Commission recommends MF-6 rezoning for former Rosedale school site despite neighborhood opposition

The Zoning and Planning Commission voted 9–2 on March 17 to recommend that City Council rezone the former Rosedale Elementary School site (2117 West 49th Street and 4709 Rosedale Avenue) from single‑family (SF‑3) to multifamily (MF‑6‑CO) with a conditional overlay limiting height to 75 feet.

The vote followed a staff presentation, an applicant presentation and more than three hours of public testimony that was split but heavily attended. Cynthia Hadry of Austin Planning told the commission the 4.62‑acre property is currently zoned SF‑3 and that staff recommends MF‑6‑CO because the request is consistent with the base district intent, adds housing options near transit and includes a conditional overlay limiting height. Hadry said the Historic Landmark Commission had unanimously approved preservation of portions of the historic Rosedale School facade and encouraged adaptive reuse.

David Hartman, speaking for the applicant, summarized the project’s planned features: preservation of the school façade, dedication of roughly a half‑acre of on‑site parkland, sidewalk and right‑of‑way dedications, in‑garage stormwater detention and a voluntary affordability commitment implemented through a recorded restrictive covenant with Homebase (a Habitat for Humanity affiliate). Hartman said the development would add about 435 multifamily units and estimated it would generate more than $10 million in tax…