The Austin City Council approved a controversial zoning change earlier this month to the Champions tract at the corner of RM 2222 and City Park Road. Plans for the site include a 325-unit apartment complex.

By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News

In a vote of 7-4, the Austin City Council approved a controversial zoning change to the Champions tract at the corner of RM 2222 and City Park Road that will allow for the construction of a 325-unit apartment complex.

Concerned residents living in or nearby City Park Road neighborhoods say they object to the zoning change because the added traffic from the apartments will make an already dangerous road worse. They say they also oppose the many variations granted to ordinances such as the Hill Country Roadway Ordinance and the Lake Austin Watershed Ordinance.

Linda Solomon, who serves on the board of directors for the Westminster Glen HOA, has lived off City Park Road for the past 16 years. She said there have been six accidents, including one fatal accident, on City Park Road in the last 21 days.

“Please do not shoehorn in something that is going to make an already known unsafe intersection and road infinitely worse,” Solomon told the city council prior to their Nov. 10 vote.

Neighbors who own nearly 37 percent of property square footage within 200 feet of the tract submitted a petition against the rezoning to city staff; however, a last minute change by the developer to change the zoning boundaries by 200 feet invalidated their petition, further frustrating neighbors.

Continue reading →

The Brown family — Steve and children Riley, Mary Cate, Eleanor and Sam — photoed last Christmas at Bull Creek several months after losing wife and mother, Mara, Aug. 13, 2015.

Reflect on the past year without wife, mother

By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News

Meals, laundry, house cleaning, yard care, carpooling and comforting are some of the many ways neighbors, family and friends helped and continue to help the Brown family while they learn to live without Mara, a devoted wife and mother who died unexpectedly in 2015.

“The first day after (Mara died), people were lining up to do stuff, and I was like, I can handle this. I can suck it up,” explained Steve Brown, a former Army man. “And after about 30 seconds I said, I can’t handle this. I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t even know what help I need.”

Steve and their four children, Riley, 15, Mary Cate,13, Eleanor, 11 and Sam, 9, marked the one year anniversary of the death Mara a couple of months ago.

To thank their community for the outpouring of support received in the wake of Mara’s death at age 47, the family hosted an open house barbecue on the Aug. 13 anniversary that was attended by over 150 people.

Continue reading →

“Thanksgiving Lunch” was a big hit at local schools over the past few weeks when schools invited parents, grandparents and families in to celebrate with the traditional meal of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberries and pumpkin dessert.

Schools also had many pilgrim and Native American learning opportunities too.

River Place Elementary kindergarteners give a Thanksgiving presentation.

Continue reading →

L-R Dr. Jeffrey Cone, Dr. Craig Hobar, and Dr. Claude-Jean Langevin opened Wellspring Aesthetics in River Place a few weeks ago.

First plastic surgeons in Four Points

By LYNETTE  HAALAND
Four Points News

Wellspring Aesthetics opened a new location in Four Points and the established practice is staffed by three specialized plastic surgeons, a physician assistant injector and a medical assistant.

We hope that having a presence in Northwest Austin will help those seeking treatments avoid fighting traffic to travel across town and we hope this location will provide the most comfortable, and convenient experience possible for our many patients in the Four Points area,” said Dr. Craig Hobar, board-certified plastic surgeon.

Wellspring Aesthetics, which is part of Wellspring Plastic Surgery at 911 W. 38th St. in Austin, opened its practice in Four Points on Oct. 31 at 6611 River Place Blvd., #202.

“We are excited to bring our expertise and passion to help others rejuvenate their look, or just simply and subtly boost their self-esteem through enhancements,” Hobar said.

Board- certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Claude-Jean Langevin, and Dr. Jeffrey Cone are also at the practice. Cone and Langevin both trained under Hobar and they all share a combined philosophy of excellence and outstanding patient care.

“Doctors Cone and Langevin are two of the best young plastic surgeons I have ever encountered,” said Hobar. Collectively they possess 35 years worth of experience from practice in Dallas, Beverly Hills, South Florida and Austin.

Continue reading →