BIG VICTORY! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Hi Friends of UT,

The CPC votes were counted and we have finally seen that the strangle-hold of misinformation and disingenuous efforts are being chopped down.

Out of the 293 people who were mislead and coerced into signing the petition to begin the process, 113 of our neighbors learned the truth about the overlay and what the proponents are actually trying to do to us.

Therefore, only 180 people voted for the overlay. That is a drop of 39%!

Thank you for taking the time to learn what effect this will have on your property and the potential irreversible effects that this will have if passed.

Let's keep up the good work.

Ballots are Out.

Please remember to vote as your ballots come from the City of Dallas regarding the NSO - the only way your voice can be heard is if you vote. Don't sit and do nothing - your vote counts!

Don't listen to the line everyone else is doing it. Like your mother always said, "Would you jump off a bridge if you friend did it too?"

Please DO NOT hand your ballots over to people collecting them. It is not proper procedure and you risk having your vote not counted. I've seen people in the neighborhood collecting ballots and its been reported. Please mail them yourself.

I love University Terrace!

I received a letter in the mail today regarding the Proposed Overlay. I was shocked at the comparison of our homes to $80 million dollar Van Gogh’s and an innuendo that without an overlay we will have people living in our neighborhood that drive Harley motorcycles with no mufflers.

Pro NSO groups are pitting neighbor against neighbor. I have a great love for the people in our neighborhood. I didn’t lose friends and I didn’t have my kids ask me why people all of a sudden won’t talk to us during the presidential election, but its happened now regarding the overlay.

My husband and I talked to a member of the Dallas City Council today. They stated clearly that a two-story home could NOT be built with the restrictions on this proposed overlay. An attic addition with a pitched roof is about the best that you can do in regards to expanding up. The average 2-story home is 20 ft tall without the roof.

I have asked David Cossum with the City of Dallas, that direct question, but have not gotten a straight answer. Only a comment and I am pasting directly from the email.

“I believe the 20 ft. height slope will allow for second for additions, with the proper design, which may push such an addition back on the lot, but would allow it.”

Notice the word believe – and the phrase push back. (Why doesn’t he know? His title is: Assistant Director with Development Services) Which in normal terms means the second story addition cannot be flush with your current façade.

An NSO will not protect you from insensitive neighbors; it will not protect you from an ugly unsightly house because it does not regulate style.

Van Gogh?

I did not know we had a Van Gogh in our neighborhood.

NEWS FLASH

Talked with our city council person today and even he agreed that this 20ft. height is not enough to build a true 2 story home. But yet Pro is telling people you can build a second story. Wow!!!! Just another bit of misinformation being spewed out.

An Overlay places additional restrictions or encumbrances on your property.

Encumbrance is defined by Webster as:

1. something that encumbers; something burdensome, useless, or superfluous; burden; hindrance
2. Law. a burden or claim on property, as a mortgage.

An Overlay will affect the value of a major financial asset – YOUR HOME. As you will see above property values are not decreasing they are increasing. Whether you want to sell your home now, later or never its value is an important part of your financial planning. The less freedom and control you have over your property, the less marketable value it holds.

An Overlay will only restrict certain building options. It will not dictate quality, type or style of construction. While you may think this will maintain your neighborhood to the degree it is now, there is NO GUARANTEE that will happen.

Property Values ARE Increasing.

Property Values are increasing.

Since 2005 our average sold price per square foot has increased each year.

· 2005 Sales show an average sold price per square foot of $125.24
· 2006 Sales show an average sold price per square foot of $131.99
· 2007 Sales show an average sold price per square foot of $138.58
· 2008 Sales show an average sold price per square foot of $142.90

All this with NO NSO. There is no guarantee that sale prices will continue to grow if restrictions are placed on your property.