Below are my comments to Austin’s Planning Commission on 27 January 2026. (Here’s a video of my comments: https://youtu.be/rXXS09RZMZY )
Good evening council commissioners. My name is Ora Houston and I live at 2207 east 22nd street. I have lived there since in the 1950s when my parents built that house.
I am opposed to rezoning 2108 and 2110 east 22nd street in Blackland. Sometimes people confuse it with Cherry Wood, but they're two separate neighborhoods. This is in Blackland.
First of all, rezoning those properties from single family residential to commercial, makes this body guilty of breaking its own mission statement. Your mission is to follow the city's neighborhood plans, including in Blackland. The plan tells you to:
• ensure equitable development, which is protective of Austin's cultural and architectural heritage,
• ensure all land development code amendments align with equity goals,
• limit commercial encroachment into residential areas,
• preserve affordable housing,
• protect against UT expansion and
• maintain the areas of historic and diverse character.
Breaking your mission likely makes this rezoning illegal.
Number two, rezoning would publicly and loudly show that the City fights for Austin's money class, exemplified by the property owner, his developers, and the University of Texas. It will also show that the city fights against neighborhoods and voters.
Third rezoning will also show the city is starting a new 2026 Master Plan, resurrecting Austin's horrific 1928 Master Plan. Our neighborhood is called Blackland. It was created in 1928 by powerful, segregationist, white Austinites. Your mission statement proves that later generations of Austinites tried to protect Blackland and the African American Cultural Heritage District.
All Austinites should be terrified, because, if you think you can destroy a protected space like Blackland, then you can destroy all Austin residential neighborhoods.
Fourth, rezoning 2108 and 2110 East 22nd Street will show that you have no shame - no shame because this is not something that a neighborhood is supposed to look like. With a commercial entity that directly fronts a residential neighborhood. Where we have children and elderly people going to the playground.
…
You just don't understand how crowded that street is already with the Estes [Restaurant].
So, I ask you to please think about saying “no” to this additional proposal.
Thank you so much for your service.