Downtown Austin Blog

downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog

No Development Permit Extensions Says Austin City Council

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According to the ABJ, Austin City Council has voted against one-time development permit extensions which would extend the time frame real estate developers had to commence with their project from three to five years.  Sponsored by the newest Council Members on the dais, Randi Shade and Laura Morrison were not around in 2006-2007 to vote on urban infill projects.

Development permits will likely expire before any rebound in the capital markets.  If the land where the development was to occur has already been razed (Marriott), then the outcome of this ruling is most likely blight – empty lots, not generating property taxes, and often surrounded by chain link fence.

A far better solution would have been to levy fines or taxes on undeveloped land.   Because, you know, that could have generated money for the city!

Link to agenda item

Coordinated Urban Candidate Forum – April 4th

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In what could become the most attended and media covered of all the candidate forums, mark your calendar for the coordinated Urban Candidate Forum.

On Saturday, April 4th the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association will co-host a forum to learn where the city council and mayoral candidates stand on the issues that affect Austin and its urban core. The major candidates will debate such issues as economic development, the livability of the downtown neighborhood, public spaces, urban rail, and parking.

DANA is combining forces with:

-Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA),
-Congress for New Urbanism (CNU),
-Alliance for Public Transportation,
-Old Austin Neighborhood Association (OANA),
-Rail4Real,
-Austin Parks Foundation,
-Austin Metro Trails and Greenways,
-6ixth Street Austin,
-Austinist.com.

Complimentary coffee, water, and light breakfast items will be provided.

WHEN: Saturday, April 4th, 10 am – 1:30 pm

WHERE: St. David’s Episcopal Church @ 304 E. 7th Street (map)

Paid parking will be available in the St. David’s garage. You may also plan your trip using Capital Metro’s trip planner. Enter the church at the intersection of 8th & San Jacinto.

Downtown Austin Car Share – Smart Car Pilot Program

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How do you increase parking? Shrink the cars, of course!
How do you increase parking? Shrink the cars, of course!

Daimler will partner with the City of Austin to operate a car-share pilot program, Mayor Will Wynn announced yesterday morning.

From the Statesman:

“The city will set aside urban-core parking spaces for 200 of Daimler’s “Smart” cars. Rather than paying for the spaces, Daimler will let city employees use the cars for a number of hours that’s equal to the monetary value of the spaces. (That amount hasn’t been determined yet; it will be negotiated over the next few weeks, city officials said.)…The program will start in October and run for six months. Daimler will pay for fuel, maintenance and insurance during that time, said the city’s transportation director, Robert Spillar.”

The car share program is a proven model in many cities, and the Smart Car program specifically is already smashing success in Germany.  Austin mayoral city council candidate Chris Riley is responsible for Austin Car Share – a small but well utilized car share program in Downtown Austin.

Thanks to Austin Contrarian for picking up on this story.

Downtown Austin Retail > Walton's Fancy & Staple

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UPDATE

Back in December I reported on the construction activity at 609 W 6th.  It appears that Walton’s could be open any day now.  The doors were locked so here are some photos from behind the windows.  I dig the bistro furniture and old-fashioned look.

Waltons Fancy & Staple
Walton's Fancy & Staple

This will be a great addition to West 6th.   Another perspective…

Waltons Fancy & Staple
Walton's Fancy & Staple

Austin Medical School Courtesy of Carole Strayhorn?

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Here is an intriguing idea courtesy of Carole Strayhorn!

1) Build a medical school, 2) enhance the medical/bio-tech industry in Austin, 3) create jobs, 4) create revenue for the city.

“This Council Spent $2.3 Billion for Biomass Energy in Nacogdoches. For less than half that cost, we could build this medical school, create $1.5 billion a year in revenue, and create 14,400 permanent jobs.”

If built in close proximity to Brackenridge, which I assume it would be, this could bring much needed life to the northeastern quadrant of downtown Austin.

Refreshingly, this makes good sense.

[link]