A family in Central Texas is reeling from the shocking demolition of their grandmother’s home in East Austin, which stood on their grandmother Julia Alexander’s property since before her passing in 1979.
Robert Alexander, who grew up in the house located at 118 Kimble Lane, made the heartbreaking discovery in March 2024 when he visited the site and found only a pile of debris left behind.
“That was shocking,” he expressed. “I didn’t know what had happened to it.”
The family’s emotional connection to the house is undeniable, as it held a lifetime of memories. Joe Alexander, Robert’s brother, recalled the family’s rich history there.
“That’s where I was born and raised. That’s where I watched … my family come up,” Joe shared, clearly upset over the loss.
Kelly Alexander, another brother, lamented the devastation of losing family heirlooms that were inside the home at the time of its demolition.
“Everything was still inside – all of our family heirlooms. Everything was destroyed,” he said.
The family’s cousin, Roscoe Daniel, who spent countless hours at the Kimble home, expressed outrage at the situation, stating, “It ain’t right what happened.”
The demise of the house was compounded by the family’s discovery of a new duplex built where their childhood home once stood.
Kelly noted, “A new foundation had been paved for a duplex,” shortly after the family was informed of the home’s destruction.
In the wake of their shocking loss, the Alexanders learned that a real estate development company had taken over the property, leading to the construction of the new building without the family’s knowledge.
Historical property records suggest that the home was still officially registered under Julia Alexander’s name and that of her son, Charles Alexander.
According to the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD), the property was never foreclosed upon, despite claims made by the developer, Danny Olivarez, president of Precise Custom Homes.
When confronted about the demolition of the property, Olivarez responded evasively, refusing to clarify the situation further. He insisted that the house had been foreclosed on “in the ’70s” but did not provide any documentation to back this claim.
“We checked with the Travis County Tax Office and found about $15,000 of back taxes owed, but there’s no record of any attempts for foreclosure,” KVUE noted after conducting a thorough inquiry into the situation.
Real estate attorney Julia Null conducted a legal review after the family reached out for help, focusing their investigation on property lines and ownership history.
Null’s findings indicated that the estate of Julia Alexander still holds property rights on Lot 8, which is where the new duplex now stands.
Documents from the Travis County Clerk’s Office further revealed that Olivarez’s company acquired the land adjacent to the Alexander’s property in 2023. This acquisition detailed that the developer’s property was adjacent to Julia Alexander’s lot, emphasizing that they did not have ownership of it.
“It appears that … a developer bought Lot 9 and then, unfortunately, forced the family out for Lot 8, took down their home, bulldozed it, and then moved into it and actually built on it,” Null explained.
Despite understanding what transpired, the Alexanders remain perplexed about how such a significant oversight could occur.
“When they bought Lot 9, it very specifically said in their legal description that it butted up to Julia Alexander’s property,” Null emphasized, indicating a clear line between the properties and the confusion regarding boundaries.
The emotional toll of this incident weighs heavily on the Alexander family, who are now prepared to take action.
“Oh, it makes us angry. It makes us very angry,” Kelly stated, embodying the frustration felt by all of the family members as they grapple with this injustice.
As they process their grief and outrage, the family is gearing up to reclaim their property legally.
“We’re ready for a fight. We’re the Alexanders,” Kelly affirmed, hinting at the family’s resolve to pursue justice.
In light of these developments, the Alexanders are contemplating a lawsuit against Precise Custom Homes for wrongful taking of their family property.
Legal experts like Null recognize the importance of standing up against such wrongful actions, citing their experience with similar cases over her 29 years of specializing in real estate law.
Null urged that such situations often resolve in developers’ favor unless families fight against unfair practices, a battle the Alexanders are now determined to join.
Their story serves as a sobering reminder of the complexities involved in property ownership, legal boundaries, and the indelible human connections tied to family homes.
The Alexanders are not only seeking to understand how this happened but also seeking to reaffirm their stake in their family history, which they refuse to allow be erased.
image source from：https://www.kvue.com/article/news/investigations/defenders/east-austin-childhood-home-demolished-new-duplex/269-5ba52327-29c7-4c30-a440-eb3ef7e21be8
