Holiday Home Tour Just Around The Corner

The Tech Terrace/UNIT Holiday Home Tour got a really nice write up in the AJ. The article is shared below: Neighborhood plans annual home tour By Ray Westbrook AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Sunday, November 29, 2009Story last updated at 11/29/2009 - 2:38 am Members of the Tech Terrace/UNIT Neighborhood have organized a Christmastime home tour from 2-5 p.m. Saturday to raise money for spring flowers. "This is our only fundraiser for our neighborhood, and with the money that we raise, we do special projects," said Ami Hill-Rendon, vice president of the neighborhood's association. "We have two flowerbed parks in the neighborhood that aren't maintained by Parks and Recreation," she explained. One of the homes on the tour, owned by Zac and Brooke Garth, has an atmosphere of history. The house entered the Lubbock County tax roll in 1941, but the home may actually have been built 100 years ago and moved to Lubbock, the Garths think. "One of the things we love most about it is that any changes that have been made have maintained the historical integrity of the house," Brooke Garth said. "We thought it would be neat to let other people see that." Six homes have been included in the tour. Tickets for the tour, which are $15, will be available at Alternative Food Co., Hodgepodge Design, Ice Cream Shoppe, J&B Coffee, Miss Social Butterfly and Sharp's Flowers. The tour homes are the following: • 2910 20th St., the home of Matt and Nathalie Geddie, is a 1940 rock house with an arched entrance and chimney. The home has restored hardwood floors, a living area that has been opened into an updated kitchen, and a master suite that opens onto a private courtyard. • 3015 21st St., the home of Gary and Janet Schwantz, adapted wooden flooring from a racquetball court in a remodel of the kitchen. It has red Italian tiles for the hearth, framed blueprints of the house along the walls in the stairwell to the basement, and a remodeled home theater in the basement. • 3309 24th St., the home of Bryan and Elaine Wilson, features themed Christmas trees in every room, a dining room and a playroom fashioned from one big living/dining room, and a master bedroom and bath that were originally a garage. Children's artwork abounds in the home. • 2621 25th St., the home of Zac and Brooke Garth, emphasizes character and personality with history. Decorations include framed needlepoint pieces made by Brooke's great-grandmother, and decorator items from Zac's grandparents' retirement to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. • 2815 27th St., the home of Stacy Jacob and Jason Price, features art elements with a style characterized by horizontal lines, rounded edges, corner windows, glass blocks and stainless finishes. Details and plans for the future will be displayed as a feature of the home tour. • 3210 27th St., the home of Gail Apte and Tom Vignos, was built in 1950 with white stone. It was purchased with a view toward revision in 2005. Work has involved the installation of new windows and doors, adding a vaulted living room ceiling, and the moving and removing of walls.

From the President

Michael T. Martin, President of the Tech Terrace/UNIT Neighborhood Association wanted to share some information:

• The Executive Officers of the TT/UNIT Neighborhood Association met Saturday morning, November 14th. to discuss pertinent items with Legal Council. Ongoing concerns and interests of the group include the bus routes that began running down Flint and Boston Avenues in the Fall instigated by the TTU Student Government Association. In addition the “Tour de Tech Terrace” and occupancy by more than two unrelated persons (students) in the Neighborhood, were discussed. A meeting will be scheduled before Christmas with the appropriate University officials. They were unable to meet with u on Saturday. A meeting will be scheduled in January with City of Lubbock officials to discuss strategies and approaches regarding the ‘Tour:
• If anyone knows where any of the ten scheduled stops were held or planned for the Tour which took place in September, please send those addresses to me. If you know who lives there or who owns the property, ever better. We could use that information as we plan in advance of the next event in the Spring.

ALERT- Scary Incident in Tech Terrace Park

This account was documented by Stacy Rapier who lives along Tech Terrace Park. On Tuesday, November 10th our renter was walking around TT park at around 9:30 pm. She was on the south side of park (25th street) walking east approaching the planting area that is in the park right off of the walking path. This is a bushy area that is maintained with flowers and stepping stones etc... She could see an outline, illuminated by the street light from Flint, of what she thought was a large dog. As she continued towards Flint Ave. she realized there was actually a man behind the bushy planting area. She was on her phone and she turned to walk backwards as she passed him. As she passed him he ran from bushes towards her while reaching for something in his pocket. She said he was shocked that she was facing him and she yelled into phone to call 911. Anyway, he ran down Flint and into Wagner Park. Cops arrived and searched both parks to no avail. I believe this was an attempt to rape my friend, as she does and the police. That area is from about 3101-3107 25th is very dark and that bushy area is especially dark. However, any area in a dark park would be probable for an attack. I want our friends and neighbors to be especially vigilant in watching these parks, please do not walk alone in the evenings and watch for anything suspicious. My renter's gut instinct probably saved her from a terrible ordeal. Description: "5'8" Hispanic male, approximately 35 years old, wearing blue denim, button-down, long-sleeve shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, blue bandanna over his hair". Other than his face, he was completely covered. Please be vigilant when walking especially at night. If you see any suspicious activity call 911.

An Explosion of Fall Colors in Tech Terrace

Fall is definately in the air in the neighborhood. Here are a few images of some of the colorful foliage in the Tech Terrace U.N.I.T. Neighborhood.

Tickets for 2009 Holiday Home Tour

The Tech Terrace UNIT 2009 Holiday Home Tour is just around the corner. Saturday, December 5th from 2-5 p.m. Homes featured this year include: 2910 20th 3015 21st 3309 24th 2621 25th 2815 27th 3210 27th Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at the following businesses: Miss Social Buttery Hodgepodge Design Sharp's Flowers Alternative Food Company Ice Cream Shoppe J & B Coffee

Coffee with Citizens Hosted by Todd Klein

District Three City Councilman Todd Klein is hosting a Coffee with Citizens meeting this Saturday morning at Market Street on 50th & Indiana. Topics to be discussed include crime, codes, streets and the potential formation of a Central Lubbock Coalition.

Save The Date-Holiday Home Tour

The Tech Terrace U.N.I.T. Neighborhood Association Holiday Home Tour will take place on December 5th from 2-5. Check back for more details to follow.

Town Hall Meeting Hosted By Todd Klein

Tai Kreidler was kind enough to take excellent notes. Much better than mine. Thank you sir. Town Hall Meeting. District 3rd Todd Klein Presiding Tuesday, October 6, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.Trinity Upper School , 6701 University Avenue 311 Calling Program. Introduction of the 311 program where citizens can call about non-emergency related concerns and be forwarded to the appropriate office. This is does not replace 911, but it will afford the public of another means of contacting the city on matters less urgent. Animal Shelter. It will be located at Guava and 66th Street toward the SE Loop 289. The city is 95% on the due diligence on closing on the property purchase. They are waiting from the state on the archeological report and once done they will proceed with architectural drawings and begin construction with completion in 2011. 34th Street Water Line Replacement Replacing very old water line along 34th Street progressively going toward the East. They look to be finished by March 2010. In the next couple of weeks look to major changes in traffic control at the intersection of 34th and University. They look have that work completed by December 15th, if not before. Information was provided about road construction throughout the city and noted that crossing the West loop would be further complicated by additional construction. To quote “it will get worse before it gets better.” TxDot is still working on the construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway around Slide Road . The area around I-27 and 4th Street will begin construction in the next couple of months. The North Loop and Slide Road will have a new bridge constructed. And the Irskine Street project is part of the Gateway Project. Other construction throughout the city was recounted. Library Update The Goedeke Library will be relocated at another site to be named. Lubbock Cultural District It was announced that Lubbock downtown area was designated by the state as one of the seven cultural districts in the state. Citizen Appeals for Assistance and Attention to Issues. A number of the people in the audience came forward to voice concern about pending issues. A common theme was the quality of life in a neighborhood in transition. Meeting adjourned at 730 PM.

September Yards Of The Month

Congratulations to our neighbors who have been selected for September Yards Of The Month: Amber Davis Mark and Armida Milares Jaime Dillard Chol and Judith Abernathy If you think a yard deserves consideration, please click on the link located on the right side of the screen.

Neighborhood Association Meeting

The Tech Terrace/UNIT Neighborhood Association will hold a general meeting on Thursday September 24th at J.T. Hutchinson Middle School cafeteria beginning at 5:30. Hutchinson Middle School is located at 3102 Canton Ave. Use the east side entrance. Please share your opinions on the various issues facing the neighborhood. Light refreshements will be served.

21st Street Block Party

A few pics from the 21st Block Party held on August 14th. A great time for neighbors to meet and greet.

Invitation To Roscoe Wilson Families

Movies In the Park

Thursday August 20th Dusk (roughly 8:45) in Wagner Park Original Mary Poppins Musical (rated G) Hosted by Tech Terrace/UNIT neighborhood Free...bring a blanket and snacks All RW families and their friends are invited!

Neighbors Invited to Stargazing Event in Tech Terrace Park

St. John's United Methodist Church (15th and University) invites all residents of the Tech Terrace/UNIT neighborhood for a Hot Dog Cook-Out and Star Gazing Party on Friday, August 21st beginning at 7:30 p.m. Meet at the Wagner Park Pavillion House for hot dogs, chips and drinks. Play volleyball and basketball, or sit and visit with friends and neighbors.

At 8:30 gather at Tech Terrace Park for a discussion about star gazing with Tom Heisey beginning at 9:00. At 9:30 the star gazing will begin! Bring lawn chairs, blankets, flashlights and binoculars. Friends at St. John's United Methodist hope that you will join the neighborhood event for a fun evening under the stars! submitted by Kathryn Quilliam Reeves

Summary from Thursday's Meeting hosted by Todd Klein

Mary Vines submits the following summary of the meeting hosted by District 3 City Coucilman Todd Klein at Roscoe Wilson Elementary to discuss Flint Avenue traffic concerns on Thursday August 6th. Thursday evening, August 6, at a meeting in the Roscoe Wilson Library chaired by Councilman Todd Klein , the discussion was devoted to the Flint Avenue traffic issue. City Engineer Marsha Reed and Traffic Engineer Sharmon Owens were introduced by Mr. Klein. The discussion started with the question about the ordinance passed at the last City Council meeting deactivating the 20 mph speed limit and flashing school zone light at 26th and Flint . As explained by Sharmon Owens, a deactivation request to the City of Lubbock for that intersection was initiated by Tom Nichols, the LISD administrator in charge of school safety issues. The request resulted in a City of Lubbock Traffic Engineering study this past May regarding the usage of the school crosswalk at 26th and Flint . The criteria for having the protected school zone crosswalk is for ten persons to use the crosswalk during the one hour during which the flashing light is activated. The average for 26th Street and Flint Avenue was less than three persons during the six different hours (three in morning and three in afternoon) that the count was made while the light was flashing. With this information that the intersection did not meet the necessary criteria, the City proceeded with the ordinance to follow through on the request by LISD. Numerous opinions were expressed about the need for the protection of the light and the lowered speed on Flint Avenue , and questions were asked about how to reverse the decision of the Council. City Engineer Marsha Reed said the quickest way would be to appeal the school zone flashing light decision to the Citizens Traffic Commission at their August 18 meeting. That would need to be followed by having the issue placed on the City Council agenda, which Todd Klein said that he would try to facilitate. The Roscoe Wilson Elementary principal, Paula Finney, will make the courtesy call to Tom Nichols to inform him that the neighborhood residents and Roscoe Wilson PTA are making the request to rescind the Council action. Since it is unlikely that additional studies and research will show that the criteria of 10 students crossing has been met, the appeal to the Council will be made on the uniqueness of our Central Lubbock neighborhood situation as a gateway bearing an inordinate amount of pedestrian, bicycle, and fast-moving vehicular traffic carrying students, faculty, and staff to Texas Tech. If the City Council decides to reactivate the school zone on Flint , it will not be done before the beginning of school. The overall issue of speed on Flint Avenue was a topic of discussion and was addressed by both Ms Owens and Ms Reed, as well as by neighborhood residents, Roscoe Wilson parents from outside the neighborhood, and by Bill Lowell, Laurin Prather, and James Mahan, neighborhood association leaders who’ve been working with the city traffic engineering department on this challenge for three years. Sharmon Owens, traffic engineer, explained that reflective yellow disks have been placed at the center of the intersection of 23rd Street and Flint Avenue and white disks at the bike lanes. The purpose of these disks is to create a perception of narrower lanes, which should have the effect of causing motorists to go slower. After the fall semester starts at Texas Tech, another study will be run at this intersection to see whether speeds are decreasing. If the disks prove successful in reducing speeds, others may be placed at various locations on Flint Avenue . Another possibility for slowing traffic mentioned by Ms Owens is the use of rumble strips (several strips resembling “petrified water hoses”) though one resident who has experience with rumble strips cautioned that those might be excessively noisy. Those who’ve worked with the City Traffic Engineering Department on the problem reemphasized a point previously made by Ms Owens that the traffic on Flint has been calmed from above 40 mph to around 35 mph, with hopes that further action will bring it within the 30 mph speed limit. James Mahan, president of the UNIT/Tech Terrace Neighborhood Association, recommended that since they already have a working relationship with Traffic Engineering, Bill Lowell and Laurin Prather should be contacted by anyone else who would like to volunteer to work on the challenge of calming traffic on Flint Avenue and Boston Avenue . As the meeting was being adjourned, Cyd Seideman, neighborhood association treasurer and property owner on 25th Street , made an announcement that at a Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting later this month, Lowe’s Grocery will request a variance to change their loading/unloading dock area from Boston Avenue to the Canton Avenue side of the store, already narrowed by recycling bins. Although Lowe’s has not yet filed a license request for package alcoholic beverage sales, the variance is thought to be a preparatory move for the alcoholic beverage request. With the possibility of eighteen-wheelers using 25th Street and Canton , concerns were expressed for the safety of school children and for the intrusion of heavy truck traffic into the neighborhood. On the City of Lubbock website, the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting is listed as Thursday, August 20, at 8:15 a.m. Any interested citizen may attend and register to speak.

Tech Terrace/UNIT Update

Traffic Safety and Zoning Meeting TONIGHT Recently and after study of traffic flow and usage Lubbock City Council voted to remove the flashing lights and school zone designation near Wagner Park at 26th and Flint. District III Councilman Todd Klein has been interested and responsive to UNIT and PTA concerns and has scheduled a meeting to hear more and discuss this issue with constituents. The meeting is TONIGHT, August 6th at 6:30pm in the Roscoe Wilson Elementary Library. submitted by Laura Vinson Saturday Night Movie In the Park This Saturday, August 8th @ WAGNER PARK Feature: THE MUPPET MOVIE (rated G) FREE OF CHARGE! (Sponsored by TT/UNIT Neighborhood Association) BRING A BLANKET, A SNACK AND A FRIEND CONSIDER WALKING OR BIKING TO THE PARK submitted by Laura and Justin Anderson Neighbor-to-Neighbor From Nicole Martens: In late June our kitten escaped from our yard just after we had left town for extended summer travels. He was wearing a collar & tags (or so we thought), so when our housesitter didn't receive a call within a week, we assumed the worst. Having just returned home, however, we found his collar stuck under a fence where he evidently squeezed out, and our hopes are renewed that someone in the neighborhood took him in, a friendly, collar-less kitty. You can see him in the picture below/attached - a mostly gray tiger-patterned fellow who is undoubtedly a good bit bigger now than in this picture. His name is Cherubino, but I doubt he knows that. Any information would be GREATLY appreciated (especially by our girls!). 788-1220 martens@pmartens.net From Michael T. Martin: I will be at the meeting Thursday evening. I wanted to let you know, you may already be aware that the more than two unrelated students living next to me (3122-21st) moved-out. They had received 16 tickets from Dian Taylor, the Codes Inspector, prior to doing so. They had filed an Appeal of those fines but ended up dropping the appeal and paid the $ 3,200. I wish that we could get students more informed of the consequences of violating this ordinance, prior to them signing a lease or being caught in a position of few alternatives. Out-of-town Owners in particular are unaware of the rules. I suspect the Neighborhood Organization would be happy to fund the printing of a brochure to give to prospective tenants and to mail them to those Owners outside the City. Perhaps, you could speak to this at the upcoming meeting. Also, I would still like to encourage the Council to consider having the fines applied to the real culprits- the Owner’s and Leasing Agents who benefit the most by renting to an excessive number of tenants. Please let me know how I can help, Michael T. Martin

CONGRATULATIONS SUMMER YARD OF THE MONTH WINNERS UNIT Yard of the Month (July) submitted by Sheryl Gonzales: 3201 27th

3119 30th

2712 20th

UNIT Yard of the Month (August) submitted by Robin Parks: 3106 21st David and Jackie Driscoll

3201 21st Judy Mayfield and Jack Thompson

2516 22nd Diane Perl

Alert: Garage break-in across from Tech Terrace Park this weekend with several items of consequence taken in the 3100 block of 23rd street. submitted by Melanie Ragain July 4th Tech Terrace/UNIT Lawn Mower Brigade Triumphs on Broadway