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Day four, becoming a model urban neighborhood: what does Downtown Austin need?

February 18, 2009 By 4 Comments

Each day this week I am serving up one item, with non-politically correct candor, that Downtown Austin needs to become a model of re-urbanization, as I see it.

Politicians love to talk, form task forces, and spend time doing everything except for making decisions as they are needed.  So, this is an appeal to Downtown Austin stakeholders that know how to get things done:  the residents, developers, retailers, and land owners.

ARCH and related social services should be moved away from Sixth Street while remaining in Downtown

This month we’ve read about two measures being discussed to cut down on crime in Downtown Austin: 1) installing cameras, 2) installing lights in front of Caritas.  These efforts will not work because they don’t address the real problem. The ARCH, Salvation Army, and Caritas are the hub for Downtown Austin’s increasingly frequent and violent crime.  The crime comes from drug dealers praying on the homeless and the mentally ill.  Prostitution lives around these places.  Drugs are used as a form of payment.  According to the police, Forty-two percent of all drug arrests in downtown happen within a block of these buildings.  That is an amazing statistic.

During a midnight to 3am observation tour for 6ixth Street Austin, myself and a few other Downtown stakeholders stopped and talked with homeless people outside of the ARCH.  Some were under the influence of something, but generally not hostile.  If anything, they were very chatty and candid about their problems, and the problems surrounding the ARCH.  Below are some of the more interesting things we were told.

  • Drug dealers arrive from other parts of town to sell to the mentally ill and homeless
  • The southeast corner of 7th and Trinity (Caritas) is a big drug corner
  • Crack house at 8th and Neches (pic)
  • Crack house on Neches btw 8th and 9th (pic)

Why on earth did they place the ARCH across from a major liquor store and a block from Austin’s biggest weekend party?  Downtown Austin stakeholders must work with the city to make a politically volatile decision: move the ARCH away from Sixth Street to significantly affect positive change.

Filed Under: crime, downtown austin, life, urban planning

Day three, becoming a model urban neighborhood: what does Downtown Austin need?

February 17, 2009 By 1 Comment

Each day this week I am serving up one item, with non-politically correct candor, that Downtown Austin needs to become a model of re-urbanization, as I see it.

Politicians love to talk, form task forces, and spend time doing everything except for making decisions as they are needed.  So, this is an appeal to Downtown Austin stakeholders that know how to get things done:  the residents, developers, retailers, and land owners.

I want more local grocery stores like Royal Blue or Fresh Plus

Developers, do you want a successful building?  Then just give George Scariano space with free rent.  I’m only partially kidding.  This is a huge amenity.  Not just developers, but the hotels and convention center should be lobbying for this type of retail.  Fancy finish-out not required.  A successful Downtown neighborhood has multiple choices for purchase groceries on a daily basis.  The only thing that bugs me about Royal Blue is that both locations are on the wrong side of Congress for me to quickly get there.

Tim Finley has a place available at E. 5th @ Trinity – the large warehouse where Paradox used to be located.   Think of the convention and hotel traffic in addition to the residential business from 555, Brazos Lofts, Avenue Lofts, Sabine, and Railyard.  These are all located within a couple of blocks of 5th @ Trinity and combined include over 368 units not counting the Four Seasons!

Filed Under: development, downtown austin, life, retail, small business, urban family, urban planning

360 condos: three units remain

February 16, 2009 By

Just received this.  $50k off remaining two bedrooms.

-Jude

Filed Under: development, downtown austin, Downtown Austin lofts, condos, apartments, Real Estate

Day two, becoming a model urban neighborhood: what does Downtown Austin need?

February 16, 2009 By 3 Comments

Each day this week I am serving up one item, with non-politically correct candor, that Downtown Austin needs to become a model of re-urbanization, as I see it.

Politicians love to talk, form task forces, and spend time doing everything except for making decisions as they are needed.  So, this is an appeal to Downtown Austin stakeholders that know how to get things done:  the residents, developers, retailers, and land owners.

I want a hardware store on Congress Ave.

Breed & Co is a hugely successful hardware store operating near UT.   A pedestrian neighborhood needs a proper hardware store.  Sometimes you just need some screws, spackle, or paint.  Currently, I need to get in my car and drive to Home Depot.  A better solution is to provide the existing 3,954 households with a local hardware store.

recognizing the importance of an urban hardward store

recognizing the importance of an urban hardward store

Filed Under: development, downtown austin, life, retail, small business, urban family, urban planning

Becoming a model urban neighborhood: what does Downtown Austin need?

February 15, 2009 By 8 Comments
Stratus's rendering for HEB at Seaholm

Each day this week I am serving up one item, with non-politically correct candor, that Downtown Austin needs to become a model of re-urbanization, as I see it.

Politicians love to talk, form task forces, and spend time doing everything except for making decisions as they are needed.  So, this is an appeal to Downtown Austin stakeholders that know how to get things done:  the residents, developers, retailers, and land owners.

I want a Super Target on Congress Ave.

Yes, it’s known as a big box store and is identified with sprawl.  It doesn’t need to be that way! Retailers like H-E-B and WalMart are sophisticated enough to design stores that work as urban infill or adaptive reuse projects.  A large destination store that has groceries and products that people need [and can afford] on a regular basis would be amazingly successful.

Remember that rendering produced by Stratus for the Seaholm redevelopment which depicted a multi-story H-E-B?  That was inspired.

Downtown Austin landlords with retail space should begin to focus less on luxury goods and more on “liveability” goods.  I don’t want to see more boutiques.  I don’t want to see more salons.  I don’t want to see more bars/lounges.  These are all fine, except they serve a very limited audience.  The next wave of successful retail in Downtown Austin will be for products that people need and can afford to purchase.

Stratus's rendering for HEB at Seaholm

Stratus's rendering for HEB at Seaholm

Filed Under: buildings, development, downtown austin, Real Estate, retail, small business, urban family, urban planning

Maps, glorious maps

February 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Bike shops in Downtown Austin

My readers know I friggin’ love a good useful map of something.    AustinOnTwoWheels.com has a comprehensive list of Austin bike shops.  I just want to know where I can buy one of these.  Perhaps here?

-Jude

Related to maps, but unrelated to bikes, is the super valuable crime mapping application KrimeLabb.com

Bike shops in Downtown Austin

Bike shops in Downtown Austin

Filed Under: austin transit, downtown austin, life, maps, retail

Impostors?

February 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Capitalism is alive and well in downtown Austin.

KVUE is reporting on “parking lot impostors” that pretend to work for the parking company and take your money.   I prefer to call these people disenfranchised capitalistic carnival barkers.  According to KVUE.com “Parking lot impostors in downtown Austin are costing customers and parking lot owners money. Police say the issue generates more complaints downtown than any other. KVUE’s Jim Bergamo reports.”   In addition to being scammed for your cash, you’re likely to be towed, too.  This video is not news to anyone that spends time downtown, but it’s nice to see some coverage in the mass media.

The guys waiving you into a public parking space are another breed of bum-preneur.  You know the guys waving their arms along 5th street offering you a public parking space with the additional bonus of them looking after your car if you could spare some change.

link to video

Filed Under: austin news, crime, downtown austin, entertainment district, video

Downtown Austin Farmers Market

February 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Meet the farmers and shoppers at the Sustainable Food Center’s locally grown Austin Farmer’s Market.   On Saturday mornings Austinites flock to Downtown to purchase organic produce grown by independent farmers in central Texas.

Every Saturday from 9am-1pm
4th @ Guadalupe
website

[clearspring_widget title="Widget" wid="48f6083258e35f91" pid="49958118602a3a1e" width="380" height="250" domain="widgets.clearspring.com"]

Filed Under: downtown austin, life, small business, urban family

Tea Embassy

February 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Tea Embassy - 9th @ Rio Grande

Tea Embassy - 9th @ Rio Grande

According to Downtown Austin Blog friend Yola of the UT Urban Development Society:

“I also wanted to give you a heads up on the Tea Embassy (located at 9th and Rio Grande). If you didn’t already know, they are giving away free chocolate and tea samples on Friday and Saturday from 10AM-6PM. It sounds like a good afternoon Valentine’s Day plan that others might find interesting.”

Thanks, Yola!

Filed Under: downtown austin, life, retail

Suggested Vendors

February 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mortgage financing.

Getting a mortgage in this economic environment can be tricky.  These guys have proven, in deal after deal, to be the most effective and knowledgeable mortgage guys for financing downtown Austin condos.

1) Brandon Sparks with Barton Creek Lending at 794-4569.
2) Devlin McNamara with Bank of America at 431-1293.

Filed Under: downtown austin
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