01.11.10 CNA General Meeting Minutes

Lamar Middle School Magnet Program
Michelle, the choir director and a former student of Lamar Middle School (LMS), talked about their attempt to start a fine arts magnet program at LMS. AISD has already received their proposal. January 25th there is an AISD board meeting and an opportunity for the community to show their support for the program. Professors from UT, local artists, parents, former and current students will be at the meeting to voice their support. The most helpful thing that neighbors can do now would be to call Vince Torres, the District 4 Representative on the AISD School Board (414-2550), to express support. Those who do not wish to call can write letters of support. Those wishing to voice their support at the meeting must contact the superintendant, Dr. Carstarphen (414-2412), by that morning to secure an up-to-2-minute spot on the agenda.

The goal of this program would be to keep neighborhood kids from leaving the neighborhood for other schools, while also boosting academic performance.

Neighborhood HEB Expansion
Leslie Lockett, the Director of Public Affairs for HEB in Central Texas, spoke on the expansion of the HEB at 2222 and Burnet. Leslie has lived on Woodrow for the past 3 years and shops at that HEB. They have been in negotiations with the property owner for 12 years to try to expand and improve the store.

The store will be increasing in size by 1/3, moving into the space previously occupied by other vendors to the south (H&R Block, Blockbusters). They will be going from 51,000 sq ft to 68,000 sq ft, similar to the HEB on Far West. The expansion area is currently razed, and the plan is to start full construction in February and to be complete by late summer. As the construction progresses, the store will be partitioned off in sections, but they will not close. Hours of operation will be the same. Number of truck deliveries will be the same (current trucks are under capacity). They will be working towards a non-invasive remodel, although there will be one new grease trap and one power pole at the rear of the store, adjacent to neighboring residential property.

Changes include moving the pharmacy to the front of the store, doubling the size of produce and floral, and tripling the size of dairy. The store carries five times the variety of a traditional HEB store, which means there are currently a small number of items for each product on the shelf. They will add a seafood department, expand the Central Market Organics line and the Natural line, expand the beer and wine department, increase the variety and have a higher grade of deli meats and cheeses, and add new (local) products. All racks will be new, the floor will be redone, lighting will be improved, and there will be new bathrooms.

HEB has 12,000 employees in 50 stores in the Austin-Metro area.

Leslie asked for feedback from the neighborhood on things that can be improved. She can be contacted at 421-1000 or lockett.leslie@heb.com.

February General Meeting
The next general meeting [location and time changed] in the Highland neighborhood to hear the special subcommittee’s presentation of the traffic study regarding opening Morrow to westbound traffic across Lamar was discussed. The subcommittee will be taking feedback from this meeting back to Council, so the neighborhood is strongly encouraged to attend this meeting, whether or not they wish to speak their mind. This will show the subcommittee that the matter is important to lots of people. For background on the issue, see the latest newsletter or prior posts. Eddie will be collecting signatures door-to-door from those that would be most directly affected by the opening of westbound traffic onto Morrow to present in the event that some neighbors may be unable to attend the Feb. 8th meeting. To assist him in this effort, please contact him at 917-7557 to help him coordinate what streets to cover.