A response from Rep. Riddle's office

One of our neighbors in Northampton Estates has received a very informative response from Representative Debbie Riddle's office. Please read it carefully and note the "point system" used with applications for this type of housing.

Then - after you have read the specifics in the response I'm including below - please keep writing, and please make sure you add letters/emails to Robbye Meyer to your list.

Please write... and call... and fax... and email. The more of us who do, the more likely we are to get this project axed!

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From: Gail Gallien
Date: January 30, 2011 6:04:44 PM CST
Subject: RE: Low income housing near Northampton

Dear [Sir],

Thank you for contacting Rep. Riddle with your concerns regarding the proposed Senior Affordable Housing Project #11040 for Auburn Lake Manor.

Rep. Riddle will certainly represent her constituents in their efforts to block this type of development from coming into the community.

Our office has been in contact with the Texas Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs and have written a formal protest letter of opposition. This will give the developer a -14 on his application

I would encourage you to let Senator Patrick's office know of your opposition and ask for his support as well.
It only takes one letter from the representative or senator within the targeted district, to give the developer the "14 points" of support needed in that category to comply with the application.

If one elected official opposes, as Rep. Riddle has, and one supports the points will 0 out.

You may also want to express your opposition by writing to:
Robbye Meyer, Director
Multifamily Finance Production Division
P.O. Box 13941
Austin, Texas 78711-3491
(512) 475-2213
(512) 475-0764 Fax
Robbye.Meyer@TDHCA.state.tx.us

Your letter should list specific reasons as to why the project would be a negative for the community.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact Rep. Riddle regarding this issue. If you have any questions or additional concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office again.

It is an honor for Rep. Riddle to serve you.

Gail Gallien
District Director

Another contact for protests

In addition to our legislators, please also call and send emails to the following to protest the building of this housing project. From Senator Patrick's staff:

While Senator Patrick encourages members of your community to continue contacting him regarding your concerns about this development, he also encourages you to contact TDHCA since this is the agency that will ultimately have the final say in approving or denying this development. It is imperative that TDHCA hears your concerns. If this application is submitted by March 1, 2011, please contact this agency:

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Ms. Robbye Meyer
P.O. Box 13941
Austin, TX 78711-3941
(512) 475-2213
(512) 475-0764 Fax
Robbye.Meyer@TDHCA.state.tx.us

A response from Senator Patrick

One of our neighbors in Auburn Lakes wrote excellent emails to our state senator and state and US representatives. Below is the response he received from TX Senator Dan Patrick's office. Please make use of the information included, in addition to continuing to write to our representatives in the TX legislature and the US House.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: Amy Peck
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 1:41:32 PM (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
To: Jim Brown
Subject: RE: INETMAIL: Auburn Lake Manor

Mr. Brown,
Thank you for contacting Senator Patrick's office about the proposed Auburn Lake Manor project (Application # 1040). The date for applicants to submit full applications to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) is March 1, 2011. Should this application be submitted, Senator Patrick will continue looking into this project.

While Senator Patrick encourages members of your community to continue contacting him regarding your concerns about this development, he also encourages you to contact TDHCA since this is the agency that will ultimately have the final say in approving or denying this development. It is imperative that TDHCA hears your concerns. If this application is submitted by March 1, 2011, please contact this agency:

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Ms. Robbye Meyer
P.O. Box 13941
Austin, TX 78711-3941
(512) 475-2213
(512) 475-0764 Fax
Robbye.Meyer@TDHCA.state.tx.us

Senator Patrick and his staff will continue monitoring the status of this development. If you have more information you would like to pass on to Senator Patrick, please contact him through his website at www.Patrick.Senate.State.Tx.us, or you may contact me directly at
Amy.Peck@Senate.State.Tx.Us.

Amy L. Peck, M.Ed
Director of Constituent Services
Office of Senator Dan Patrick
Office: (713) 464-0282
Fax: (713) 461-0108

How to take action...

Please help save our neighborhoods! Here’s how:

Contact your elected representatives in Austin, TX, and Washington, DC, and tell them about your opposition to the Auburn Lake Manor low-income housing project, which would consist of 180 units. Please send letters and/or emails and/or make phone calls frequently. Our representatives need to hear from MANY of us and OFTEN!

State Representative Debbie Riddle:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=150
Click on Email just to the right of her photo; fill out the form and add your message; click on Send Message.

State Senator Dan Patrick:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist7/dist7.htm
Click on the Email tab; fill out the form and add your message; click on Submit.

US Representative Michael McCaul
http://mccaul.house.gov/
Hold your cursor over CONTACT US and click on Contact Form; fill out the form and add your message; click on Submit.

Again, please send letters and/or emails and/or make phone calls frequently. Our representatives need to hear from MANY of us and OFTEN!

The best messages state the reason for writing in the first sentence and then give three or four points to explain why you believe you are right. It’s best not to get emotional or angry. Just the facts! Here are some ideas to include in your message if you wish.

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A developer is planning to build a low-income, multi-family, 180-unit senior housing project called Auburn Lake Manor on West Rayford near the entrance to Auburn Lakes at Gosling in Spring, Texas. Mark-Dana Corporation is the developer (based in Spring, but incorporated in Virginia!), and it appears this is the company’s specialty: "affordable" (read: low-income) multi-unit complexes, often built in areas that are questionably appropriate. We have some concerns:

1. First and foremost, Northampton and Auburn Lakes communities are comprised of mid-to-high-end neighborhoods. We've worked hard to maintain our safe, quiet, family-friendly communities, and we don't think a low-income project is a good fit.

2. The value of our houses, especially those in closest proximity to the project, would decrease.

3. The traffic and congestion would be terrible. Gosling Rd, which runs north-south between FM2920 and The Woodlands, is a narrow, two-lane road – with one traffic signal at Spring-Steubner, 3.5 miles away, and no other traffic controls until well north into Montgomery County several miles. Consider how the residents and employees of a 180-unit development would impact this country-lane environment.

4. There is no mass transit nor any doctors’ offices, stores, or restaurants around here.

5. On any weekend, you can see many kids riding bikes, playing, fishing, etc., around the area where the proposed facility would be built. In fact, the Auburn Lakes Recreation Center is just down West Rayford Dr. Adding a low-income element into our midst does not promote peace of mind.

6. Klein ISD will be building an elementary school near Gosling Rd and West Rayford Dr in the future. Is it really a good idea to have a low-income project near an elementary school?

7. When Mark-Dana has proposed other projects like this, residents have expressed the same concerns. Protests are not unusual.

Sincerely,

[your name or initials]

Developer tells MUD that residents are in favor of project

We have heard that the developer has told MUD officials that residents living around the proposed project are in favor of it.

Mmmm hmmm. I'm skeptical.

Please consider attending upcoming MUD meetings to express your opinion. Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7pm, at the front of Northampton. You may also want to email our State Rep. Debbie Riddle, our State Sen. Dan Patrick, and our County Commissioner Jerry Eversole.

UPDATE: Mark-Dana is seeking state funding, so we have been encouraged to contact our state reps.

Auburn Lake Manor Senior Housing

A company called Mark-Dana Corporation (located in Spring, incorporated in Virginia?) wants to build an "affordable" multi-family senior housing project at the front of the Auburn Lakes subdivision, right off Gosling and West Rayford. Their plans include 180 units! Yes, that's right -- 180 units!

NO!

Northampton/Auburn Lakes is a very quiet, safe, residential community. We don't need a multi-unit housing project built in our neighborhood for lower-income anyone. We don't have mass transit, stores, or doctor's offices here.

The income range for seniors who live there would be from $15,000-$35,000. Our community consists of middle to high-end homes; a low-income multi-unit facility has no place here.

Mark-Dana needs to find another location.