City of Austin vs. Casa de Luz

A partial chronology of the code compliance and enforcement history concerning the Casa de Luz "school cafeteria"/restaurant/"experiential, educational community center" facility at 1701 Toomey Road.

› 1989: Casa de Luz predecessor, East West Center on South Fifth Street, burns down.

› Feb. 1991: Casa opens on Toomey Road, with a certificate of occupancy for a school cafeteria.

› 1993: Casa de Luz initially notified that the facility has insufficient on-site parking to comply with city ordinances. Over the years, the business has periodically leased parking and has informally used parking at Butler Shores Park, without permission.

› 2002: Following an anonymous complaint about permits and parking, Casa comes under city scrutiny.

› 2003: Austin files charges against Casa for changing its use without a permit, and for parking violations.

› Dec. 2003: Casa seeks a variance for parking requirements (granted in 2004 to allow reduced, off-site parking). Neighbors sue the Board of Adjustment over the variance.

› Jan. 2004: Casa granted 30 more days to find additional parking.

› Feb. 2004: Parking deadline extended 30 more days

› 2004: Casa notified of failure to acquire an appropriate certificate of occupancy.

› 2008: Warning issued for lack of a certificate of occupancy.

› Mar. 2009: Warning issued for lack of CO; city files case with municipal court.

› Oct. 2009: Code compliance inspection finds numerous violations.

› Dec. 2009: Casa cited for a lack of site plan and commercial building permit for the "Serena Room" and is advised that there is no active certificate of occupancy.

› Aug. 2010: Inspection by Austin Fire Department cites inadequate access to building; Longoria still seeking sufficient parking.

› Aug. 2011: Casa pays $2,500 in fines for misdemeanor charges stemming from development without a site plan, lack of CO, and lack of building permit. Building remains in violation of fire code.

› Nov. 2011: Following AFD inspection, Longoria reports on process of getting approval for parking on city property (still ongoing) and installing fire hydrant (never completed).

› April 2012: Longoria informs city that Casa is attempting to install a sprinkler system.

› June 2012: Fire code violations referred to the Building and Standards Commission.

› Aug. & Sept. 2012: Guilty pleas; Casa pays $1,500 fine and court costs.

› Sept. 2012: BSC reviews case, grants Casa additional time to address code violations. Accumulated unpaid fines: more than $22,000 and accruing.

› May 2013: BSC reviews case, grants Casa another month; return to BSC scheduled for June 26.