Montopolis, a historic low-income community of color, is under assault by developer speculators and city planners. Montopolis was founded nine years before Austin and was only completely annexed by the city in the 1970s. Today, it is a prime target for redevelopment profits and displacement of people of color.

Nine separate single-family tracts now are being proposed for upzonings and redevelopment from working-class, single-family homes to higher density, expensive condos. The community is opposed to these rezonings, because they want to keep their predominantly Hispanic and African-American working-class community. They don’t want to fall prey to the gentrification that has displaced many other Austin minority communities. As a Montopolis resident wrote:

We welcome development that is in keeping with the single family history and culture of our neighborhood. These proposed zoning changes are about real estate speculation, plain and simple, and their enactment would adversely impact the integrity of our community by violating what makes and keeps it unique.

Please stand up against displacement and institutional racism! Attend the Planning Commission’s online meeting on July 28 and the Austin City Council’s online meeting on July 30. Testify against the zoning cases listed below this post. You may also contact council members via email here. Tell them the hard-working, culturally rich community of Montopolis deserves to be respected and listened to.

Proposed upzonings in Austin’s Montopolis neighborhood

Once called “Poverty Island,” Montopolis has a median family income of $31,875 compared to Austin’s $94,617 (2018 US Census American Community Survey Data). It has been identified by the City of Austin’s UT Study on Gentrification as an area that can and should be saved from gentrification and displacement.

While one of these cases is being put forward by the Drenner group, the remaining four cases are represented by Thrower Design (which is also simultaneously bringing forward several East MLK upzoning requests). This appears to be a concurrent, coordinated attempt to make displacement the inevitable future for Montopolis. The developers, with City staff support, are proposing that all nine single-family tracts be rezoned SF-6, which allows an unlimited number of condos within height and impervious limits. Over the last 20 years, redevelopment and displacement have eroded most of the historic communities in East Austin, and now developers are focused on Montopolis. The city has done nothing to prevent this displacement. In fact, it has encouraged it.

The developer-dominated Planning Commission and city officials claim they care about displacement and institutional racism, but they have accelerated at every turn the systemic removal of long-time residents of color from East Austin. Even worse, the “progressive” city staff and Planning Commissioners think they know what is best for Montopolis’s lower-income people of color. They don’t recognize the value of maintaining long-term, low-income neighborhoods of color; they are obsessed with density, missing-middle housing, and New Urbanism. Community relationships and culture matter little to them. They are an integral part of the systemic removal of people of color from the Eastside.

New Urbanists would get to test their theories, implement their policies and make Montopolis “look pretty.” The affluent would get homes closer to downtown nightlife and the airport. Developers would make even larger profits. Montopolis residents would see their community and culture destroyed. Unlike the Planning Commission, the Austin Human Rights Commission recognizes gentrification to be a human rights violation.

You cannot oppose institutional racism and support displacement of people of color. Which side are you on?

Contact Mayor Steve Adler and your council member using the contact information listed below, and tell them to respect and listen to the people of Montopolis. Check this map if you aren’t sure which council member represents you.

Mayor Steve Adler:
steve.adler@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2100

Natasha Harper-Madison (District 1):
natasha.madison@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2101

Delia Garza (District 2):
delia.garza@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2102

Sabino Renteria (District 3):
sabino.renteria@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2103

Greg Casar (District 4):
gregorio.casar@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2104

Ann Kitchen (District 5):
ann.kitchen@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2105

Jimmy Flannigan (District 6):
jimmy.flannigan@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2106

Leslie Pool (District 7):
leslie.pool@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2107

Paige Ellis (District 8):
paige.ellis@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2108

Kathie Tovo (District 9):
kathie.tovo@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2109

Alison Alter (District 10):
alison.alter@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2110

You may send a single email to the mayor and all council members using this form, and you may speak remotely at the council’s July 30 meeting.

List of the nine Montopolis tracts:

Item 28
C14-2020-0038 – 508 Kemp Street – Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 508 Kemp Street (Country Club East Watershed). Applicant Request: To rezone from family residence – neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning to townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To deny townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: To grant townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Owner: Johnny A. Steen. Applicant: Drenner Group (Leah M. Bojo). City Staff: Kate Clark, 512-974-1237. A valid petition has been filed in opposition to this rezoning request.

Item 54
C14-2020-0029 – Montopolis Acres Rezoning – Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 1013 and 1017 Montopolis Dr (Carson Creek Watershed). Applicant Request: To rezone from family residence – neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning to townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To grant townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: Granted Staff’s request for indefinite postponement. Owner: Montopolis Acres LP (Danny Walker). Applicant: Thrower Design (A. Ron Thrower). City Staff: Kate Clark, 512-974-1237.

Item 55
C14-2020-0030 – 200 Montopolis Rezoning – Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 200 Montopolis Drive and 6208 Clovis Street (Country Club East and Colorado River Watersheds). Applicant Request: To rezone from family residence – neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning to townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To grant townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: To be reviewed July 28, 2020. Owner/Applicant: Nine Banded Holdings LLC (Taylor Jackson) Agent: Thrower Design (A. Ron Thrower). City Staff: Kate Clark, 512-974-1237.

Item 56
C14-2020-0039 – Clovis and Kemp Rezone – Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 6201 Clovis Street and 301 Kemp Street (Country Club East Watershed). Applicant Request: To rezone from family residence – neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning to townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To grant townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: To be heard on July 28, 2020. Owner: 3SC Venture LLC (Gary O’Dell). Applicant: Thrower Design (A. Ron Thrower). City Staff: Kate Clark, 512-974-1237.

Item 57
C14-2020-0044 – Saxon Acres Residential Zoning – Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 316 Saxon Lane & 6328 El Mirando Street (Country Club East and Colorado River Watersheds). Applicant Request: To rezone from family residence – neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning to townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. Staff Recommendation: To grant townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning Planning Commission Recommendation: To be heard on July 28, 2020. Owner: Saxon Acres LLC (Danny Walker). Applicant: Thrower Design (A. Ron Thrower). City Staff: Kate Clark, 512-974-1237.