AUSTIN, Texas -- East Austin has enjoyed the pecan grove on Tillery Street for decades.
- Popular pecan orchard located in East Austin
- City plans call for affordable housing in area
- City officials say orchard will be preserved; residents want guarantee
“It’s very much a landmark of the community,” said Jessica Eley, co-chair of the Govalle Neighborhood Association.
“People come here to enjoy the shade, they come here to pick pecans, to walk their dogs, and it’s truly a neighborhood gathering place,” said East Austin resident Bobby Cooper.
However, the orchard sits on a plot of land that’s city property, and it’s designated to be developed for affordable housing. Although the City of Austin says there are no current projects to develop the land, when plans do go into motion, city officials say they will prioritize preserving the orchard.
“Preserving the pecan grove that has meant a lot to the community, has been there for decades and decades, that’s certainly something the city would want to preserve as much as they could,” said Jeff Patterson, of the city’s Neighborhood Housing and Community Development department.
The neighbors, though, want a guarantee that’s more concrete than just a promise from city officials.
In December of 2018, the city destroyed an old stone house that sat on the property without the proper permit, while residents were working to get it designated as a historical landmark.
“There was a miscommunication between the contractor and the city about when the permit had been pulled,” said Patterson.
“No one knew that was going to happen, there was no warning, and then it was like a kick in the stomach the next day to get in the mail that the building was under review for historical designation… after it was gone,” said Cooper.
“It looked like it was from another time, and it looked like it was handmade, or kind of artisan in a way,” said Candace Fox, co-chair of the Govalle Neighborhood Association.
Now, the neighbors want the city to subdivide the plot—turning the orchard into a public park, and leaving the rest of the land for affordable housing.
“This lot has enough room for affordable housing and a park… and we can have both,” said Cooper.
“We don’t have a lot of cultural aspects left, with all the gentrification going on, and we really just feel like this is worth fighting for and saving,” said Eley.
The Govalle Neighborhood Association is scheduled to have a meeting with council member Pio Renteria on Tuesday March 19 to discuss the plans for the land.