The city is looking for developers interested in remaking two of the most high-profile blocks downtown, which could shape the future of the Black community in East Austin. Last month the Austin Economic Development Corporation (EDC) opened a request for qualified developers who could take on one or both of the blocks along East 11th […]
Economic Development Department
This city department heads up business recruitment, urban regeneration, small business development, arts, and music for the city.
Posted inDevelopment
City starting over on Ryan Drive redevelopment project
The city appears ready to hit the reset button on the redevelopment of its Ryan Drive property in North Austin, more than a year after selecting a development team that appeared ready to move the project forward. Last month the city terminated its exclusive negotiating agreement with 3423 Holdings LLC, the group led by developers […]
Posted inPlanning
Memo details progress, plans for African American Cultural Heritage District
The city is preparing to solicit an outside consultant to create an action plan for development of the portion of East Austin known as the African American Cultural Heritage District. Economic Development Department Director Sylnovia Holt-Rabb last month sent a memo to City Council, providing updates on development efforts for the two city-owned parcels known […]
Posted inDevelopment
HealthSouth redevelopment stalls over affordable apartments proposed
The redevelopment of the former HealthSouth hospital property downtown appears to be at a standstill, with the Economic Development Department recommending the termination of a negotiating agreement with the Aspen Heights Partners development group. In a memo published Wednesday, Assistant City Manager Veronica Briseño informed City Council and Mayor Kirk Watson that Aspen Heights feels […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Former City Hall and One Texas Center eyed as possible arts and music spaces
The city once again appears to be willing to make a high-profile downtown building available for cultural and creative uses, along with a handful of other city-owned properties under consideration for use by local musicians and artists. A memo released last week regarding a number of initiatives related to the preservation and enhancement of the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Council pushes for music census every five years, with data to publish on city portal
Data from the most recent census of the Austin music ecosystem will be posted on the city’s open data portal, along with data from the applicant pool for the first-ever cohort of the new Live Music Fund. Last week, City Council passed a resolution accepting the study from Sound Music Cities that surveyed more than […]
Posted inDevelopment
City set to prioritize Colony Park planned unit development application
The Colony Park Sustainable Community planned unit development application process is underway. On Tuesday, City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee unanimously recommended the full Council initiate a streamlined application and rezoning process. “Colony Park represents one of our greatest opportunities to leverage public land to develop affordable housing and improve the lives of both current […]
Posted inCity Hall
Creative Alliance pushes for new city department for cultural affairs
The Austin Creative Alliance has asked the city to create a new department focused on funding and support for the creative economy, and cites changes in how the Economic Development Department handles grant funding for arts groups as the latest shortcoming. In a letter sent to members earlier this month, ACA Board Chair Dewy Brooks […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Music Commission pushes city to analyze, publish latest music census data
The Music Commission wants the city to look for ways to analyze data from the latest census of the Austin music ecosystem and find a way to publish the raw data from that third-party project on the city’s open data portal. At Monday’s meeting, commissioners received an update from David Gray, assistant director of the […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Economic Development staff opts to withhold music census data from city data portal
Staffers in the Economic Development Department have declined to publish data from the most recent census of the Austin music ecosystem on the city’s open data portal, despite a request to do so from the Music Commission and the support of City Council members. Emails obtained by the Austin Monitor via an open records request […]
Posted inDevelopment
Developer unveils conceptual designs for HealthSouth redevelopment
The Economic Development Department and developer Aspen Heights Partners kicked off the stakeholder engagement process by unveiling the conceptual plans for the redevelopment of the former HealthSouth site at 12th and Red River streets at the Design Commission on Jan. 23. Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the proposal to City Council as complying with the city’s […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council considers Colony Park TIRZ ahead of expected approval
City Council appears ready to move forward next week with the creation of a property tax mechanism that will bring more than $80 million over 20 years to the Colony Park development in East Austin. At Tuesday’s work session, staff from the Economic Development and Housing and Planning departments presented their proposal for using a […]