2024 Vistas Summer Issue

Proposed VIA changes to effect Monte Vista Summer 2024

The City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit have launched several significant initiatives, including the introduction of a new high-speed bus line along San Pedro Avenue, and accompanying city zoning changes that allow for higher density retail, commercial, and multi-family developments as part of a new Transit Oriented Development (TOD) drive. Two San Pedro bus lanes will be dedicated along both curbside lanes from Hildebrand to Ashby, which VIA predicts will cause significant traffic diversion off San Pedro onto Monte Vista and Alta Vista community streets.

New proposed zoning codes are being developed to incentivize more apartment buildings, denser housing, larger ADUs, and more retail and commercial development up to ¼ mile from San Pedro.

The Monte Vista Historical Association approved a resolution at its board meeting on April 9, 2024 related to the potential changes happening around the City. Read the full Resolution on Page 7. Continue Reading on Page 6

CONTACT US

Monte Vista Historical Association

P.O. Box 12386

San Antonio, TX 78212 210-737-8212

Visit us at our website montevistasa.org

E-mail mail@montevista-sa.org

City of San Antonio Customer Service (7 am to 11 pm, 7 days a week) Dial 311

Councilperson Sukh Kaur

City Council District 1

Contact person: Maggie Morales Field Office 210-207-0907

SAPD SAFFE Officer

Rob Henderson 210-207-7413

Email robert.henderson@sanantonio.gov

MISSION STATEMENT

“To encourage the preservation of the distinctive heritage of the Monte Vista area; to keep the physical identity of this late nineteenth-early twentieth century district intact; and to educate the public, especially the youth, with knowledge of our inherited neighborhood values which contribute to a wholesome urban environment.”

Greetings Monte Vista, It is hard to believe that we are now in the throws of Summer and that Spring has come and gone! Looking back, we had a great Easter Egg Hunt on the grounds of Landa in March and we are now looking forward to our annual July 4th celebration! Our unique neighborhood celebrates these events and brings us all together to appreciate the significance of the holidays and the efforts of our neighbors who volunteer to make it all happen. Many thanks to all of you who participate and make our neighborhood so special in this modern world.

This issue of Vistas has come at a time that is crucial to lay out important issues which lie ahead for Monte Vista. I want to take this opportunity to bring these matters to all our citizens attention and invite all of our residents to become involved in whatever way they can to make a difference in our community.

MONTE VISTA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

2024 OFFICERS

President

Lynn Boyd

President-Elect

Tom Archer

Past President

Toni Van Buren

Treasurer

Fred Suchy

Recording Secretary

Michele Giddens

BOARD MEMBERS

Art Campsey

David Smith

Judy Warren

Kathy Kennedy

Kristin Kellum

Contributors

Lynn Boyd

Rick Wilson

Lydia McAfee

Katherine Martin

Wade Caldwell

Robert Smith

Councilwoman Kaur

Images

David Smith

Sally Bullock

For Advertising Info: mail@montevista-sa.org

Vistas is the newsletter of the Monte Vista Historical Association

In the Spring of this year, we formed the Monte Vista Planning and Development Committee, which is comprised of past presidents of the association, current members and our president elect to look at developments coming in the future that will impact and effect Monte Vista for years to come. Out of this group came a recommendation for a resolution to be adopted by the current board of directors to clearly state the position and desires of the Monte Vista Historical Association with respect to changes within the city that will impact our neighborhood. The resolution was passed on April 9, 2024 is included in this issue of Vistas for all to read. There is a also a report in this issue outlining the progress of the committee and the future challenges we will be facing.

If ever there was a more important time for each and everyone to be a member of the Monte Vista Historical Association it is NOW! We need all of our collective voices to weigh in on the challenges and changes that the City will be proposing in the future.

I ask all of you to read the reports contained in this issue. Please think about how you can contribute to and become involved in our Association at this critical time. It is of great importance that we find ways to accommodate the future, but to respect our past heritage of preservation.

All my best,

Lynn Boyd

III, President Monte Vista Historical Association, 2024

Mallory Baird

Peter Hugill

Rick Wilson

Robin Teague

Sally Bullock

Ann Van Pelt

Tony Garcia

Chris Scruggs

Angela Gallegos

David Dickie

Pat DiGiovanni

Parker Dixon

Trudy Kinnison

Tom Seerden

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Ryan Reed

Melody Hull

OFFICE ADMIN

Lydia McAfee

Have questions about the MVHA Board? Call 210737-8212 or email mail@ montevista-sa.org for more information.

March Third Thursday at Bushnell

Our March Third Thursday was very well attended on the rooftop of the Bushnell Apartments! The rain held out for us this year and everyone had a great time. Thank you to Rick and Millie Clark for opening up the space to us again.

To see more photos from the event, visit Facebook. com/montevistasanantonio. Photos are courtesy of David Smith.

These two ICONIC

Ann Van Pelt

210.844.7001

avanpelt@phyllisbrowning.com

HOMES have new owners. I was honored to help them both.

On the trail of Bunny excellence

By Katherine Martin

Moving silently through the crowd at Landa Library, stopping to pose for photos or giving the trepidatious necessary space, Joseph Duperier brought experience with him to Annual Monte Vista Easter Egg Hunt on March 30.

Kristen Kellum first recruited the high school football player for the fuzzy bunny suit in 2023. “I love dressing up in costumes so, of course, I took the job,” Joseph remembered, adding, “I truly love being around really young kids and I find it fun to work with children especially when I get to hop around and give out candy.”

Being Bunny isn’t without challenges, he explained: “The costume gets pretty hot, and sweat runs down your face inside of the mask so when it gets on my eyes I can’t wipe it and it’s hard to see. Furthermore I’m breathing my own hot breath under the mask.”

The very hardest part, Joseph noted, is not talking “because I love to talk.” A talking Bunny might scare some kids and could confirm what others already suspect. In fact (spoiler alert), Joseph said he was surprised by “how many super young kids knew that the

Easter Bunny wasn’t real. I believed in the Easter Bunny ‘til, like, 6th grade and there were four- and three-year-olds who could barely form full sentences that were calling me out for being fake.”

Joseph explained, “You can definitely tell which kids are afraid and which ones aren’t. There are kids who come up to me and try to tackle me and hold on to my legs out of excitement, while others hide behind their parents.”

In addition to mastering benevolent silence, Joseph recommended aspiring Bunnies wear white shoes under their paws, hydrate well the night before an appearance, and stay entirely suited up until

Thank you to Amanda Holmes & Becky Kirbo for organizing the event. Thank you to the MVHA Board Members, volunteers and the St Anthony Catholic High School students for helping to stuff over 3,000 plastic eggs and hide them around the grounds of Landa.

by

Photos

David Smith.

Allowable land uses for development in Monte Vista will also be modified for all properties as part of a sub-area planning process, which will introduce a new property land use category that could include multifamily, manufactured housing, larger ADUs, zero lot lines, no minimum parking, and more.

San Antonio, by virtue of its storied history and historic Missions, is the only UNESCO world heritage site in Texas - a designation that, along with the Alamo and a number of carefully preserved neighborhoods, buildings, and museums draws visitors from all over the world to see our city. The Monte Vista Historic District, as well as King William and many other Historic Districts, helps preserve the early history of San Antonio through its unique and varied architecture, mix of large and small homes, and cultural diversity. In fact, historical homes by architects O’Neil Ford and Atlee Ayres and others were commissioned by San Antonio’s founders and early community leaders. San Antonio’s Historic Districts are invaluable San Antonio

time capsules.

Nonetheless, our Historic District faces significant transformational pressures. Initial Monte Vista concerns about the planned transit and development initiatives include the potential for dramatic increases in traffic and congestion on Monte Vista streets, reduced safety, walkability, and bikeability within the neighborhood, new base zoning codes for development that largely sit outside legacy Historic District protections, reduced neighborhood influence over growth planning within Monte Vista, and removal of some of the guardrails Monte Vista uses to push back on inappropriate development projects in our Historic District. These change initiatives are already underway, and further implementation will proceed through 2025.

lboyd@phyllisbrowning.com

The Monte Vista Planning and Development Committee, composed of ten Monte Vista Historical Association members, is actively engaged in helping our Historical Association navigate these proposed changes. The Committee’s primary goal is to help lead the overall Monte Vista community to strengthen our relationships with key decision-makers, our collective influence, and our continued protection of a valuable Historic District. We are working side-by-side with the Office of Historic Preservation to meet with a broad number of City of San Antonio and VIA leaders, review city plans and background studies, and coordinate Monte

Vista updates and working relationships. Committee members currently sit on the TOD Taskforce, and members will also serve on the citywide planning Task Force.

These changes could be significant for Monte Vista, so your Monte Vista Historical Association seeks your individual input and participation in an upcoming Monte Vista-wide Town Hall meeting. The date for that Town Hall will be communicated very soon. Your neighbors and your neighborhood need your engagement. If you have further questions, please email mail@montevista-sa.org.

MVHA April Resolution

The Monte Vista Historical Association passed the following resolution at its board meeting on April 9, 2024:

Whereas, the City of San Antonio is considering proposals to establish express bus lane service along San Pedro Ave., San Pedro corridor Transit Oriented Development, Near North Sub-Area Neighborhood Planning, and other changes which may impact the Monte Vista Historic District; The Board of Directors of the Monte Vista Historical Association has passed the following resolution:

1. The Monte Vista Historical Association requests that representatives from the Monte Vista Historical Association be appointed to any and all task forces created to study and come up with recommendations;

2. The Monte Vista Historical Association requests the City look at the Monte Vista Historical Association Traffic Plan that was submitted to the City in approximately 2007 and to implement portions of that plan which may be compatible with the scope of what the City is considering;

3. The Monte Vista Historical Association should be consulted with and have input to any changes to any area Master Plan affecting Monte Vista;

4. The Monte Vista Historical Association is opposed to any express bus plan that would reduce the number of lanes available for vehicle traffic along San Pedro from Ashby to Hildebrand or widening San Pedro Ave. along that stretch and will work with the City on the Green Line design to insure that it does not redirect traffic from San Pedro to other Monte Vista streets;

5. The Monte Vista Historical Association is opposed to any comprehensive overlay zoning that would increase the density of uses in areas of Monte Vista that are not immediately adjacent to San Pedro Ave. and are not currently used as multi-family or commercial;

6. It is the opinion of the Monte Vista Historical Association, that the proposed urban low density residential land use category is not appropriate for a historical neighborhood such as Monte Vista;

7. Any revisions to the Auxiliary Dwelling Unit regulations should be coordinated through the Office of Historic Preservation and guidelines for improved enforcement of short-term rental regulations should be developed;

8. The Monte Vista Historical Association will establish a Committee for Neighborhood Planning to coordinate these efforts and provide for a long-term interface with the City and other agencies on planning issues that affect Monte Vista as a whole.

Remembering Our Beloved Gerry Frost

Our neighborhood is remarkable through the coincidence of two elements: Preserving and Celebrating Historic Architecture and fostering Passionate Engaged Citizenry.

With the passing of Gerardine “Gerry” Frost on November 29, 2023, Monte Vista has experienced a profound loss in both areas.

Gerry and her husband Leo “Lee” Rodriguez shared a life together for 43 years and inhabited, loved and improved homes on Hollywood Avenue, Mulberry Avenue and Elsmere Place successively over many decades. They created and maintained deep, caring and lasting friendships with many

Gerry demonstrated her love of place through work with Monte Vista Historical Association in so many capacities. Most noteworthy are her awareness-raising pamphlet on “Preserving Place’’, her near two dozen recorded oral histories of Monte Vista residents, and her at-capacity lectures and walking tours on Monte Vista architectural style and the need for ongoing preservation.

Gerry set a stylish and high bar on what model community neighborly behavior can be. Let us all honor her legacy by continuing to uphold the spirit she embodied. Gerry - you are sorely missed.

Monte Vista neighbors.

Awards for Thursday, July 4th, 2024

Grand Fido

Best adult costume

Best child costume

Best non motorized float

Best decorated bike

Best Overall 4th Theme

Best Pie

9am Deliver Pies to Landa Library 10:15am Parade Assembles at Lynwood/Howard 10:30am Parade proceeds to Landa Library

11am Picnic at Landa Library w/ award ceremony, hot dogs, ice cream and more!

or call 210-737-8212. wwww.montevistasa.org

Upcoming Events

4th of July Parade & Picnic

July 4th

September Third Thursday September 19

Location TBA

October Third Thursday October 17

Location TBA

November Third Thursday November 21

Location TBA

December Third Thursday December 19

Location TBA

Board Meetings, every second Tuesday of the Month @ 6pm MVHA Office at Landa Library & over Zoom

Architectural Review Committee, every first Monday of the Month @ 6pm MVHA Office at Landa Library

Sign up for our Monte Vista Monday Newsletter! Email

mail@montevista-sa.org or visit the home page of our website to sign up.

A Letter from District 1 Councilwoman Kaur

Dear Friends of the Monte Vista Historical Association,

As we near the completion of our first year in office, we’re excited to share updates and milestones in our collective efforts to advocate for our community’s needs. We have spent significant time learning how to improve our city services to support the needs of our constituents. Below are a few of the highlights.

At the mid-year budget planning session, we made your voices heard advocating for solutions to some of our communities most important concerns. Specifically, we’ve received more than 500 requests related to public works, ranging from sidewalks, streets, signage, and contractor issues. I’ve pushed for action, advocating for funding of “Quick-Build” methodologies, which can enable our community to see more solutions to their needs. Using the example of Hildebrand and Howard as a critical area of interest, quick-buildmethods would not only make a difference to public safety, but they would also be achievable sooner than a capital project.

With community engagement as

a priority in our office, we’ve also made large strides to ensure that our residents at all levels can have their voices heard in the future of our city. Specifically, we’ve taken big steps to gather feedback about the use of bond funds for improvements to San Pedro Springs Park. As the country’s 10th oldest park, San Pedro Springs Park has deep cultural meaning to so many in our city. Our goal over the next 2 months is to collect input regarding community needs and desires for San Pedro Spring Park and determine how to focus the bond funds.

Finally, as we embark on Pride Month and recognize the diverse community that we live in, I was ecstatic to co-author a CCR with Councilman Jalen McKeeRodriguez that recognizes North Main as a Cultural Heritage District in San Antonio. San Antonio is recognized as a city of compassion, and through recognizing the growth and history of our city, I’m hopeful that others will be able to find their light in the world to prosper.

Finally, mark your calendars for two events: Suenos of San Pedro Springs Park on July 27th - an event highlighting all the partners and improvements for the park and our Back-to-School Event at Edison High School on August 10th from 10 am to 1 pm. If you are interested in being a community partner or volunteer, please contact us at 210207-0900.

In Appreciation, Sukh Kaur

Fiesta April Third Thursday

Viva

Photos by Sally Bullock.

CALENDAR

Architectural Review Committee

Send questions or requests for assistance to mail@montevista-sa. org. Consultation is online and by phone. Meetings are held the first Monday of the month at 6pm in the MVHA office at Landa Library.

MVHA Board Meetings

In person and Zoom Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6pm in the MVHA office at Landa Library. Contact mail@montevista-sa.org to put an item on the agenda. The meetings are open to the all members of MVHA.

Thank you to HEB for their donation to our Easter Egg Hunt & 4th of July events.

2024 Membership Form Membership is valid for 365 days from date of payment. Questions? Call 210-737-8212 or Email mail@montevista-sa.org Website: www.montevistasa.org

and mail check payable to the Monte Vista