North Austin Civic Association

January, 2007

McCombs School of Business Survey
Recommends Neighborhood Goals

(l-r)Jesse Renna, Javier Basoco, Rita Varavadekar and Sarah Rockwell,
with Linda Moore, Brian Almon and Professor Eugene Sepulveda

n December of 2006, four students from the McCombs School of Business of the University of Texas, under the guidance of Professor Eugene Sepulveda, canvassed businesses and residents within NACA as a class project.

The students, Javier Basoco, Jesse Renna, Sarah Rockwell and Rita Varavadekar, began the survey of NACA residents and business owners, initially with an eye toward developing a beautification plan for the core commercial area, centered around the Rundberg and Rutland intersections of Parkfield. But it was not long before their focus changed.

The Surveys

There were two separate surveys; a business/property owner's survey, and a residential survey. The goal was to find out what the collective neighborhood wanted from the beautification project by way of improvements and new businesses, and how the changes should be sponsored and financed. (It must be noted that only two business/property owners responded, and that none of the Spanish versions were completed and returned.) When it came to financing the revitalization, over fifty percent of the residents responding indicated they were willing to contribute to the improvements. When asked what neighborhood organizations should be responsible for providing money, the most recurring answer is that all entities should be responsible.

A second set of questions asked what new facilities and businesses would be welcomed in the neighborhood. The responses leaned toward the sort of places that would encourage community bonding. A recreational center topped the list of facilities (and we got funding for it in the last bond election), followed by a playground and art features. New businesses on the welcome list included a coffee/bagel shop, and a bookstore, a grocery store and an ice cream shop within walking distance.

But the most significant results came from an open question asking what were the most important issues facing the neighborhood. Four answers were most prevalent: crime and the lack of a sense of security; the poor condition of rental properties; litter and trash in the neighborhood; and the acculturation of new immigrants.

From these results it quickly became apparent that improvement to the appearance of the area was not enough to serve the real needs of the community. The underlying problems of cultural and financial diversity and a lack of commitment to the neighborhood would need to be addressed. The project quickly expanded to include community development in general. The surveyors began to take a closer look at the makeup of the neighborhood as a living entity.

The Neighborhood Profile

From a combination of Census data from 2000 and the surveys, three key demographic considerations were clearly apparent:

• There is a 23% decrease in the Caucasian population and a 22% increase in the Hispanic population over the past decade. The African American and Asian populations remained relatively stable.That would indicate that there should be a shift of focus toward the emerging Hispanic population for NACA to reach their neighborhood residents.
• NACA has a population that is 72% renter, which could contribute to the lack of community involvement. Since this is unlikely to change and could even increase, any set of goals and recommendations should be geared toward improving renter participation in the community.
• 39% of the population is made up of people from the ages of 18 to 34; 26% of the population is comprised of families with kids 17 and under. Another 25% are older professionals from 35 to 54 years. Since professionals, primarily young professionals, make up the largest group in the neighborhood, activities should be created that would reach this cluster of people, such as workshops that help residents with resume building and job opportunities. Family-oriented events should also be fostered.

The board members of NACA will be working on establishing better community relations, and focusing on increasing the involvement and commitment of all its citizens to the neighborhood in the coming months.

The Neighborhood Plan

For the most part, the McCombs results closely parallel the goals established in the NACA Neighborhood Plan established in 2000. The McCombs recommendations, however, focus more on bridging the gap between the esablished residents and the great influx of new residents who have not had the opportunity to assimilate into the community. The recommendations strongly infer that NACA will be the prime mover for implementation.

For example, NACA could create an annual directory with information about the local restaurants, businesses, hospitals, schools, tax assistance, and other services offered around the Rutland/Rundberg area. Funding for this directory could be provided by asking business to pay a nominal fee to have their information advertised in the book. Once the guides are complete, they should be placed in high-traffic areas such as the local grocery stores and gas stations.

As the largest group of new residents, mostly renters, are Spanish speaking, assistance could be offered that cater to their specific needs. Services such as listings of child care services, babysitters and daycares, language centers that can teach English, and help with job resumes and employment assistance would be beneficial for the long-term acclimation of Hispanic community members to the American social setting.

Neighborhood service and social organizations, such as schools and religious organizations, should be encouraged to take a more active role in the outreach efforts. A specific recommendation for increased communication with the schools is to include a school employee, such as a principal or counselor, on the North Austin Civic Association Board. This would help NACA to be informed on activities taking place in the schools, and perhaps coordinate with them to promote joint activities.

Another idea that the Quail Creek Community could all benefit from is the series of clean-up campaigns already in place; a day in which all the neighbors pitch in by being assigned to different street blocks and picking up trash. At the completion of the pick-up, NACA could host a picnic where people may bring food, provide music, and allow children to play. A similar idea to this is a cook-off, as a way to bring people from different cultures together.

Current Results and Future Actions

The four authors of the McCombs plan - Javier Basoco, Jesse Renna, Sarah Rockwell and Rita Varavadekar - are to be congratulated for their terrific efforts on NACA's behalf, along with their advisor, Professor Eugene Sepulveda. The board members will be working on these recommendations starting in January 2007, and the entire community is sure to benefit.

Below is a brief summation of NACA's goals, highlighted accomplishments, and hopes for the budding 21st century: