Southwest Community Association

Heatherwilde Estates - It's Over, But It's Not

Jan 29, 2003

Despite verbal promises from the Mayor and other Council members to kill the zoning request that would enable construction of Heatherwilde Estates (the 176-unit affordable, property-tax exempt, apartment complex on Old Pearsall Road), on Jan 23rd, Council unanimously approved it. Knowledgeable citizens from around the city expressed continued disgust and mistrust with local government. Mayor Garza was not at the Council meeting, so he did not vote; however, a letter from him was read saying he opposed it.
On Jan 22nd, District 117 State Representative Ken Mercer had formally requested the state Attorney General review this project from start to finish.
This is the second such affordable apartment complex, by the same developer, in the Southwest Independent School District (SWISD) to be approved by the city and the county in the last few weeks. SWISD property owners will have to cover the additional costs of the anticipated hundreds more children into the district. With the great amount of vacant land in SWISD, the growing popularity by developers to use our federal tax dollars to fund more property tax-exempt projects, AND with the increasing number of former Southwest Housing personnel now serving on local housing boards, it could get much worse. The school district and ALL must work together to share information and keep ahead of proposals.
We realized a few good things in going through this process. We know better who we can trust and who we can?’t. More people have awakened to the fact that each of us must work to keep abreast of what?’s going on, share information, and work together. We thank the 1,497 people who signed petitions against this project; that was phenomenal! If those 1,497 people insure they are registered to vote?—and do so at every election, they will take back some of their power. We thank all of the people (members and non-members) who gave up their own time to gather more signatures on the petitions. Those include: Raul Duron, Roger Morales, Annie Gonzales, Anita Acosta, Carole Abitz, Richard Whitcher, Benita Hernandez, Floyd Ellis, Brenda Rodriguez, Sandra Gamboa, Elisa Boyle, Jeanne Key, Rojelio Trevino, Barbara Arceneaux, Joyce Swartz, Cynthia Aguilar, Jacqueline Sotelo, Eufemia Mann, Edward DeHoyos, Mary Ellis, Humberto Salazar, and Martina Rualcaba. By far, the Dynamic Duo of petition signing was accomplished by Annie Gonzales and Maria Magallanez. They also were the two who initiated the idea of the Peaceful Protest. Thanks to all the people who turned out for that protest; remained calm and peaceful; kept calling the TV stations to get out to tape it; and kept the area free of litter. As some people left, others arrived. We estimate we had a good 100 protestors throughout. Lastly, we thank all of the people who handed out fliers on different days and those who gave up their time, often taking off from work, to be at the Zoning Commission hearings and Council meetings. Those include: Armando & Dawn Hernandez, Eufemia Mann, Father Phil, Josi Harland, Roger Morales, Richard & Dolores Gamboa, Mary Ellis, Brenda & Jerry Rodriguez, Carole Abitz, Dale Armwood, John Adams, Richard Whitcher, and Catherine Grose.
What now? There is more follow-on and follow-up correspondence to do, and work to insure that everything about the construction and operation of this facility is as promised (to Council and everyone). We?’ll have to stay alert for other projects. We?’ll have to hope the Attorney General does review this case and then await the results. We (as individual property owners) will have to track the rise of our property taxes, along with the anticipated fall in our property values. Then, pending results from the Attorney General?’s review and possible criminal action, we can consider joining together to file class-action civil lawsuits for any financial damages we suffer as a result of this project and how it was processed.
Editorial Comment: I was very pleased, proud, and grateful to all of the people who got involved in this effort and did what they could to help fight it. There developed a circle of people, gathering information and sharing it?—which led to more discovery. I firmly believe incompetence and illegality were part of this deal at the city, county, and state levels?—and we were not treated fairly. I had strangers calling me at home or grabbing me in Council Chambers saying they were impressed with our research, preparation, and our fairness presenting the issues. I hope the 1,497 people who signed petitions will get registered to vote and do so at every election?—that seems to be the only thing politicians look at. I hope everyone keeps the fliers that were handed out?—and continues to contact politicians and media any time they have a concern. SWCA is non-political, but we try to help people find information they need to make informative decisions. We?’ll continue that. Carole Abitz