the pemberton journal… · the pemberton journal official publication of pemberton heights...

Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc. Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Association Newsletter - April 2010 1

The Pemberton Journal

Official PublicatiOn Of PembertOn HeigHts neigHbOrHOOd assOciatiOn aPril 2010, VOl iV, issue iV

The Pemberton JournalApril 2010 CAlendAr

04/01......................................................... April.Fools’.Day..

04/01.-.03........................................................ Texas.Relays.texassports.com

04/03..................................................Urban.Music.Festival.. urbanmusicfest.com04/04.......................................................................... Easter

04/10.............................. LA.Swamp.Thing.&.Crawfish.Festroadwayevents.com

04/10-11........................... Spring.Plant.Sale.&.Garden.Fest.wildflower.org

04/11...............................................................Capitol.10K.statesman.com/sports

04/15-18...................... TX.Hill.Country.Wine.&.Food.Fest.texaswineandfood.org

04/15.-.18.......................................Old.Settler’s.Music.Fest.. oldsettlersmusicfest.org

04/17-18...........................................Austin.Reggae.Festival.. austinreggaefest.com

04/24...............................................Eeyore’s.Birthday.Party.. eeyores.sexton.com

04/24.......................................................... Art.City.Austin.artcityaustin.org

04/24..................................................... Wiener.Dog.Races.budalionsclub.com

04/26.-.30.............................................Early.Voting.Begins.

Lolla.Peterson.House............................................. 2-3

Stop.Petty.Crime...................................................... 4

Historical.Landmarks............................................. 5-7

inSide THiS iSSUe

eeyore’S BirTHdAyNot Just a Hippy Fest

It’s. that. time. of. year. when. our. neighbors. in. Pemberton,. Old.Enfield,.Clarksville.and.the.rest.of.Old.West.Austin.brace.themselves.for.the.crowds.and.craziness.of.Eeyore’s.Birthday.Party.

This.year.marks.the.47th.(!).time.that.this.festival.has.brought.local.musicians,.vendors.and.Austinites.from.all.walks.of.life.together.for.a.colorful.day.of.fun.in.Pease.Park..The.people.watching.opportunity.is.extraordinary.and.there.are.plenty.of.activities.for.the.kids...The.drum.circles.that.have.become.a.closing.ceremony.of.sorts.really.tap.into.your.inner.hippy,.if.you’re.not.at.home.asleep.by.then.

A.remarkable.fact.that.many.of.us.don’t.know.is.that.this.event.is.a.major.fundraiser.for.local.charities...All.vendors.providing.food,.soft.drinks,.juice,.water,.beer,.and.commemorative.Eeyore’s.Birthday.Party.t-shirts.donate.proceeds.to.local.causes..From.Trees.For.Pease.to.the.Breast.Cancer.Resource.Center,.your.purchases.help.support.the.charities.that.make.Austin.a.better.place.to.live...(For.a.full.list.of.charities,.visit.www.eeyores.com)

As.neighbors,.this.is.a.bittersweet.day...As.much.fun.as.everyone’s.having,.it’s.also.challenging.for.those.of.us.who.live.by.the.park...There.are.hundreds.of.cars.parked.along.the.curbs,.teenagers.dancing.in.the.streets,.and.general.noise/congestion.that.makes.getting.in.and.out.of.the.area.a.true.test.of.patience.

Austin.Parks.and.Recreation.Department.encourages.neighbors.to.talk.openly.with.organizers.about.the.event.and.bring.your.questions.or.concerns.to.them.

pArTy informATionWhen:..April.24,.11.a.m..until.dark.

Musical Acts:. . Graham.Wilkinson. and. the.Underground.Township,.

The.Harringtons,.Mystic.MootAdmission: .FREE

Other:.Costume.prizes. for. kids. and. adults;.keep.dogs.on.leashes;.ID.required.to.purchase.alcohol;.no.bottles,.cans,.coolers..or.tents.allowed.

in.the.park..

2 Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Association Newsletter - April 2010 Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc.


Officers & bOard

newsletter infO

Bryan.Chester.(P)........................... [email protected]........................................ cmcvolz@yahoo.com.Charles.Heimsath.........................cheimsath@cmraustin.com.Charles.Johanson.(VP)..................c_johanson@sbcglobal.netDrew.Miller.......................................Drew_miller@dell.comGail.Morris.(VP).............................. gail@tateproperties.com.Greg.Hybl.............................ghybl@andrewharpertravel.comMatthew.Wheeler...............Matthew_wheeler@ea.epson.comPat.Tate.(T).......................................pat@tateproperties.com.Susan.Pascoe..................................... [email protected]............................................ [email protected]

Crista.Wheeler.......................................................................Lance.Thompson..................... lance@thompsonhanson.comNicole.Nykaza.................................nicolehanna@yahoo.com

repOrt Of crimeJeff.Minch.......................................... jminch@littlefield.comKathryn.Miller.Anderson....................zjmiller@austin.rr.com

repOrt.Of.prOblems.On.triangles.Lance.Thompson............................................ 713-702-5776.. ............................................. [email protected]

hOnOrary directOrs

Other cOntacts

acting editOrThea.Wood.............................................austinthea@aol.com

assistant editOrThea.Wood.............................................austinthea@aol.com.

publisherPeel,.Inc..........................www.PEELinc.com,.512-263-9181Advertising................................... [email protected]

persOnal classifieds.(one.time.sell.items,.such.as.a.used.bike...).run.at.no.charge.to.Pemberton.Heights.residents,.limit.30.words,[email protected].

business classifieds (offering.a.service.or.product.line.for.profit).are.$50,.limit.40.words,.please.contact.Peel,[email protected]@PEELinc.com.

*AnnuAl PercentAge rAte. All rAtes Are exPressed “As low As”. ActuAl rAte mAy vAry dePending on credit quAlificAtions. **Austin telco will PAy All stAndArd closing costs on Home equity loAns below $100k. AdditionAl non-stAndArd fees will be tHe resPonsibility of tHe member. ***rAte APPlies to 1st lien commerciAl reAl

HOME EQUITY LOANS

5.09%*10 yeAr fixed

5.39%*15 yeAr fixed

5.89%*20 yeAr fixed

Plus no closing costs**

AUTO LOANS

2.75%*24 MONTHS

2.95%*36 MONTHS

3.05%*48 MONTHS

new veHicle

COMM. REAL ESTATE LOANS

5.49%***5 yeAr fixed



20 yr. AmortiZAtion/no Pre-Pmt. PenAlty

MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT

1.06%****$25,000 to $74,999

1.16%****$75,000 to $124,999

1.36%****$125,000 And Above

minimum dAily bAlAnce of $2,000 required

JUMBO CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT

1.36%****6 montHs

1.61%****12 montHs

2.07%****24 montHs

minimum dePosit of $95,000 required

estAte loAns witH A loAn to vAlue of 80% or less; construction/develoPment loAn rAtes/terms mAy be different. no Pre-PAyment PenAlty. ****AnnuAl PercentAge yield. PenAlties for eArly witHdrAwAl mAy APPly. All APr’s, APy’s And terms Are subject to cHAnge witHout notice. PleAse cAll for detAils. tHis credit union is federAlly insured to At leAst $250,000 Per member by tHe nAtionAl credit union AdministrAtion.

3.15%*60 MONTHS

3.25%*66 MONTHS

3.95%*72 MONTHS

3.45%*60 to 66 MONTHS

3.95%*72 MONTHS

used or refinAnce

REFINANCE YOUR EXISTING AUTO LOAN WITH AUSTIN TELCO

we HAve some of tHelowest new veHiclerAtes in tHe country

16AUSTINMETRO

LOCATIONS

FREE CHECKING

FREE BUSINESS CHECKING

SECOND CHANCE

CHECKING

250+ FREE ATMs

512.302.5555 WWW.ATFCU.ORG

HiSTory of THe lollA peTerSon HoUSe

2410 JarrattSome. called.her. “godmother. to. the.poor”,. others. said. she.was.

“practically. a. welfare. agency. in. herself ’,. and. still. others. said. she.was.a.fairy.princess.to.the.needy.of.Travis.County...For.almost.30.years,.Lolla.Peterson.was.connected.with.the.Travis.County.Welfare.Department,.serving.as.director.for.many.of.those.years...She.was.known.for.treating.her.recipients.as.members.of.her.family,.and.often.dipped.into.her.own.salary.to.help.people.out.during.tough.times..

Born.in.1888.in.Austin.“in.the.shadow.of.the.Capitol.dome”,.Miss.Peterson.lived.at.207.E..14th.Street.with.her.parents...She.graduated.from.Austin.High.and.attended.Griffith’s.Business.College.in.Austin.for.a.year,.preparing.herself.for.a.business.career.in.order.to.put.her.brother.and.sister.through.U.T...

Her.first. job.was. assistant.office.manager. at.Harrell’s.Clothing.Store...Following.that,.she.worked.during.the.depression.in.the.office.of.the.Travis.County.Relief.Commission,.getting.her.first.taste.of.welfare.work...Miss.Peterson.left.there.in.1935.to.help.the.County.

(Continued on Page 3)

Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc. Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Association Newsletter - April 2010 �

The Pemberton Journalpeterson House-.(Continued from Page 2)

WATER SAFTEY WALKSunday April 25th - Austin, Texas

LEARN MORE & VOLUNTEER AT:

WWW.COLINSHOPE.ORG

drowning is preventabledrowning is preventable

Attorney.with.some.tax.matters...In.January.of.1936,.the.Social.Security.Act.became.law.and.she.was.given.the.position.of.handling.the.applications.of. old. age. pensions.. . From. this.position,.she.went.on.to.become.the.director.of.the.Travis.County.Welfare.Department. where. she. remained.until.1965...

Miss.Peterson.still. lived.with.her.mother.in.the.house.on.14th.Street.when. a. 1949. article. about. her. in.the. Austin. Statesman. quoted. her.as.saying,.“It.is.my.mother’s.home...Before.I.die,.I.hope.to.have.a.lovely.home. of. my. own.”. . In. 1957,. her.dream.came.true.when.she.purchased.this. 1938. Tudor. Revival-styled.cottage.in.Pemberton.Heights...She.lived.in.this.home.for..21.years.

Lo l l a . Pe te r son . s e r ved . he r.community. in. many. other. areas...

She.was.a.board.member.of.the.Travis.County. Tuberculosis. Association.for. 4. years,. as. well. as. on. the. board.of. the. Save. the. Child. Federation.and. the.YWCA.. .Miss.Peterson.was.president.of.the.Austin.Altrusa.Club.and.governor.of.the.their.7th.District...She.was.also.a.member.of. the.Texas.Fine.Arts.Association...Her.two.loves.were. St.. David’s. Episcopal. Church.and. opera. music.. Lolla. was. selected.as. Austin’s. Most.Worthy. Citizen. in.1957,.and.was.the.first.woman.to.be.so.honored...She.lived.to.be.90.years.old.

This. charming. house. is. currently.owned. by. Jennifer. Hinrichs,. who.worked. with. Suzanne. Deaderick.to. obtain. a. City. of. Austin. historic.landmark.designation.in.2009.

The Lolla Peterson House - 2410 Jarratt

� Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Association Newsletter - April 2010 Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc.


512-263-9181 www.PEELinc.com

Peel, Inc.Printing & PublishingPublishing Community Newsletters Since 1991

Support Your Neighborhood

Newsletter.

Advertise your businessto your neighbors.

Leslie ChamblissSales Representative

[email protected]

Petty.crime.affects.every.community,.and. ours. is. no. exception.. . Jeff.

Minch,. our. liaison. with. Austin.Police. Department. and. the.neighborhood. association,. acts.as. the. eyes. and. ears. of. our.streets,. ferreting. out. suspicious.

or.reported.activity.We. all. can. help. him. do. his. job.

as.well.as.deter. theft.and.other.crimes...First,.be.sure.to.report.any.crimes.to.Mr..Minch.

([email protected]).after.contacting.authorities..Secondly,.Mr..Minch.sent.an.excellent.list.of.things.to.remember.in.keeping.our.persons.and.things.safe.to.the.PHNA.listserv...That.list.is.below.

Not.a.listserv.member?..Contact.our.board.members.to.be.sure.your.voluntary.dues.are.paid.and.then.sign.up.by.emailing.phna@pembertonheights.org.

10 SeCUriTy TipSDo.not.leave.valuables.in.your.cars.(even.exposed.pocket.change.can.prompt.a.broken.window).Lock.your.cars.even.during.the.day--.but.especially.at.night.Park.your.cars.where.they.fall. into.clear.visibility.or.under.a.light..Park. them.up.closer. to. the.house.or. further.down.the.driveway.Keep.your.exterior.lights.on.Arm. your. security. systems. when. you. leave. the. house. even.during.the.day.Report.alarm.horns.going.off.immediately.to.the.police.at.9-1-1.Report.suspicious.behavior.of.all.types.to.9-1-1...This.is.on.the.specific.advice.of.the.police.Listen.to.your.dogs.when.they.start.barking.Do.not.open.your.doors.for.anyone.you.do.not.know...Be.careful.as. there.have.been.a.number.of. instances.of. suspicious. folks.coming.to.the.front.and.back.doors..Lock.up. tools,.bikes. and.anything. that. can.be.carted.away...Store.things.in.locked.rooms.and.garages.

.

.

1.

2.3.

4.5.

6.

7.

8.9.

10.

STop peTTy Crime!



When. the. Austin. City. Council. voted,. in. a. single. month. last.December,.to.grant.historic.landmark.status.to.25.homes,.all.of.which.were.located.in.the.78703.zip.code,.the.local.newspapers.and.many.citizens.took.notice.. .There.had.been.only.30.historic. landmarks.approved.in.the.preceding.twenty.four.months.combined.and.many.of.those.were.located.in.other.areas.of.Austin...

The.25.historic.landmark.tax.abatements.granted.in.December.added.$382,500.to.the.$4.million.in.annual.tax.cuts.already.given.to.the.existing.group.of.504.residential.and.commercial.landmark.properties...Four.taxing.districts.provide.funding.for.the.Historic.Landmark.tax.abatement.program:..City.of.Austin,.Travis.County,.Austin.Independent.School.District.and.Austin.Community.College..Taken.together,.all.residential.and.commercial.landmark.properties.cost.the.city.of.Austin.about..$1.million.and.the.other.participating.taxing. jurisdictions. $3. million. every. year.. . . According. to. AISD.Chief.Financial.Officer,.Nicole.Conley-Abram.revenue.loss.to.the.Austin.Independent.School.District,.even.before.the.25.designations.granted.in.December,.was.$1.6.million...Owners.must.reapply.for.

abatements.annually.In.an.editorial,.the.Austin.American.Statesman.said,..“City.Council.

members.would.be.wise.to.immediately.suspend.the.program.until.they.tighten.up.the.criteria,.which.invite.…tax.breaks.that.are.too.generous”.The.Austin.Chronicle.noted.that.“(t).he.main.criticism.of.tax.abatements.for.historic.properties.is.….the.cost.to.the.city’s.General.fund,.and.thus.to.other.taxpayers.”..

The.number.of.new.property. tax.breaks.granted.each.year.has.been.accelerating......City.records.show.that.in.2007,.12.applications.were.granted,.in.2008.there.were.18,.and.last.year,.45.properties.had.their.applications.approved...This.year,.7.applications.for.landmark.designation. were. filed. before. the. end. of. February.. Four. of. these.are.in.the.78703.zip.code.with.two.in.Pemberton..To.see.pending.applications,. go. to. www.ci.austin.tx.us/development/. Building.Permits.Data.Base...In.the.search.form.under.Case.Number.type.#C14H-2010.and..press.enter.

The. original. rationale. for. granting. property. tax. abatements. to.owners.of.landmark.properties.was.to.provide.financial.assistance.

HiSToriCAl lAndmArkS: Critics Making Headlines



The Pemberton JournalCritics-.(Continued from Page 5)

from.the.community.to.individuals.who.might.otherwise.be.unable.to.maintain.and.protect. the.historic. character.of. their.properties.and.also.to.serve.as.a.disincentive.for.actions.that.would.be.harmful.for. preservation.. Nowadays,. financial. need. plays. no. part. of. the.Historic. Landmark. Commission. decisions.. . .This. contrasts. with.jurisdictions. elsewhere. in. the. country. where,. when. an. owner,.rather. than. a. governmental. entity. applies. for. historic. landmark.status,. it’s. not. automatically. granted. with. an. attached. financial.concession...Supporters.of.that.approach.point.to.studies.showing.the.limitations.to.exterior.modification.to.a.historic.structure.are.usually.far.offset.by.the.increase.in.property.value.generated.by.the.landmark.designation....

Critics.of. the.Austin.program.point.out. that. the.average.value.of. homes. in. Pemberton. and. Old. Enfield. designated. as. historic.landmarks..exceeds..$1million.and.owners.of.these.don’t.need.the.current. level. of. financial. assistance. to. maintain. the. quality. and.characteristics.of.their.properties...Critics.say.the.high.market.value.of.their.properties.makes.it.unlikely.that.these.owners.will.allow.their.homes.to.fall.into.disrepair...

According.to.Historic.Landmark.Commission.files,.the.average.

appraised.value.of.the.31.houses.granted.historic.status.in.Pemberton.since. 2007. is. $1,037.347.. . . Nineteen. are. appraised. at. less. than.$1million...Public.records.show.for.that.period,.the.lowest.appraised.value.on.a.landmark.house.is..$515,311.with.an.annual.tax.abatement.granted.of.$5,710...The..highest.annual.property.tax.cut.in.Pemberton.is.$43,760.for.a.house.appraised.at.$3,460,500...The.oldest.home.designated.as.a.landmark.during.this.period.was.built.in.1927....The.youngest.house.is.1405.Wooldridge;.built.in.1953..

Within.the.City.Council.the.question.of.neighborhood.equity.has.also.been.raised.. .Some.Council.members.have.openly.wondered.whether.the.disproportionately.large.number.of.landmarks.in.two.of. the.most.affluent.West.Austin.neighborhoods. is. an. indication.that. east. or. south. Austin. properties. are. less. historically. worthy...As. a.practical.matter,.however,.owners.of.properties. in. emergent.neighborhoods,. where. average. appraised. values. are. substantially.less.than.$1million,..may.be.less.often.motivated.to.seek.landmark.status...Many.houses.in.east.and.south.Austin.are.more.likely.to.find.greater.value.as.teardowns...It.is.pointed.out.that.owners.in.those.areas.might.not.be.interested.in.seeing.their.property.usage.restricted.so.as.to.limit.the.ability.of.a.future.buyer.to.tear.a.house.down.and.




Do You Have Reason to Celebrate?

We.want.to.hear.from.you!.Email.articles@PEELinc.com.to.let.the.community.know!

At.no.time.will.any.source.be.allowed.to.use.The.Pemberton.Journal's.contents,.or.loan.said.contents,.to.others.in.anyway,.shape.or.form,.nor.in.any.media,.website,.print,.film,.e-mail,.electrostatic.copy,.fax,.or.etc..for.the.purpose.of.solicitation,.commercial.use,.or.any.use.for.profit,.political.campaigns,.or.other.self.amplification,.under.penalty.of.law.without.written.or.expressed.permission.from.Peel,.Inc..The.information.in.the.Pemberton.Journal.is.exclusively.for.the.private.use.of.the.Pemberton.Heights.HOA.and.Peel,.Inc.

DISCLAIMER:. Articles. and. ads. in. this. newsletter. express. the. opinions.of. their. authors. and.do.not.necessarily. reflect. the.opinions.of.Peel,. Inc..or.its.employees..Peel,.Inc..is.not.responsible.for.the.accuracy.of.any.facts.stated. in. articles. submitted. by. others..The. publisher. also. assumes. no.responsibility.for.the.advertising.content.with.this.publication..All.warranties.and.representations.made.in.the.advertising.content.are.solely.that.of.the.advertiser.and.any. such.claims. regarding. its. content. should.be. taken.up.with.the.advertiser.*.The.publisher.assumes.no.liability.with.regard.to.its.advertisers.for.misprints.or.failure.to.place.advertising.in.this.publication.except.for.the.actual.cost.of.such.advertising.*.Although.every. effort. is. taken. to.avoid.mistakes. and/or.misprints,. the.publisher. assumes. no. responsibility. for. any. errors. of. information. or.typographical.mistakes,.except.as.limited.to.the.cost.of.advertising.as.stated.above.or.in.the.case.of.misinformation,.a.printed.retraction/correction.*.Under.no.circumstances.shall.the.publisher.be.held.liable.for.incidental.or.consequential.damages,.inconvenience,.loss.of.business.or.services,.or.any.other.liabilities.from.failure.to.publish,.or.from.failure.to.publish.in.a.timely.manner,.except.as.limited.to.liabilities.stated.above.

CUSTOM HOME &

FURNITURE DESIGN, INC.RICK INGRAM

TRCC 23724

Mob: 806-773-3396Home: 806-385-5531 [email protected]

SERVING THE LITTLEFIELD AREA SINCE 1925

P.O. BOX 910 • 503 EAST 5TH ST. • L

ITTLEFIELD, TEXAS 79339

FUNERAL HOME, INC.

PAY AND SAVE, INC.1804 HALL AVENUE

LITTLEFIELD, TX 79339

redevelop....Retaining.the.right.to.sell.their.property.to.the.highest.bidder. for.purposes.of. redevelopment. can.be.more. important. to.owners.in.neighborhoods.other.than.Pemberton...

Challenges.to.the..propriety.of..the.standards.by.which.landmark.status.is.being.measured.are.also.raised..but.those.issues.are.nearly.impossible.to.evaluate.objectively.or.quantitatively....At.present,.the.elements.in..the.controversy.are.based.on.a.quantitative.analysis.of..whether.Austin’s.Historic.Landmark.program.as.currently.applied.results. in. an.unnecessarily. high. cost. relative. to. the. valuable. goal.of. preserving. the. character. and.historical. treasures. of.Pemberton.Heights.

Critics-.(Continued from Page 6)


The Pemberton JournalPeel, Inc.311 Ranch Road 620 S. Ste 200Lakeway, TX 78734-4775www.PEELinc.com

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPEEL, INC.

PH

Advertise

HereCAll

512.263.9181for more info

www.peelinc.com

the pemberton journal… · the pemberton journal official publication of pemberton heights...

Documents