The Allandale Reporter

Genie Car Wash Changing Hands

 According to a story in today's Austin American-Statesman, Genie Car Wash on Burnet Rd will soon become H2O Hand Car Wash and Detail. The article, "Genie Car Wash's disappearing act coming soon
H2O Hand Car Wash buying 3 Austin sites for $9.2 million," by Sara Higgins says the new ownership plans to remodel the sites and retain its workers. It's not certain yet whether the giant neon Genie Car Wash Signs will go. The photo on the left was taken by Charles Randow in 2006.

The 2009 Bike Plan Update and Allandale

 The Austin 2009 Bicycle Plan Update is making its way to City Council. It is scheduled for public hearings with the Planning Commission on May 12th at City Hall at 6:00 pm and with the City Council on May 21st at City Hall at 6:00 pm. The goal of the Austin 2009 Bicycle Plan is to transform Austin into a world-class bicycling city. You can read a recent letter sent to neighborhoods and interested parties about the  upcoming hearings here.

Given the number of cyclists living in or passing through the neighborhood, I took a look at the Plan to see what is planned for streets in Allandale. You may be pleased to know there are no curb islands in the Plan - not on Shoal Creek or any other street within Allandale's boundaries. Actually, Shoal Creek, which had curb islands on both sides of it for a short time in 2005, has protected status as a result of that failed experiment. No changes can be made to it without city council approval. If you were not in the neighborhood at the time, here is a summary of the project that is actually a part of the 2009 Bicycle Plan.

Solar Sunday at Hey Cupcakes

The sound system for the entertainment provided at yesterday's Solar Sunday event at Hey Cupcakes on Burnet Rd was powered by the mobile solar system you see in the picture above provided by Sustainable Waves  (www.sustainablewaves.com). The company specializes in providing solar powered stages, sound systems, and lighting for entertainment events. Other companies at the event included, Pure Light (www.thinkpurelight.com), a local LED light bulb distributor, and Green City Solar (www.greencityaustin.com), a solar energy company. 

Meet Carole at Phil's Icehouse this Tuesday

From Steve Simmons:

I hope Allandale will come out and meet Carole at this event we have planned for Phil's next Tuesday. If people are undecided about who to vote for or have made up their mind and want to ask tough questions, Carole will be here for both. Everyone needs to go out and vote no matter what. This is a crucial time in our City's future. Thanks,
Steve

Greetings dear friends of Carole:

Support your local businesses

ClayWays is having a show and sale this Saturday. This is a very local business that has been a great contributor to our neighborhood and has supported many of our neighborhood events. You can read a profile of ClayWays written by the Allandale Reporter here. Read the profile and then go by their show and sale on Saturday.

Bike Lane Delineators on Shoal Creek

Delineators have been placed on Shoal Creek Boulevard near 4601 Shoal Creek.  The delineators are meant to keep the traveling motor vehicles out of the lane.  Before the installation the moving motor vehicles were traveling in the bike/parking lane.  Bicyclists were considered prior to this application.

 

Here is a picture of the delineator posts in front of 4601 Shoal Creek.  The photo is looking southbound towards 45th Street.

Nadia M. Barrera

Bicycle/Pedestrian Project Coordinator

City of Austin

512-974-7142

nadia.barrera@ci.austin.tx.us

Annual Allandale Super Sale coming up

What: Annual Allandale Super Sale
When: Saturday, May 2, 9:00 am to 4:00 PM

The Super Sale is an annual event in which all Allandale residents are
encouraged to participate by having a garage or yard sale on the same day.

What the organizers do:
A classified ad is placed in the Austin American Statesman, promote the Super Sale online (including a map of all the sales) and we put out signs throughout the neighborhood.

You do the rest! 

Email by April 26th to be included in the map and online promotions: Supersale09@fitmom.info

FAQ:

Is this a fundraiser?
No, it is FREE advertising for your garage sale. 

The April Issue of Allandale Neighbor is out!

The feature article in this issue of the "Allandale Neighbor" - being delivered to Allandale homes this week - is the 1981 Memorial day flood. Those who were in the neighborhood when it happened remember it well.  "Remembering the Flood," an article written by Allan McMurtry, conveys the drama of the event, how it unfolded - including the day after, and the work that has taken place in the neighborhood as result. After reading Allan's article, follow it up by reading the firsthand accounts of the event published on this web site. We are grateful to everyone who contributed their stories and photos and news clippings for this look back at the flood. It is an important piece of the neighborhood's history and it explains much of the work that has taken place in the neighborhood over the years including the work that is underway at the Great Northern detention pond.

This issue of the Allandale Neighbor is not all about the Memorial Day flood. There has been a lot going on in the neighborhood lately including: "It's My Park Day", the tree planting at Northwest Park, and the Celebrate Allandale Picnic. If you were kicking yourself for not making to the "meet-the-candidate" forums held at one of the homes in the neighborhood, don't worry. The Allandale Neighor was there for two of them and took notes. You will find this and more in the April issue. As always, if you have not received the newsletter yet, you can read it here.

The 1981 Memorial Day Flood

Some people in Allandale to this day get very anxious when there is a hard rain. I am referring to those hit by the Memorial Day Flood that roared down on the city and brought death and destruction along Shoal Creek on a Sunday night, May 24, 1981. It turned stretches of Shoal Creek and Lamar into a river. On Bullard Drive, where homes back up to Shoal Creek, the water flowed down the street and into the homes  from all sides. The image above is the front page of the Austin American-Statesman from the Tuesday morning edition. The headline from the newspaper the morning after the flood, Monday morning, reported 9 deaths. By Wednesday the death toll had risen to 15. 

What follows are the stories from residents in Allandale who shared their experiences of the 1981 flood with the "Allandale Neighbor." The Flood changed the neighborhood. It is a night no one living near Shoal Creek at the time will forget. 

H-E-B - Trade Your Plastic Bags for a Reusable Bag

In celebration of Earth Day, H-E-B is striving to remove 1.5 million plastic bags from the environment.  Next Wednesday, April 22 from 3pm to 7 pm, customers can bring in 5 plastic bags to any H-E-B and receive one reusable bag for free.  H-E-B hopes to give out 300,000 reusable bags in a four hour period.