News and Events
Cherrywood Neighborhood Assoc. General Meeting
Wednesday, August 20 @ 6:30pm in-person
at Cherrywood Center aka Servant Church
Agenda
City Staff presentaion on I-35 Caps Design
TXDot construction updates
Manor Road Planning Update
E. 38 1/2 St. Rezoning
Thanks in great part to a sudden outreach campaign of emails and calls from Cherrywooders to City Council, this re-zoning case was approved on December 12th with covenants designed to save 74 additional affordable units at Alma Apartments, located at 1230 East 38th½ St. Neighborhood dialogue on thiscase began in September 2023 and is described in past Flea newsletters. The new zoning adds a category called Density Bonus 90 (or DB90 for short) intended to allow developers to build taller (up to 90’) in exchange for some community benefits such as 10% affordable units. Over 80 other DB90 cases have been approved across the city over the last year.
The CNA Steering Committee has several priorities in designing the restrictive covenants with the developer:
To ensure tenant protections for current and future residents of the Alma Apartments (we have been collaborating with BASTA (https://bastaaustin.org/), that includes right-to-return
At least 1:1 replacement of the naturally occurring affordable units at the Alma Apts in any future redevelopment, meaning at least 74 units, which is more than what the current City regulations would require.
Right-to-return for local businesses, specifically a restaurant-ready commercial space for the Cherrywood Coffeehouse to re-occupy
Site design issues such as right-of-way for a future Red Line Parkway extension and limited height on the easternmost parcel that is closed to residential and the Maplewood Elementary
For more information, please click here.
The CNA is actively involved in the I-35 Capital Express Central project!
Thanks in huge part to the advocacy of many neighbors in Cherrywood, Hancock, Wilshire Wood, North Loop, Hyde Park and others, the Austin City Council approved in initial funding for two “mini-caps” over I-35 between a new bridge connecting E 41st St to Wilshire Blvd and the railroad/Red Line crossing. The design and locations were conceptual in May, but must be refined by this Nov for further engineering and cost analysis. City staff are spending the summer developing a public engagement process for the fall. The best way to stay informed on the ongoing design of the Northern Caps is the Cherrywood listserv and fundthecaps.org.
We’ll continue to profile timely aspects of the I-35 expansion that impact all Cherrywood residents (and all city residents!).
We have extended a standing invitation to TxDOT rep-resentatives to attend all of our quarterly Cherrywood General Meetings. Nic Barbera, Public Engagement Lead, attended our May meeting and provided the following written responses to several outstanding questions from the meeting. You can contact Nic directly at 512.766.3472 or NBARBE-C@txdot.gov; if you email Nic a concern or question, we encourage you to cc steering@cherrywood.org.
Construction Update
Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Bridge segment: Crews are working on reconstruction of the NB and SB MLK bypass lanes and planning to complete demolition of the NB side of the bridge over three consecutive weekends in August.
Drainage Tunnel and Pump Station. TxDOT is finalizing dates for a future Noise Wall Workshop, targeting late August. Voting for the sound wall will be limited to impacted properties. All community members will NOT have a voting stake. That said, any community member interested in learning about the noise wall, analysis and process, are welcome at the workshop.
We are not alone!
The North Central I-35 Neighborhood Coalition (NCINC, of which Cherrywood is a member) is also working on an advocacy campaign (not fundraising). Their efforts, and ours, are being collated at fundthecaps.comcaps in the future, we need you to contact City Council NOW and sign up to speak at the March City Council meeting. Please visit https://www.fundthecaps.com/ for more information on how to get involved.
For the history of Cherrywood Neighborhood Association formal letters about the I-35 Capital Express project, please navigate to the I-35 Project page for more information.