Planners see a variety of possibilities for the eventual redevelopment of the Austin Police Department headquarters site downtown, with office space, affordable housing, retail, an event space and recording studio among the possible uses. Those were some of the ideas discussed during a recent competition organized by Urban Land Institute Austin, which organizes local development […]
Downtown Commission
The Downtown Commission serves as a steward for the Downtown Austin Plan and advises the Austin City Council on policies and projects that impact downtown.
Posted inAustin
Safer Sixth Street push includes call to rezone portions of entertainment district
City staffers expect to deliver recommendations early next month for a pilot program intended to make the Sixth Street entertainment district safer by gradually changing the mix of business and cultural activities there. A recent news report revealed some details of the pilot, saying it would target the 200 and 500 blocks of East Sixth […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Ingredients for safer Sixth Street include daytime activities, alternate land uses
The city hopes a plan to increase daytime non-drinking activity, promote a variety of land uses and coordinate safety plans with bar owners will lead to a safer atmosphere in the Sixth Street entertainment district. Following a recent report to City Council from Chief Joseph Chacon on Austin Police Department’s progress on improving safety in […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Fee changes to Downtown Density Bonus Program delayed until November
City Council and boards and commissions will have to wait until November to see the latest proposal on adjustments to the costs developers will have to pay to avoid adding affordable housing units to downtown development projects. Staff members were expecting an update to the fee-in-lieu schedule for the city’s Downtown Density Bonus Program by […]
Posted inPlanning
Downtown Commission wants financing plan, study on convention center expansion
With the city expected to begin entering into engineering and design contracts next spring related to a revised expansion of the Austin Convention Center, the Downtown Commission has asked for a detailed financing plan and market analysis for the public to review in advance of contract approvals. At last week’s meeting, the commission voted 4-3 […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Downtown shootings bring plans to address violent crimes
Just over a month since a mass shooting incident on East Sixth Street killed one person and injured more than a dozen, the state of downtown safety is receiving special attention in a pair of public sessions offering differing views on causes and possible solutions to the problem. Last week the city’s Downtown Commission heard […]
Posted inPlanning
Convention center plans meet resistance from Downtown Commission skeptics
The Downtown Commission will consider asking City Council not to move forward with any new plans to expand the Austin Convention Center, with commission members asking city staff for more information to justify the project. Staffers gave an update on the expansion plans at this week’s Downtown Commission meeting, outlining the new scope of the […]
Posted inDevelopment
Downtown Commission eyes housing, other details on HealthSouth redevelopment
Members of the Downtown Commission expressed some concern last week that the ongoing negotiations over the redevelopment of the former HealthSouth property downtown could result in a project that doesn’t meet the expectations of City Council or the community as a whole. The commission received an update at its most recent meeting on the recently […]
Posted inAustin
Big-picture look at homelessness downtown shows challenges ahead
A cross-section of representatives briefed the Downtown Commission on Wednesday about an ambitious suite of strategies underway to house unsheltered individuals in Austin. Their message was clear: The city and its partners are doing an enormous amount of work toward providing housing and other services to people experiencing homelessness. The response from some commissioners was equally […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Downtown Commission objects to proposed state rollback of city sound ordinance
The Downtown Commission is the latest city body to formally object to a proposed state law that would invalidate most of Austin’s noise ordinance and make it legal for bars and clubs to generate loud music until 2 a.m. seven days a week. The unanimous vote at last week’s meeting came after a presentation from […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Music, Downtown commissions explore options for preserving downtown venues
With music venues and creative spaces becoming more endangered as real estate prices continue to climb, members of the Downtown Commission and Music Commission are looking to enlist other groups in an effort to include those spaces in new developments. August Harris, chair of the Downtown Commission, spoke to the Music Commission at this month’s […]
Posted inTransportation
Downtown Commission defends cars on Congress
As the Austin Transportation Department continues to build out Congress Avenue’s protected bike lanes and make intersection safety improvements, the Downtown Commission wants to ensure that the changes will not result in reduced capacity – the number of cars able to get through the corridor in a given period of time. Laura Dierenfield, a division […]