City pens update on Nixta Taqueria issues

An Aug. 28 memo from assistant city managers Veronica Briseño and Robert Goode gives more details on the permitting knot that has tied up popular East Austin restaurant Nixta Taqueria, forcing it to close. The memo acknowledges the public interest in the issue, and provides “an update concerning the life safety and permitting challenges at the restaurant as well as immediate next steps to ensure the property is safe to operate.”

The memo explains that burned wires indicating excessive amperage were found on the property, and that presented “a severe risk of fire or explosion and a threat to public safety.” Further inspection revealed unpermitted air conditioning units that threatened the structural integrity of the roof, an overload of the building’s electrical system and an unpermitted patio area that needs to be inspected by the Fire Department.

“The safety issues identified above are limited to what was visible outside of the building. The most significant issues are the result of unpermitted work and pose critical safety concerns to the restaurant’s staff, customers, and the community,” according to the memo. “The Development Services Department (DSD) recognizes that navigating the permitting process can be complex and strives to provide support and guidance throughout the process to help business and property owners understand these challenges while still prioritizing safety.”

The closure, which has been the focus of media scrutiny this week, was top of mind for Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison during Tuesday’s work session discussion on permitting. She brought up the case as an example of a “tornado of conflicting permitting and processes.”

In the meantime, the taqueria has raised more than $103,000 through a GoFundMe and will be participating in pop-ups at other restaurants to make it through. “We thought it was going to be an easy-ish fix, but it has now escalated to a place we could have never imagined. Something that can be fixed in a matter of hours is now a 3-6 month project due to some classic bureaucracy and red-tape. We’re still reeling,” the business wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week. “By some miracle, we’re hopeful we can survive this, too.”