Downtown

July 1998

• Austin Downtown Rangers
  
  With the completion of the City of Austin's Market Study the Rangers are eligible for a dollar plus per hour increase. This increase will help ensure quality applicants for the Ranger program in the future. During the Alliance's August Security and Maintenance Committee meeting the additional funds will be discussed and put to a vote. If approved, the Rangers will hopefully receive their pay increase in the month of September.

• Block 4 Residential Development
  AMLI has conducted environmental, geotechnical, and market studies, and is continuing to develop and refine site plans and building designs.

• Convention Center Expansion
  Land purchases are to be completed by the end of July. The RFQ for Architectural/Engineering Services is in process.

• DAA Downtown Graffiti Removal
  The Downtown Austin Alliance has contracted with American Graffiti for graffiti removal on private property within the Public Improvement District. Only member parcels for which the Alliance has a signed release of liability are included in this program.

• DAA Downtown Tuesday Noontime Concerts
  The fall 1998 concerts will be held at Regents Plaza, northwest corner of W. 6th & Colorado. The tentative schedule is:
  • 6th & Colorado. The tentative schedule is:
  • September 1 - Lee Person (Blues / R&B)
  • September 8 - James Polk (Jazz)
  • September 15 - Beth Williams (Country & Western)
  • September 22 - Merchants of Venus (Jazz Swing)
  • September 29 - Ray Baker (Jazz)
  • October 6 - Jimmy Lee Jones & The Hill Country Band (Country & Western)
  • October 13 - The Steve South Band (Rock & Roll)
  • October 20 - Corky Robinson & The Keynotes (New Orleans Jazz)
  • October 27 - The Blues Crawlers (Blues / Soul)

• DAA Great Streets Program
  1) Congress Avenue's 200 block is planned for streetscaping to match the rest of the "Main Street of Texas." Construction is planned to start fall 1998. 2) The Driskill corner construction began July 15, 1998. 3) The Barton Springs - Congress Avenue "Triangle" now has xeriscaping and a bat sculpture/stabile by Dale Whistler. The large metal bat moves in the wind, as it heralds the entry to Downtown. Donors include the Austin American-Statesman, Embassy Suites Hotel, Hyatt Regency Austin, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Quade, Douglas and the Downtown Trust.

• Downtown Design Guidelines
  The Design Commission has developed a list of nine Values that underpin a set of Goals and Guidelines. Those Values are: 1) Sense of History, 2) Unique Character, 3) Authenticity, 4) Dense Urban Character, 5) Humane Character, 6) Safety, 7) Sustainability, 8) Diversity, and 9) Economic Vitality.

• Downtown Parking Plan
  The conversion to electronic parking meters was completed in June 1997.

• Labor Connections (Day Labor Site)
  Recently, a number of changes have been made in order to improve the operation of the Day Labor program. The new structure has been successful in improving the operations of the current program. Between April and May, nearly 700 unduplicated persons were assisted. In addition, a total of 283 unduplicated employers/ contractors registered into the program. Requiring workers and employers to register has helped streamline operations, and improve linkages with mainstream job placement programs, such as Workforce Centers.

• Lamar Boulevard Bridge
  A conceptual design developed from an idea workshop was presented to the City Council on July 22, 1998.

• Poleyard Residential Development
  The Downtown Development Advisory Group have reviewed Post Properties' proposed development of the Poleyard, and have recommended that the City Council moves forward as quickly as possible to finalize a ground lease with Post Properties and expedite all approvals necessary to begin construction on the Poleyard site.

• Scattered Cooperative Infill Housing Program (SCIP II)
  Construction has commenced on five additional units on Olive Street and construction is anticipated to begin on an additional 16 units within the next 30 days, pending permit approvals and relocation of the "Pink House" to the Juniper Street Historic District.

• Seaholm Power Plant Reuse
  The Seaholm Reuse Planning Committee is finalizing their report to the City Council and estimates a presentation late summer.

• Waller Creek Flood-Management and Water Quality Improvements Study
  On July 16 the City Council authorized negotiations between the City and LCRA for the provision of project management services by LCRA. It is anticipated that a proposed interlocal agreement for these services will be presented to the Council by the end of August. The design engineer selection process will begin immediately after execution of the interlocal agreement.

• Waller Creek Trail and Park Improvements
  Construction is expected to begin in August.