Come Check Out the Steiner Ranch Lifestyle… Not Bad!
January 7, 2011
4 Bed / 2.5 Bath / 3,123 Sq Ft / 3-Car Garage / Huge Closets – Master bedroom walk-in has been expanded to almost twice original size.
List Price – $329,900
This Steiner Ranch home exudes soft elegance with its airy, architecturally stylish details including a stunning octagonal skylight over the grand mid-foyer. Large formal area. Warm and inviting family room that opens to the breakfast and kitchen area. Dining bar in the kitchen. Master bedroom includes a fireplace and is on the main level. Upstairs offers a second living with bedrooms and baths. Welcome home!
View Virtual Tour & Additional Pictures
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
Golf Course Living with a Pool in East Austin!
August 24, 2010
Currently, I have a house on the market that has some incredible features. Pictures tell the most of story, so don’t forget to check them out, but first, here are some of the highlights:
- The home is located on a greenbelt which opens up at the 5th (signature) tee of Riverside Golf Course.
- A frequent winner of “yard of the month” awarded by the neighborhood HOA, the front yard is flawlessly landscaped. The home faces the neighborhood greenbelt.
- The gated courtyard entry allows for greater privacy and entry to the home.
- The front door opens into the living room with cathedral ceilings.
- The second floor balcony contributes to the openness.
- The light oak floors and increased light from the large windows give the living area a warm, homey feeling.
- The remodeled travertine fireplace adds a modern element to the area.
- The kitchen is completely remodeled and fitted with premium appliances, under-mount sink and extra deep pull-out… cabinets and drawers.
- The countertops are peacock granite with maple cabinetry with a sliding appliance cabinet.
- The refrigerator, microwave and over are Kitchen Aid alongside the Verona gas range top.
- The home’s interior and exterior are freshly painted.
- The downstairs bedroom and upstairs master have connecting bathrooms; completely remodeled.
- The master bedroom is equipped with a custom closet.
- The backdoor terrace backs up to large retaining (climbing) wall and xeriscaped, grand, custom rock staircase up to the pool area.
- The entire area is completely shaded with an oak canopy that makes it seem much cooler in the summer.
- It also keeps the pool at a very refreshing temperature.
- Custom, exotic fence opens up completely for extended backyard space and immediate greenbelt access.
- Close to downtown, blocks from shuttle and metro transport.
www.1711WhitneyWay.com
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
McMansion Ordinance Extends Past Ben White
August 6, 2010
Last night, the Design & Compatibility Standards (McMansion) Ordinance was amended by the Austin City Council to include my neighborhood.
There were no citizens who objected & the city council passed the amendment unanimously.
Home sizes are now limited to 40% of the lot size, give or take. Like anything, there are nuances that make the ordinance somewhat complicated, and many people dislike the stringent government regulations imposed by the ordinance.
Information about the commission that can offer variances for projects. This includes information regarding commission members, contact info, city staff contacts, meeting times/dates. Go to “Residential Design and Compatibility Commission” for details.
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
News 8 Austin – Fairview Report
March 26, 2010
This is the latest news report from News 8 Austin. It’s good to know that we are being heard. News 8 Austin Fairview Code Violations
Petition and Fairview Update
March 25, 2010
In my last post, I stated that members of the Community of Fairview were going to contact the Mayor. Since that date, not only have they contacted Mayor Leffingwell, but they have also gained the support of Texas House Senator Gonzalo Barrientos as well as the interest of several local news media resources, such as Fox News and Community Impact.
The attention, however, does not mean that Fairview’s troubles are over. Community leaders are still encouraging people to request written extensions to their final date of compliance. At first, code violators were told that they had to be in compliance by March 26, 2010. It is my understanding that most people have managed to get their requested extensions. The issue is that sometimes they are not being given written extensions, just verbal ones over the phone. Additionally, all neighbors and interested parties are being asked to write letters to the Mayor and council members. In my last post, I provided just a few selections from these letters. Apparently, the letters kept coming and Mayor Leffingwell took note.
On March 11, 2010, a member of our community gave a persuasive speech in front of Mayor Leffingwell and city council. This is copy of the speech in its entirety:
I am Thomas Heikkala. I have lived at 502 Arbor Lane in the Fairview neighborhood for the last 18 years, and I am one of the 75 folks there facing criminal sanctions ,threatening us with $ 2000.00 dollars a day in fines and utility cut offs, to force me into initiating code compliance by March 26th. It is insulting to be treated like a criminal and herded into a process.
You may have read the article in yesterday’s Statesman? Y? N?
Fairview residents have been meeting over this issue and most all of us feel that some anonymous person has obtained complicity from the City of Austin to harass and intimidate our neighborhood arbitrarily and to impose an unfair process to resolve it.
One neighbor wrote to me saying, “It is unfair for the city to suppress the value of home properties in the Fairview Section Neighborhood, by not allowing for small additions, and at the same time be handing out variances and exceptions to tax rules to many developers, businesses, and wealthy land owners who want to create more density.”
Fairview residents are distressed, because we see the City using discriminatory behavior, exacerbating the situation, and hiding behind code compliance instead of seeking a fair, compassionate, and reasonable solution.
At the same time, in ignorance of requests, several years have passed with no reply from City on neighborhood requests for a clean up of Williamson Creek, speed bumps on Ramble Lane, and to curb the deadly speeders adjacent to Fairview on South 1st Street.
We all appreciate that there are building codes, however most of the code violations in Fairview are 10 to 40 years old. Many of these homes have been bought and sold several times with folks inheriting this situation, and there are retired folks and people on fixed incomes involved here.
Whether or not Fairview residents knew their home was remodeled, had a carport built, or lived in a flood plain we are being treated like we have done something wrong and now have to pay for it.
All of us are being told there are no alternatives, but to go thru the expensive permit process as if we can all afford to do renovations.
What we would like to see is a fat and compassionate process, for example, to have a variance granted for flood plain situations, a grandfathering of older renovations, MORE TIME to deal with the issues, and having the burden of fees waved and/or financial assistance to help us out.
Thomas Heikkala and other community leaders expect to meet again with the Mayor within a few weeks.
Petitions concerning the Fairview code violations issue are circulating and if you are interested in signing one, please feel free to contact me. This problem may not affect you this time, but if Austinites let this stand, it may become the norm and keeping Austin weird – or even interesting – may one day be impossible.
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
The Community of Fairview Code Violations
March 14, 2010
I live in the Community of Fairview. It is located between 1st and Congress near Stassney. It is the first neighborhood where I can honestly say that I know and like all of my neighbors. Currently, however, my community is being terrorized by the City of Austin’s Code Compliance Department. Specifically, the issue is converted garages and car ports. Almost all of the conversions occurred many years before the houses were purchased by their current owners.
The catalysis for the Code Compliance Department’s enforcement was a private citizen’s retribution for receiving a codes violation of his/her own. Please read the following article for more information: Code Violation Complaint.
The Code Compliance Department was required to follow up on these complaints and the citizens of the Community of Fairview were notified of their code violations. Ultimately, they were all asked to attend a meeting at the Code Compliance Department office. During that meeting, they were told that they could submit applications, which would cost several hundred dollars, to request permits. Inspections would have to be conducted and each service, such as plumbing and electrical, would have to be inspected separately. It would all have to be done by March 26, 2010 or the City would begin charging each citizen thousands of dollars per day. Please read the following article for additional information: Statesman Second Code Violation Article.
As you might expect, the repairs, inspections, fees and charges are well beyond what most people within my neighborhood can afford. They are currently requesting that the Mayor intervene. The following are some letters that have been sent to the Mayor. I have removed the names.
Portion of Letter #1 -
It just breaks my heart what is happening to my neighborhood right now as a result of the code violation crackdown. As a mother to a 2 1/2 year old and 8 months pregnant with my next,our family is now facing the prospect of a costly demo of our perfectly enclosed garage that serves as a small playroom. It is unfortunate that one person has caused so much pain, but I hope there is a way this issue can be resolved without the huge fines we all are facing.
Portion of Letter #2 –
I bought this house in 1998 through the City of Austin 1st Time Home Buyer – Home Down Payment Assistance Program, had the inspections and survey and in good faith believed that everything was in proper order at the closing. The garage (enclosed) and carport were already part of the house before I ever looked at it (and had been there for decades according to neighbors). By the way, when I refinanced my mortgage loan I had to pay the money back to the Program and I have been paying taxes on the “additions” all along.
In 2000, I participated in the City of Austin-Austin Energy Whole House Incentive Program. I had a new AC system installed, duct work replaced, insulation added, etc. This passed inspection on 7/5/2000 by Austin Energy.
I retired six months ago so I could care for my terminally ill father who is in “at home hospice.” My mother is not well either and she cannot take care of him. I get his prescriptions, give him his medications four times a day, prepare meals and make sure he gets his breathing treatments. I came home to check my mail and I received the threatening letter from the City of Austin about the code violations that were reported in my neighborhood. I was completely aghast at these violations, how were they not noticed before???
I was told that I need a permit and several inspections of the garage (water, mechanical, AC, electrical). Also, my carport is supposedly too close to the property line. When I met with COA last week, I was told that I had to request a variance for my carport or request a permit to have the width reduced by 5ft. If I have 5ft cut off of the carport, not only will it be an eyesore, it won’t cover both cars. The variance fee of $365 is for the privilege of a committee reviewing it….they can still say no and I’m out $365 and still have to have it removed or modified!
I couldn’t believe it, how was this possible that I am responsible for remodeling that happened LONG before I ever bought this house??? Why didn’t the City of Austin notice this through the home buying process? This is unfair and discriminatory! Everyone in the neighborhood feels like our rights are being violated. This completely contradicts the City of Austin’s vision of being “the most livable city in the country.”
Most of the people in this community are retired and on fixed incomes.
Please, for the love of GOD, show us some compassion by grand fathering these properties. Or at the very least:
* provide financial assistance
* waive all fees
* provide more time
* approve permits and variances without all of the red tape
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Portion of Letter #3 -
In October 2009 we received a letter from the City of Austin stating we are not in compliance with city codes and needed to apply for permits on the garage conversion. Another letter was received stating we had a deadline for February 2010. We were devastated by the information and extremely worried as to what to do. How are we supposed to take care of this and where on earth do we get the financial means to resolve this situation? Again in February another letter was received stating the deadline was now in place for March 26, 2010.
We find ourselves a target, and discriminated. Not only is there a problem with the garage conversion, we are also in the FLOOD ZONE. A double whammy! When the rains of 1997 came, my home was flooded by the overflow of Williamson Creek. Water was over the 4ft. fence in the back yard and water as high as the mailbox in the front of the house. We were fortunate not to get water inside the house but we still had damage. Our back yard was destroyed from all the debris Williamson Creek dumped on us. To this day our fence is still not repaired and we constantly watch the creek during heavy rains, so in light of our reasoning it’s useless to repair should there be another flood and destroy the fence again and not within our financial means.
We are in desperate need of help. This problem really needs to go away. There is no grandfather clause for this situation. Many residents of Fairview are on fixed incomes such as ourselves. My husband Augustine is an Air Force retired Vietnam Veteran, and retired from the City of Austin.
Unfortunately, I was layed off from my job of 12 years November 2009 and still unemployed. For ourselves and the rest of the community we ask your help for;
Financial assistance
Grandfather clause
Waive all fees for inspections
Stop the RED TAPE
The community needs to have this resolved quickly in order to get on with our daily lives.
Thank you for allowing me to submit this letter and anxiously wait for a response.
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
Austin’s 16 Million Dollar Home
February 7, 2010
Needless to say, that this home is not in South Austin, and I don’t honestly have much to say about it aside from “wow”!
Behold: Austin’s most expensive single-family home!
“The recently completed home is expected to appeal to a celebrity, sports figure or a buyer from outside the United States, one of its listing agents says.”
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
South 1st Steet Condo For Lease
January 13, 2010
A very good friend of mine is renting out her two-bedroom/two-bathroom condo. It’s a cozy place right in the middle of South Austin.
If you know anyone who is interesting in being within walking distance of SoCo, Auditorium Shores, Lady Bird Lake and downtown, please direct them to the following link: South First Street Condo.
Rent is $1,390 per month.
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
Homestead Exemption for New Home Owners
January 8, 2010
It is time for all new homeowners to file an Application for Homestead Exemption. You can file between January 1st and April 30th. Here’s a link for more information: Homestead Exemption Form
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
ECAD – Know the Facts!
January 8, 2010
If you are looking to sell your 10+ year old home and you draw power from the City of Austin than you need to learn about ECAD (Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure). If you have already taken advantage of Austin’s energy upgrades and rebate programs, you may qualify for a waiver. To qualify you must complete three energy-efficiency improvements or a total of $500 in rebates through the Austin Energy Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program within 10 years before the sale. Low income residents may receive energy-efficiency improvements through the Austin Energy Free Program. Go to AustinEnergy.com for details.
The ECAD is required, but the good news is that it is valid for 10 years, so if you think you may have an efficiency issue – and you probably do – you can get it done now, make repairs and reap the benefits of lower utility bills. If you do not wish to get the audit done anytime soon, there is no need to worry. In fact, you should know that ECAD does not require the seller/owner to make repairs to the home, only disclose the report.
Written by:
Kristi Cohen
Click to see Kristi Cohen’s Website
