News and Events
Cherrywood Neighborhood Association General Meeting
Wednesday, February 19 @ 6:30 pm
In-person at Cherrywood Center aka Servant Church!
Agenda
I-35 Caps Update and Advocacy
Rezoning Cases Update
Hancock-Cherrywood Future
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!
The City Council is set for a very important vote on March 27th for improving the I-35 Capital Express Project and we need your advocacy to the City Councilmembers to support it. Specifically, we need to emphasize the long term potential benefits of the Northern Caps to Austin as a whole and that this is our only chance for decades to ensure the possibility of the Northern Caps.
There are two proposed Northern Caps that would cover I-35 between E. 38 ½ St and the railroad crossing, with freeway traffic flowing underground. A new street bridge linking E. 41st St to Wilshire Blvd would split the two caps. The current concept for the 10-acre caps is for park- like amenities and small buildings when the project is complete circa 2032 (publicinput.com/of35).
The vote in March is to fund the foundation and vertical supports or “Roadway Elements.” Without this funding, which also includes the downtown Cap at 11th/12th streets, it is unlikely these caps will ever be built.
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.