Local push begins to join Austin Community College

Local push begins to join Austin Community College

Written by Christi Snow Thursday, 07 June 2007

At a recent meeting of Friends of the Round Rock Higher Education Center, members announced that a group of local leaders in the next month will make a formal appearance to announce an annexation campaign. Kinslow is quick to note annexation efforts must come from within a community, but even if Round Rock did not join the district, buying the land is an important investment. Western Williamson County will need a campus eventually, and right now, land is less expensive and more available than it will be in the future. Still, he also believes the current campaign looks promising.

“We think Round Rock will be successful because once Round Rock decides what they want, they do it,” he said

Jump starting the process

The activist group that still does not have a name must gather 5,000 signatures on a petition to initiate an election for the fall. Then they must convince the community that the cheaper tuition rates and the promise of a campus would be a valuable exchange for a property tax increase of nine cents for every $100. Voters would make the final decision next May if all goes according to the planned timetable. So far, none of the ACC annexation elections have failed.

The vision and purpose

Meanwhile, ACC intends to acquire land adjacent to the RRHEC on University Boulevard, purchasing a portion of the 60 acres and receiving the remainder as a donation from the owners, the Avery family, who has held large portions of Round Rock property, including the parcel in discussion, since the 1860s. The RRHEC and the neighboring Seton Medical Center-Williamson were also once Avery land.

“Our family had long history with education,” Charles Avery said. “The idea of a medical and educational hub for this area got us excited because it provides a great opportunity for people to educate themselves and pull themselves forward.”

He points towards his family’s heritage when they first settled in the Round Rock area.

“There wasn’t much here, but one of the first things they did was built a church and a school with it, which is Palm Valley Lutheran,” he said.

Then in the 1900s, his family also helped start the college Trinity Lutheran on Main Avenue, which is currently a senior residence. Reflecting on the intention and endeavors of their ancestors, the Averys have started to explore options for the rest of the land.

“We look at it as a stewardship,” Avery said. “We could just sell [the land] to a developer who would build a bunch of houses, but we think there is a better use for it than that.

I believe the good Lord has plan for [this land].We’re not anxious about it. We’re just waiting to see what happens. We’re looking at what we can do with it. We’re trying to build a city out here and we want it to be profitable for Round Rock. We want to have places for education, job opportunities, churches. We want it to be a full community.”