News and Events
Cherrywood Neighborhood Assoc. General Meeting
Wednesday, MAY 21 @ 6:30pm in-person
at Cherrywood Center aka Servant Church
Agenda
Rezoning Cases Update
I-35 Caps Update and Advocacy
Update from TxDOT representative
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!
We’ll continue to profile timely aspects of the I-35 expansion that impact all Cherrywood residents (and all city residents!).
Back in March, the Austin City Council delayed their vote on initial funding the foundation and vertical supports (“the Roadway Elements”) for caps over I-35 until May 22, the day after our next Cherrywood General Meeting on May 21. We’ll be talking about this at our general meeting, but if you are ready to join the advocacy right now, please visit fundthecaps.com. If any terms are unfamiliar or you want more background, please check out Flea archives and i-35 page.
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.