Council OKs next steps in planning improvements to Sixth Street district

With early data suggesting the area’s safety can continue to improve, City Council approved a detailed resolution Thursday directing city staff to pursue a wide-ranging set of improvements and operational changes aimed at encouraging daytime activity in the Sixth Street Entertainment District.

The resolution, approved in its fourth version as part of the consent agenda, instructs the city manager to gather data, develop new transportation and parking strategies, consult with advisory commissions and evaluate staffing levels for public safety operations. The final version expanded on earlier drafts by establishing specific reporting deadlines and placing greater emphasis on data from recent pilot programs to inform long-term plans for the district.

The move builds on earlier city initiatives including a recent pilot program that reopened portions of Sixth Street to vehicle traffic on weekends. Preliminary data from that effort suggested a reduction in incidents of police use of force and arrests, with city staff now directed to build on those findings and to continue collecting data related to safety, transportation, economic development and public feedback.

The resolution also addresses parking and transportation challenges in the area, directing staff to explore options such as improving valet service operations and expanding access to parking for late-night workers and musicians. It calls for an assessment of potential year-round staffing for the Public Assembly Code Enforcement team, plus a review of city ordinances governing entertainment licensing and vacant properties in the area.

Council members and city staff have cited persistent concerns about safety in the Sixth Street area, including incidents of gun violence. A recent shooting at Lit Lounge that injured four people renewed calls for more comprehensive safety strategies.

Council Member Zo Qadri, whose district includes downtown, has emphasized the need for stronger public safety measures and long-term planning for the entertainment district.

“Austin deserves a Sixth Street that reflects who we are – vibrant, safe, and inclusive for everyone. We’re not here to maintain the status quo. We’re building a district that’s safer, more inclusive, and truly reflective of our city’s values,” Qadri said in a statement to the press. “Thanks to Mayor (Kirk) Watson and our dedicated City staff, we’re moving with intention and holding ourselves accountable to real, lasting transformation.”

Private developers have also been advancing plans to reshape Sixth Street’s future. Stream Realty Partners, which has purchased more than 30 properties in the area since 2019, is pursuing redevelopment plans intended to attract more daytime activity while preserving historic character. The firm has said it is working with city boards and commissions to align its plans with preservation goals and public safety priorities, with an emphasis on selecting restaurants and hospitality businesses in its first phase of tenants.

Hannah Rangel, vice president of built environment for Downtown Austin Alliance, said the final approved version of the resolution emphasizes the use of incoming data while incorporating previous city initiatives and clearly defining next steps. She also praised the steps being taken that could lead to an expansion of the sidewalks and other components of the district in the coming years.

“It may not be pretty yet but it is doing a lot of the testing and data collection that we need, and it’s also starting to do a lot, some of the behavior change that we need in terms of how we drive, walk and interact on Sixth Street. There’s a lot of room to run and improve,” she said. “There’s maybe a 10- or 20-year plan out there that’s the permanent solution, but there’s a lot of near-term improvements to be made. The priority would be in pedestrian safety and formalizing the deepened sidewalks and making sure that they’re sort of as secure and formalized as can be.”

The resolution requires the city to deliver its first quarterly progress report by the end of this month, with a formal presentation to Council’s Mobility Committee scheduled in December. In the interim, staff are expected to continue collecting feedback from business owners, workers and the general public as they develop recommendations.

Photo by Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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Posted In: City Council, District 9