The Allandale Reporter

Knife Sharpest

submitted by Tom Linehan

If you ever need those kitchen knives sharpened and you live in Allandale you’re in luck. The only knife sharpening and sales store in the city is just a few blocks away on Burnet Rd, right across from Blue Star Cafeteria and next door to the AA Lawnmower.

I wasn’t planning on taking my kitchen knives for sharpening when I went in the shop on a Saturday afternoon.

Revised Traffic Impact Study Submitted

In an article from today's Austin American-Statesman, "Wal-Mart submits new traffic estimates for Northcross store," by Sarah Coppola, the planned redevelopment with the Wal-Mart Supercenter will not overburden area streets. According to their revised study, it will generate fewer trips per day, approximately 5,000 fewer, than originally estimated in the Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) Lincoln submitted to the city in 2005. Part of the decrease is due to less retail being considered by Lincoln and a slightly smaller Wal-Mart. You can see the revised study here.

Allandale Executive Committee Meeting: March 23, 2007 Minutes

sumbitted by Katie Hansen

Executive Committee members in attendance: Joe Reynolds, Tom Linehan, Laura Slaughter, Paulette Kern, Allan McMurtry, Michael Bomba, Katie Hansen, Dan Jones, Brent Sjolseth, Cathy Yang.

Meeting minutes were read and approved for May 9, 2007.

Treasurer report: Joe Reynolds

Legal Fund $16,699.34
Regular $5948.01
Savings $9575.98
Total $32,193.3

The amount of donations raised for Legal Fund is $18,852.58. Have expended $22,062.20 on lawyer fees and traffic engineer.

Addition of managed lanes and noise barriers recommended by MoPac 1 project team

TxDOT and the MoPac 1 project team met with nearly 200 interested citizens at two open houses in April to discuss a recommendation for improving mobility on Loop 1 from FM 734 (Parmer   Lane) to the Cesar Chavez   Street interchange. As proposed, the recommended alternative involves adding one managed lane in each direction, improving traffic flow across the Town Lake bridges by adding one more thru-lane each way, and adding approximately seven miles of noise barriers in residential areas throughout the central corridor.

Oak Wilt

submitted by Damon Waitt

A recent news story in the AAS raises the question whether Allandale residents should be concerned about oak wilt in our neighborhood. Unlike Lakeway and other areas in the Texas Hill Country, the Allandale urban forest is not characterized by dense stands of live oak with interconnected root systems that facilitate the spread of the oak wilt fungus. That’s the good news. However, oak wilt can also be transmitted by sap feeding beetles carrying spores from infected red oaks to improperly pruned or wounded live oaks. Following are some common question and answers about oak wilt if you are not familiar with this disease that is responsible for killing over a million oaks in central Texas.

Sidewalk Soloist

Luke Stence, a bassist in the McCallum Orchestra, played for the neighbors passing by, to get practice performing his solo piece, the 1st movement of the Dragonetti Concerto, for the upcoming State UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest. An open invitation was sent out via the Shoalmont Listserve, to come and listen last Wednesday evening between 6:30 and 7PM. His teachers, Ricky Pringle and David Neubert, told him to play for as many people as possible, to prepare for the contest. His mom, had the idea to have him play outside in the yard, because so many people are out walking in the evenings. He did this last spring as well, and it proved to be a great way to get a lot of practice playing for an audience. About 25 folks stopped to listen to the 7 minute piece, and the Adams-Witt family brought Girl Scoutcookies to share.

First Ever Allandale Tyke and Bike Ride

submitted by Tom Linehan

Well folks it went on without a hitch, the first Allandale Tyke and Bike ride. I just posted photos from Saturday's event that was held on Northland starting at the Glad Tidings church at 9:00 a.m. A total of 98 children from all over Allandale and neghboring areas showed up to pedal, skate, roll or be rolled to the finish at Amy's Ice Cream where they were served up free ice cream. It was a blast.

Minutes from 5.9.07 EC Meeting

submitted by Katie Hansen

In attendance: Dan Jones, Tom Linehan, Paulette Kern, Cathy Yang, Katie Hansen, Allan McMurtry, Brent Slojseth, Michale Bomba, Joe Reynolds.

Tom Linehan calls meeting to order at 7:05.

Katie Hansen reads minutes from 4.25.07. Paulette Kern moves to approve minutes. Allan McMurtry seconds. Approved.

I. Membership committee report Dan Jones:
The MC has integrated data that came from Paul Nagy with membership forms that had not been entered into the database. The fundraising committee has also entered membership information into a database. Total is approximately 400 members of ANA.

Wal-Mart Modifies Size of Supercenter

submitted by Tom Linehan

In Saturday's Austin American-Statesman, there was an article about Wal-Mart's Letter to the City stating it is willing to reduce the size of the planned Supercenter for Northcross from 219,000 sq ft to 186,500 sq ft. (191,000 including the garden center). See Wal-Mart will reduce size of Northcross store, by Sarah Coppola.

Preregister for 1st Annual Allandale Tyke and Bike Ride

Riders get ready for the first annual Allandale Tyke and Bike ride. This is a .5 mile ride for elementary age and younger children. The event takes place, Saturday morning, May 19th, 9:00 - 11:oo. Here's the  map of the location of the event. Acceptable modes of transportation include: bicycles, bicycles with training wheels, tricycles, skates, scooters, wheel chairs, skate boards, peddlecars, and strollers. No electric or motorized transportation.

Participants will receive a t-shirt, participant number, a bike attachment (either a water bottle holder or head light), and free ice cream at Amy's at the end of the ride. Cost is $20. Children without a helmet will be provided one free. Monies will go to the ANA Legal Fund. Click here to print out registration form or go here to register online.

What do you think about VMU? Take the survey now!

What do you think about Vertical Mixed Use (VMU) on Burnet   Road and Anderson Lane? The Allandale Neighborhood Association wants to know. Please take a few minutes to complete the online Allandale VMU Survey. To take the survey, click here:

We must have your response before Monday, May 21.

Why does it matter? VMU would bring changes to the borders of Allandale. Depending on its location, VMU could be 2 to 4 stories, with shops below and people living in condos or apartments above. Is VMU good or bad for the neighborhood? The answer might be "it depends". Take the survey and tell us what you think.

In search of a better northcross development

This week's Austin Chronicle included a story by Kathrine Gregor, "Developing Stories, A Public-Private Northcross?", that talks about Jennifer Kim's efforts to pursue a public-private partnership for development of Northcross.  She's not having much success getting other councilmembers to sign on but the article is revealing in regards to councilmembers' worry about being individually sued by Wal-Mart if they were to interfere with the development. Something is not right if your city council cannot look after the interest of it's citizenry because they fear being sued. I encourage you read it.

VMU: Will it be good for Allandale

submitted by Kerry Kimbrough

Here are things that neighbors say they like about VMU. Do you agree? In the coming Allandale VMU Survey, you can tell us what you think.

• Attracts upscale developments
• Because VMU is more expensive to build, it is more likely to produce attractive, upscale, well-maintained residences and businesses.
• Makes it easier to shop and eat nearby
• VMU will bring more places to shop and eat nearby and will be easier to reach by walking.
• Encourages better public transportation
• By concentrating new residents on the transit corridors, VMU creates incentives to improve public transportation service to the neighborhood. (continue reading "VMU:  Will it be good...)

VMU: Will it be bad for Allandale

submitted by Kerry Kimbrough

Here are things that neighbors say they dislike about VMU. Do you agree? In the coming Allandale VMU Survey, you can tell us what you think.

• Causes parking overflow into the neighborhood
• In many places, parking is already scarce. VMU will reduce parking even more, and its clientele will have to park in front of our houses.
• Increases rush-hour congestion on main roads
• If VMU reaches maximum density everywhere, it will add 35,000 trips per day. Even a fraction of this will cause Burnet or Anderson to fail.
• Brings people who won't get involved in the community
• Transient renters without close ties to the neighborhood will weaken the community spirit that we value.
• Intrudes on the privacy of nearby homes
• VMU will build to the maximum height and new residents will loom over adjacent back yards during non-work hours.
• Increases traffic spillover onto neighborhood streets (continue reading VMU: Will it be...)

Fifth Annual Violet Crown Festival is Saturday!

Whether you call it 5/5 or Cinco de Mayo, this Saturday is going to be a very special day when the Fifth Annual Violet Crown Festival comes to Brentwood Park from noon to 7 p.m.

In addition to all the great local food, fun, music, art, and community
spirit you've come to expect from the Violet Crown Festival, this year's
fest promises plenty of ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo as well as our super neighborhoods of "Crestwood and Brentview"!

Site Plan Approval Notice

See attached notice of a request for site plan approval on the property at Lawnmont and Burnet Rd  currently the location of the Antique Marketplace. The property is being developed by Carr Development. The plan is for a mixed use development with retail on the bottom floor and condominiums above.  Mr. Carr met with the ANA Executive Committee regarding this project in September of 2005 seeking support for a zoning variance on the project.