FNA General Membership Meeting 1/28/19

Fairmount Neighborhood Association General Membership Meeting 1/28/19, 7:00 PM, Southside Preservation Hall

7:05 PM Call to order

Board Members in attendance: Sara Karashin, Leah Suasnovar, Steve Voltmann, Bob Fain, Deanna Stuart

Introduction of new members

NPO Guadarrama update: nothing to report

Code Compliance Update by Officer Mata: little to report, mostly bulk trash issues. Reminder to email 1234@fortworthtexas.gov to report issues, include address in question and pictures if available.

Update from President, Sara Karashin, please review distributed agenda for bullet items provided by the FNA directors.

Festivus Update (Bob Fain): $2400 in profit raised in funds to benefit the neighborhood.  Special thanks to Kelly Bowden and Lori Gallagher for their efforts in making this event a success

Home Tour Update (Julie Mathis): Home tour, which is the neighborhood’s biggest fundraiser is coming up Mother’s Day Weekend, May 11 – 12, 2019.  We need volunteers to head up the Wine Down and the Setup/Tear Down. Volunteers will also be needed for docents inside tour homes.  Email Julie at hometour@historicfairmount.com to volunteer!

Two voting items on tonight’s agenda: NuRock Companies and Saigebrook Development proposals

NuRock Companies to present on multi-family affordable housing development on Hemphill between Jessamine and W. Powell Ave. They are seeking support from the neighborhood for this development to submit with their application to assist in receiving state funding.  This project will be located across from Daggett Montessori, it will not be Section 8, but Section 42. There could be up to 110 units, buildings currently there will be demolished. The entrance to the development will be located on Powell Street (noted that Powell Street is only one block long). Tenant screening includes annual credit and criminal checks. There will be a manager and maintenance person on staff during the day. They have an after school program for children living in the development. Several questions presented – summary as follows: The parking area will be screened from street view, these are not Section 8, but yes, they will have some low income units available, some units will be market rate and some will have income caps, there will always be a mix of units available.  The developers will be required to own this property for 45 years. Developers state they are committed to working with local agencies to determine the appropriate design and size. After discussion a motion was made to postpone the vote on the NuRock development so they would have time to discuss the development in more detail with the residents closest to the proposed site. 35 voted in favor of postponement with no opposed.

Saigebrook Development presentation on senior living affordable housing development on 8th Ave at Park Place. They are seeking support from the neighborhood on this development to submit with their application for state funding.  These units will be available to persons 55 and older. There are a proposed 88 units, many available for those on restricted income. This will be a four story development, a solid façade of units facing 8th Ave.  Fort Worth City Council will vote to determine if they support this project on 2/12.  Several questions posed, summary as follows: The site plan appears to isolate a resident on the corner. The resident in question has been asked about this plan and is not in opposition.  The area next to the resident will be a parking lot, and they would prefer that over a building. Parking ratio as planned is 1:1, to reduce, they would need to seek a zoning variance. Question posed if the current parking lot is actually zoned for parking, because due to the time it has not been in use, it might actually have been grandfathered back to residential – additional follow up with City will be needed to confirm this zoning. The developer will offer several onsite services, including health screening, blood pressure checks, and buddy systems.  There will be one elevator on site and it will be required that 80% of residents be 55 or older. There was a motion for support of the project as is and 20 voted in favor, and 11 opposed. The developer has indicated that they would like to have another meeting to discuss the plan further, and will coordinate that through FNA.

An emergency general membership meeting for a vote on the NuRock development will likely be called after more information is gathered. Please watch emails and social media for details.

Open Discussion:

The Cowtown Marathon will be coming through Fairmount on 2/24/2019, we will cheer them on through Fairmount Park from 7:30 am till the last runner passes through. Please contact Martin Dahl for more details.

Meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.

Next FNA Board meeting 3/4/19.

Nest FNA General Meeting 2/25/19 at Southside Preservation Hall.

Meeting minutes submitted by Leah Suasnovar 2/1/2019.