[austlar1]

Novacek, the only thing separating the original Highland Mall parcel from the multiple sparsely developed parcels, including the Travis County property, on the other side of Koenig Lane is a very underutilized stretch of elevated freeway (freeway is kind an overstatement at this exact locale) that could easily be trenched below grade without too much expense. Airport Blvd. holds the promise of becoming much more "walkable" in the not so distant future. It has spruced up considerably in just the past few years. Neighborhoods on the other side of the railroad/light rail line are very up and coming, and they are accessible from Airport at multiple street crossings. Mueller and the Airport/Lamar areas are both definitely on the rise. It is a straight shot in on 290 from the new and rapidly growing neighborhoods developing out towards Manor. In short, Highland is already very desirable neighborhood that will attract new residents, students, county workers and those doing business with the county, etc., etc. I think it's attractions will become obvious to developers. I am guessing the area will become better known as the Airport Blvd. Corridor (it probably already has that sobriquet on some planning document) over time and development will likely run from Mueller/35 all the way up to Lamar. The Highland Mall area will be the most densely developed part of this hopefully rather pleasant part of the evolving inner city.

Re neighbohoods to the east of Domaine: I was actually referring to the Rutland corridor connecting Burnet with Lamar. It is one long stretch of dicey apartment complexes and low rise housing with lots of duplexes mostly. Yes, I know there are some business parks and other things commercial towards Burnet, but none of those things add to the vitality or attractiveness of the area. There are several board and care facilities for mentally challenged on this strip. They are unlicensed and poorly supervised. I have one good friend whose circumstances more or less forced him to rent a duplex right in the middle of this mess. I know somebody else, a high school teacher, who owns a little condo further down Rutland towards Lamar. I have visited both parties. They confirm that there is a lot of drug dealing and vagrancy happening on up and down the street. Car break-ins and apt. burglaries are a daily occurrence. The apartment complexes don't look so bad (most of them are not that old) but they are barely holding on. Just ask managers at any of these complexes. Yes, the adjoining single family home neighborhoods on both sides of Rutland are in better shape. I also know two different young people who bought single family homes in the area. It was their only affordable choice without going to the boonies or of 35 to buy a home. Theses homes are some of the most affordable housing below Parmer and west of 35. They probably hold the key to the future of this area, but it is a limited future unless some way is found to contain or clean up the mess that is taking place in the rental housing along Rutland and around the Lamar/Rundberg area as well.

It is really a stretch to compare Highland adjacent parcels to the Arboretum in terms of proximity to the Domain. I know you can do better than that.