark Ashby, Jeff Callahan, Scott Campbell, Marc Carlson, Hunter Coleman, Evelyn Fujimoto, Adrienne Goldsberry, Nick Mehl, William Osborn, Charlie Rice, Paul Shattuck, Shawn Shillington March 5, 2026 City of Austin Planning Commission Austin City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, TX 78701 Re: Support for Rezoning Application – 1308 West Lynn (St. Luke United Methodist Church) – Case C14-2025-0109 – Item 10 Dear Chair Woods and Planning Commissioners, On behalf of the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association (OWANA), we are writing to express our support for the rezoning application for the property located at 1308 West Lynn and 1611 W 14th Streets, the former home of St. Luke United Methodist Since 1958, St. Luke United Methodist Church has been a cornerstone of the Old West Austin and Clarksville communities. Located at the corner of West 14th and West Lynn Streets, the church brought together neighbors in fellowship and activities for people of all ages. Over the decades, St. Luke’s provided a welcoming place for worship, education, and community engagement. The church’s role extended well beyond its congregation. St. Luke’s supported numerous outreach efforts that benefited the broader community. These included partnerships with the Hope Food Pantry, support for senior citizen activity centers, student family services, a child care center, and regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The church also fostered community engagement through partnerships with local organizations such as Imagine Art. Through these programs and relationships, St. Luke’s served as a gathering place and a resource for neighbors throughout Old West Austin and beyond. OWANA appreciates the collaborative approach taken by the prospective new ownership group, which is comprised of local 78703 residents. The group has engaged constructively with the neighborhood and has presented a thoughtful vision to preserve the historic church buildings while adapting the site for a new community-oriented use. The proposed adaptive reuse project would establish a neighborhood bookstore with a café offering coffee, light fare, and beer and wine, creating a welcoming place for neighbors to gather. The concept also includes space for creative-sector partners, such as art galleries and small creative offices, helping to activate the site as a cultural and community hub. This vision aligns well with the neighborhood’s character and continues the long tradition of the property serving as a place where people come together. Importantly, the proposed development incorporates several commitments that address neighborhood compatibility, including: · · Preservation of the existing church sanctuary building without increasing its height. Limitations on hours of public operation between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Maintenance of existing driveway access and parking from West 14th Street, with no new curb cuts along West Lynn · Street unless required by the City. · A Restrictive Covenant allowing OWANA to review and address concerns through a defined dispute resolution process. These commitments reflect a good-faith effort by the development team to ensure that the project remains compatible with the surrounding residential neighborhood. 10 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 92 of 47 OWANA believes the proposed rezoning and adaptive reuse plan thoughtfully preserves an important neighborhood landmark while allowing the site to continue serving the community in a meaningful way. The project maintains the spirit of the property as a place for gathering, learning, creativity, and connection. For these reasons, the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association respectfully supports the rezoning request for 1308 West Lynn and encourages the Planning Commission to approve the application. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Stephen L. Amos Chair Old West Austin Neighborhood Association (OWANA) 10 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 93 of 47 10 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 94 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 95 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 96 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 97 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 98 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 99 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 910 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 911 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 912 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 913 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 914 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 915 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 916 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 917 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 918 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 919 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 920 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 921 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 922 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 923 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 924 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 925 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 926 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 927 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 928 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 929 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 930 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 931 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 932 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 933 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 934 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 935 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 936 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 937 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 938 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 939 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 940 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 941 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 942 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 943 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 944 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 945 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 946 of 4710 C14-2025-0109 - West Lynn Church Site; District 947 of 47