Overview
Please help stop AISD from turning the former Rosedale Elementary School property into a six‐story, high-rise apartment complex with 435 units. This maximum density plan would flood the neighborhood with traffic and permanently degrade the peace and quality of life that makes Rosedale a great place to live. The property has no access to Burnet road. All the traffic generated by residents, deliveries, and other services would be funneled through three, two‐lane neighborhood streets and spill over into the rest of the neighborhood. That's 500‐700 vehicles per day jamming our neighborhood streets, coming and going at all hours.The legal battle has begun!
AISD has sued all 125 property owners in the Rosedale H subdivision in an attempt to nullify a deed restriction that clearly forbids any use other than “a residence” on any of the lots that make up the property. For 87 years this has always meant a house, along with “accessory uses” like a garage or garage apartment. AISD's petition is asking a court to declare that this restriction means any residential use, including a 435 unit luxury apartment complex.Meet Renea Hicks
Renea is our neighbor on Ramsey Avenue. He immediately jumped on the chance to help defend our neighborhood when we asked him and we could not be more fortunate.
“Renea Hicks is recognized by his peers as one of the top appellate lawyers in Texas”
Renea is an extremely competent and experienced litigator who is widely recognized by his peers as one of the top lawyers in Texas in appellate law. Renea is board certified in civil appellate law and has argued several cases, and briefed numerous others, in both the U.S. and Texas Supreme Court. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale‐Hubble, has been chosen a Texas Super Lawyer in Civil Appellate Law each year since 2003, and is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States as well as five federal appellate courts and all federal district courts in Texas. Starting with his work for the Attorney General's office, Renea has been involved in every round of Texas redistricting litigation since the early 1990s. In the AG's office, he rose to serve as the Texas State Solicitor ‐ the lead appellate lawyer ‐ from 1993 to 1995. Some Austinites will remember Renea from his 2015 role defending the City of Austin in the lawsuit filed by former District 6 Council Member Don Zimmerman. See related article link.
Renea was licensed by the Texas Bar 48 years ago (Nov. 11, 1977 ‐ Bar Card No. 09580400). He earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.
Sign up for Legal Representation
We've been expecting AISD's lawsuit. That's why Rosedale residents banded together to raise a legal war chest and hired veteran litigator Renea Hicks to fight this unfair treatment.If you, or any entity that you own, are named in this lawsuit, we encourage you to sign up to be represented by Mr. Hicks with no financial obligation. All legal expenses are being paid for with donations. If you want to join this unified effort, please contact Laura Norton (lnorton@austin.rr.com) or Carl Reynolds (cvr1959cr@gmail.com) or (carlvr77@yahoo .com). For questions contact Chris Allen (sartexas@gmail.com).
What is at Stake?
If you live anywhere in Rosedale, north of 45th street, this proposed development will impact your quality of life and property values significantly. While AISD claims this deal must go through to avoid deeper cuts that affect classrooms, it does not address the school district's long‐term financial problems or fully resolve its short‐term financial crisis. Don't let AISD permanently diminish the Rosedale Neighborhood just to slap a Band‐Aid on its budget shortfall! This contract only buys AISD a little time. Current and future Rosedale residents would have to live with the consequences forever.Links
Scan or click QR code link above to GoFundMe site to make a donation
Click on Yard Sign above to request your own Yard Sign
Contact Information:
Email: PlayFairWithRosedale@gmail.com