downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog
Demolition on Cirrus Logic’s future headquarters at 800 W 6th is well under way. It’s strange to see Shoal Creek so… exposed. Even if not for long. The addition of the offices should be a boon for the district, and entice more than just bars to locate to W 6th.
-Jude
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downtown Austin open house listings for Sunday, July 18th
Thinking about downtown Austin? Checkout what a few downtown residents like to do, as they vote for the Chronicle’s Best of Austin awards. When you’re done with the open houses, you can enjoy an afternoon on Lady Bird Lake by renting a canoe or kayak from at the Texas Rowing Center. Or, dine al fresco at Annie’s Cafe on Congress Ave for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Make sure to download my transaction report from June (registered members only) and discuss with a Realtor who lives and works in downtown Austin.
-Jude
Over the past few weeks, an interesting “struggle” has been growing between Austinites on the issue of whether the Best Wurst sausage cart should have its sidewalk permit renewed to vend in front of Parkside Restauarant. The scene is the southeast corner of East 6th Street at San Jacinto, the heart of the East 6th Historic & Entertainment District.
Best Wurst has been selling yummy treats from its cart there for 17 years and has grown quite a popular customer following. The owner, Jon Notarthomas, is a hard-working Austin musician and entrepreneur. He pays $450 per year for the vending permit and transacts tens of thousands of dollars in business from his cart.
Parkside is a lovely fine-cuisine restaurant that opened in the circa-1920 building where Dan McKlusky’s steakhouse previously existed. Shawn Cirkiel, the chef, and his Austin family purchased their building, valued by TCAD at $1.6 million, and completely renovated the property when opening the restaurant a couple of years ago.
Sidewalk vending permits must be renewed every 3 years and it is now that time for Best Wurst. Parkside is opposing the renewal. There are many reasons involved but the basic one is simply “incompatibility”. This restuarant is not happy with having another food vendor directly outside of its front door. City officials are caught in the middle.
There are many opposing perspectives arising through discussions of this matter:
“Old/Iconic Austin” versus “New/Emerging Austin”.
Upscale dining versus inexpensive street food.
Property owner rights versus temporary permitted uses.
Large investments and big taxes on property+liquor+sales versus modest investments, small fees and sales tax only.
The sensibilities of Austin’s sidewalk vending permit process versus national best-practices for kiosk-style vending in public common areas.
The growing desire for East 6th to revitalize itself to make better 24/7 use of its century-old historic district presence versus maintaining its more recent four-decade reputation as “Dirty 6th” where young folks go to get shitfaced.
Phew. That’s a lot to take in right there.
What do you think about all of this?
Loads of media coverage and other resources available if you’d like to absorb further before weighing in: News story on the Austin American-Statesman’s Austin 360. TV coverage on News 8, Fox News and KXAN. Best Wurst’s website and its new Save The Wurst Facebook site with some 3,000 fans. Parkside’s website.
Lots of people in Austin, even the ones that don’t read/like the Chronicle, recognize the “Best of Austin” awards as the ones to watch. We asked a few brave downtown Austin stakeholders to weigh in and share their pics.
You can vote here.
Roger Cauvin
SnappATX
**********
New Building (Past Five Years) = Austonian
Trailer = Flip Happy Crepes
Downtown View = Gym at the Austonian
Hotel = Driskill
Visual Artist = Shyama Golden
New Club = Hudson
Live Club or Party DJ = Toddy B (Todd Burgener)
24=Hour/Late = Thai Passion
Place to Take a First Date = Cafe Josie
Intimate Dining = Cafe Josie
Farmers’ Market = Downtown Farmers’ Market
Neighborhood Grocery = Royal Blue Grocery
Bar Staff = Beso Cantina (Jason and Darren)
Bar Ambience = Hudson
Wine Selection = Cafe Josie
Beer Selection = Gingerman
Best=Kept Secret = Cafe Josie
Photographer = Nick Brill
Music Station = 101X
Local Blogger = Jude Galligan
Local Blog = Downtown Austin Blog
Gear/Sporting Goods = St. Bernard’s
Bike Ride = Downtown to Hula Hut
Place to Skate = Veloway
Swimming Pool = Barton Springs
Swimming Hole = Barton Springs
Fitness Classes = Crossfit Central (Stacey Lashley)
Elected Official = John=Michael Cortez
Council Member = Chris Riley
Activist Organization = Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA)
Activist = Cid Galindo
Environmentalist = Greg Anderson
Barbershop = Good Life Barber Shop
Dry Cleaner = Cathy’s Cleaners
Auto Service/Repair = Firestone (Congress)
Bicycle Repair = Mellow Johnny’s (Aaron Norcross)
Veterinarian = Austin Urban Vet Center
New Local Business = East Side Show Room
*Who/what you would give an award to = Dadnab (transit texting service)
Great news for the neighborhood…
Our favorite downtown Austin bodega, Royal Blue Grocery, is preparing to open its third location.
609 Congress Ave, the east side of the street, just north of the 6th & Congress intersection, will soon house “… a full kitchen preparing in-house, grab-and-go foods as well as lunches from Meditrenean Chef, Rios Brazilian, TacoDeli, Upper Crust Bakery, Rock Star Bagels and East Side Pies. Stores also sell pastries, breakfast tacos, coffees, drinks and everyday grocery items.” according to this ABJ article.
Best part is the hours they’re planning on being open: 7am – midnight, everyday.
-Jude
Nine months after the plan was announced, this week they begin the parking improvements to 6th Street that will result in angles “back in” style parking. This is a shift from parallel parking found on most of W 6th. This has been espoused as a safer method of parking when trying to facilitate a major east-west artery, bike lane, and retail parking.
Thanks to Mike McGill for the heads up!
downtown Austin open house listings for Sunday, July 11th
(Got the wrong week? Click here)
It’s an Austin City Lofts open house festival this weekend. When you’re done with the open houses, you can enjoy an afternoon on Lady Bird Lake by renting a canoe or kayak from at the Texas Rowing Center. Or, dine al fresco at Annie’s Cafe on Congress Ave for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Make sure to download my transaction report from June (registered members only) and discuss with a Realtor who lives and works in downtown Austin.
-Jude
Date: Thursday, July 8, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Tiniest Bar in Texas – 817 West 5th Street (map)
Looking for a quiet place to focus and get some work done? Look no further than the Tea Embassy. Located in the heart of Original Austin, this bungalow is filled with old-world charm.
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