austin bars

Despite the trend of obstructionist politics, private parties interested in progress will collaborate and compromise to reach an acceptable solution. Seeking a resolution to Outdoor Music Venue compatibility in downtown Austin’s Rainey Street District is a good example.

Rainey Street is dominantly residential. Ironically, the incredible residential density is a result of permissive CBD zoning. CBD is a sword of a zoning definition that can cut both ways. When the economy tanked, so did the opportunity for Rainey Street bungalow owners holding out for big $$$ to cash out, and they were left holding an expensive property tax bill.

When you have CBD zoning on a small mid-block lot what do you do until you can be assembled into a larger development (like this)? [Read more…] about Rainey Street Stakeholders Hug It Out Over OMV Permits

West 6th Street is in danger. Of what we’ve not been able to confirm (and, yes, this is a real promotion).

This could be a response by W. 6th Street bar proprietors to area push back against “bar creep” and early morning noise proliferating into more residential parts of downtown Austin, outside of established entertainment districts.

The Texas Bar & Nightclub Alliance (TBNA) has been active in recent months to reel in problematic bars operating and turning up the volume without an outdoor music venue permit.

A subset of TBNA representing only W 6th Street proprietors has engaged Drenner Golden to find alternatives to the conditional use permit language recommended by the Downtown Austin Plan for new bars in the CBD.

If you want to Save West 6th Street, you better get to drinking and voting June 8-12.

[Read more…] about Save W 6th Street