Downtown Commission wants all-new plan to address needs of city core

The Downtown Commission has recommended the city pursue a complete rewrite of the Downtown Austin Plan rather than making updates and smaller changes to a document that commissioners say doesn’t reflect the needs of the city’s core. The combination of increasing population, mobility challenges, overlapping redevelopment projects and other significant changes to the area are behind the decision for an update to the original plan that was adopted in 2011.

The recommendation, which was unanimously approved, highlights the need for economic modeling of different land use options throughout the downtown region to ensure that new development is sustainable and provides benefits for the city.

The need for a clear implementation strategy was a major concern in the recommendation, which noted: “Keeping in mind that municipal plans frequently exist solely as aspirations and are not implemented in any effective manner or at all, and in order to ensure effective use of city resources, the DAP should specifically identify a funding mechanism for implementation and include the creation of a single city entity with sufficient authority to ensure cohesive, effective implementation of the DAP and keep the DTC informed of its progress in developing the DAP Update.”

Another consideration was the need for a fresh perspective, likely from a high-quality consultant to guide the planning process while having latitude to reassess downtown’s geographic boundaries in relation to the updated plan.

City Council voted to start a review and update of the DAP last year during budget negotiations, with the item included as one of more than a dozen individual recommendations taken up ahead of the adoption of the final budget.

The Council resolution directed the city manager to initiate a DAP update that would address downtown’s needs for the next 10 years, during which time major projects such as the Interstate 35 reconstruction and the overhaul of the Austin Convention Center will continue to transform the area. Using money from the Planning Department’s budget, Council called for a detailed cost estimate, timeline and potential funding sources by February 2025.

Downtown Commission members were fairly unified in the view that DAP is now out of date and should be retired rather than revised in part.

“The main intent was that we were seeing a trend towards discussion of the Downtown Austin Plan update as being simply that, taking what is there and then revising it somewhat, or updating it somewhat. And in our discussions we concluded that because of all of the changes that have happened with downtown, that taking that reimagining the Downtown Austin Plan and even possibly starting from scratch should be an option,” Commissioner Ralph Ishmael said. “It’s really saying, not an update, but a whole new plan. … If the consultant takes a look at what’s already there and says, ‘I really hate this,’ that it’s OK and he can throw that out.”

Also related to downtown’s future, City Council recently approved the Downtown Austin Strategic Initiative, aiming to coordinate various projects affecting the city’s core. Introduced by Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Zo Qadri, the initiative seeks to align efforts in mobility, infrastructure, arts, culture, economic development, public safety, homelessness and green spaces. Key projects under this initiative include the Interstate 35 cap-and-stitch project, Project Connect, the Austin Convention Center expansion and the Austin Core Transportation Plan. The city manager is directed to provide an initial update by March 31, with subsequent quarterly status reports. This strategic move underscores the city’s commitment to cohesive planning and stakeholder engagement amid downtown’s ongoing transformation.

Photo made available through a Creative Commons license.

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