AUSTIN -- The futures of the historic Norwood House and its adjacent dog park at Riverside and I-35 have both been up in the air for several years now and both the focus of much controversy.
However, a presentation by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department Wednesday night gave hope to the factions of the community who want to save both the house and the dog park.
D’Anne Williams with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department told members of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission, most of whom were mainly interested in preserving the two-acre Norwood Dog Park, that the department is going ahead with plans to recommend renovating both.
The Norwood House was built in 1922 overlooking what was then the Colorado River. It featured an impressive spring-fed pool, tennis court and hanging gardens.
The city bought the Norwood House 26 years ago. The structure was moved a few feet from its original location but has been sitting in a state of ruin ever since.
In June 2011, a consultant hired by the Parks Department for $13,000 told Austin’s Historic Commission that restoring the Norwood House to its original splendor was not economically feasible.
A neighborhood group calling themselves the Norwood Posse has been trying to save the historic property for several years and has been working with Austin Parks and Rec. The Posse says a local couple is offering $300,000 of their own money to restore the house, and a host of volunteers are offering to work pro bono, promising to keep the estimated cost of $600,000 to reconstruct the house to a minimum.
“If it can be done, and if the Norwood Posse can do it with some private funds like they say they can, and we can still keep the dog park, then why not? Let's do it,” said David Lundstedt, Vice-Chair of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission.
Next week, the Norwood Posse and members of the parks department are meeting to try to iron out the specifics of renovating both the historic house and making improvements to the dog park.
The city council will be briefed on the entire Norwood Estate Project in early December.
