Metropolis officers, neighborhood members work to enhance West Campus building security

Ali Juell, Senior Information Reporter
March 23, 2023

In comparison with many areas of Austin, West Campus sees a better quantity of pedestrians, bicyclists and automobiles. As an increasing number of developments pop as much as fulfill scholar housing wants, metropolis officers and neighborhood members are working to extend West Campus residents’ building security consciousness.

José Roig, interim director of Austin Improvement Providers, stated Austin’s rules largely give attention to safeguards that stop trespassing and shield walkways close to building websites, so on-site security is primarily the accountability of a venture’s security coordinator. 

Following the current demise of Michael Delgado, who was hit by falling particles from a West Campus building web site whereas driving his bike, the Delgado’s household lawyer Aaron Von Flatern stated his agency hopes to additional examine and discover solutions for the household.

“We already know this was a extremely preventable occasion,” Von Flatern stated in an electronic mail. “Building corporations should do a greater job of securing the rising variety of elevated job websites surrounding UT’s campus and throughout Austin. There are such a lot of college students and Austin residents residing within the shadow of high-rise building similar to this.”

With the variety of new residence developments within the West Campus space, Roig stated college students mustn’t anticipate building to lower any time quickly. He stated he hopes to encourage higher building security administration in Austin as a complete.

“It’s everybody’s accountability (on a venture) … to make sure that they’ve a protected place not just for the employees, but in addition for the folks across the constructing,” Roig stated.

Roig stated his division is at present working with Austin builders and SafeHorns, a non-profit led by UT mother and father, to create larger building security for not solely West Campus but in addition town as a complete. 

SafeHorns president Joell McNew stated she’s heard a number of cases of security dangers posed by West Campus building from college students, and he or she hopes her conversations with Improvement Providers will enhance building security.

“The upper we make these towers and residential properties, we need to be certain that there’s a plan and that college students know to report any regarding particles falling building points,” McNew stated. 

Improvement Providers plans to launch a social media marketing campaign targeted on particular person consciousness round building websites to encourage folks to note and keep conscious of potential security dangers, Roig stated. Along with their marketing campaign, Roig stated Improvement Providers plans to give attention to releasing extra climate updates that encourage building employees to tie down building supplies to stop particles and different security dangers.

Roig stated West Campus residents ought to attain out to the division instantly in the event that they see unsafe building practices. 

“Now we have to care concerning the security of the scholars and folks which can be strolling in (West Campus),” Roig stated.