Heartwood – Williamson Creek Buyout

Kristi note from email: Nationally, there is a lot of back and forth as to whether or not flood insurance will continue to be subsidized. If it is not subsidized, rates could increase so high that our properties might be very difficult to sell. This is something that I have been concerned about for awhile, but just recently have taken the time to inquire about it and get a better sense of what this might really mean for us (selling now or in the future).

Article:  Texas A&M Real Estate Center on – Flooding

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Heartwood Buyout – Kelly Davis-Burns – Resident Action

  • On October 12th, 2013 heavy rains in Austin flooded Williamson Creek in South Central Austin.
  • Eight homes on Heartwood Drive (south first and St Elmo) had flood damage, but within a few months all residents impacted were back in their homes.
  • The City of Austin is proposing a buyout of 46 homes on Heartwood Drive as part of a $78 million plan; which includes 38 homes that have not experienced flood damage.
  • The residents of Heartwood Drive want to stay in their homes.
  • This budget proposal was presented by Councilmembers Mike Martinez and Laura Morrison blanketed under the Watershed Protection Department 2014-2015 budget.  No bond election will be held to spend this money, since it is slotted under public safety. The plan is not funded, but a utility bill increase for COA residents is part of the proposed plan.

Call the City Council members today and say “I am a resident of Austin and I want the City Council to remove the buyout of the Williamson Creek homes from the Watershed Department Budget”

  • The Williamson Creek flood in October did not experience the devastation that occurred at Onion Creek on Halloween 2013.   A buyout plan for our neighborhood is being slotted in with this tragedy.   The buyout is a godsend for many families along Onion Creek, not for Heartwood Drive families. Middle class housing is increasingly limited in Austin, our options are few.
  • The $78 Million needed is not funded.  But once the Council approves the budget in September, our houses will be designated as “buy-outs”.  Funds for Onion Creek buyouts started years before 2013, those homes experienced significant drops in the home values since there was no market for their homes.  What will happen to our home values during the debate and process?

Call Council today and tell them to “Remove the Williamson Creek home buyout from the Watershed budget, only 17% of the homes slotted for buyout had flood damage. “

  • The Williamson Creek residents want dialogue and solutions.  Funds should instead be spent on removing years old building and other debris that dams up the creek.
  • As the City extends its reach for density and infill within South Central Austin, they need to propose solutions for infrastructure and runoff/flood maintenance.  Removing middle class families from their homes is not a solution.  It just pushes it downstream.
  • No City Official has yet to speak to Williamson Creek residents about the proposal, most homeowners do not know this is in the 2015 budget.  The July Watershed Public meeting was focused only on the pressing Onion Creek issues.
  • Our homes, our lives, should not be collateral damage for poor urban planning in Austin.

Please make calls today.  Tell your friends and neighbors, the media.  In order for our voices to be heard it is a numbers game, we need lots of people to call and email, keep the language consistent so their staff can easily tally the number they receive. They don’t listen to the details.  Remove the Williamson Creek home buyout from the Watershed budget.

 Contact City Council today!

  • Mayor Lee Leffingwell , 512-974-2250  lee.leffingwell@austintexas.gov
  • Mayor Pro Tem: Sheryl Cole (Council Member Place 6) , 512-974-2266   sheryl.cole@austintexas.gov
  • Council Member Place 1: Chris Riley , 512-974-2260 chris.riley@austintexas.gov
  • Council Member Place 2: Mike Martinez 512-974-2264  mike.martinez@austintexas.gov
  • Council Member Place 3: Kathie Tovo , 512-974-2255 kathie.tovo@austintexas.gov
  • Council Member Place 4: Laura Morrison , 512-974-2258 laura.morrison@austintexas.gov
  • Council Member Place 5: Bill Spelman , 512-974-2256 bill.spelman@austintexas.gov

Send emails to the City Council by going on the City website at http://www.austintexas.gov/mail/all-council-members

Watershed Protection Department, Director – Victoria Li 512-974-2339 victoria.li@austintexas.gov

 Links to online stories and documents

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/austin-council-moves-forward-on-expanded-buyout-pr/nfxxn/

https://austintexas.gov/article/onion-creek-city-county-and-corps-sign-buyout-agreements

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=215054

(Section of) Army Core of Engineers Report – Onion Creek Watershed – Heartwood Flood Mitigation – 2006

Heartwood_Flood_mitigation_proposed_core_engineers

 Williamson_Creek_Heartwood_Buyout_Map