A Texas family is preparing for a legal battle after a property developer demolished their family home without owning the land, then built a duplex that partially sits on their property. The incident occurred at 118 Kimble Lane in Austin, where Robert Alexander found his childhood home destroyed in March 2024.
Family Home and Lost Heirlooms
The home belonged to Julia Alexander, the family matriarch who passed away in 1979. Robert’s brother, Charles Alexander, lived in the house until last year when unpaid property taxes forced him to move out. “I kept getting letters and phone calls saying we were behind on taxes and had to leave,” said Kelly Alexander.
Developer’s Construction Raises Questions
Soon after the family left, a developer cleared the land and began construction on a new duplex. KVUE’s investigation found public records still listing Julia and Charles Alexander as the legal owners of the property, while the developer, Precise Custom Homes, purchased the adjacent lot in 2023.
The new duplex, with the address 120 Kimble Lane, appears to straddle both the developer’s lot and the Alexander family’s land. A demolition permit was issued in February 2024 for 120 Kimble Lane, just a month before Robert discovered the home destroyed.
Conflicting Claims and Legal Concerns
Joshua Labauve, the tenant renting the new unit on the Alexander property, said he was unaware of the situation, expressing shock and sympathy for the family. Real estate attorney Julia Null stated, “It appears the developer bought Lot 9 but forced the family out of Lot 8, tore down their home, and built on it.”
Attempts to reach Precise Custom Homes’ Director Danny Olivarez were initially unsuccessful. When contacted, Olivarez denied wrongdoing, claiming the house had been foreclosed in the 1970s and dismissing the family’s claims as attempts to get something for free. However, county tax records show no foreclosure was ever processed, and the family owed approximately $15,000 in back taxes.
Family Prepares to Sue for Wrongful Property Taking
Attorney Null pointed out the developer’s purchase documents clearly show that their lot borders the Alexander property, confirming no legal ownership of the demolished land. “I’m not sure where the confusion happened,” she said.
Kelly Alexander expressed the family’s anger and determination: “Oh, it makes us angry. It makes us very angry. We’re ready for a fight. We’re the Alexanders.”