Downtown

October 1997

• Austin Downtown Rangers
  Dane Sullivan is Acting Supervisor until June 1998.

• Destination Downtown Arts & Entertainment Map
  During the summer of 1997 the Alliance updated a second edition of the map. 45,000 copies were printed in October 1997. The Alliance is co-marketing this project with the Austin American-Statesman's "XLent" and "Experience Austin". The second edition of the map shows around 90 restaurants, 61 performing arts venues, 42 visual arts venues, as well as museums, libraries, parks, hotels and lodging, annual arts events, and University of Texas at Austin facilities. The map also shows Downtown public transportation routes and off-street parking available to the public, including State of Texas parking facilities. Attention has been given to the emerging cultural districts within the Public Improvement District.

• Downtown Development Initiatives
  On November 6 the City Council approved resolutions:
  • directing the City Manager to initiate a study to determine the feasibility of developing the Electric Utility "Pole Yard" property for residential uses, and developing a public-private cooperative venture;
  • directing the City Manager to develop a letter of intent outlining a public-private joint venture for redeveloping the City's Block 4 and the privately held Block 20 into a mixed-use residential project;
  • directing the City Manager to initiate discussions with public institutions and private interests to develop a public-private cooperative effort for proposed improvements to Waller Creek;
  • directing the Design Commission to prepare draft design guidelines for the city's downtown region, building on previous Council actions, planning studies and community consensus building exercises;
  • creating a downtown development advisory group to advise the Council on specific projects as well as long term policy decisions regarding City-owned assets in the downtown area, and;
  • endorsing the Heritage Austin public input process, and resolving that Heritage Austin serve as an independent planning resource and advisory body to the City Council for downtown Austin, working parallel to and in conjunction with the downtown development advisory group.

• DAA Downtown Parking Signs and Map
  Close to 100 signs will be in use by the end of October. The Alliance is working to increase that number.

• Downtown Parking Plan
  The conversion to electronic parking meters will be phased in over a three to four year plan. The first phase of the installation was completed in September 1997. The ordinance amendments required to implement the plan were approved in August, 1997.

• Lamar Boulevard Bridge
  Planning is underway for an idea competition to get input on pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

• Scattered Cooperative Infill Housing Program (SCIP 2)
  Eleven (11) houses are presently under construction with completion expected November 1997. Construction on the second panel of houses of sixteen (16) is scheduled to begin in mid-October and late November 1.