Movin’ on up
Published 11:25 am Thursday, July 28, 2011

Misti Hemann and her son Alex stand outside their old home on 16th Avenue NE Thursday, just east of the Hormel Institute. The home was among several purchased by Leaning Tree LLC. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
As land was purchased for a potential Hormel Institute expansion, property owners have been pleased with the process
Austin resident Thia Olson recently purchased a home two and a half times the size of her previous house, fixed her credit, and paid off her student loans — all because Leaning Tree, LLC, bought her home on 16th Avenue NE as part of a potential Hormel Institute expansion.

The word “demo” is spray-painted on the front of a home in northeast Austin, one of several homes just off of the Hormel Institute and bought up by Leaning Tree LLC and slated for demolition. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I was able to move forward with a better home and better life,” Olson said about the buyouts that have been happening from 15th Avenue NE to 17th Avenue NE.
Leaning Tree, LLC, has purchased 23 properties since September 2010 to “have some real estate available for future possibilities” for the Institute, said Steve Rizzi, secretary for the Hormel Foundation and Leaning Tree, in May.
Olson said she began hearing rumors of buyouts in the neighborhood at the beginning of the year. When nobody approached her to sell, she called realtor Joe Fuhrman, who has been handling the buyouts for Leaning Tree. Once she sold, she found a new home near Skinner’s Hill that is perfect for her and her children, she said.
“We don’t have to go across town to go sledding anymore,” she said. “I was even able to get out of debt and paid off all my student loans.
“I re-established myself in good credit and good faith.”
Olson said she benefited from the buyout and is happier in her new home, especially because each of her kids now has their own room.
Olson’s neighborhood friend, Misti Hemann, said she is much happier in her new, larger home, too.
Hemann and her husband lived on 16th Avenue NE and sold their house in late March. Despite some of the negative comments Hemann heard about the buyouts, she said everything worked out well.
“It went really smoothly for us,” Hemann said. “Granted, they took the house my son was born in, but I love my new house. We’re happy with what they did.
“Everything just kind of fell into place.”
From the former neighbors she has spoken with, Hemann said many people seem pleased.
“They actually helped some people who lived there upgrade,” she said. “They actually did us a favor.”
Rizzi echoed those sentiments in an e-mail to the Herald.
“We have been straightforward with the sellers throughout the acquisition process,” Rizzi said in the e-mail. “We have helped sellers relocate and improve their locations. All acquisitions have been purely voluntary.”
Rizzi added that Leaning Tree has even used the acquisition process as an opportunity to help Habitat for Humanity.
“Habitat has been given the opportunity to retain the actual house for relocation if they so choose, and has been given access to acquired properties for salvage of re-useable building materials,” he wrote.
Neither the Hemanns or Olson are sure why their houses were purchased by Leaning Tree, but both were told the Hormel Institute might construct an apartment complex for its employees.
“My understanding was that the Hormel Institute wanted … room for their scientists,” Olson said.
Although Hemann and Olson were able to glean some information from other community members, neither the Hormel Institute or Leaning Tree have announced official plans for the area, which is leaving some residents concerned.
Christy Hemann, who is unrelated to Misti and Paul but lives on 14th Avenue NE, said nobody on her block has been approached to sell their houses yet, but many are wondering when and if they will be approached.
“(My neighbor who was bought out) said, ‘You know what — I came out better.’ And maybe these people did, and that’s great, but what is my future here in this neighborhood?” Christy said. “At this time last year, I was sticking $25,000 into the upstairs of my house. If my house is going to be taken away in the next year or two, I could have given it to them then and not bothered with the headache.”
Christy said at this point she just wants an answer as to what the Institute’s plans entail and whether her house will eventually need to be purchased.
Although Rizzi wouldn’t say whether or not any future informational meetings will take place, he said homeowners were contacted as needed.
“The owners of the properties in the area of interest were contacted,” he wrote. “Most of them responded favorably to the proposal to sell. No one is being forced to sell their homes. Anyone selling their home has done so voluntarily.”
Misti Hemann and Olson said the Institute will release the information when they’re ready, and although the community is curious, there’s no reason to rush them.
“Everybody’s got their secrets,” Misti said. “Sooner or later it has to come out.
“Some people are thinking they’re playing dirty, but I don’t see it like that. Do you honestly think a cancer research facility would do things underhandedly?”
Joe Fuhrman was unavailable for comment. Several homeowners who were bought out declined to comment.
— Adam Harringa contributed to this report.