Lessin Lane Reyna Development Breaks Ground

Heartwood Real Estate Group has broken ground on a 16-unit townhome development at 221 Lessin Lane, the Reyna. The units will be two- and three-bedroom townhomes. The development also promises a community dog park and walking trail. As reported in Multi-Housing News, Chris Affinito, President ofHeartwood Real Estate Group said:

“The Reyna is a project that began in 2020 when we saw an opportunity to create much needed housing density by rezoning an oversized parcel of land previously zoned for single-family use. We worked with our neighbors and the city of Austin to design a community with 16 unique, high-quality residences without fundamentally altering the character of the neighborhood.”

Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2023. This development takes the last available tract of undeveloped land within the Dawson neighborhood.

Next Meeting

Monday, June 13, 6:30
Hybrid: In-person & online
(Plaza Colombian Coffee Shop)

Agenda: Neighborhood Association

  1. Approval of previous minutes
  2. Greetings and introductions
  3. Discussion with Austin Police Department rep
  4. Newsletter
  5. Projects in the neighborhood

Agenda: Plan Contact Team

  1. Approval of last meeting
    minutes
  2. New and ongoing building projects in the neighborhood
  3. Review permit notices
  4. Development project status
  5. Park cleanup updates

We meet on the 2nd Monday of February, April, June, August, October, and December.

Newsletter Editor:
Eliot Kimber, drmacro@gmail.com

DNA email distribution:
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DNA on NextDoor

Code Next Lawsuit Succeeds

The City of Austin has lost its appeal of the lawsuit seeking to block adoption of the rewritten land development code (“Code Next”). The lawsuit argued that the City’s adoption of the code deprived property owners of their right to protest zoning changes granted under Texas state law.

City of Austin is now faced with determining how to proceed with sweeping development code changes while satisfying the requirement to allow protest of zoning changes.

Austin Energy Set to Begin Base Rate Review

Review Aims to Balance Revenues and Costs, Ensure Financial Stability

On April 18, Austin Energy will propose base rate changes and launch a public, open and transparent base rate review process. Austin Energy policy requires a regular review of the utility’s costs and revenues so that customer charges accurately recover costs and reflect the community’s priorities. Base rates cover the costs of owning and operating the electric system.

The cost-of-service findings show a growing gap between revenues and costs, which means Austin Energy’s current base rates and rates structures are not meeting the costs of serving the community.

Customers can register to attend a community meeting at speakupaustin.org/rates. Find more information about the base rate review at austinenergy.com/go/rates.

Thanks to our sponsor!

Dawson Elementary serves children ages 3 to 12 years.
Please contact Dawson’s principal, Tania Jedele, at 512-698-9151, to set
up a time for a tour.

Dawson Elementary School

St. Edwards Fireworks Canceled for April, 22

St. Edward’s University will not host a fireworks display on Friday, April 22.

This was an intended reschedule of the Presidential Inauguration fireworks from February and it will no longer happen.

Guinea Fowl

Guinea Fowl – Eliot Kimber

DNA Meeting Minutes February 14, 2022

(Virtual meeting via Zoom)

  1. Julie Woods, President, called the meeting to order.
  2. Gillis Park: Julie invited APD representatives to attend to address drug dealers in Gillis Park, but they did not respond/attend. April 9th is Keep America Beautiful Day, an opportunity for a park or creek clean up event if criminal presence in Gillis is not dangerous for volunteers. It’s My Park Day deadline for proposals has passed.
  3. Discussions for gaining higher level policing of Gillis included (a) partnering with community center, park department, and businesses, (b) involving news reporters, and (c) calling 311 every time crime is witnessed by all who observe the crime. The 311 calls provide documentation of criminal frequency. Jerry described a specific drug dealer and provided license plate numbers for this person. A homeless population in the park is not the same as the drug dealer(s). Jason stated that a kick ball league plays in Gillis Park once each week after dark without incident and asked if Gillis might be safe with critical numbers.
  4. Andrew suggested that firework disturbances, like what occurred for over a week during Christmas/New Years, might be addressed by neighbors calling 311 frequently and by all who are bothered.
  5. Changes in Dawson: HEB transforming, Winebelly and TitleMax closed, Taste’s grocery opening, Top Gun leaving. New power lines are being installed to support increased housing density.
  6. St. Ed’s fireworks – Feb. 26.
  7. Minutes approved.
  8. Meeting adjourned.
DNA Contact Team Minutes February 14, 2022

(Virtual meeting via Zoom)

  1. December 2021 minutes approved.
  2. The following officers were elected in December: Jason Callahan, Don Dory, Mike Moody, Eliot Kimber, Rebecca Sheller, and Julie Woods.
  3. The following items were covered in the DNA meeting
    1. Working surfaces of roads in Dawson to be done in 2022 Marty reported they just sealed cracks.
    2. Mention of Shared Streets from City survey Wilson on twice North and South, and Lessin. Some are also across S 1st to the west. https://www.austintexas.gov/SharedStreets
    3. HEB moving into new temp location, now done and open. Main store closed for about two years.
    4. Power poles on West Alpine all standing, lines being run. Run from Cardinal Lane to Alpine to Woodward.
    5. It’s My Park Day no. Maybe Keep Austin Beautiful in April. Marty will contact KAB to see about creek or Pond cleanup
    6. Austin Marathon again February 20, 2022 see https://youraustinmarathon.com/
    7. Top Gunn, a large equipment rental and sticker store near Dawson Elementary is moving soon.
    8. Strip mall across from St Eds, SoCo Market, may have a new business maybe a grocery store called Taste’s. https://austin.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/10-22-21-tastes-grocery-store-south-congress-automated-democratized-model/#slide=0
    9. Gillis Park and continuing problems.
  4. Continuing Permits
    1. S 1st bldg permitting possibly on hold. Don brought up problems with access out and fit on property
      Lindsey property follow up Jason did not think it was still active, deferred to Mike’s follow up from last meeting
    2. Lessin property follow up: rocks for construction entrance, new posts set, debris capture and fencing set up, Becky site plan approved as 14 units. Parkland offer may be gone.
    3. Three houses on Lessin owned by Pickle Road cosmic/Crux landowner are being worked on again.
    4. 205 and 207 Dunlap now have City Building permit violations on them as of 2.04.22
  5. Speed bump repainting and markers replaced on Alpine Rd.
  6. Reminder of City Elections coming up March 1st, TLWV guide https://lwvaustin.org/voter-guide, problems with mail in voting, voting opened today 2.14.22