Buyer talks of expanding site

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

PacVentures Inc. plans to redevelop and potentially expand the former Walmart Supercenter site, which includes nearly 40 acres and the 220,000-square-foot building in Four Points

“This property is unique in that it can accommodate 220,000-square-feet immediately and up to 550,000-square-feet upon complete build out – a rarity in that area,” said Joe Simmons, Austin’s local partner for PacVentures, a commercial real estate investment firm based in San Diego, Calif.

In late August, PacVentures acquired the property at 8201 N. RM 620, and AQUILA Commercial is marketing the property.

“As the Austin metro area continues to grow and traffic woes increase, more companies are looking for office options in locations that are located near desirable neighborhoods with good schools,” said Ben Tolson, a principal with AQUILA, which manages and leases over 7.8 million square feet of office, industrial and retail properties and has over 400 corporate tenant representation clients.

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District 6 City Council incumbent Don Zimmerman faced challenger Jimmy Flannigan at a public forum Sept. 21 at Vandegrift. They shared their thoughts on the “Road to Vandegrift” as well as the potential annexation of Steiner Ranch by the city of Austin. Steiner resident Paul O’Brien served as the moderator

The West Austin Chamber of Commerce hosted the Austin City Council District 6 Candidate Forum on Sept. 21 at Vandegrift High School. District 6 candidates Don Zimmerman and Jimmy Flannigan answered many questions from the public and a participant panel. The following are their responses to three of the questions regarding the construction of the Road to Vandegrift and the potential annexation of Steiner Ranch by the city of Austin.

What role can you play in helping us with traffic at 620/2222 and building the road to Vandegrift through the preserve?

Zimmerman: (There) is a road plan from the city of Austin from 1984, that’s about 32 years ago. I still support the city of Austin road plan from 1984. Most of you have probably never seen this. It’s a very interesting road plan. This is what the City has shredded and destroyed so that… roads that were planned 30 years ago were taken off the books. This is why we have such a traffic disaster in the city.

The city, through its own policy, has had a policy of not building roads. They’ve proposed new roads. These roads would’ve helped with fire safety (and) with a lot of the congestion on 620.

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The Vandegrift family is shown at a VHS function. John “Dutch” Vandegrift, (left), was killed Friday night in a crash and Mary Jane suffered injuries. Barrett Vandegrift is on the right.

Mother in stable condition

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Vandegrift High School’s namesake’s father was killed on Friday night in a headon collision in Colorado. His mother is recovering from broken ribs.

John “Dutch” Vandegrift, 72, died in a crash occurred around 7 p.m. on Colorado Highway 172 and Mary Jane Vandegrift, 67, sustained broken ribs, and is currently stable in the hospital.

Formerly of Steiner Ranch, the Vandegrifts of Littleton, Colo., which is nearby Denver, were in the Durango area attending the Colorado Gold Star Parents Weekend for families who have lost a child since 2000 while serving in the military.

Their son and VHS’ namesake, 1st Lt. Matthew Ryan Vandegrift died April 21, 2008 at the age of 28 from injuries he suffered from a makeshift bomb that exploded in Basra, Iraq.

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Kyle McKnight, Williamson County EMT-P and first responder to site of John Holsinger’s recent bicycle accident, visits him in the hospital. Holsinger fell approximately 50 feet off of a bridge in Georgetown on Labor Day.

By KIM ESTES
Four Points News

Steiner Ranch resident John Holsinger is recovering from near fatal injuries sustained in a Labor Day bicycle accident in Georgetown where he fell some 50 feet from a bridge.

“His story is nothing short of a miracle,” said Kyle McKnight, an EMT-P with Williamson County EMS and first responder to the scene.

“I have broken hips, a broken femur, wrists, ribs – I’ve had 11 procedures in seven surgeries. Right now, I can’t stand up, I can’t walk,” said Holsinger, a 52-year-old triathlete, recovering at Seton Medical Center Williamson in Round Rock.

On Sept. 5, Holsinger met up with 50 riders from the Bat City Cycling club for a planned 60 mile bike ride through Northwest Austin.

Going approximately 30 mph at mile 16, a cyclist in front of him blew a tire and caused a domino-like crash.

A view of Ronald Reagan Boulevard near the site where John Holsinger fell following a bicycle accident on Labor Day. It is estimated he fell 50 feet.

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