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Extend Our Trail (If Not Our Sympathy) 

Katherine Gregor  Tue Oct 2, 3:25pm , 2007
Tags: Town Lake, Growth & Development, Politics, City Council, Environment

"Party at Richard Suttle's house!"
Photo by John Anderson
When you can't get what you want, you should lie, distort, and take advantage of the innocent public for your own gain, right? Guess that's what they teach in developer school.

The Chronicle's most recent coverage of the controversial project proposed by developer CWS for 200/333 E. Riverside ended with the observation, "Had the site plans that CWS filed for its 17-story shoreline condo towers not presumed such greedy setback variances, been so outrageously out of scale, and been so blatantly disrespectful of WO [waterfront overlay] values, SaveTownLake.org never would have formed. Few things galvanize this town as powerfully as a developer in a black hat."

Hilariously, CWS seems to have seized on this idea – hey, a developer in a black hat! – to craft its latest misinformation campaign. CWS commissioned the e-mail blast now bouncing around town (pasted below the fold), which poses as coming from a phantom group they conjured up, Extend Our Trail. (Their minions also are calling around town with a misinformation phone surveys.) The now-desperate CWS misinformation campaign represents city council as the so-called bad guy who must be urged by citizens to grant a variance to a developer - that being CWS, of course! – as a way to "demand responsible development." Huh?

Poor CWS has resorted to posing as a bunch of liberal anti-developers. Have they no shame? Of course, nowhere does the CWS misinformation campaign admit that "the wrong option" they so aptly identify would be 100% their voluntary choice. CWS does not have to leave (or rebuild in place) the existing three-story apartment buildings close to the waterfront, for any reason at all. Except to make more money and spite the community.

We'd laugh, except it makes our stomach hurt. Read their email missive after the jump.

[NOTE: Confirmation that CWS created Extend Our Trail to conduct its own survey/petition/campaign has come from multiple sources, including a statement by CWS representative Richard Suttle at the Parks Board.]


From: Extend Our Trail
Subject: The Future of the Town Lake Trail

Hello,
We are writing to inform you on an important issue that affects us all in Austin.

The Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail (now Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail) is at the heart of our community, but irresponsible development throughout the 1970s and 1980s caused the trail to be incomplete and the shoreline to be inaccessible to full public use.

Now we have the opportunity to rewrite, redraw, and rebuild the future of Our Hike and Bike Trail.

The property immediately east of the Austin American-Statesman building on Riverside Drive is an example of the irresponsible development from the previous era. There are apartment buildings built 20 feet from the shoreline that prevent public access and use of our trail. The new property owner of 222 and 300Riverside has two options for redevelopment.

The first option, the wrong option, would result in the owner building a new development immediately on top of the current structures. This option would require no variance, or permission from city officials and would effectively continue upon the irresponsible path of impeding public access to our trail.

The second option, the right option, would result in:

* Building approximately one-third of a mile of new and improved hike and bike trail
* Removing the current structures that are as close as 20 feet from the shoreline and rebuilding no closer than 150 feet to the shoreline
* Providing more than two acres of parkland will be dedicated to the City for public use
* Offering the City up to 3,000 square feet of public space with restrooms
* Installing water quality filtration systems
* Allowing public access to this new section of the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail

We now have a unique opportunity to get back part of our trail and set a clear precedent to developers that we demand responsible development.

In order to get the new property owner to donate two acres of parkland and extend our trail, we must gain support in urging officials to grant the variance needed to make this project a reality. Join us in taking a stand to encourage responsible development in Austin.
 

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COMMENTS
30
 
m1ek Oct 02, 2007 - 04:33 pm
What's your evidence that CWS paid for this site? I did a whois and just found some guy named Ben Littlefield who appears to be an entrepreneur of some sort.

Is it that you assume that nobody but the developer or their paid shills could possibly be in favor of the development? Because if so, you're an even worse journalist than I thought.


look a little closer guest Oct 02, 2007 - 05:32 pm
That person is actually Mark Littlefield...a political operative who was already working on the CWS campaign...and it is a campaign. He was in charge of the petition drive and is being paid by the developer.

He has been at the commission meetings and talking with Council members and others about this project.

I wont hold my breath waiting for you to eat crow because I know youre too damn prideful to even admit you could ever possibly be wrong.


jareha Oct 02, 2007 - 05:36 pm
Mike, I checked the whois data and had the same initial response you did; I wasn't shocked to find someone supporting the development (I myself am in favor of allowing a variance).

That said, Ben Littlefield works for Grassroots Data Solutions, which creates "grassroots" campaign sites — such as Extend Our Trail.


m1ek Oct 02, 2007 - 09:23 pm
Dear anonymous coward:

I'll gladly eat crow when I'm proven wrong - I asked for evidence; I did not claim I knew that it wasn't put up by CWS, but was wondering why KG had just said so without saying how she knew.

jareha: Yes - I just want somebody to connect the dots publically rather than making the claim and expecting me to believe it.


What's up, KG? el_longhorn Oct 02, 2007 - 09:32 pm
This sure sounds personal between you and CWS. Their email accurately states the facts, even if their group is astroturf. Seriously, what is inacurate about the email? And lets not forget that the Town Lake Trail Foundation has endorsed the variance, and they are a real organization with an established track record of working to improve Town Lake. On the other hand, who is savetownlake.org and how long have they been around? Other than opposing this development and suing the city, have they done anything positive at all?

guest Oct 02, 2007 - 09:36 pm
Speaking of Grassroots Data Solutions, see "Case 2" on the "Solutions" page of their website. They put a pretty wild spin on the work they did for Walmart at Northcross.

GDS not Grassroots Solutions guest Oct 02, 2007 - 10:39 pm
I just want to be clear that Grassroots Data Solutions has no relation to Grassroots Solutions, which has been my company in Austin for 8 years. I am concerned that the name is uncomfortably close to mine (and would not be allowed to register as such with the State Comptroller) and could cause confusion. Grassroots Solutions is not invloved in any way with this web site or zoning case.

Thank you,

Mike Blizzard

President, Grassroots Solutions


YES! guest Oct 02, 2007 - 11:44 pm
I LOVE IT!

How is this any different than savetown1ake.org?


wait a minute.... guest Oct 03, 2007 - 12:07 am
Does Katherine Gregor live in Travis Heights? I mean, she's obviously beyond biased, but does she have a vested interest in not extending the trail?

m1ek Oct 03, 2007 - 08:31 am
"NOTE: Confirmation that CWS created Extend Our Trail to conduct its own survey/petition/campaign has come from multiple sources, including a statement by CWS representative Richard Suttle at the Parks Board."

Thanks for adding this later. Why not put it in at the very beginning? Or, as I said, did you just not believe that anybody other than a paid shill could really think the variance was a good deal?


guest Oct 03, 2007 - 10:23 am
Savetownlake is run by Travis Heights landowners who don't want urban infill destroying their property values. Kenny Hilbig is a realtor that lives in Travis Heights. His signs are all over homes in the neighborhood. This has nothing to do with saving town lake, it's about preserving profits.

Trail or no trail??? Trail User Oct 03, 2007 - 10:52 am
Perhaps I am not as informed as some of you, but I am a regular trail user. It sounds to me like there really are two options and SaveTL.org is not offering anything to improve, support, or give way for a better trail. I just feel like their intentions are false.

I have been a regular contributor to the Town Lake Trail Foundation, which is a true foundation that cares about our trail, our city, and our lake. Not that Im saying that because they support the variance I will blindly leap to favor what they do, but I certainly question the integrity of SaveTL.

Is Extend our trail a misinformation campaign or is SaveTL a misinformation campaign? I feel like the only misinformation from the extend people is perhaps the fact that they might be one in the same with the developer, but at least they are offering something to the city. I don't feel misled by the campaign itself. I do feel misled by a group of affluent land owners who don't want the poor folks trampling in their neighborhood because a trail extension could be such a draw. I don't appreciate them hiding behind a mask of being an environmentalist organization.

A previous poster said it - what has SaveTL done other than sue, threaten, and complain? What solutions have they brought to the table?

I am not sure if anyone in this game is honest, but I typically favor people who offer to solve problems...


guest Oct 03, 2007 - 11:20 am
I am tired of all the arguing on this! I don't know who any of these so-called campaigns are and what they really support. I don't care! I want to see the trail extended. There will always be "big bad developers" coming to Austin. At least this group is offering a valuable contribution to the city.

condemnation of CWS property ? RIver loving Grannie Oct 03, 2007 - 11:51 am
Ok Austinites, here's a idea ...

Would the City of Austin proceed with a ' Eminent Domain' condemnation of the property adjacent to the waterline, a swath say, 80 feet wide, to install the missing trail portion on the land ? Then require CWS or whoever is the entity, to build out the remaining property under the Waterfront Overlay requirements ? ( ie 200 ft area for restriction on heights for that portion of the shoreline ) The language that was ' removed' during a ' plain english rewrite' must be reinstalled and obeyed.

Its' a pretty obvious solution, yes ?

FWW, Save Town Lake is many many people from all walks of life who live all over Austin and care enough to get involved to preserve, protect, and defend our community treasure , the publicly owned " Great Park " that Lady Bird Johnson, Roberta Crenshaw, and Mayor Roy Butler along with many previous visionary Citizens created . It is precious and belongs to ' All '.

The comments from those who know not that of which they natter on about, are purty obvious to those of us who've lived here awhile(s).Thank goodness for fellow- citizens willing to work hard on this issue, as it seems the folks downtown who are supposed to be preserving and enhancing our public parks, are asleep at the wheel ......or being rolled over by another familiar one .

SSSSST!


m1ek Oct 03, 2007 - 12:16 pm
Re: eminent domain / build with what's left:

No, the city would not do this - because it would render the remaining site not feasibly developeable. They'd get smacked down by the state and the judicial system very quickly.

Even TXDOT wouldn't condemn just part of your land if the remaining chunk was too small to be of use - they'd have to buy the whole thing.


Does 12 years Count? Oct 03, 2007 - 12:34 pm
RIver loving Grannie:

Just because you are old and have lived here a long time doesn't make your opinion more important than anyone else. I have only lived here 12 years, but your statement only implies that you are stubborn and unwilling to truly weigh this matter.

I believe what others here are saying is that STL is just as guilty of misinforming people as anyone else. Whether you are talking about STL, EOT, CWS or anyone else in this issue - it is all about money. STL doesn't want real estate values dilluted, EOT and CWS are working together. What about us daily trail users caught in the middle? Eminent domain is ridiculous - would you support our tax dollars going to the trail when we have many other needs that are more pressing as a community?

I am close to taking no side but the "I am sick of it" side! They are all greedy - don't pretend that no one in this fight has a bottom line goal - if you believe that anyone here is pure of heart and intentions you don't live in Austin - you live in fantasy land! Which brings me back to - what about us everyday citizens? I never in a million years thought I'd say this, but here it goes - the developer seems to be the only one in this fight offering something of benefit to the public!


Screwed Again Shocker Oct 03, 2007 - 01:16 pm
I have been waiting to see the $12M in voter approved bond money used to expand the trail to Montopolis which hasn't started yet. All we seem to be getting in East Austin is screwed by a nonrepresenting City Council and Mayor in favor of Developers

Eminent domain? el_longhorn Oct 03, 2007 - 01:44 pm
Rive Lovin Grannie:

Ignoring the potential legal problems of siezing the land, you want to use tax money to take an 80 foot swath of trail when the developer is offering to DONATE a 150 foot strip in exchange for a variance? What kind of solution is that? Why not save the money to use on the rest of the trail and take the deal and the land?


Shocker Oct 03, 2007 - 02:02 pm
Ever thought that one the reasons this issue has gotten so many upset, that the Parks Department is at odds what to about the Beaver Urine spill in the area.

BTW, city staff purchased Beaver Urine with your taxdollars to combat algae growth in The Plaza Fountain at City Hall and all park restrooms.

The next time your at City Hall, kneel down by the fountain and take whiff of the beaver urine.

I wonder if the Mayor uses beaver urine fragrance in his office, since he is the one that recommended the use of Beaver Urine in the first place.


Grassroots Data Solutions guest Oct 03, 2007 - 08:11 pm
Interestingly, GDS changed the "Solutions" page on their website since last night. There is no longer any mention of the Northcross Project. I guess they realized that it's pretty idiotic to admit on your website to counting survey respondents who were apathetic as actual supporters of the project to manipulate the outcome of their survey. They also admitted to have attempted to stack the Northcross Wal-Mart open house with "supporters" and to have coordinated the media reports to coincide with the arrival of these "supporters". They also claimed to have been responsible for initiating the re-design of the behemoth Wal-Mart, and to have demoralized the opposition. Anyway, the list of manipulation and lies went on and on, but it's all gone now.

I wouldn't put anything past these two guys.


manipulation and lies? guest Oct 03, 2007 - 09:39 pm
What about the manipulation of the people of Austin by Save Town Lake? What about the lies they tell us and the people they use to support their cause?

What about the recent survey they issued that said 80% of respondents supported their cause? Why won't they admit to how they got their numbers, who they contacted to participate in that survey, and how the survey questions were framed?

Why do they say that they're concerned about the lake, the setback and its effect on the lake, when that setback would benefit everyone in Austin if it was allowed and the trail was completed?

Why do they manipulate the people of Austin by using the name of Claudia Johnson, not while she was alive but posthumous, to gather support for their cause?

I'm not a developer shill. I don't even like all the condo development downtown and what it has done to the housing market. I do like this one development because it offers the entire city a much needed benefit that Ms. Gregor has completely ignored.

Northcross and all the other things Suttle and the developers and CWS and everyone has worked on in the past are just your way of redirecting attention because you know the voices here are citizens stating their honest opinions. We were not paid or gathered or rallied here by anything than our own interest in this project. This project and no other. This project could have wonderful benefits, but the opposition to it is misguided at best and completely deceitful at worst.


So who is wearing the black hats? guest Oct 03, 2007 - 09:41 pm
Nobody. Everybody is wearing gray hats because nobody is all good and nobody is all evil. To think in terms of black and white is dangerous.

guest Oct 03, 2007 - 10:12 pm
Who wants to do the whois for savetownlake.org?

Enough! guest Oct 04, 2007 - 09:47 am
Who cares?! I want the trail, all the rich whiners from SaveTownLake, Extend Our Trail, and everyone else can shove off! Green space, trail, and public access - why are we even debating this?

What will happen if there is no variance? Shilli Oct 04, 2007 - 11:56 am
What is going to happen if the city does not give CWS the variance? CWS says they will rebuild the structures. Would they be able to? Is there any reason they wouldn't rebuild them? The only one I have heard is that the trail would be a great amenity, but having the trail next door and possibly a boardwalk is just as good, and gives them much more to sell. If it is clear that CWS won't rebuild, then I could see not granting the variance. If CWS is going to rebuild if they don't get the variance, then I think it would be a big mistake for the city not to take the 150 feet offer.

Love those CORPORATE VALUES! Deb Oct 04, 2007 - 01:40 pm
Don't forget the 6-8pm SAVE TOWN LAKE gathering at City Hall tonite...

From:

http://www.cwscapital.com/wwa/default.html

"Our Values

* A demand for excellence with a sense of urgency.

* A respect for people.

* A requirement for profitability.

* Honoring our word.

* Ethical dealings are paramount."

From:

http://www.extendourtrail.org/

From the FAQ page:

"Why should I support this project?

Because this is a responsible redevelopment - the alternative will yield no trail extension and continue to impede public access to Lady Bird Lake."


My bad... Deb Oct 04, 2007 - 02:12 pm
I tried to emphasize the: the RESPECT for people and the ETHICAL DEALINGS (!)

And the grand logic in "responsible development" being purely defined by the proposal to extend the trail.

ALSO: I had the wrong location for the event tonite----

Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 11:06 AM

Subject: SaveTownLake. org Support Rally October 4th. Forward to all. Free BBQ, music, and friends.

Support Rally on October 4th at 501 Post, 501 North IH35

Please join us for the first SaveTownLake. org Support Rally

October 4th at 6:30 p.m. at 501 North IH35 (at 5th, east frontage road)

We are gathering as a group in preparation for the October 9th vote to show our passion and commitment to the preservation of Lady Bird Lake.

City Council member Mike Martinez will be speaking as well as other STL supporters.

Free BBQ, beer, and music. RSVP is recommended. (but i suppose a little late now...)


So Long Austin guest Oct 04, 2007 - 04:55 pm
This used to be a great place to live, but geeze.

I'm going back to the Ranch.


guest Oct 04, 2007 - 05:32 pm
A Bunch of cry babies. This property is in the downtown area, which is urban, right? If you don't want to see condos, don't live downtown!

This is a city, right? Buildings are built in cities, right? Move to a compound off the grid if you can't handle it!

It seems that you can't win in this city, even when a builder is making a commitment to increase green space, which is unheard of, they are threatened. I hope it falls through and the old building sit and rot and drive property values down for all the affluent, uppity, hippie posers in the neighborhood who pretend they care about the environment. If you cared, you'd bring something to the table other than complaints and law suits!


Hey Deb!!! guest Oct 04, 2007 - 07:34 pm
I'm interested in going to a Save Town Lake meeting. Where do you meet and on what days and times?



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