Hello NACA friends and neighbors:
There is a recent issue
of concern that I would like to inform you about: A "boarding house" has popped
up at 9052 Galewood Lane. This building used to be the old vacant nursing home
complex. There are handwritten signs out front that advertise renting out rooms
for $395 per month.
When I called to inquire about this, the person I
spoke with said that they were renting the rooms for $395 a month, no
contracts, no income verification, no credit checks, nor criminal background
checks, and free cable and utilities. They are also offering "community
showers" as the complex only has about 4 showers altogether. I did not tell
them who I was, as I was trying to get as much information about exactly what
they are doing there as I could.
I visited the property earlier this
week with Mr. Dean Smith of UrbanConnectionAustin.org, and the manager gave us
a tour of the facility (only the areas shown by her.) What we saw is not very
promising at all. There are no plans for any social services/rehabilitation
services on site. The property looks like it could turn into a motel for
indigents of questionable means and habits. There are people living in there
currently, and the proprietors plan to have the entire complex full by the end
of this month. The funny thing is that the manager told us that they DO credit
and background checks. I'm not sure if they are telling prospective tenants one
thing, then telling city officials another... but that's just my own
impression.
So far I have contacted Code Enforcement, and learned that
the property is NOT zoned for multi-family, and that the Code Enforcement
investigation/case is pending.
[Preliminary
research yielded this specific information from Christopher Johnson, City of
Austin - Development Assistance Center:
["The property at 9052 Galewood
is currently zoned GR-NP - Community Commercial-Neighborhood Plan. According to
the permit history, the current legal use of the property is for a Congregate
Living facility (i.e. a nursing home). In order for the use of the property to
be legally changed to a Multi-Family Residential (apartments) or Group
Residential (dormitory or boarding house) the property must first be rezoned to
a multi-family or mixed-use zoning designation. If the property is rezoned, the
owner/developer will then need to go through the property permitting process to
change the use, which includes demonstrating compliance with off-street parking
requirements for the new use, which for a multi-family or group residential
use, is based upon the number of bedrooms / beds." ~KNH]
Upon further research by Officer Lee Davis, this is what we have
established as FACTS about the "boarding house":
- The property is in the early stages of development and have not
planned for the potential threats that have been identified and prevalent in
the past.
- The security on hand is not a licensed security guard, but
rather a resident who will be acting in the capacity of a security personnel.
He will be on duty from 11pm-7am.
- There will be a limited background search for registered sex
offenders only.
- No credit check will be performed.
- The property is in between renovation but plan to be filled
relatively quickly.
- A temporary certificate of occupancy for 90 or more persons has
been obtained.
- The property is willing to undergo an intense security survey
and meet with neighborhood associations
Mr. Davis, and Mr. Smith and I are planning on meeting the
owner, a Mr. David Buttross on Monday evening [July 28]. Some of the concerns I
will be addressing:
- What are the short term and long term aspirations of the
facility and is there a mission statement adopted by the property owner?
- How does the facility plan to partnership with the Austin
Police Department and the neighborhood associations?
- How does the facility plan to enhance the community as opposed
to hindering the efforts of the citizens and the police department?
- What types of screening processes are in place to discourage
known criminals from taking up residence?
- What types of security do you plan to provide?
- What types of management do you plan to provide?
- Historically are the other properties managed by the company in
good community standing?
If you have any input, question, comments or concerns about this
matter, please reply by e-mail at your earliest convenience. I need to show
some proof to the owner when I meet with him that this is not just a group of a
2-3 people who have concerns about this property, so the more feedback I have
about it, the better.
Thank you for your time and your consideration.
Anthony Williams President, NACA July 15, 2008
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