---------- Forwarded message ----------
< [at] >
Date: Sep 14, 2007 11:08 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: [nndl] RE:] Howard's Nursery and Link Ave.
To: [at] , [at] ,
[at] , [at]
Sebastian,
I wish you well in your support of this project. I don't believe a rationale discussion of this project can occur on the list serve anymore. I am clearly a proponent of VMU and don't have a problem with 250 apartment units "in my backyard". I am only asking for a careful consideration of the traffic circulation before endorsing the project.The absolute last thing I wanted was for 'infighting' within the neighborhood. This only strengthens the developer's position.
In an attempt to 'take the high road' and avoid further slander of my "honesty and integrity", I will delete my name from the list serve. I sincerely hope that you have the neighborhoods best interests at heart. If you wish to discuss this over a cup of coffee, I am always available.Thank you for your attention.
Stefan Pharis
5503 Link Ave.
Austin, Texas 78751
On 9/14/07, <
[at] > wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: "Sebastian Wren" <
[at] >
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:00:22
To:"'Northfield Discussion List'" <
[at]
>
Cc:< [at] >, "'Moyara Pharis'" <
[at] >
Subject: [nndl] RE:] Howard's Nursery and Link Ave.-
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Stephan, to be fair, I really think you are mischaracterizing the
discussions you had with Jamil and Endeavor. You are now claiming that
they have been unwilling to discuss changing the plans they shared which
depicted an exit from their parking garage somewhere near Link Ave.That is such an inaccurate characterization, I am quite surprised you
are making these claims. You know full well, as it was discussed
several times at both meetings, that the plans Jamil and Cindy presented
were just hypothetical sketches. Jamil said several times that the
actual site plan will be developed in conjunction with the neighborhood
AFTER a traffic engineer has examined the traffic issues, and AFTER
TXDOT has given them permission for the location of the entrance to the
garage from Koenig.
There is no way to predict what TXDOT will require at this point, and
there is no way to predict what the traffic engineer will find -- that's
why Jamil said they couldn't really discuss the placement of the garage
at this time. They simply don't have enough information. You
repeatedly asked for a promise to place the entrance to the parking
garage well away from Link Ave., and Jamil repeatedly said that he could
not make that promise without the pertinent information.
I'm quite surprised that you would try to make this characterization
after such a public and clear discussion of the issue. This development
is important, and I think it is very important that our discussions of
this issue be honest and fair. I don't mind you organizing resistance
to this development -- by all means do so -- but please do so with
honesty and integrity.
I know you don't want any traffic on Link -- it is currently a very
quiet street, and I understand you want it to stay that way. I don't
blame you for a little case of "Not in my back yard." That's natural.
But I must protest to your attempts to foment resistance to this
development through claims that Jamil and Cindy were being unreceptive
and stubborn -- they have been anything but.
Sincerely,
Sebastian Wren____________________________________________
Sebastian Wren, Ph.D.
Director
http://BalancedReading.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stefan Pharis [mailto:
[at] ]
> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 10:29 AM
> To: 'Mary Patrick'; 'Clay Crenshaw'
> Cc:
[at] ; 'Moyara Pharis'
> Subject: RE: [nndl] Howard's Nursery
>
> -
> To respond privately, use the "Reply" command.
> To post to the list "Forward" to
[at]
> -
>
> Well, the site plan they showed conveniently left off Link Ave. The
> entrance off of 56th is directly aligned with Link Ave.
>
> Stefan
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mary Patrick [mailto: [at]
]
> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 10:27 AM
> To: Clay Crenshaw
> Cc: Stefan Pharis; [at] ; 'Moyara Pharis'
> Subject: Re: [nndl] Howard's Nursery
>
> I guess we missed something in the meeting with Endeavor on Monday
night.
> I
> could swear their site plan showed the parking garage in the center of
the
> project, with access to the garage from Koenig and 56th Street.
>
> Did that change between Monday and Wednesday?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mary
>
> Quoting Clay Crenshaw < [at] >:
>
> > Stefan -
> >
> > You have my support. And if you need help rounding up other
neighbors
> > for the cause, I'm willing to help with that too.
> >
> > Clay Crenshaw
> > 5405 Link
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sep 13, 2007, at 9:53 AM, Stefan Pharis wrote:
> >
> > > Greeting's Fellow Neighbors,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I am writing this letter in hopes of organizing a meeting
regarding
> > > Howard's Nursery.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > In one month the developer's will be going to the Board of
> > > Adjustment to seek a variance to the compatibility standards.
> > >
> > > For those who don't know, a compatibility standard is planning
tool
> > > to protect single family residences from the impacts of commercial
> > > development (building height, noise, lighting, etc.)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I do support Vertical Mixed Use. I do not have a problem with 250
> > > apartments in the neighborhood. Density is not a four letter word.
> > >
> > > The issue is not density it is design. To that end, I have a major
> > > design issue with a 400 car parkinge garage being aligned with my
> > > neighborhood street, Link Ave.
> > >
> > > I have done fair amount of research and I cannot find one example
> > > of a parking garage that is directly aligned with a nieghborhood
> > > street anywhere I our city. Not the Triangle, not the villas at
> > > guadalupe, not gables west avenue, etc, etc. None of the projects
> > > that the developer is referencing have a parking garage on a
> > > nieghborhood street. It is unprecedented in our city.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I have talked at length with the developer's about tweaking their
> > > design and up to this point they are unwilling to change. What
is
> > > most troubling is that I keep hearing from the developer that they
> > > are working with and listening to the neighborhood, but at the
> > > first opportunity for them to 'work' with the neighborhood, they
> > > tell me the plans cannot change.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I will be seeking from the developer a restrictive covenant that
> > > A) prohibits direct access to link ave from a parking garage B)
> > > either a one way in or one way out circulation pattern for the
> > > garage C) some type of traffic calming device at the end of Link
> > > which prohibits direct access from a parking garage, IE dead end
> > > Link, bulb out link so it is one way, etc.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Once the developer recieves a variance from the Board of Adjustmet
> > > there are no more public hearings. They can begin their site plan
> > > and much like the Wal-Mart at Northcross, it will get built. This
> > > is our last chance to get any gaurentees from the developer. If
> > > the developer's want us to trust them, then how about signing a
> > > document that binds them to their word.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > If anyone wishes to discuss this in more detail then I will
attempt
> > > to schedule a meeting at my house for all of those interested to
> > > discuss these issues.
> > >
> > > I feel it is important for the neighborhood to be united on the
> > > issues that concern it's residents. While we may not all agree on
> > > all of the issues, maybe, just maybe a consensus can be reached
> > > that enables us to get a great project for the neighborhood. I
> > > really want to encourage great development in our neighborhood,
but
> > > it needs to be designed 'great' for my support.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Time is of the essence.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Stefan Pharis, 5503 Link Ave.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .
> > .
> >
> > Clay Crenshaw
> > Interaction Designer and Web Consultant
> >
> > 5405 Link Ave. | Austin, TX 78751
> >
> >
> >
www.claycrenshaw.com
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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Website: Northfield Neighborhood Assoc -
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