Added information for letters

Please re-read this post~~> Please write those letters!

One thing to remember when you're writing these letters: DO NOT include any references to property values. Letters that include property values as a reason will be tossed. There are plenty of other reasons to include: traffic congestion; no mass transit; no nearby stores or doctors' offices, etc.; volunteer fire department, which is already stretched very thin; and others.

Remember: We need to have LOTS of letters in the Multifamily Finance Production Division of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs because the letters are filed and kept in reference to the property, not the developer or the particular application.

If you have already written, but mentioned property values, please write another letter. If you have written and mailed a letter that didn't mention property values, you don't need to write again.

Thanks to everyone for all that's been done so far. Now let's attend those meetings and stay vigilant!

Proceed with Caution

This morning, several of us received this email from Senator Patrick's office:

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Thank you again for contacting Senator Patrick's office about the Auburn Lake Manor project (Application # 1040). You will be happy to hear that the developer for this proposed complex has decided to pull his application from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA); therefore, this development will not be created in your area. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

Amy L. Peck, M.Ed

Director of Constituent Services

Office of Senator Dan Patrick

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After 5:00 this afternoon, we received verbal confirmation from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs that the developer has withdrawn his application for housing tax credits. So why aren't we celebrating? We learn from the experiences of others! We know developers try to use tactics to lessen the opposition, and then when no one is looking they try something new to get their project started again. March 1 is the deadline for the full application to be filed to receive housing tax credits.

WE CAN NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO OUR BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD!

We must keep a watchful eye on the movements of the developer and the land owner, Peramco. There are reports from neighbors that the vacant land for the proposed development continues to be cleared. Trees are coming down, and work is being done on the property. I'd like to know for what!

We have also learned that the Northampton MUD board has pulled this item from their agenda for the February 21 meeting (see last night's post). But several of us believe we need to pack that meeting anyway, that we need to proceed with gathering petitions ... whatever we need to do to make the people on that board understand that anything like this will meet with tremendous opposition.

Please post your comments. It helps us to hear what our neighbors are thinking.