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Waller Creek District Update

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The entire Waller Creek District Master Plan can be downloaded here.

Waller Creek District Master Plan - Open Spaces
Waller Creek District Master Plan – Open Spaces

The vision for more and safe public spaces along Waller Creek, including park like connectivity from Waterloo Park to Lady Bird Lake, was a primary motivation for choosing to live at the Sabine.  When I tell people about Waller Creek, a common response is “Waller Creek… they’re still tryin’ to get that done, huh?”

The Waller Creek Tunnel Project and subsequent improvements to the district represent one of the most significant urban renewal project in Austin.  I was appointed to the Waller Creek Citizens Advisory Committee (WCCAC) last month.  Since then my understanding of what’s happening with Waller Creek has improved significantly – The Waller Creek Tunnel is on time and on budget and will break ground in late 2010 or early 2011.

Waller Creek District Master Plan - Land Use
Waller Creek District Master Plan – Land Use

At last night’s WCCAC meeting, ROMA delivered a highly compelling draft of a master plan for Waller Creek.  While we were only presented with a draft, ROMA’s Waller Creek districting plan creates a vast amount of public space and a Sabine Street promenade is one example of a progressive districting plan as a whole.  Sabine Street’s wide and underutilized right-of-ways could be converted into a more pedestrian and bicycle friendly promenade.  The promenade would most likely deliver large 30ft+ areas for al-fresco dining, bicycle lanes that connect back into the Waller Creek trail system, and enough room for limited automobile traffic to still get through.

On October 24th, ROMA will present the entire plan at a town hall meeting.

-Jude

Katz's Deli is a 6th Street Staple

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IMG_0052

As Marc Katz has just announced he is running for Lieutenant Governor, it’s probably a good time to revisit a long-time 6th Street favorite: Katz’s Deli.  Borrowing against the success of Katz’s Delicatessen in New York (no relation, I’m told), in 1979 Marc opened Katz’s Deli – says so right on the iconic car parked out front of the deli.  The “Katz’s Never Kloses” 24/7 service arrived in 1983.  The Deli franchise went through a little family drama in the early 2000’s (most of the conflict centered on the Houston location), but the brand remained strong through the strife. For some reason, as a downtown Austin resident with many dining options, I always forget about the place.  But I had lunch there the other day, and I thought it was pretty nice.  And I love the fact that it’s one of Austin’s only true 24-hour restaurant establishments.  Right here in the heart of downtown Austin.

So I thought I’d write about it and remind those of us folks who have forgotten what’s in plain sight.

You walk in and see this immediately on your right:

IMG_0050
A glorious view of “deli”cious canned drinks.  Yum.  I must say, the vegetarian in me was delighted that this innocuous display of sodas was on display rather than smoked meats and hog’s heads.

Promptly upon our arrival, we were seated in the dining area, which had a nice view of pedestrian traffic on Sixth Street.  The menu is reasonably priced and pretty extensive, and they offer breakfast items all day.  I had the “Build Your Own” omelet, which ended up being the McMansion of omelets, if I do say so myself.

The food was fine.  Not amazing, but good.  The place was clean, the service was friendly and prompt. And they’re open 24-hours a day (Never Kloses!).  You just can’t beat that, in my opinion.

IMG_0049

-AG

REMINDER: DANA Urban Core Happy Hour Tonight @ Threshold Interiors

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DANA Urban Core Happy Hour
DANA Urban Core Happy Hour

Quick reminder:  The Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association is hosting their monthly Urban Core Happy Hour at Threshold this evening.  Threshold Interiors is a must see furniture store at 5th and West Ave.

What

Urban Core Happy Hour @ Threshold

When

Thu Sep 10 6:30pm – Thu Sep 10 8:30pm
20090910T183000/20090910T203000

Where

Threshold 801 W 5th St, #100 (map)

Bars On Rainey Street

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Click here for more recent DAB articles covering the Rainey Street neighborhood.

Over the weekend I was walking down Rainey Street and decided to collect photos of the explosion of TABC application permits. It’s worth pointing out again our belief that downtown Austin has an “over saturation of bars” to quote Tom Stacy at today’s RECA luncheon. Single nighttime only uses would be short sighted, and will fail to tap into the consumer demands of the 858+ residences in the Rainey Street neighborhood. Of course, TABC application posts do not indicate that the venue will just be a bar – the venue is just as likely to be a restaurant or cafe.

Below is a complete list of burgeoning Rainey Street venues. DAB readers, please use the comments to fill in any details you know about these venues.

[Link to recent Statesman article]

“El Naranjito”
85 Rainey Street
application only

“Container Bar”
90 Rainey Street
application only

“96”
96 Rainey Street
under construction (link)

“Lustre Pearl”
97 Rainey Street
open for business

“Clive Bar”
609 Davis Street
application + under construction

-Jude

85 Rainey Street
85 Rainey Street - El Naranjito (?)
90 Rainey Street
90 Rainey Street - Container Bar
609 Davis Street - Clive Bar
609 Davis Street - Clive Bar

Central Austin Transit Issues

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City of Austin Transportation Director, Rob Spillar, has been in the news recently presenting the reality of central Austin roads.  No new roads can be constructed inside Central Austin.  We need to quickly implement signal timing efficiencies wherever possible.  Further we must acknowledge that central Austin roads are at full capacity and embark upon new modes of transportation.  I like Rob’s approach, lest we become culpable observers for worsening city problems.

The ABJ is reporting on a resurgence in the discussion for central Austin rail system. I like Mark Littlefield’s quote:

“Mark Littlefield, a public affairs political consultant, said the entity chosen to run the proposed rail system will be an important aspect in determining how voters stomach a potential bond vote. The economy will also factor in, he said.

‘We could have, hypothetically, the most economically, financially responsible plan that makes the most transportation sense and could solve every traffic problem in Austin forever, but if it’s going to be run by Cap Metro, it would have a difficult time passing,’ he said.”

-Jude

Bike Lane And Back-In Parking Coming To W 6th

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Back-in parking along W 6th is a pilot program for Austin
Back-in parking along W 6th is a pilot program for Austin

[pdf of parking plan]

From the City of Austin, Department of Public Works:

“In coordination with routine street maintenance (road re-surfacing and re-striping), and to improve safety and mobility in the corridor for both motor vehicles and bicycles, the street striping will be reconfigured. In order to reconfigure the street striping some on-street parking will be removed. These modifications are to provide delineated bicycle lanes.

The City’s Public Works Department and Transportation Departments are implementing and improving a bicycle route system, as directed by the Austin City Council per City Ordinance No. 20090611-075 (The Austin Bicycle Plan). W. 6th Street from Lamar Boulevard to Patterson Avenue is a portion of Route 52 of the City of Austin bicycle system.

The new parking restriction will be as follows:

* W 6th St. (Lamar Blvd. to Patterson Ave.) – parking modification is to prohibit parking on both sides of the street in travel lanes and to-be-installed bike lanes.

Additionally, the inset angled parking between 1110 6th St and Blanco St will be converted to back-in angle parking; parking capacity will remain the same. Back-in angle parking provides drivers with improved safety, increased visibility, fewer collisions, and easier loading and unloading, and is compatible with bicycle lanes. This section of W. 6th St, like Dean Keeton St installed in August 2009, will be a pilot project for back-in angle parking in Austin. If the pilot program is unsuccessful, then front-in angle parking will be restored. The inset parallel parking between Harthan St and Winflo Dr, and Lamar Blvd and Baylor St will remain the same.”