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October 15, 2007

Battle at Northcastle

The Northcastle Apartments (8100 North MoPac) have become the newest front in the affordable housing/density wars. Trammell Crow Residential is seeking a zoning change in connection with a plan to demolish the complex and replace it with a larger, denser, more expensive complex. The Zoning and Platting commission will be hearing the request at their meeting tomorrow (item 13).

Some residents aren't happy to be displaced, but other residents don't seem to like living there anyway (most recent review: "This place sucks. It sucks bad!").

Most of the opposition appears to be coming from the nearby reighborhood:

"We're also very concerned because our homes are very close to this site. The plethora of negative impact is expected to include massive amounts of dust, traffic, noise, pollution, water pressure issues, increase in crime, increase in over-populated density, lowering of home values in neighborhood, increase in property taxes, less privacy for neighborhood, and a precedent setting residential complex with two towers and a 615 unit above ground parking garage along scenic MoPac!!"

Mmm ... scenic.

Image from ApartmentRatings.com


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Comments (8)

That excerpt is just precious.

"The plethora of negative impact is expected to include ..."

El Guapo: Well, you told me I have a plethora. And I just would like to know if you know what a plethora is. I would not like to think that a person would tell someone he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.
Jefe: Forgive me, El Guapo. I know that I, Jefe, do not have your superior intellect and education. But could it be that once again, you are angry at something else, and are looking to take it out on me?

"increase in crime, increase in over-populated density," i.e., it will let more of "those people" move close to the 'hood. You know how "they" love to live 15 to an apartment and don't do anything but steal.

"lowering of home values in neighborhood, increase in property taxes," huh? Decreasing values will lead to higher property taxes? Did they mean to put these two next to each other, or were they meaning to illustrate doublethink?

"precedent setting residential complex with two towers and a 615 unit above ground parking garage along scenic MoPac!!"- Towers will block the view of a freeway, railroad siding, and the ass-end of a Lowes store. Obviously, this is offensive to our community heritage and values. Also, we're following the precedent that claiming a precedent will be set is a successful argument against any variance or zoning change.

 

Has anyone registered savemopac.com yet? I hope Jimmie Dale Gilmore plays at the benefit concert.

 

Those are some of the worst apartment reviews I've ever read. You don't usually see the residents themselves begging for the place to be torn down.

 

I wish we could start fighting to preserve things that are worth preserving. They take down architecturally interesting homes in Tarrytown all the time, but we're fighting over the fate of blighted parking lots.

 

Hey Wells, More units means lower prices overall, even if not at this particular site. Write it down on the inside of your eyelids if you must.

 

Not only does having more units drive down prices, it will help create a need for competition among properties and places like this will not be able to get away with the "suckage" they are apparently known for by its current residents.

 

I am a resident of Northcastle. Everyone that wants to preserve the property is on the outside looking in. The buildings are dilapidated from neglect. The apartments are very close to being uninhabitable. The water is turned off nearly three times a week. The employees are clueless and have made promises they cannot keep - i.e. making a tenant's apartment handicapped accessible. When I went to move in, the carpets were disgustingly filthy and this was AFTER I was told they had been cleaned. These people had put an eviction notice on MY DOOR for the people ABOVE ME even though they had paid their rent on time. Their lease agreement did not even match the cause number, the number was for someone that lived here ten years ago.

Just this past week, the new so-called 'manager' put out a notice stating that any car parked in a handicapped area that does not have a permit will be towed. Guess what she does? Parks her car in a van accessible area of handicapped parking. She is apparently either too ignorant to see the lines painted on the ground or she must be real proud of her Mitsubishi. Not that the office is exactly handicapped friendly.

The pool looks so inviting!
The property was fined earlier this year for not having the pool cleaned and usable. Barely 3 weeks after it being actually cleaned, it looks like this again. To get around cleaning the pool, the "management" said the pools were closed 2 weeks prior to putting out the notice.

I say tear the place down and put up something that's actually habitable. Look up MBS properties on Google and you'll get a good eye full of Northcastle Apartments for what it really is.

 

Oh, and not only the above. I've had 4 packages stolen out of the office as well as my mail stolen. So the USPS is investigating them as well.

 
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