Hancock Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 16,2019
President Mark Harkrider welcomed members and called for a vote of the nominated officers. By acclamation Mark Harkrider was elected President, Ann Tucker was elected Vice president and Bruce Fairchild was elected Treasurer.
Alison Young, Friends of Shipe Pool, reported that the pool should be opened by June or July at the latest, in addition, the Friends of Shipe Pool raised $60,000 for the renovation of the log cabin. Alison is also a member of the Friends of Ney Museum and reported it is preparing a landscape plan for the Museum & raising money for this activity.
John Hewlett, principal of Lee Elementary, introduced himself & explained that due to the construction of the new school building, the parking lot will be disabled and there will be a need to find thirty-five parking spaces for the teachers in the near-by neighborhoods. He is particularly looking for parking permit holders to donate one or two permits. Several members did so.
Hewlett also said the City will place a pedestrian beacon at Harris and Red River, which the Lee SCHOOL PTA has been working for.
Officer Gavin Smith introduced himself as the new night shift patrol officer for the area from 12th street to 38th Street. Officer Morrison will continue to patrol 38th & North. Officer Smith said Hancock was one of the safest neighborhoods in Austin which was very surprising to him given the neighborhood is so near I-35 and the homeless population has spread out. Smith said there had been 49 car break-ins in the neighborhood and almost all were because car owners didn’t lock their cars.
Jen Dillahunty, chair of the Local Historic District, reported that she had a new job and could no longer be the chair of the LHD; the LHD Committee is having a meeting Saturday, the 19th to decide on next steps. Terri Myers reported that almost all the neighborhood streets have been surveyed by residents, but much work is needed.
Members agreed the LHD was a priority.
Hugh Bender, Zoning & development chair, reported there had been one demolition permit application of a 1950s single-family home at 1023 East 45th, near the railroad line. There was no mention of fighting the demolition permit.
James Stroud, who represents the neighborhood on the City’s “sound” committee, reported he had attended two meetings which mainly focused on the disturbance to the hotels caused by downtown music venues. He will attend a February 2, meeting and mention that our neighborhood was still concerned about the noise traveling through Waller Creek.
Bart Whatley stated CANPAC has been responding to the requests for height variances in West Austin. He also said that the development community and the City was prepared to see the neighborhoods near UT become more like West Campus: dense and with high rise buildings on Guadalupe & maybe Red River.
Carolyn Palaima reported on the recommendations for the use of the $434,000, which was given to HNA in the 2007 Concordia settlement and which, by a resolution agreed upon by HNA & Eastwoods NA adopted in 2007 must be used for parkland and open space in Hancock neighborhood. At two engagement meetings, not at HNA meetings, projects were proposed for the use of the dollars. See attachment. There were questions about the need for and height of the proposed netting along 38th street to protect traffic from golf balls. Also about a proposed “marque sign” on 38th & Peck. HNA will have an opportunity to review any proposed project.
These projects were proposed at engagement meetings, these projects have not been adopted by HNA Membership.
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-minutes-11619docx
https://www.hancockna.org/www/content/hna-minutes-11619pdf
