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Downtown Austin Link Roundup

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1) Bridge over troubled water

OK, not really troubled water, but I couldn’t resist a title so apropos for a city that likes to bitch and moan about growth, yet doesn’t make the hard decisions necessary to steer growth and prefers to react to it, (breath) imagine the hostility we’re going to see for this bridge.  One look at the notoriously poorly moderated comment sections of the Statesman’s online posts (seriously, take a look to feel less good about humanity) is all you need to run far, far away from the headaches of local public policy making and sound urban planning.

2) Rainey Street getting smart about traffic

Last week’s commentary by a Milago resident about the perils of walking in the Rainey Street district has spurred the City into action.  “Those people” move into the district and now they want to change it with crazy things like sidewalks.  Less than 48 hours after this video editorial aired, there were pneumatic traffic counters straddling the district’s streets recording passing cars, and adolescent kids (primarily DAB readers/writers) jumping on them.

3) Oh, hi!  Ummm… We’ll be needing your land.  KTHXBAI

City approves the use of eminent domain, should it be necessary, to get control over an important piece of land for the Waller Creek Tunnel Project.  For decades this assemblage of lots that front I-35 has been a surface level parking lot.  For the next 4-5 years it will be a staging area for creek diggin’.

Operation Reclaim Waller Creek

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Photo of volunteers from December's Waller Creek clean up. Yours truly on the far left.

Just received this note from Carolyn Perez with the City of Austin, “In 2008 APD, together with the Watershed Protection and Parks Departments, launched an initiative to clean up the creek and enforce ordinances, including those related to vagrancy.”

Operation Reclaim Waller Creek helps clear urban waterway

The City of Austin will launch next week the next phase of Operation Reclaim Waller Creek, an initiative to improve the safety and environmental conditions along this urban waterway.

Austin Police officers, along with crews from Watershed Protection and Parks and Recreation will be focused on cleaning up the ¼-mile stretch of the creek from Cesar Chavez Street to Lady Bird Lake. Previous efforts have cleared areas upstream.

Work will include:

  • Cutting overgrowth in and along the creek.
  • Removing graffiti.
  • Picking up trash and debris.
  • Concentrated enforcement of City ordinances.

“This operation will help improve the quality of life for those who work, live and visit the downtown area,” said APD Officer Jason Huskins, Downtown Area District Representative.  “We have had issues with illicit activity along this portion of the creek.  This cleanup will allow us to have better access to the area and better means to protect our community and the environment.”

Downtown Austin Community Court will assign persons needing to fulfill community service requirements to help with the cleanup.

This month-long operation will help prepare for the Waller Creek Tunnel Project, which will alleviate flooding and reduce the amount of debris in the creek. Construction on the project is due to begin later this year in the area targeted by this phase of Operation Reclaim Waller Creek.

Will The Austin Planetarium’s Stars Shine Over Downtown Austin?

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austin planitariumOne of my favorite podcasts is Astronomy Cast, because… well, I’m a geek for science, especially physics and astronomy.

So, I was very excited to learn that Torvald Hessel, executive director, and his colleague Dr. Ron Johns with the Austin Planetarium would be visiting with the DANA board last night to discuss the future of this $60MM planetarium in downtown Austin.  Lest you believe this is just a wacky idea, they’ve got some heavies involved including local Cosmonaut, Richard Garriott and Astronaut Rick Linnehan.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jymDn0W6U]

Austin is the largest city without a planetarium, or a full-dome theater with projection against the ceiling (not to be confused with an observatory which is a telescope at a remote location).  Of the 50 largest cities in the U.S., Austin is the only city without a planetarium of any kind.

Planetariums boost tourism and tax revenue, and are a family oriented destination for city residents and visitors. Studies suggest that planetariums increase interest in sciences as a career – a big concern for our government – and facilitates worker retention, especially in the high tech industry.  In other words, “Nerds like to do nerdy things.” says Hessel.

The facility would include:
-planetarium
-science museum
-technology center, a showcase for locally developed technologies.

The venue under consideration would be 115,000sf and located on the Southeast corner of Congress and MLK.  This site is currently a surface level parking lot owned by the State of Texas.  The planetarium is seeking a long term lease and would include three stories of underground parking that the State could still use.

Can you see a [real] “Museum District” in the making?  I can.  With the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum ($80MM) to the west and the Blanton Museum of Art ($85MM) to the north, the addition of another exhibiting destination like an Austin Planetarium ($60MM estimate) should generate increased traffic to all three.  See economies of agglomeration (or locally by Chris Bradford who introduced me to the concept).

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=bob+bullock&fb=1&gl=us&hnear=&cid=0,0,7857427179010506862&ei=jPxoS43UCYH4NaL5_IsG&ved=0CBEQnwIwAA&t=h&source=embed&hq=bob+bullock&ll=30.279944,-97.738484&spn=0.006295,0.006295&layer=c&cbll=30.280567,-97.737913&panoid=85Vxxvs5jvByJGfMnztOUA&cbp=12,305.97,,0,-2.9&output=svembed&w=600&h=350]

The Austin Planetarium is operated as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3).  You can donate and become a sponsor here. 2010 goals for the Austin Planetarium are to acquire land and formalize city and state commitments, enlarge donor pool, and lock-in corporate sponsorships.

So, is the Austin Planetarium just another piece of Austin real estate vaporware? It appears they have a great team, passion, and access to big corporate and university money. The site selection is inspired, and we’re told that no other group is at the table proposing a higher and better use of the parking lot. The earliest we would see ground breaking is in 2011.

-Jude

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Downtown Austin Crime Watch Suspect

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Keepin’ it real.  The real money has always been in sanitary napkin dispensers.

Begin forwarded message:

From: 6th Street Austin <info>
Date: February 2, 2010 8:01:41 AM CST
To: jude
Subject: Crime Watch Suspect

Sixth Street Austin Community Forum
CRIME NOTICE FROM APD
We just received the attached photograph of a person of interest taken earlier today in a downtown high-rise office property. The individual is suspected of going floor to floor, breaking into sanitary napkin dispensers and stealing the coins.

Please circulate this among your property staff and security. If this person is seen on your property, please call 911 immediately to notify the police and to file a criminal trespass warning against him.

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Yours,

Tim League
chairman
6Ixth Street Austin

Subscribe to the 6ixth Street Austin Blog

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Town Market: A New Bodega On Rainey Street

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Town Market has opened below the Legacy apartments on Rainey Street.   It’s a unique space.  Leasing a live/work unit on the ground floor of this downtown Austin apartment tower, Town Market is a two story affair with wine, coffee, sandwiches on the ground floor and dry goods on the second floor.  The Town Market concept comes from the same people who brought you Cissi’s on South Congress.

The store is 50 paces from the Hike and Bike trail, so I expect they will do well during breakfast and the early evening hours.  The Rainey Street District has one of the highest residential concentrations in Austin, and Town Market is a welcome addition to the downtown Austin neighborhood.

Hours: Monday – Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 8am-6pm
Google Map: 43 Rainey Street, Austin, TX 78701

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Chase Bank Building SOLD

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[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=700+lavaca&sll=30.270528,-97.744814&sspn=0.01073,0.022724&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=700+Lavaca+St,+Austin,+Travis,+Texas+78701&ll=30.282418,-97.740984&spn=0.002798,0.005681&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=30.269655,-97.744846&panoid=Hk1cOT6wpew3AiKB3ylGcA&cbp=12,338.61,,0,-14.72&output=svembed&w=600&h=350]

InFactDaily is reporting that the owners of the old ‘Chase Bank Building’, located in downtown Austin at the corner of Lavaca and 7th Street, have entered into a purchase contract with the Travis County Commissioners Court.  TCCC will purchase the 315,000 ft building for $61.25MM.

In a related story, Chase Tower on 6th Street was recently purchased by Spire Realty Group.

Is 2nd Street Getting A Movie Theater?

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AMLI is rumored to have signed a lease with an operator for a 3-4 screen movie theater to take the space above Malaga and Z Pizza.  We’re told the theater will serve food and drinks (including liquor), and the menu would consist of items from restaurants located in the 2nd Street district.  It’s clear from the photo above that the space isn’t very deep, and it’s possible that part of the venue would extend over the sidewalk.

We don’t know who the operator is, but we do know it’s not local favorite Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. The addition of a destination venue like this, and the wrap-up of the W-Hotel’s construction will be a breath of fresh air for neighboring retail on the 400 block of W 2nd Street.

Downtown Austin’s 2nd Street District retailers have been hit hard with the economic downturn, and the venues on 400 block have struggled to keep up with the foot traffic found just two blocks over where Jos, Estilo, and DWR are located.  Many pedestrians end up not walking beyond the W Hotel construction site.

SXSW Venues Available For Lease

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UPDATE: For SXSW 2012 venue and event rental contact Downtown Austin Blog here

It should come as no surprise that downtown Austin venue rental during SXSW is not cheap.  Want to brand a piece of real estate off of 6th Street?  $10k in venue rental + $10k guarantee in drink sales was what one national brand paid a venue on Red River for a single day last year.  Of course, there are other deals depending on what your company is trying to accomplish.  SXSW brings ~100,000 people into downtown Austin, and competition for space is fierce.

Knowing the venues and the operators is key.  If you send me a note telling me about your company/group, describing the kind/amount of space you need, how long you need the space for, and for what purpose, I’ll be happy to talk with you about what’s available.

-Jude

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The Barton Creek Greenbelt: Best Access Points

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Barton Creek Greenbelt

January may not be the ideal month for a visit to the great outdoors, but since this morning’s weather report is promising some unseasonably warm days ahead, and with spring not too far off, I thought I’d serve up one of Austin’s best outdoor destinations—the Barton Creek Greenbelt.

For those of you who love Lady Bird Lake’s Hike and Bike Trail, but are looking for a more rugged, less urban experience, the Greenbelt will be a welcome change of pace. Comprising an area of 809 acres and a total length of 7.9 miles, this amazing nature reserve, only minutes from Downtown Austin, lets you wander in the isolation of steep limestone cliffs, untamed vegetation, countless hiking and biking trails and dozens of natural swimming holes and waterfalls.

With spring on the way, the creek will soon be at it’s peak flow, though veteran hikers will tell you that the Greenbelt’s waterways can be a bit unpredictable—high-water years are remembered with a touching sentimentality. These, after all, are the same people who risked their lives to hang those rope swings from the branches of the trees along the creeks edge.

Though most people tend to enter the Greenbelt from an access point along the side of Loop 360, veteran visitors are quick to point out the value of knowing it’s lesser known entrances. Each part of the reserve has it’s own special characteristics.

Here’s a rundown of the Greenbelt’s access points:

Loop 360 (3755-B Capitol of Texal):
This is the main access point to the Greenbelt due to its location at the center of the trail. This entrance leads to some of the finest trails near the Seismic wall and will take you either west to Twin Falls or east to the Gus Fruh pool. Parking is available right alongside the highway.

Zilker Park:
Closest to Downtown Austin, the Zilker Park entrance leads to an easy trail ideal for mountain bikes and families who are bringing strollers.

Scottish Woods Trail (1710 Camp Craft Rd.):
This entrance lies on the opposite end of the Greenbelt and offers a more challenging experience. Less crowded, this access point begins with a downhill climb towards the creek. Numerous paths diverge from the main trail, offering a chance for more adventurous hikers to explore. Choose this entrance if you want to earn your visit to Sculpture Falls.

Twin Falls Access (3900 Frontage of Mopac):
On the other end of the spectrum, this entrance offers easy access to Twin Falls and is a short walk from Sculpture Falls. This is the best choice for someone looking to get to the Greenbelt’s best swimming spots. Unfortunately, during dry seasons these areas can only be explored on foot.

Gus Fruh (2642 Barton Hills Dr):
A direct access point to the Gus Fruh pool. This is an ideal place for dogs and kids to play. This is also one of the best areas for rock climbers. Climbing areas are located on the other side of the creek. “Guide Wall” is a good place to start.

Spyglass (1500 Spyglass Dr.):
This is also a good access point for climbers, and is the only way to reach Gus Fruh’s cliffs when the creek is too high. “The New Wall” is only fifteen minutes away.

If you decide to hit the trail, don’t forget to check out this handy map, complete with contours and top destinations, courtesy of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. They also provide an incredible, exhaustive list of Austin trails.