By Hannah Bauman
On
February 24, 2020, the American Botanical Council (ABC) closed on the purchase
of a residential property adjacent to the historic 2.5-acre Case Mill Homestead
that has served as the nonprofit’s headquarters since 1998. This investment marks
the beginning of an expansion period for ABC as it looks to the future.
The
existing homestead was once part of a 450-acre series of land grants in the
1840s. It includes the original three-story building and carriage house from
1853, an annex, and grounds that have provided a home for ABC’s herbal library,
an open-air classroom for visitors, public meeting spaces, office space for
employees, herbal themed gardens, and much more. Since purchasing the property
in 1997, ABC has renovated and restored the buildings, created more than 20
herb demonstration garden beds, and added a greenhouse and annex building. ABC
also installed a rainwater capture system and adheres to organic land
management principles, along with other sustainable practices.
Now,
with the purchase of the property on Walnut Hills Drive on its northwest
property line, ABC has the opportunity to re-knit a small piece of the original
land grant back together to make ABC’s vision and mission for the future a
reality.
The
Walnut Hills property, which consists of a third-acre site with a three-bedroom,
two-bathroom, 1,700-square-foot house, went on the market on January 3, 2020. In
this northeast Austin neighborhood about five miles from downtown, many
homeowners are long-time residents, and homes generally do not go on the market
often. Additionally, the competitive Austin real estate market means that when
an opportunity arises, it does not stay for long.
ABC
Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal recognized the opportunity for
ABC to expand its footprint and make a solid real estate investment, and the
need to move quickly, but he needed permission from ABC’s Board of Trustees. In
2016, a property adjacent to ABC’s northeastern property line went on the
market, but at that time, the board declined to make the purchase. This time,
though, the board agreed to the investment, with a few conditions: primarily
that the property must be able to produce a modest positive cash flow for ABC
until the loan is paid off. Because the property is zoned for residential use
only, it will serve as a short-to-medium-term rental until ABC can petition the
city for a change to commercial zoning.
Rick
Kingston, PharmD, CSPI, chairman of the ABC Board of Trustees, endorsed the move.
“The acquisition of the Walnut Hills property provides ABC with a tangible
asset that will help us expand the ABC campus to meet the growing needs of our
community and organization,” he wrote (email, March 9, 2020).
Holly
Shimizu, former executive director of the United States Botanic Garden and
member of the ABC Board of Trustees, was also enthusiastic. “The purchase of the Walnut Hills
property is an important step for ABC,” she wrote (email, March 9, 2020).
“Given the current market, it is a strong financial investment that also provides
potential opportunities as ABC strategically plans its path forward.”
With
the board’s endorsement, Blumenthal approached several close friends of the
organization for donations. The first one arrived on January 10, 2020. Inspired
by the positive feedback he received, he and Denise Meikel, ABC’s development director,
devised a fundraising effort that would invite all ABC members and registered
users of ABC’s website to support the effort. The initial donations, along with
ABC’s existing legacy fund, provided a significant down payment that allowed
ABC to meet the seller’s deadline and purchase the property while leaving the
organization with a manageable loan note.
Though
he moved quickly, Blumenthal gave the matter serious thought, not only about
what could happen for ABC with the property, but what might happen without it.
“When I first learned that our long-time neighbor JJ Jenkins was placing his
house on the market, I believed it was essential that ABC do whatever possible
to ensure that we would be the new owners,” he said (oral communication, March
5, 2020). “First, I saw the house as an excellent way to expand ABC physically,
as well as our nonprofit mission and activities. Second, I felt compelled to
protect the boundaries of our historic and much-beloved Case Mill Homestead. We
did not want an owner or tenant who might spray pesticides that could ‘drift’
into our organic gardens. And third, with the Austin real estate market booming
like it has been for the past few decades, I realized that it is also a good
short- and long-term investment for ABC.”
The
previous opportunity to purchase the property on ABC’s northeastern perimeter on
Betty Cook Drive, which is directly behind the Walnut Hills property, was not
approved by the board due to an unclear plan for its use, which also would be
dependent on zoning changes. However, Blumenthal privately arranged for his
stepson to purchase the property, with an agreement that ABC might purchase it
in the future. Combined, the Betty Cook and Walnut Hills properties would add another
two-thirds of an acre and two buildings to the existing homestead (see aerial
photo).
ABC
is still seeking funds to completely pay off the Walnut Hills property note. By
paying off the loan on the property, proceeds from renting the property in the
short-term could be funneled into ABC operations to further enhance the
organization’s research and educational mission and projects.
As
for the future of the Walnut Hills property and perhaps the Betty Cook property,
the ABC board and staff members have many ideas. Once paid off, the Walnut
Hills property might provide housing for visiting interns, guests, ABC staff, or
invited lecturers. After a zoning change, it could serve as an expansion of
ABC’s library or extra classrooms for staff and local educators. Regardless, ABC
staff envisions uses that will further the herbal outreach, education, and
research that form the core of ABC’s nonprofit mission.
To
donate and help ABC achieve its vision of having the resources to completely
pay off the Walnut Hills Drive property, please click
here.
All contributions will be gratefully received!
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