The OWL Newsletter Spring 2026 (Old West Austin Neighborhood Association)

 

THE OWL - SPRING 2026

A quick note: TOMORROW (Tuesday, March 3) is Election Day. If you haven't voted yet, please take some time to do so tomorrow. Here's some helpful information: Travis County Clerk and League of Women Voters Austin area Voter's Guide.  TABLE OF CONTENTS Hello Old West Austin neighbors! Here's a preview of what's included in the OWL this quarter.  1. Notes from the Chair 2. December General Membership Meeting Agenda 3. Zoning Updates 4. Events Updates 5. CCDC Update 6. In Memoriam 7. Odds & Ends 8. Business Member Listing   NOTES FROM THE CHAIR Hello Neighbors, It’s been wonderful seeing so many of you out walking, along with strollers and dogs of all types. Will you please help the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association's Steering Committee achieve its big goal for this year to double OWANA's membership?  Why? Because we can do so much more together. How? Invite neighbors to join you at General Meetings and events. Share this simple email with link to OWANA.Org to learn more and sign up. Simple as that.  Join us on March 3rd for OWANA's quarterly membership meeting from 6:30 to 7:55 PM at Mathews Elementary cafeteria. We are starting early because the alarm at Mathews now goes off at 8 PM, so we have to clear the building. This is one you do not want to miss! Doors will be open by 6:10. Please arrive early to sign in, as we start at 6:30 with a special guest: Our City Council representative, Zo Qadri, will be joining us from 6:30 to 7:00. This is not a political election meeting. This one is to discuss the issues important to YOU! Please join us, share your voice, meet a new friend, bring a neighbor, and learn more about the exciting happenings in Old West Austin. Have you seen OWANA's Zoning's fantastic results, working on your behalf with developers? Check out the results, representing over half a billion dollars of investments.  Another topic - people ask me all the time "what’s going on with a Y PUD?" Great question.  The Millennium Development folks have not provided a response to the questions developed at the request of Mayor Kirk Watson, nor has there been an update on the transportation study. Check out this link for information regarding the YMCA PUD for three 425-foot towers in an area zoned for 60-feet.  Finally, please join me in thanking all the volunteers supporting our Old West Austin community, including the OWANA Steering Team, Zoning, Events, and Membership Committee members, and volunteers. Over 100 of you responded last year to the member surveys. A strong percentage expressed interest in helping out and we'd love to hear from you. Email us at oldwestaustin@gmail.com to let us know your interests and availability. It's also a great way to meet the amazing people who live in Old West Austin. Also, please join me in thanking OWANA's incredible business sponsors! Their support allows us to support our community. Please show your support for them by thanking them and shopping with these wonderful companies. Thank you, and see ya on March 3rd. Steve Steve Amos Chair, OWANA 2026   MARCH GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Tuesday, March 2 at 6:30pm  Mathews Elementary School Cafeteria 906 W. Lynn St General Membership Meeting Agenda draft Welcome  District 9 City Council Representative Zo Qadri (6:30-7pm) Approve December General Meeting minutes.  Committee Updates: Zoning & Events Guest Speakers if time Discussion. Adjourn meeting by 7:55pm. COMMITTEE UPDATES Zoning Cases:   1306 West Lynn (St Luke United Methodist Church): - C14-2025-0109 APPLICANT:  Graham Brown Consulting LLC (Graham Brown) OWNER:  Rio Texas Conference United Methodist Church  Proposal:  The applicant is proposing to rezone approximately 33,100 square feet tract from MF-3-NP to LR-MU-CO. **Application Amended 1.21.2026 to request MF-3-NP to CS-MU-CO-NP for Tract 1 (0.262 acres) and MF-3-NP to LR-MU-CO-NP for Tract 2 (0.324 acres). This case is waiting to be scheduled for the Planning Commission and has the support of the OWANA Zoning and Steering Committees. The following conditions of the rezoning are being finalized in a Restrictive Covenant. Zoning & Development Standards Although tract 1 (the tract that fronts on West Lynn) of the property is proposing CS (Commercial Services), development on tract 1 will follow the same site development standards that apply to LR-MU (Neighborhood Commercial - Mixed Use) zoning under the City of Austin Land Development Code. This means that standards such as: Building height (limited to 40 feet, as required under LR zoning) Setbacks Permitted and conditional uses will be limited to what is allowed under LR-MU zoning even though the property carries a CS designation. One exception: Areas zoned CS will not be required to follow the outdoor seating area limitations that normally apply to LR-MU zoning. The intention is to preserve and adaptively reuse the existing church structure on the front parcel with a community-oriented retail user. Restrictive Covenant (RC) Summary Term: 40 Years The following conditions will apply to the property for a period of 40 years: Hours of Operation No retail businesses may be open to the public between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. daily. Why this matters: This helps protect nearby residents from late-night activity, traffic, and noise. Sound & Music Restrictions Outdoor live music must be “limited” in nature (for example, a jazz trio or pianist). All outdoor music must comply with the City of Austin noise ordinance. Outdoor live music is permitted between 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday – Friday and noon to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, even if it would otherwise be allowed under City rules. Background or ambient music in outdoor restaurant dining areas is permitted only if: It is not intended to draw a crowd and does not exceed City noise limits at the property line; and OWANA retains the right to review and address complaints through the dispute resolution process outlined in the Restrictive Covenant. Why this matters: These provisions limit the scale and timing of outdoor music, helping maintain a quieter environment while still allowing small-scale performances and dining ambiance. Preservation of Existing Church Building The existing church sanctuary building may not be demolished. The height of the existing sanctuary building may not be increased. Why this matters: This protects the historic character and scale of the existing structure and helps preserve neighborhood compatibility. Traffic & Access The existing driveway and 14 parking spaces off West 14th Street may continue to be used. No pedestrian drop-off zones or new curb cuts will be added along West Lynn Street unless required by the City of Austin or another governmental authority. Why this matters: This limits new traffic impacts on West Lynn Street and helps preserve existing traffic patterns and pedestrian safety. Status:  Ongoing     1608 W 6th Street: - C14-2026-0006 APPLICANT:  Taniguchi Construction Services, Evan Taniguchi OWNER:  600 North Lamar, Ltd. & 603 and 605 Baylor, Ltd. Proposal:  The applicant has submitted a request to rezone approximately 0.52 acres from GO-NP (General Office – Neighborhood Plan) to GR-NP (Community Commercial – Neighborhood Plan). The proposed zoning change would allow for restaurant use on the property. This case is in review with City Zoning Staff and has yet to receive their recommendation. Because this request represents a shift from office to commercial zoning, members of the surrounding community have expressed interest in better understanding the potential impacts of the proposed development. Nearby residents, particularly those living in the adjacent condominiums and apartment communities, have raised questions and concerns related to issues such as traffic flow, parking, boundary conflicts, noise, alcohol service, potential operating hours, waste management, pest control, buffering or screening between commercial and residential properties and overall compatibility with the existing residential character of the area. In response, the Zoning Committee has invited the applicant to attend an upcoming meeting to present additional details about the proposal and to engage directly with neighbors. The goal of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for open dialogue, allow residents to ask questions, and encourage a constructive discussion about how the project might move forward in a way that addresses community concerns. Status:  Ongoing .  Shout-Out to Lynne Rupp & Mark Smith!  A huge thank-you to our neighbor Lynne Rupp for her generous gift to the OWANA Zoning Fund!  Your support helps us protect the charm, character, and historic beauty of our neighborhood. With new development proposals coming in fast, every contribution makes a real difference. Want to join the effort?  A gift to the Zoning Committee Fund helps guide thoughtful, neighborhood-friendly growth while keeping OWANA feeling like home. In addition, a huge thank-you to our neighbors Lynne Rupp and Mark Smith for their donations to the General Fund!  Thank you for helping our community stay vibrant, connected, and full of character. To make a donation, go to: https://www.owana.org/support/#!form/Donation Click on Add under “ZONING FUND SUPPORT”. Please reference: OWANA Zoning Committee Fund. Donations and participation are essential if we are to be successful in representing you and your part of the neighborhood in more complicated zoning cases.  EVENTS  OWANA’s Spring Music in the Park is right around the corner!  This Saturday, March 7th, 1-5 pm. We have four amazing bands lined up, and Hot Dog King will be there with yummy food and drinks for purchase.  The event is free and open to the public, so bring your chairs or picnic blankets and join the fun. It runs from 1-5 pm, with each performer starting on the hour. Spread the word about this great event, and invite your friends!  Spring Music in the Park is one of OWANA’s signature annual events. After this, we’ll have our Easter Egg Hunt, 4th of July Parade and Celebration, Pre-Trick-or-Treat Halloween Party, and Fall Music in the Park. The Easter Egg Hunt will be Saturday, April 4. Stay tuned for details!  These events give us all a chance to celebrate our community, and spend time with neighbors and friends, so we’d love to see you all there. If any of you like event planning and want to help out with these and other OWANA events, we need your help! Email us at oldwestaustin@gmail.com. These events would not be possible without our sponsors. THANK YOU!  Astound Powered by Grande, C3 Events Clark's Oyster Bar Griffith Properties Jeffrey's Swedish Hill  Zydeco Development IN MEMORIUM In the past few months we have lost some neighborhood residents that made major contributions to the community.  Melissa Sledd: Our community recently lost a remarkable woman whose quiet strength and steady presence shaped Old West Austin for nearly half a century. Melissa Sledd of Austin passed away on December 18, 2025. You can read more about her life and legacy here. Melissa was widely known as the longtime owner of Sledd Nursery. The kind of old-school local shop that lent you a wagon to help get your flowers home and sometimes helped you get things planted. For decades, the vibrant charm of many neighborhood gardens has rooted back to the corner of 12th and West Lynn, nurturing our green spaces and spreading color throughout the community. Melissa’s life reminds us that resilience does not need to be loud to be powerful, and that a single determined person can cultivate not only a garden, but an entire community. Bob Kafka: Mr. Kafka, who passed away on December 26, was a leader in the disability rights movement at the national, state and local levels, and was co-founder of the Coalition for Texans with Disabilities. He spent his adult life working to make the world a better place for people with disabilities. For example, years before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he encouraged Capital Metro to 'make public transit available to people with disabilities and lobbied the city of Austin to normalize "curb cuts," divots that allow people using wheelchairs to access sidewalks.' (KUT). You can learn more about Mr. Kafka's important work in this article from KUT and his obituary. You may have seen him and his partner around the neighborhood with their two dogs.  Clarksville Community Development Corporation (CCDC) Update The CCDC is sponsoring or is involved in several upcoming events.  Sunday, March 8, 2pm at the Haskell House: Clarksville Conversations, with guest speaker Dr. Tara Dudley. During this event. Dr. Dudley will highlight the stories of Theresa Huck Martin and Jennie Tomkins Moore, two women from different backgrounds rooted in Clarksville who shaped the physical development of the community on both sides of the tracks.  Saturday, March 29: CCDC and the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church will be a part of RISE Fest at Pease Park, an afternoon celebrating Austin's Black freedom communities.      Odds & Ends Photo Descriptions: Top Left: Looking north on West Lynn during the ice storm on January 25, 2026. Everyone was staying home! Top Right: Looking toward downtown Austin overlooking West Austin Park, January 25, 2026. Bottom Left: Valentine's Day decorations on a neighborhood tree.  Bottom Right: The first bluebonnets of the year (arriving a little earlier every year!). BUSINESS MEMBERS A sincere thank you to our current business members! You can find more information about how your business can be part of OWANA here.  G O L D   M E M B E R S  https://www.c3presents.com/ https://www.astound.com/texas/   Zydeco Development 901 Río Grande St #200 www.zydecodevelopment.com   1204 W. Lynn St https://jeffreysofaustin.com/ 1200 W. 6th St https://www.clarksoysterbar.com/ 1128 W. 6th St https://www.swedishhillaustin.com/ S I L V E R   M E M B E R S    1112 North Lamar Blvd https://www.castlehillfitness.com/ 1605 West Avenue https://ashbycollective.com/ 1200 B. W. 6th St https://pecansquarecafe.com/ 1130 W. 6th St https://www.rosiesaustin.com/ 1130 W. 6th St https://howardsaustin.com/ Dr. Georgeanne Freeman 1611 W. 5th St https://www.freemanmedicalclinic.com/   1213 W. Lynn https://www.cipollina-austin.com/ B R O N Z E   M E M B E R S    NICK DEAVER  JES DEAVER architecture 606 Highland Ave ndjda.com/ ******************************************* FLOWER HILL CENTER 1316 W. 6th St https://www.flowerhillcenter.org/ Instagram @flowerhillcenter, Facebook FlowerHillCenter ********************************************** WILDGINS Single Origin Gin from Native Texas Junipers https://wildgins.com/ Instagram @wildginstx, Facebook Wildgins ********************************************** WALLY WORKMAN GALLERY  1202 W. 6th St https://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/   Follow Us on Social Media for Quick Updates on Neighborhood Happenings & Events Facebook Instagram

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