Have Customers, Need Macrobiotic Parking

Casa de Luz founder Eduardo Longoria describes what he does in literal terms. "Macrobiotic means the great life," he says. On the website for his nonprofit wellness center, he expands on that thought: "The philosophy of how to live a great life ... is the founding idea for Casa de Luz. This is an all encompassing philosophy, which includes all methods of supporting health and freedom." It's an awfully big picture that he envisions, and it even includes where you put your car. "Macrobiotics is also about parking," says Longoria. "The great life isn't dependent on a car."

Unfortunately for Longoria, the macrobiotic automobile plan doesn't quite jibe with that of the city of Austin. Earlier this year, his organization was cited by the city's Code Compliance Department for having inadequate parking facilities at its Toomey Road location. For 20 years, Casa de Luz – which features macrobiotic meals, offers spa treatments and yoga classes, serves as an event space, and hosts a Montessori school, among other activities – has been letting customers use the Butler Park parking lot across the street from its South Austin complex, tucked among the sprouting condos and food trailers behind the Zach Theatre. With the city's Parks and Recreation Department souring on sharing the parking, Longoria has until June 1 to find 50 more spaces or he – and the 40 or so people who work at the center – will have to shut his doors.

This isn't the first time someone has complained about the parking situation at Casa de Luz. In 2004, Susan Toomey Frost, who eventually sold the land that became the nearby Barton Place condominiums, took issue with Longoria's arrangements. Back then, Casa de Luz was able to keep things going, having built up "a lot of good will," according to Longoria, who adds, "To change your diet is really a fundamental change to create freedom from disease." The Board of Adjustments gave Casa de Luz a variance allowing customers to use on-street parking. However, at the time, the center also had parking arrangements with the Bicycle Sport Shop and the local Carpenters Union; those relationships no longer exist, and Longoria has been told that the variance doesn't apply to his current situation.

Toomey Frost has since moved to San Antonio, and Lon­goria notes that this time the complaints were anonymous. He says that he has rented a parking facility from former Schlotzsky's CEO John Wooley, and he's optimistic that this arrangement will solve his problem. A spokesperson with the city of Austin's Planning and Development Review Department confirmed that Casa de Luz has indeed submitted a site plan for review – the first step in the long process to legal status. Code Compliance also confirmed that there's been movement on the case.

No matter the outcome, Longoria is not prepared to make any more room for cars in his vision of the great life. "Creating more parking," says Longoria, "is as much a solution to transportation as a fat man loosening his belt to help his weight problem."