Students, parents, and community members stated that a stronger focus should be made on enhancing physical safety measures in West Campus ahead of a hearing on amendments for the University Neighborhood Overlay on September 25.
According to the Austin Planning Department, the University Neighborhood Overlay, or UNO, was first approved in 2004 to encourage the construction of high-density student housing and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Today, it is home to more than 28,000 people. The present maximum construction heights permitted in particular local subdistricts would be raised under the proposed amendments. There would be a 500-foot rise in some places, such as Guadalupe Street. Although the main goals of the changes are to increase affordability, support the rights of student tenants, and deter above-ground parking, the community is also concerned about public safety.
Alex Tamez, a senior in economics, said she always has pepper spray on hand and will make a phone call while she is coming back to her apartment on West Campus at night.
According to Tamez, the outside gate was accessible to everyone during her freshman year when the electronic key to her building was broken.
Following several assault events on Guadalupe Street that resulted in the repeated arrests of a former student, public safety activists, notably the parent-led group SafeHorns, presented several problems before the Planning Commission in April, including exterior safety concerns.
As part of the already suggested upgrades to the West Campus streetscape, SafeHorns President Joell McNew expressed her hope that municipal officials will take into account implementing the concepts of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. Among other things, CPTED seeks to lower crime by maximizing visibility and promoting natural surveillance in public areas.
In doing so, CPTED is making sure that we prioritize residents’ public health and safety, which is what we want to make sure of rather than just expanding density, McNew added. We believe that now is a crucial moment for us to be requesting these things because many locals in this neighborhood and the city discuss utilizing UNO as a model for other areas of the city.
The resolution that instructed the planning department to start the UNO code modification in April was written by Council Member Zohaib Zo Qadri, who represents District 9, which includes the majority of the University and West Campus. Qadri acknowledged that students had expressed worries over their quality of life and access to accommodation, and he acknowledged the necessity of street-level safety measures, such as locking down student housing gates before the September ballot.
According to Qadri, we want to advocate for unambiguous rules and regulations regarding locking systems and perimeter security for both upcoming new construction and existing properties.
The UT System invested $8 million in 2020 to improve public safety on West Campus, which included installing more security cameras, establishing a West Campus district for the UT Police Department, and funding the hire of more UTPD officers.
Mike Rosen, the university’s spokesperson, stated that rising building heights to match downtown’s housing density raises questions about future safety and mobility for staff, instructors, and students who commute to and from campus.
According to Rosen, the addition of new, privately owned parking structures and the arrival of tens of thousands more residential car owners will increase the safety risks for our students as they travel to and from campus. To protect our student residents, the APD and UTPD must maintain a more active patrol presence.
