In delivering its annual State of Downtown report that showed some slowdown in development efforts in the central business district, the Downtown Austin Alliance announced two new efforts intended to improve quality of life and bring more activity throughout the downtown area. The announcements were part of the group’s Future of Downtown event held Wednesday, […]
Downtown Austin Alliance
A nonprofit, membership-based organization focused, according to its website, on “preserving and enhancing the value and vitality of downtown Austin.”
Posted inPreservation
Downtown Commission reviews plan for equitable historic preservation
Members of the Downtown Commission debated and mostly praised the draft version of the city’s Equity-Based Preservation Plan, which is open for public feedback through the end of May. At last week’s meeting, the commission looked beyond the scope of the downtown core to express concerns and hopes related to the plan, which is intended […]
Posted inAustin
Lacking a sense of cultural belonging, many Black Austinites are relocating
Lack of community bonds, cultural offerings and business opportunities play a large part in the continuing decline in Austin’s Black population, based on analysis and anecdotes shared by a number of local leaders at a recent discussion on the demographic trend. Wednesday’s breakfast panel for Urban Land Institute Austin looked at possible solutions for retaining […]
Posted inAustin
DAA, Urban Alchemy partner to improve outreach, services for downtown homeless population
Downtown Austin Alliance hopes its new pilot program will help to provide more services and housing opportunities to the homeless people clustered throughout the city’s central business district. On Thursday, the DAA announced its Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART), which will launch as a six-month trial program on Feb. 1. In partnership with staff […]
Posted inPlanning
Effort to reimagine Congress Avenue hits design benchmark
The city’s Downtown Commission heard an update on the Congress Avenue redesign project at its regular meeting last week. The Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative is a partnership between the city of Austin and the Downtown Austin Alliance to reimagine the stretch between Riverside Drive and 11th Street known as the “Main Street of Texas.” […]
Posted inTransit
Downtown alliance suggests Wooldridge Sq. station, sunken roadways to improve rail plan
The Downtown Austin Alliance has suggested a number of adjustments to the light rail plan unveiled to the public earlier this week, while also showing support for the route that moves through the downtown core from its endpoints to the north, east and south. The DAA has issued its own map for the route, which […]
Posted inPublic Health
New forecast modeling puts Austin homeless population near 4,600
New methods for counting and forecasting by one of Austin’s leading homelessness services organizations suggests nearly 4,600 people are experiencing homelessness in the city, far higher than previous estimates and counts using federal guidelines. The new figure was revealed at last week’s Downtown Commission meeting in a report from Dianna Grey, the city’s homeless strategy […]
Posted inPublic Health
Homeless Austinites report conditions improving at shelters
Results from a recent client survey indicate that the new operator of the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless is making progress in efforts to turn around the downtown men’s shelter. The December survey of ARCH and Southbridge shelter residents found that strong majorities feel safe, that their needs are being met, and that staff […]
Posted inPublic Health
Downtown Alliance praises ‘transformation’ of ARCH under new management
Just months after the management switch-up at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, the Downtown Austin Alliance is praising what it calls “transformational change” at the downtown men’s shelter. The alliance’s safety and hospitality committee toured the facility in early December to learn about recent improvements made by Urban Alchemy, the California-based nonprofit now in […]
Posted inAustin
Downtown court relocation plans draw mounting criticism
Resistance appears to be growing to a slate of resolutions on the agenda for Thursday’s City Council meeting that would lead to the permanent relocation of the Downtown Austin Community Court to a circa-1800s municipal building on West Eighth Street. The resolutions would follow action taken in February on the proposed move, allocating $27 million […]
Posted inCity Council
Downtown court location decision postponed again
Responding to pleas from downtown residents and business owners, City Council has once again put off a decision about the new location of a court that primarily serves Austin’s homeless community. City staffers have recommended that the Downtown Austin Community Court be moved from its current temporary location at One Texas Center to 124 E. […]
Posted inCity Council
Council appears ready to hit pause on downtown court relocation
City Council appears set to delay a decision on relocating the Downtown Austin Community Court to the former City Hall building on West Eighth Street. At Tuesday’s work session, Council Member Kathie Tovo said she planned to ask Council to delay action on three items related to the relocation for at least a week, with […]