Councilwoman Ramos asks for Southside community input

District 3 Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos wrote an op-ed in today's Express-News,

"Now as we approach a new bond cycle, I am looking forward to working with the residents of my district in addressing the needs, challenges and possibilities that exist for the Southside.

The 2012 bond is estimated to surpass the previous bond package with a total of $596 million to be used for large-scale, multi-phased projects that would otherwise take decades to fund and construct."

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/southside/news/article/Community-input-essential-for-city-s-bond-program-1462770.php#ixzz1S5VuAo5u

Roosevelt Avenue Renovations

It may not be the most glamorous renovation happening in the neighborhood, but it is profound!  Road workers and engineers are putting their final touches on a year-long project replacing the sewage main beneath Roosevelt Avenue with a big, bright and shiny new pipe!
In this picture, workers are laying a new asphalt surface for the Avenue.
The neighborhood is improving, from the bottom up!

Roosevelt Avenue named after Teddy, not FDR

Though a much-extended Roosevelt Avenue has become an important thoroughfare, it started as a mere “driveway to the fairgrounds,” according to the San Antonio Express, Sept. 14, 1899, referring to the San Antonio International Fair and Exposition. To be planted with two rows of shade trees, the new roadway “(would) be known as Roosevelt Avenue in honor of Col. Roosevelt, whose famous Rough Riders were organized at the fairgrounds.”

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Roosevelt-Avenue-named-after-Teddy-not-FDR-955594.php#ixzz1BG8wvbB6

HemisFair Park Area Master Plan Public Workshop

  

Join the City of San Antonio as we discuss the future of HemisFair Park, and develop the new master plan.

HemisFair belongs to the entire city and everyone is encouraged to attend.  Please RSVP, as it will help us plan to make this workshop conducive to great discussions.

EVENT DETAILS

Date:                    Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Time:                   Open House 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM

                             Workshop 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Location:              Sunset Station Depot 1

                               1174 E. Commerce Street

                               San Antonio , Texas 78205

RSVP:                  www.surveymonkey.com/s/hemisfair

Thinking about the future of San Antonio

What will san antonio look like in 10 years?

That’s largely up to you. SA2020 is a community-wide effort to chart San Antonio’s course for the next decade. Education. Transportation. Quality of life. We can make progress by realizing all of these issues are interconnected and by setting priorities to tackle them. Through the process of coming together as a city and speaking up, we’ll be able to map our priorities and decide what kind of community we want to be in 2020. The future starts here.

San Antonio River Improvement News

Design plans for the final two phases of the Mission Trails project were approved this week, bringing us all one step closer to an easy-to-find and easy-to-use route for vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians along the San Antonio River and between each of the Missions.

Read about the recent developments in the Express-News.

Also, a new community multimedia news organization, called NowCast, has sprung up in town, and they're featuring news about the River improvements in our neighborhood, and much more.

Visit the NowCast website, for words, video and news.

The Fate of Chrome-plating on Southcross

On June 23rd, the San Antonio Zoning Commision has denied the requested zoning change to the chome-plating facility located on the southeast side of East Southcross Boulevard near Roosevelt Avenue. The company involved in chrome-plating was seeking a zoning change to bring their business into compliance. Chrome-plating, a heavy industry requiring dangerous chemicals, will not be allowed in this area of San Antonio.

Following are excerpts from the city record of the Zoning Commission Hearing.

CASE NO: Z2010045

The subject property is located within the South Central Community Plan. The requested zoning change is inconsistent with the Future Land Use Plan, which designates the subject property as "Mixed Use". The requested zoning will require amending the plan to a "Heavy Industrial" land use designation.

Mission Reach Concessions Public Workshop

San Antonio River Authority and Archdiocese Reach Agreement on Sale of Property

The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) and the Archdiocese of San Antonio have reached an agreement for the sale of 11 ∏ acres that will be utilized in the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project. Per the agreement, SARA will pay the Archdiocese $450,000 for the property and guarantee the Mission Concepcíon Multi-Sports Complex vehicle access to Theo Ave.

Responding to the day’s outcome, Father Martin Leopold, Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of San Antonio said, "I am pleased that the mediation succeeded so quickly and that we can move forward in the same spirit of cooperation that has existed throughout this process. I am grateful for the goodwill effort and hard work on the part of both parties.”

“The San Antonio River Improvements Project has been under development for many years and SARA has represented the public interest in other similar routine property negotiations,” said Suzanne Scott, SARA’s General Manager. “The mediation process worked well as both parties negotiated in good faith and we were able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. We are pleased with the outcome and are ready to continue the construction of the Mission Reach project.”

A new look for South Presa?

A new look for South Presa?

Leila Walsh of WOAI reports on Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos' goal of rezoning Presa Street, similar to the way we added zoning to Roosevelt last year.

Posted using ShareThis

Public Meeting - Theo Avenue Realignment and Archdiocese Regional Sports Complex Development

When: Thursday, January 21, 2010 6:00 PM-8:00 PM (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada).
Where: SARA Board Room (100 E. Guenther)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There will be a public meeting regarding the realignment of Theo Avenue and the development of the Archdiocese Regional Sports Complex in coordination with the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project.

Citizens to decide how to use $23 million in federal grants

Neighborhood meetings scheduled to set priorities

A series of neighborhood meetings will soon be underway to gather citizen input on how to best use more than $23 million in federal grants. Citizens will be asked to identify priorities in housing and community development needs in each of their City Council districts.

The City will consider recommendations and proposals submitted during the meetings for the following funds in fiscal year 2010-2011:

· approximately $14.2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds

· approximately $7.1 million in Home Investment Partnerships (HOME)

· approximately $715,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) and;

· approximately $1 million in Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).

CDBG funds are used to improve living conditions through reconstruction of streets and drainage projects, parks, recreational facilities, housing improvements, public services and neighborhood revitalization programs. The HOME program, established by the Home Investment Partnership Act, increases the availability of affordable housing for lower income residents. ESG provides funding for homeless shelters and HOPWA provides housing and supportive services for people living with AIDS.

All meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. The meeting schedule as it pertains to residents of the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood is as follows:

Tuesday, November 17

District 3: Harlandale Community Center , 300 Sussex

Thursday, November 19

District 5: Palm Heights Community Center , 1201 W. Malone

Thursday, December 3

District 5: Palm Heights Community Center , 1201 W. Malone

After these series of meetings, City Council will hold two public hearings to be determined at a later date.

For more information, call the City’s Office of Grants Monitoring and Administration at (210) 207-6600.

The former HEB site on Presa Avenue will soon be home to the District 5 One-Stop Senior Center. A Dollar General will also be moving into the building and will have a section of groceries. District 5 Councilman David Medina and District 3 Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos hope to build on this investment in our community to further develop the area and bring in other businesses that will serve all residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. Members of the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association addresssed City Council to convince them of the need for this facility in our area.

Roosevelt Avenue To Undergo Changes

KSAT reports on City Council's approval of new zoning ordinances along Roosevelt Avenue.

"The San Antonio City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that aims to change the landscape of Roosevelt Avenue on the city's south side."

Read all about it:

http://www.ksat.com/news/21177548/detail.html/

Rezoning near Roosevelt Park

A neighbor inquired Micah Diaz of the Planning & Development Services Department regarding the appearance of yellow "Rezoning" signs around Roosevelt Park. This is Ms. Diaz's response.

The Roosevelt Avenue corridor (from just north of Mission Road to Loop
410 in the south) is the subject of two City-initiated zoning cases,
Z2009134 and Z2009135.

Many of the properties along this section of Roosevelt have intense
commercial and industrial zoning. The goal of the rezoning effort is to
apply zoning districts to this corridor that continue to allow
commercial development, but to do so in a more controlled manner. This
is zoning case Z2009134.

Additionally, the City is applying an overlay zoning district to the
Roosevelt corridor, called "MC-1" Metropolitan Corridor Overlay
District-1. This overlay district will implement some design standards
for new construction (including materials, landscaping, signage,
screening, and lighting guidelines). This is zoning case Z2009135.

Residents reinvesting in Roosevelt Avenue

Jessica Flores reports on the recent Roosevelt Avenue Corridor Plan on the My San Antonio website.

Community Garden

ROOSEVELT PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT

Are you interested?

Garden to be located at corner of Mitchell and mission road

Construct ion to begin this fall for a spring 2010 vegetable garden

Join the interest group and get your plans included

Meet your neighbors, beautify the area

&

Go vegetables for the table

If interested call Jill @ 210 335-1965

Leave your name and number

Mission Road Power Plant

On April 4, CPS Energy officials met with property owners and community members to explain future activities at the Mission Road Power Plant, at 207 Mission Road, between the end of Yellowstone Road and the River.

Over the coming year, materials will be removed from interior of the two main buildings.  In addition, some of the minor structures will be removed.

Most of the work will be done in the daytime, with the exception of a few tasks that will require evening work.  Removal and hauling will originate on the riverside of the site to buffer any effect on the nearby neighborhood.  Every effort will be made to minimize noise, dust and traffic in the area.

Cleanup of the buildings will open way for a new use on the site.  CPS Energy hopes to finalize plans during the clean-up phase, using as a guide the data collected from neighborhood and community leaders during the past three years.

For more information, contact CPS representative, Michael Malone, at 210.353.3625

Roosevelt Avenue Metro Corridor Overlay

What is Roosevelt Avenue to you?

Everyone with a stake in the future of Roosevelt Avenue is being called upon by the City's Planning and Development Services Department to answer this question.

With the new multi-use public library development at the Mission Drive-In site as a catalyst, the Department, in cooperation with District 3 City Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos, is bringing community residents and business owners together and forming a planning committee to discuss infrastructure priorities, as well as short-term and long-term reinvestment strategies for the corridor, stretching from the first block of Roosevelt Avenue, near Roosevelt Park, south to Loop 410.

If there is enough community will and if good, practical ideas are brought to the table, zoning for the corridor can be addressed to help steer future development in directions we, the community, think are most appropriate. This includes infrastructure but also overall aesthetics, and the even the types of businesses allowed to locate on Roosevelt Avenue. This is a project with a long-term view, and new zoning rules will affect future development, not existing properties.

There are representatives from the area neighborhood associations on the planning committee, so if you have thoughts, ideas or concerns, please get ahold of your neighborhood association. If you would like to be a member of the planning committee, either contact your neighborhood association, or Michael Taylor at the Neighborhoods & Urban Design Section of the City's Planning & Development Services Department, at 1901 S. Alamo, phone number 210.207.0145.

New Roosevelt Avenue Zoning Overlay

Comment on this post if you think you might attend. I am going and would like to coordinate with any other neighbors intending on being a part of this process. Thanks.

As part of a new District 3 initiative, the City of San Antonio will be working on creating a new zoning overlay district for the Roosevelt Avenue corridor. Planning and Development Services are currently forming a Planning Team to look at potential enhancements (public & private). The primary function of the Planning Team will be to develop site and building design standards for new construction along Roosevelt Ave. These standards will be incorporated into a new zoning overlay district that will run along both sides of Roosevelt.
In addition, the Team could develop guidelines for the redesign of the Roosevelt roadway itself, provide recommendations for changes to the base zoning districts (determine allowable land uses) along Roosevelt, form an implementation team, and address other issues affecting the area.
The corridor overlay district creation and designation process normally entails 5-6 planning team meetings and 2 public meetings. Planning teams typically meet once or twice per month. The Team will decide on meeting dates, times and locations.
We will be holding an information session for those interested in being a part of the Planning Team at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, March 3 at the Roosevelt Park Community Facility (331 Roosevelt Avenue).