Lost Creek NeighborhoodPhotographs Taken for CodeNEXT Character in a Box Exercise

Paul SchumannSeptember 25, 2014

Community Character in a Box Project

Photographs and WorkshopAnn McCormickChuck McCormickWayne WhitneyPaul SchumannWorkshopDeborah CastroBarbara GastonMathew Vaughn

Community Character in a Box Workshop

Two Maps of the Area

Identify on the Maps (sticker and writing)Things that are assets (strengths)

Things that are constraints (weaknesses)

Opportunities for improvement (things that have potential)

Follow-up with photographs that characterize the neighborhood

Turn all of that in to the City

Neighborhood Schools

Having two public schools just across Loop 360 and a high school a short distance away are real assets to the community

Not having a safe way for students to walk to a neighborhood school is a potential for improvement

View

The view of the city from Loop 360 is an asset

The presence of power lines along Loop 360 is a potential for improvement

Office Buildings

The office buildings on the east side of Loop 360 fit into the environment better than any other buildings near Lost Creek. These are in the city of West Lake Hills. Power lines are still a distraction.

Lost Creek Commercial Area

All are clustered around the entrance

Most fit reasonably well into the environment

One is way to large for the environmentToo high

Required lawsuit to control

Changed some of its use from office to medical over objections from neighborhood

Entrance Into Lost Creek

The entrance is an asset

Power lines are not

Boulevard has been improved since these pictures

Some recent condominium development is not an asset

Condo Project

The condo project was approved even though 70 residents wrote letters opposing it

It has essentially zero set back

Not enough parking

Commanding views of residential neighbors across the street

Property is too small for size of project

Construction quality is suspect

Sidewalks

Sidewalks are an asset

Sidewalk stopping before Loop 360 is not

Lack of safe crossing across and along Loop 360 is not

Not all neighborhood sidewalks have been completed

Vistas

Vistas, hills and curved roads are assets

Trees are an asset

Neighborhood Parks

Neighborhood parks are an asset

But we don't have enough parkland

We do have access to greenbelt

Greenbelt

MUD Building

A well functioning MUD is an asset

MUD board room and community room is an asset

Housing

Housing is an asset

About 1,200 homes

Wide variety of designs

Quality construction

Most 20 to 30 years old

Average value ~$500,000

Utilities under ground

Marshall Tract

Largest potential (good or bad)

37.4 acres undeveloped

Zoned residential (SF2)

Historical land

Fronted on two sides by residential

Environmentally sensitive

Ecologically valuable

Important cemetery

Highest point in Lost Creek (1003 ft)

On Lost Creek Blvd near entrance

Planned PUD is not compatible with Lost Creek

CodeNEXT Project