Austin voters will not decide on Onion Creek buyout money

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by tom331

but City of Austin does not have power to appraise the property value and it is handled by the County.

What's that got to do with it? The claim was that property, in _Austin_, was over-appraised. I certainly have seen no evidence of that. Look up any for-sale listing, then the appraised value on TCAD. I've never seen the later be higher.

[sojourner77]

Cost of buying out Onion Creek homeowners to ensure the land is off-limits from future development: $31,000,000
Council buys out another 140 Onion Creek-area homes | KXAN.com

Cost of buying out the Jeremiah Tract in SW Austin to ensure the land is off-limits from future development: $30,000,000
Then There's This: City May Buy Aquifer Land Slated for Sewage: Judge's order offers only clue that talks are in progress - News - The Austin Chronicle

When will the City council stop buying up land like this? It's absurd.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

Cost of buying out the Jeremiah Tract in SW Austin to ensure the land is off-limits from future development: $30,000,000
Then There's This: City May Buy Aquifer Land Slated for Sewage: Judge's order offers only clue that talks are in progress - News - The Austin Chronicle

$30M was the bond. There's no information yet as to what the price will be (higher or lower, or how much money is coming from the Nature Conservancy).

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

Cost of buying out Onion Creek homeowners to ensure the land is off-limits from future development: $31,000,000
Council buys out another 140 Onion Creek-area homes | KXAN.com

Cost of buying out the Jeremiah Tract in SW Austin to ensure the land is off-limits from future development: $30,000,000
Then There's This: City May Buy Aquifer Land Slated for Sewage: Judge's order offers only clue that talks are in progress - News - The Austin Chronicle

When will the City council stop buying up land like this? It's absurd.

Exactly. Not one person who I interact with (all CoA residents) have ever wanted to spend on nickel for either of these items. But are in unanimous agreement on items that money is badly needed for:

- widening 183 from Balcones Woods to Spicewood Springs (where the freeway goes from 4 lanes to 3 lanes & back to 4 lanes...who thought that up ???)

- widening (& putting medians & turn lanes) Anderson Mill from 620 to Parmer.

- Widening Spicewood Springs from 360 to Canyon Vista MS.

- Right turn lanes at about 25 different locations in NW Austin where it makes sense.

These are just one part of town. But would improve the mobility (& quality of life) for tens of thousands. I'm sure others could add to the list in their part of town & the total list would be 40-60 projects. Use that 61MM (mentioned above) for road projects that are needed yesterday. 99% of the public want better, widened... or more roads.


It's beyond crazy for the CofA to "buy out" homes when it's not the "flooded out homebuyer" who is "bailed out", but a Bank (who has the Mtg.). First Bush2, then Obama & now CofA are basically bailing out Bank of America & Chase. It's nuts.

CofA should fix the d*mn roads, make sure there's enough cops on the street (& parks per capita)...and stop trying to shove fiscally stupid agendas down Homeowner's throats. (such as a choo choo train connecting highland mall & downtown & east riverside....or a buyout of homes that don't need buying out....or saving the 2014 version of a snail darter).