Downtown

October 2000

• 11th and 12th Street Community Redevelopment
  The Austin Revitalization Authority has selected RIATA Development to help develop 65,000 sq. ft. of office/retail space and 24 loft apartments on E. 11th between Curve and Lydia Streets. RIATA also proposes to build 30 town homes along Juniper Street with 184 parking spaces. Completion for this initial phase of development is projected to be fall of 2001. In addition ARA has attracted a tenant to occupy 1101 East 11th Street. Groundbreaking for this project was held on September 15, 2000. Restoration has begun and is scheduled for completion for, Spring 2001. Balcones Recycling administrative offices will occupy the entire building.

  There is also a city funded historic resources survey underway at the present time. Required by the federal government as part of an approved HUD 108 loan package, this survey will identify and make recommendations for preserving both physical and cultural historic resources within the East Austin Master Plan area. A draft of the study has been submitted to the City for review and comment.

• Downtown Design Guidelines
  On May 18 the City Council adopted the Downtown Austin Design Guidelines as recommendations for all downtown development and redevelopment projects by both the public and private sector. City staff are developing recommendations for the implementation of the Guidelines.

• Downtown Development Initiatives
  
  • Waller Creek: The consultant, Chuck Flink of Greenways, Incorporated has completed the Waller Creek Urban Greenway Action Plan. Contact the Downtown Austin Alliance to obtain a copy of the report.
  • Heritage Austin: The Heritage Society of Austin has committed to completeing their report Heritage Austin: A Community Value Based Vision by the end of January 2001.

• Downtown Parking Study
  The final draft report will be available in January 2001.

• Great Streets Master Plan
  New Project Description
  The City's Planning, Environmental and Conservation Services Department is currently involved in contract negotiation, expected to be completed this month.

• Lamar Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge Facility
  All drilling was completed for underground piers. The foundation tie beams and column base beams are about 90% complete. The upper column bents are flaring out from water and are visible. Steel beam placement will be done in November starting at the south end. The barges in the lake will move back and forth from the north to south shores on regular basis. The helix construction is in full swing at the north end.

• Mexican American Cultural Center
  New Project Description
  The Mexican American Cultural Center is to be dedicated to the preservation, creation, presentation, and promotion of Mexican American cultural arts and heritage. The center will be a tremendous resource for the local community and visiting tourists. Through education and community participation, the center will foster a meaningful understanding and appreciation of Chicano, Native American, and other Latino cultures with their respective artistic expressions. The programs and education curriculum will include the areas of visual art, theater, dance, literature, music, multi-media, and the culinary arts. The MACC will be designed to create a safe and beautiful place for youth, adults, and seniors to spend their time creatively and pleasurably. Ultimately a large 800 seat theater, a small 300 seat theater, an outdoor Plaza, a two story education/exhibit/rehearsal/office building and a two story parking garage will be built.

• New City Hall & Public Plaza
  Demolition of the existing buildings was completed this fall, and construction of the underground parking garage is expected to begin in early 2001.

• Poleyard Residential Development
  The first units were occupied in September, 2000. Completion is planned for March 2001.

• Seaholm Power Plant Reuse
  In June 2000 Council authorized the hiring of ROMA Design Group to create this master plan which will make recommendations about the urban design and economic redevelopment of the area surrounding the power plant facility. This process began in August, with the development of "framework sketch concepts". A series of stakeholder work sessions have since taken place.

• Town Lake Park Events Center
  Bid Package 1, providing for the removal of the Riverside Center building at 901 W. Riverside Dr., was substantially completed July 6th 2000. Bid Package 2 construction includes relocation of some existing utilities and placement of new as well as the placement of 376 drilled piers that will become the foundation for the new Palmer Events Center and Parking Facility. Bid Package 2 is anticipated to be substantially complete by November 13th, 2000. Bid Package 3 opened bids October 12, 2000. This work includes construction of the new Palmer Events Center and Parking Facility and is expected to start on November 13, 2000. The Parking facility is anticipated to be open by November 2001, and the Palmer Events Center by the end of May 2002. Two additional construction contracts are expected for award during 2001. These include the access roads to the new Palmer Events Center and Parking Facility as well as the first Landscaping contract for the area around both the Events Center and Parking Facility.

• Town Lake Park, Phase I
  Construction Documents preparation led by TBG Partners for phase I. This first Landscape package construction is scheduled for July 2001 through May 2002.

• Town Lake Waterfront Overlay District
  City staff is developing recommendations on the implementation of the report's recommendations.

• Waller Creek Flood-Management and Water Quality Improvements
  The Austin City Council approved the contract for project engineering services on May 20, 1999. Preliminary engineering studies have been underway since that time. A public meeting was held on June 29, 1999 to present the scope of the preliminary engineering investigations. Since that time, the engineering consultant has advised the City that the cost of the project will be greater than estimated in the 1996 study of the project. Supplemental project preliminary engineering studies have been authorized to review additional tunnel alignments and outlet locations in an attempt to determine the most cost-effective project. The cost effectiveness of the project is also being analyzed.

• Waller Creek Trail and Park Improvements
  

  Waterloo Park	Project Complete except for kiosk
  Symphony Square	Project complete except for kiosk
  Doyle House Ramp	Project complete except for kiosk
  Ninth Street Ramp	Project complete except for kiosk
  Seventh Street Lighting	Project complete except for kiosk
  Sixth Street Gate	Project complete
  Palm Park	Project complete
  Trask House	Project complete except for kiosk
  Cesar Chavez	No construction yet; re-design underway
  Town Lake and Waller Creek	Project complete except for kiosk

  In addition to the site construction, we are in the process of bidding out materials, such as the pedestrian bridge, benches and other site furnishings, signage, etc.