Citizen Communication Backup 1 — original pdf

Backup

Harvey Street Right of Way Vacation Application File # 2021-047001 February 2022 – Urban Transportation Commission 1 Sol Wilson @ Ridgeway - 1 way stop Sol Wilson @ Oak Grove – 2 way stop Homewood Heights North entry – 1 way stop Subject Property Harvey ROW to be vacated Harvey construction for 5 new lots Grocery & Drug Stores Sol Wilson dead end – no west entry Austin Can Academy High School ~ 1 block Homewood Heights South entry – 4 way stop Oak Springs Elementary Homewood Heights - Austin 2 10/15/21: notice received regarding ROW vacation Subject Property Harvey ROW to be vacated 3 Eureka as property owner – a history of poor property stewardship 2020 – Sol Wilson at Oak Grove Corrugated metal attracts graffiti tags Oct 2021 – Visible from Sol Wilson near Oak Grove What’s in these barrels and why are they still on the site? 4 Chronic Neglect Signals “Dumping Ground” Sofa Dumped Sol Wilson east of Oak Grove - Nov 2020 Mattress Dumped Oak Grove north of Sol Wilson - Sep 2021 Tires Dumped in front of Eureka’s “no dumping” sign Oak Grove north of Sol Wilson - Oct 2021 5 Sol Wilson Ave traffic including First Responders are challenged to pass. Pedestrians in the street, especially at night, face risk of being hit. Subject Property 2800 block eastbound Sol Wilson Ave 6 Speeding Vehicles turning onto Sol Wilson from Oak Grove = Pedestrian + Hit-and-Run Hazard Hit Nov 2020 towed months later June 2021 Same vehicle Sep 2021 towed months later 7 Harvey ROW now under development to access 5 lots (41-45) Only access is via Sol Wilson so will add to traffic and parking Note: Homewood Heights map 1945: - - - Before Oak Grove cut through to 12th Street Before Elm Ridge Apartments built 1970 McClain Street never built so west end of Sol Wilson is dead end Oak Grove now goes to 12th St. Harvey ROW to be vacated Driveway for 130-unit Elm Ridge Apartments ROW currently under development 8 Harvey Street ROW new construction across from subject property 5 lots (5-10 homes?) will add to traffic on 2800 block of Sol Wilson Properties accessed via new Harvey Street extension via Sol Wilson from the west COA plan link - approved Aug 2021 – Construction started Dec 2021 Elm Ridge Apartments 3007 E 12th 9 condo units Harvey St. access to 5 new lots 2800 block Sol Wilson Ave 9 December 2021 – new fence started Sol Wilson Ave @ Oak Grove St surrounding Eureka property • 8’ setback t-post fence is being replaced with 30” setback galvanized posts in concrete • • Eureka was notified 12/21 that the post holes were too close to the street to allow for a sidewalk Fence posts were installed in concrete 12/24 Old fence: 8 ft setback New fence: 2 ½ ft setback 10 Jan 19 – email follow-up to Pam Madere after initial email 10/24/21 and meeting with her and Eureka 1/5/22 From: Scott Collier Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 11:15 AM To: Madere, Pamela Cc: Chelsea Collier Subject: Re: Harvey ROW Vacation - meeting [IMAN-JWDOCS.FID3988390] Pam - I know Chelsea emailed you last week and I wanted to follow up to be sure you got that and to keep the communications channels open, as you suggested at our meeting on Jan 5th. We have heard nothing from you or Eureka since the 5th and have seen no attempts to clean up debris on the site, including the two mattresses that were there on the 5th. The only activity we've seen is that yesterday one large dumpster was removed from the site - I'm not sure why no one threw those two mattresses or any of the other trash in it, but they didn't. So the site continues to be an eyesore and we would appreciate some communication on when the site will be cleared of trash and large debris. As for the fence that appears to be underway, while we are glad to see no evident plan to create a site entrance/exit on Sol Wilson, it was disappointing at the meeting to hear RP defend their decision to put the fence line so close to the street as to make a sidewalk impossible. This decision was made well after we said a sidewalk on the property is critical, and I even pointed out to you Dec 21st before they set the fenceposts in concrete that based on the placement of the holes they were digging it was going to obviate a sidewalk going in. So once again our concerns were disregarded. On a brighter note, Chelsea and I made a first visit to Camp East and thought it was pretty well executed. The parking and signage seemed to be working to keep it from being a traffic or residential parking problem and it looked like folks were having a good time there without any apparent adverse impact on the surrounding homes. I think if parking, safety and pedestrian considerations are accommodated, a similar setup could work fine on the Eureka property as they formulate any longer- term plans. Regards, Scott 11 Feb 8 - Statement to Austin Urban Transportation Commission My name is Scott Collier and my wife Chelsea and I live across the street from the subject property. Our neighborhood is Homewood Heights comprising 120+ single family homes and Elm Ridge Apartments – a HUD-sponsored complex of 130 residences in 13 buildings. We love our diverse neighborhood with its mix of families large and small, young and old, of all economic means. Like all Austin neighborhoods, we want a safe and pleasant place to live where neighbors treat each other as they wish to be treated. We support responsible development that prioritizes safety and a sense of community. The current situation on Sol Wilson Avenue is not safe, and to date Eureka’s words and actions have not convinced us that they will develop the subject property with the community in mind. The streets that intersect at the property, Sol Wilson and Oak Grove, are busy. There’s fast- moving traffic in and out of the Elm Ridge Apartments 24-7. There are no sidewalks, so pedestrians, including children and folks in wheelchairs, are forced into the street to get to and from the school bus stop, Oak Springs Elementary, CAN Academy High School, and food stores or the Walgreens. Vehicles are often parked on both sides of Sol Wilson effectively creating a one lane road. From our house we’ve seen people scurry out of the street as cars turn from Oak Grove without slowing. We’ve seen several parked cars hit, which we reported to 311. We’ve seen EMS, police and fire trucks slow and even back up in front of our house to allow flow of traffic, all while pedestrians try to avoid being hit. So our request is that the city reject Eureka’s Harvey Street vacation request unless certain development obligations are put in place in the interest of resident safety and community integrity: 1. Until a sidewalk is constructed on the north side of Sol Wilson, no development should be permitted including any further progress on the fence that is going in where the sidewalk needs to go. 2. The subject property, regardless of who owns it, should never be permitted to create a driveway or pedestrian entry/exit at Sol Wilson. 3. Turn the 2-way stop at Oak Grove and Sol Wilson into a 4-way stop. 4. Designate the South side of Sol Wilson a no parking zone between Elm Ridge Apartments and at least Oak Grove, ideally to Ridgeway, to ensure two lanes of traffic can flow at all times, 5. Install speed bumps on Sol Wilson from the Elm Ridge entry west to Ridgeway. 6. Require parking for any use of the subject property to be 100% accommodated by the property owner with no allowance for street parking on Sol Wilson. 7. Work with Elm Ridge to add 10-20 no-restriction parking spaces to their lot as there appears to be plenty of capacity. 8. Eureka to commit to regular scheduled maintenance of their property. 9. Prior to any site development, Eureka will present to the Homewood Heights neighborhood association proposed plans and will be responsive to feedback. 12 Feb 8 Requested changes stop sign added sidewalk added no parking zone speed bumps 13