Just got back from the ground breaking ceremony for Downtown Austin’s Waller Creek Tunnel project. Not long ago Austin City Council officially adopted the Waller Creek District Master Plan (link). This groundbreaking is milestone in downtown Austin’s revitalization. The tunnel is expected to be completed in 2014, at which point 28 acres of downtown land [Read more…] about Waller Creek Groundbreaking Ceremony
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The New Capitol Complex Vision – What Else Is So Important About This?
As a clued-in DAB reader, hopefully you already know about the recent announcement of a very exciting vision and plan to potentially redevelop some 20 or so blocks of Downtown Austin land surrounding the Capitol. It’s land owned by the State, most of it terribly underutilized and poorly built out today. The plan could transform the area into as much a 7 million square feet of new office and mixed use space.
Info on the plan has been well covered by both the Austin Chronicle and the Statesman. And Chris Bradford does a nice job of discussing the economic impact aspects in his Austin Contrarian blog. Obviously getting so many blocks onto the tax rolls would be a huge boost to the local economy while also bringing alive the virtual “dead zone” of downtown space between the Capitol and UT.
But the one further exciting possibility to work into this equation that I have not seen explored yet: the opportunity for new housing. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, to be specific.
This has started to be investigated somewhat as part of the planning work being done around the Waller Creek Tunnel & Redevelopment project. Now, this Capitol redevelopment plan raises the possibility of really connecting these pieces into a solution of great possibilities.
The target properties are all those hideous parking garages that line San Jacinto and Trinity streets.
And the target population to serve should be: State office workers, of course. But also downtown service and support industry workers like bar and restaurant staff, hotel housekeepers, retail clerks, musicians and artists. And also UT and ACC students, too (that would help take some pressure off of over-development of multi-unit housing along the East Riverside corridor where the EROC Neighborhood Association is fighting for survival of what SFR neighborhoods they have left).
Jude is better qualified than I to comment about the supply versus demand of half-million-dollar-plus condos within the CBD, But I am a business owner who works in and close to the aforementioned “service and support” infrastructure that provides downtown with its excitement, vibrancy and great economic vitality in this area.
In that capacity I can say that we have a massive missed opportunity right now to build out a whole neighborhood of mid-rise, mixed-use buildings that has as its core focus affordable housing. I’m talking smaller studio, 1BR and 2BR rental units that can lease for $500-$1,000 per month.
That would give us places to house our critical service industry workers, students and state office support staff within walking distance of the places where they work, study and play the rest of their dayparts. Right now, these folks are having to live in far north or south Austin, thus adding to the traffic congestion on local roads or having to add hour-long bus rides in two directions to their already long and hard days. (Not that Cap Metro runs any bus service after midnight when loads of these folks get off of work or leave our multiple downtown entertainment districts.)
If you would like to see and hear more about the Capitol Redevelopment vision/plan, the Downtown Austin Alliance is hosting a forum next week — June 3rd, 7:30am — where you can have a close up look and hear directly from the folks involved with the project. It’s early in the morning but you can do it! 🙂 Free and open to the public but an RSVP is requested to make sure there are enough breakfast tacos and OJ on hand to reward your attendance. Details can be found here.
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WHAT: Downtown Austin Alliance, Issues & Eggs Breakfast Forum
TOPIC: Capitol Complex Redevelopment Plan
WHEN: Thursday, June 3, 2010; 7:30am breakfast, 8:00am presentation
WHERE: St. David’s Episcopal Church, Sumner Hall, San Jacinto betw. 7th & 8th
RSVP by June 1 to: rsvp@downtownaustin.com or call (512) 381-6270
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Waller Creek Tunnel Project TIF Analysis
Last week’s meeting of the Waller Creek Citizens Advisory Committee hosted an update on the Tax Increment Financing district that was established to fund the construction of the Waller Creek tunnel. Below is a summary of Q&A between WCCAC and Leslie Browder with the City Budget office
1. How much land is in the TIF (acres)?
TIF Reinvestment Zone No. 17 includes approximately 126 acres.
2. What are the geographic boundaries of the district?
The boundaries of the zone are within the area bounded on the west by Red River Street from 12th Street south to 3rd Street, then west along 3rd Street to Trinity Street, then south along Trinity Street to Lady Bird Lake; on the south by Lady Bird Lake from Trinity Street east to Cummings Street, then east along Cummings Street to East Avenue; on the east by East Avenue from Cummings Street north to the south bound access road of IH-35, then along said access road north to 11th Street, then west along 11th Street to Sabine Street, and north along Sabine Street to Red River Street; and on the north by 12th Street between Sabine Street and Red River Street.
Waller Creek Wow
We had a great turn out at last night’s Waller Creek District Town Hall. A packed house of ~150 people were in attendance to learn about McCann Adams Studio’s (formerly ROMA Austin) final draft of the Waller Creek District Master Plan (“the plan”). The plan consists of recommendations on infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle use, and appropriate development standards. These recommendations will guide the design of surface level improvements for the nearly 25 acres of downtown land that runs adjacent to Waller Creek.
This was the third town hall for the WCD Master Plan, and the audience had the opportunity to solicit questions of the members of the Waller Creek Citizens Advisory Committee. The comments will be attached to the final draft as it begins to make the rounds through boards and commissions.
It’s unclear how the recommended improvements will be funded. One or two of the sub-projects could be included in the upcoming $100MM mobility bond package. Most likely we will see improvements paid for on an ad-hoc basis by private development, once the tunnel is complete.
In June, the WCD Master Plan is expected to reach city council for adoption and be incorporated into the much larger Downtown Austin Plan.
Upcoming Review Process
April 12th – Waterfront Planning & Parks Board: Land & Facilities Committee
April 21st – Downtown Commission & Planning Commission’s Neighborhood Planning Subcommittee
April 26th – Design Commission
April 27th – Parks Board
May 4th – City Council’s Comprehensive Planning & Transportation Cmte.
May 5th – Environmental Board
May 11th – Planning Commission
June 10th – City Council briefing
June 24th – City Council action
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Waller Creek District Master Plan Town Hall Tonight
The City’s Consultant, ROMA Design Group, is putting the finishing touches on a draft master plan for the Waller Creek District. The Consultant will present the plan to the public at a Town Hall meeting hosted by the Waller Creek Citizen Advisory Committee.
Waller Creek District Master Plan Town Hall
April 7, 2010 6:00-8:30 pm
Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) Auditorium
600 River Street, Austin TX 78702
Light refreshments will be served.Public input gathered will be used to finalize the draft Master Plan before it is taken to boards and commissions, the Planning Commission and to Austin City Council for approval. The meeting is the final step in a series of public outreach efforts that the City has conducted over the last year. The plan has been posted online at: http://www.wallercreekplan.org