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

Jude Galligan | February 20, 2009 |

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 Urbanrail

Take me to the drag. Take me to South Congress. Take me to Zilker. Take me to the airport. 90% of the time I don’t need, or want, to go anywhere else in Austin. An urban rail (pdf) benefits not only downtown, but ALL of the urban core. Complemented by the commuter rail, with an urban rail system in place we can begin to reduce (if not remove) minimum parking requirements for new developments. Reduced parking requirements translates into improved streetscapes, less congestion, and more economically productive land use (more sales taxes, more ad-valorem taxes).

CAMPO TWG you can make this happen.

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

Jude Galligan | February 19, 2009 |

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.

Improved landmark protection, design standards, and enforcement

This is an average landmarked building on East Sixth Street. Here is another – note the beautiful brick archwork accented by a plywood sign! The building owners, tenants, and the city should be embarrassed. So much of Austin’s history exists in those buildings. Any building that has a landmark plaque should be respected and preserved.

The city may say “we don’t regulate ugly”. They should. The city must better leverage the Historical Landmark Commission and Heritage Society to protect the facades, awnings, and cleanliness of our historic buildings.. Unless the city begins to affect positive change, we will continue to see the warehouse district disappear and East Sixth Street deteriorate. It appears that voluntary compliance by landlords to maintain an expected (or expressed) standard doesn’t work and the city must begin to enforce regulations.

BTW, the owners of landmarked buildings get significant tax breaks.

Four Seasons update from developer

Jude Galligan | February 19, 2009 |

Just received this update from the Four Seasons Residences. It pretty much confirms what I’ve been saying about the strength of the downtown Austin condo market – the sky is not falling.

“As we enter 2009, Four Seasons Residences Austin is nearly 50% sold. Understandably, the last quarter of 2008 was slow, but sales activity in 2009 has picked up considerably. In the last week we signed a new contract for a 2,700 square foot residence and have a number of additional contracts in process.”
…
“Figures for the condominium market in downtown Austin are very encouraging. Of the 800 units delivered in 2008, over 90% have already closed. Furthermore, several planned projects have been put on indefinite hold due to a lack of financing which will reduce the amount of future supply for years to come.”

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

Jude Galligan | February 18, 2009 |

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.

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.

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

Jude Galligan | February 17, 2009 |

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.

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!

360 condos: three units remain

Jude Galligan | February 16, 2009 |

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

-Jude

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

Jude Galligan | February 16, 2009 |

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.

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

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

Jude Galligan | February 15, 2009 |

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.

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.

Maps, glorious maps

Jude Galligan | February 13, 2009 |

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

Impostors?

Jude Galligan | February 13, 2009 |

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