8 Story High Rise coming soon to Cumberland and S 1st; Neighbors speak out

An 8-story high-rise is set to break ground soon at Cumberland Rd. and S. 1st St., bringing 120 rental units with setbacks as small as 2–5 feet from nearby single-family homes.

This scale of development is unheard of in our neighborhood and far exceeds base zoning limits, made possible only through significant waivers under the city’s density bonus programs. Residents have also raised concerns about a lack of transparency in the planning process.

On August 28th, GENA President Patty Sprinkle and resident Van Wilson addressed City Council during the General Public Communication forum to highlight these issues and advocate for greater community engagement.

“There is no precedent to the scale of development, and there has been a total lack of transparency in the process,” said Wilson. “We support development and affordable housing in our neighborhood, and I ask you to halt this development until the developer meets with the community and we can find common cause.”

Watch the replay here: https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/353964?ts=8360#share

What Now?

We are mobilizing a group of concerned residents to ensure our voices are heard on this development.

• Get involved directly: E-mail Patty at president@gena.org
• Stay informed: Join our mailing list by sending an e-mail to communications@gena.org or using the form at the bottom of this page.
• Contact City Council: Reach out to Council Member José Velásquez to share your concerns directly at (512) 978-2103 or by e-mail. [ed. note 9/4: CM Velásquez has just gotten in touch with GENA President Patty Sprinkle and offered his support; thank you for your efforts to bring attention to the matter!]