By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

The leaders of two initiatives that have opposed the Cardinal Point affordable housing project — which was approved by Austin City Council on Feb. 12 — plan to take more steps in their opposition.

Stop Cardinal Point supporters will continue voicing opposition to the proposed 125-affordable housing units to be built off of Four Points Drive. Officials will make their rounds and voice their dissention with state officials who are  considering the project for tax credits.

Almost 900 people have signed a petition posted on the stopcardinalpoint.com website since it launched in mid January.

Marc Chase,
Four Points Against More Traffic

On another front, Marc Chase, a River Place resident, local developer and organizer of Four Points Against More Traffic said a group of citizens is contemplating legal recourse. A decision is expected in a week or two.

Cardinal Point is a proposed affordable housing apartment complex to be located near Four Points Centre. It is proffered by Foundation Communities Inc., a nonprofit developer operating 18 communities in Austin and north Texas.

The Austin City Council recently approved a $1.9 million loan to Foundation Communities for Cardinal Point. The loan is conditioned on the aforementioned tax credit award from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

TDHCA will host a public hearing in April to receive public comment on the proposal, along with additional, similar projects. A decision is not expected until July or later.

Walter Moreau, executive director of Foundation Communities, said in an earlier report, “(Funding) is not a guarantee but we think our odds are good.”

Challengers, however, said working against those odds may be in the best interest of Four Points.

Jay Wiley,
Stop Cardinal Point

Jay Wiley, River Place resident and organizer of Stop Cardinal Point said, “This is not an attack on Foundation Communities. Foundation Communities has developments all around Austin and they are a good fit. But a development like Cardinal Point in Four Points is an anomaly. There’s no public transportation, inadequate roadway capacity and no sidewalks.”

“Shoehorning more people into Four Points is not a good idea,” he added.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

A donut shop and women’s boutique in Steiner Ranch have recently closed and a children’s shop will be sold or will close in a few months.

The Donut Hole recently closed its store in the Shops at Steiner and is moving to the former Red’s Fresh Foods site at 1700 RM 620 N in Lakeway.

“We will be opening our new location next week,” said Donut Hole partner Rick Landry.

“Our five year contract is up in Steiner and we have outgrown the space for the weekend business. Our new location is almost three times as big with plenty of seating and a drive through and is only four miles from Steiner Ranch,” Landry said.

After nearly three years, 4 Hip Chicks Boutique in the Quinlan Crossing Shopping Center is closed.

“We at 4 Hip Chicks of Austin are sad to go but also excited to be spending more time with family.  We have formed friendships and relationships we will never forget.  Our staff will also miss you guys, it has been a fun three years.  Thank you all so much for being a part of our dream,” said shop owner Deanna Holik.

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By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

The median sales price for homes in Grandview Hills increased by a large 29 percent from 2013 to 2014, while dropping 2.79 percent in River Place. Noting that the number of homes sold in Grandview Hills fell a simultaneous 30 percent, from 26 to 18, Craig Smyser, with RE/MAX Capital City, said, “The data set of homes sold is small, so there is always more distortion in these cases.”

“While there is some correlation to lower supply resulting in higher prices,” Smyser said, “these two numbers are too dramatic to account for all the swing.

“Sometimes, it just happens to be a mix of a few more higher-end homes selling more than usual,” Smyser said.

Median Sale Price 2013- 2014

Grandview Hills   

2014 $432,500

2013 $335,000

29% increase

River Place     

2014 $555,000

2013 $570,900

2.79% decrease

Steiner Ranch    

2014    $431,650

2013    $410,000

5.28% increase

Westminster Glen  

2014 $975,000

2013  $950,000

2.26% increase

*Source:Craig Smyser, with RE/MAX Capital City

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By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Representatives from Leander ISD and the Four Points community met with parents in the Canyon Ridge Middle School on Jan. 28 to offer updates on ongoing traffic and school projects. The Community Workshop event was sponsored by the Vandegrift High School PTA Ladder.

Speakers covered a range of topics, including Four Points traffic, the proposed alternative road to VHS, possible transfers for Steiner students to Four Points Middle School, school technology initiatives and the new TEKS or Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.

VHS/FPMS alternate road status

LISD School Board President and and founder of the Four Points Traffic Committee Pam Waggoner spoke first. She informed parents of the current status of efforts to open a paved road on the Balcones National Canyonlands behind Four Points Middle School and VHS.

The intent of the proposed road is to provide an alternate route for parents, students and apartment residents who visit the area daily but also as secondary access for emergency vehicles.

“The road behind Vandegrift is already a corridor, it’s already been mitigated,” said Waggoner. The existing corridor, however, has caused additional species to be added to the endangered or watched list.

In response to concerns about these species, the Four Points Traffic Committee filed a Habitat Conservation Plan in November 2014 on behalf of LISD with the U.S. Department of Fish and WIldlife. They received an answer January 7.

“It’s not great news but it is news. They’ve come back and they haven’t thrown it out, so that’s the good news,” Waggoner said.

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Becky Terry, Job Seekers Network counselor, meets with a job seeker new to the networking group. JSN meets at 9 a.m., Mondays at the Lakeline campus of Hill Country Bible Church.

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Austin’s unemployment rate is considered low, but two Four Points residents advise those looking for a new or different job to attend Job Seekers Network.

Under executive director, Craig Foster, JSN is a non-profit organization of experienced and certified job coaches. Their mission is to advise job seekers on resumes, interview skills, social media use, elevator pitches, networking techniques and career fit. Continue reading →