The property is owned by Henry S. Renz and Annice B. Renz.  If Google Maps is to be trusted, it shows that the Renzes own the adjoining property.

Here’s the big question: What would the city of University Park do with this triangular parcel?

In a letter sent yesterday to neighbors, HPPC’s Rev. Ron Scates had this to say about the lot (herein he references a “facts and perspectives sheet” that you can download as a PDF):

Dear HPPC Family,

The last project in the Forward by Faith campaign, the parking plaza, has received media attention and sparked debate within our community. We anticipate that this will continue over the coming months as we proceed with the planned development rezoning process with the city.

We expect that many of you may be asked questions about our plans from others.  Should you need additional information, or a refresher, we attach a Facts and Perspectives document that is provided to give you more explanation and details. You can also view the final design in the Welcome Center and on the church web site at www.hppc.org/forwardbyfaith.

Communication with our neighbors began in March of 2009 when we presented to them the first concept for the parking plaza.  Since then we have met multiple times with neighbors, modifying our plans where possible to incorporate into the design our understanding of their concerns. We slowed down our design process, we stopped and backed up so we could include more input from our neighbors, and we included two neighbors on the final design team. Several meetings were held with neighbor representatives, some who are members of HPPC.  Several features were added or modified as a direct  result of the interaction with our neighbors. While these revisions added significantly to the total cost, we believe the changes improve the overall plaza design and function, and its fit with our neighborhood.

The parking spots will serve to encourage believers to worship in community as Christ commands us.  The  parking spots will serve to encourage believers and members to invite a friend to join them.  The parking spots will serve to beckon those who are broken and weary to seek comfort in the arms of the Church.  That is how we see the parking plaza – it will enhance the mission of HPPC of “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ.” We will be a more accessible and welcoming church as a result of this parking plaza.

Although we have tried our best to develop a design that is supported by the neighborhood, we realize that some remain unhappy with our decisions. Some of our good neighbors disagree with us about the benefits of the plan to the church and the community.  We have heard and acknowledge their concern. After much deliberation, our hope is that this view will be transformed in time to one of neighborly  understanding, acceptance, and appreciation.  In keeping with our long tradition and place in this unique neighborhood, we believe this parking plaza will increase our ability to minister to the community while extending the beauty of our architecture to the West Block in a manner that blends into the neighborhood.

In the attached Facts and Perspective sheet, we have answered many of the questions we have been hearing about the parking plaza. We have also provided clarification based on some of the mistaken information we have heard.

Please join us in thanking the Lord for all He has done in this season of our church’s history where we have moved Forward by Faith.

Rev. Dr. Ron Scates

Senior Pastor Ben Brown, Clerk of Session

Thoughts?

Candy Evans at Dallas Dirt has the scoop.

The reason? It’d be covering something important: a sewer line.

“Sewer lines and water mains tend to break at 3 a.m. when it’s pouring down rain,” said community development director Robbie Corder. “You don’t want a structure like a gazebo in the way when city’s going to tear it down anyway.”  Then would come hemming and hawing, perhaps, about who owes what to whom.

In any case, Corder said, revisions are a typical part of the planning/zoning process.

Stay tuned.

However, after talking to Robbie Corder, UP’s director of community development, just about anything that seemed even remotely sexy about the meeting turned dry.

Corder said that replatting is just the next step in the development process as JTL Normandy inches its way closer to obtaining a building permit. “It’s a lot like the Bush Library,” he said, “where they took a lot of smaller pieces of land to make a much bigger one.”

Corder said that replatting after the City Council has passed the detailed site plan is often a “formality.”

If you’ve been in the Park Cities long, I expect you’ve either met, seen, and/or been smiled at — warmly —  by Liz Healy. A University Park native and the effervescent sister of a certain local Realtor (Rogers), Healy, 25, is SMU’s former student body president, too, and scarce to meet a stranger.

You can read up on hireastang.com, her newly launched business to connect odd-job seekers with employers (slogan: “There’s a Stang For That”),  in our last issue of Park Cities Two. In the meantime, some news from Healy: A Words With Friends tournament sponsored by her site netted $1,000 in its first day for Genesis Women’s Shelter.

“Should be fun to see how it pans out,” writes Healy, who went on to relay the following:

The official WWF Facebook fan page found out about it and I got a personal e-mail from someone at Newtoy, Inc., the developers of the game. They ended up posting it on the page, and now I have players from 14 different states! Just from their post, I had about 500 new hits on my website. Aaahhh, the power of Facebook …

Then came a love story, aided along by one of the website’s gimme shirts. Really.

HireAStang helped with a marriage proposal on Saturday! My friend needed an excuse to get his girlfriend to campus so he could propose, so I told her I needed her there to take a pic in one of my HireAStang T-shirts and she bought it! They went together, met the photographer, then I called to say I was running late but they should go ahead and get some cute shots first. When they started taking pics, my friend dropped to one knee and popped the question! She said yes, of course. They’re both good friends of mine so that was a lot of fun.

Last week neighbors were noticing some action on the 3400 block of Marquette Centenary at the house that’s been on the market for about forever. Seriously, it’s been about 2 years, am I right? Anyway, suddenly the sign is gone and there’s a little pink and purple statue in the yard. Developing.

The University Park City Council on Tuesday approved a developer’s plan to completely raze the 4500 block of Normandy Avenue and rebuild it. (That’s the block due east of the Tollway.)

A company called JTL Normandy is going to destroy the 10 buildings on the block, which include 54 multi-family units, and replace them with 36 single-family units that will be known as the Courtyards at Normandy. The development will include a cabana and a lap pool on its southwest corner.

Like most University Park residents, people living on the neighboring blocks may be worried about the parking situation. The plans approved Tuesday call for each of the 36 units to be provided with a two-car garage. In addition, the developer is planning to create 14 “inset” parallel-parking spaces along Normandy.

Twenty five years ago, La Fiesta de Las Seis Banderas’ first round of six duchesses bowed for the crowd in the parking lot of Highland Park Village. No, really — the parking lot.

Tomorrow, almost 40 young women and their escorts, families and friends will recreate the tradition at the Hilton Anatole.

In today’s issue of Park Cities Two, we pay homage to La Fiesta’s hometown beginnings, and the beloved old house that prompted that inaugural party back in 1986. Pick up a copy to find first-person accounts, memories, and scrapbook-style photos … complete with full-on ’80s hair.

More cute stuff for your toddlers to come to Baby Bliss in Snider Plaza.

If you’ve noticed the recent absence of A Little Artsy at 6719 Snider Plaza, you’re not alone. The locally owned personlized art studio closed last Sunday. Its next-door neighbor, Baby Bliss, will be taking over the space by the end of June. The stylish specialty baby retailer will use the extra room to expand their toddler offerings, including boys and girls clothing in sizes 2T to 4T.

We got word from Max Fuqua that the Great Harvest Bread Co. franchise in the corner storefront has closed after 15 years in the spot. What kind of store would you like to see move into 6627 Snider Plaza?