NORTH NLNPCT: Special Session TOMORROW NIGHT

[Brian Bedrosian]

I must start this with an apology - I originally sent this email last week but it was apparently rejected by the server for having too many attachments.  This is coming at a very very late date which was not my intent.  You will receive a follow-up email with the additional attachments. I have modified the text below to better suit the date of delivery. Once again - so very sorry.  See you all tomorrow night.

Good Afternoon Neighbors!

Just a reminder that we will be holding a Special Session of the NLNPCT tomorrow night -  Wednesday, September 3rd - at a combined meeting between the NLNA and NLNPCT.  The NLNA meeting will have a meet and greet at 6:30, start at 7pm and the NLNPCT meeting is set to commence immediately following - roughly at 8pm.  These meetings will be held at the COMMUNE on North Loop as per usual.  We recommend attending both meetings as our D4 Council Member Chito Vela and City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) will speak at the NLNA meeting and will have information that is relevant to the NLNPCT agenda.

Our primary agenda item this month is a discussion about the design of the new PARD park planned for the western edge of the THE 501 Development property.  This includes a triangular .65 acre park on the north end (where the Red Line tracks intersect Koenig Lane), a linear park along the western side of the Red Line tracks to allow space for the Red Line Parkway Trail, and a larger 1.08 acre triangular park on the south end (between 54th and 55th streets, east of the Red Line tracks, west of the FLORA development).  The design of the park is very much open at this point - though PARD is currently encouraging the northern property to provide space for a dog park and the southern park to be focused on a play space for folks of all ages.  Attached to this email are the initial plans - but please see these as a jumping off point - not a final design.  

We are looking for input from the neighborhood on the design of these parks.  This is the time to provide input on: what amenities you feel would create a rich park experience or are otherwise lacking in our area, how you would like to see the land used, what precedents you would point to for inspiration for this park. 

During this meeting we will also be nominating (2) representatives to represent the neighborhood at a design charrette with PARD, United Properties, and the design team.  A design background and parental experience would be ideal but each representative need not check both of these boxes.  We will have a few nominees to bring to the table but please reach out to Steve or I if you are interested. 

Finally, we will also be looking at the TXDoT retention pond in the northwest corner of the property (at the corner of Koenig and Airport).  Per neighborhood request and our signed MOU, United Properties has successfully negotiated a maintenance agreement with TXDoT to allow UP to maintain the retention pond and install a trail around the pond.  Attached is the proposal that TXDoT has provisionally approved for us to discuss. 

While there will be future presentations to the NLNPCT for the design of this park, this is our best opportunity to provide input that can have a real impact on the final design.  If you are unable to make this meeting, please reach out to myself or Steve - or a fellow neighbor - with any thoughts you might have by Friday September 12th, we want to make sure that everyone's voice is heard. 

Thanks all - look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night!

Talk soon

b

[Brian Bedrosian]

Good Morning Neighbors! 

Just following up from our meeting last night.  Thank you all for staying through to the end.  We had a packed agenda and much to discuss.  

(for clarity below, Austin Parks and Recreation is no longer known as PARD and is now referred to as APR - they dropped the "department" per city rebranding)

Attached is the revised park plan for THE 501 that we reviewed during the meeting.  We are asking that you send over any design feedback you would have by the end of day Friday September 12th for us to pass along to United Properties to share with their design team.  Some questions you could provide direction to are as follows: 

1. What amenities would you like to see at these parks?  Folks mentioned a Splash Pad, water fountains / dog water facilities and an amphitheater/gathering space.  Other items for consideration might be grills, bike parking, natural play areas,  shade structures, specific play features, play areas for specific age groups, sports equipment, exercise equipment, etc. 
   
   
2. What precedents would you like to share to help inspire the design team?  Images of parks / features you are excited about are very helpful - Austin has a wonderful park system, but we are not limited to being inspired by what Austin has built and feel free to share any images that capture your ideas.  Images of things you dislike can also be as if not more helpful to the process.  
   
   
3. What are your thoughts on the overall layout?  By this we are talking about the strategy to place a dog park in the northern park and children and adult play and recreation areas in the south park.  This seemed to have broad support last night and was recommended by APR, but we are open to thoughts, concerns, alternatives. 

As part of our negotiations with UP,  (2) neighborhood representatives are to be designated to take part in a charrette with APR, UP, and their design team.  I am happy to be one of our representatives or step aside to make room for others.  I have already spoken to a few folks about taking on this role - if you feel this is a good fit for you, please let us know.  We will be formally nominating these folks at the October NLNA meeting. 

Some final thoughts from the meeting last night:

• Robynne Heymanns from APR mentioned that a Pool and / or Bathrooms are likely not in the cards for this site due to the size and available level of development slated for this park, but that any ideas we have will be considered.  All requested elements, like the Splash Pad we discussed, will be evaluated by APR and feedback will be provided to UP and the neighborhood.  
• The parks will be built out by UP but will be maintained by APR - so the design will need to take into account the level of maintenance APR will be able to dedicate to ensure this is a thriving, well cared for park into the future. 
• The northern and southern parks will be built out as part of the PHASE 1 development of this project which means that the southern park will very likely not sit adjacent to completed buildings when it is finished.  The connector linear park which will provide land for the Redline Parkway will be installed after the parks are finished as part of the Urban Trails program.
• It is important to remember that while these parks will immediately provide benefits to our neighbors, these green spaces are also an investment in our future.  They will provide land for a future Cap Metro Station, a pedestrian crossing over the Red Line tracks, space for the Red Line Parkway as it extends through our entire city, and other elements we cannot predict today.  
• There are many exciting new amenities that will be housed on this site - but please also keep in mind that we have negotiated much much more that will happen on the development sites that will lessen the burden on these natural spaces.  We have negotiated space for a public urban plaza at the crossroads of Martin and 56th that will provide performance and gathering spaces, public bathrooms in the structures that will provide facilities for those visiting the park that will be maintained by UP, bike share parking on site as well as a part of a future transit plaza being considered by CapMetro on Airport Boulevard, parking within the buildings for the parks and retail establishments, etc. 
• Right now the timeline for completion of Phase 1 - including the parks -  is looking like August of 2029 but that depends on when Leif Johnson Ford vacates the property - as of now they have extended their lease back into May of 2026.  We will update you as we are able. 
• As part of our negotiations, UP was able to sign a maintenance agreement with TXDOT to take over the care of the retention pond in the northeast corner of the site.  They have been approved to take care of the grounds, plant trees, and install a decomposed granite footpath on that TXDOT property.  This will be a more wild place - similar to the retention ponds at Mueller - a bit of nature to help buffer the site from the Airport / Koenig intersection and provide a contrast to the more refined park and landscape areas of the site.  This will also take what was effectively a ditch that filled with trash and turn it into an amenity for the residents of the project and our neighbors!

Hope this email is helpful and look forward to hearing from everyone!  If anyone feels they need more information, please feel free to reach out!

Talk soon

b