City of Austin to host discussion on Brackenridge tract

For immediate release
July 8, 2008

The City’s Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department will seek input regarding the future of the Brackenridge tract, which contains the historic Lions Municipal Golf Course, at a public meeting Saturday, July 12, 2008.

The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lower Colorado River Authority’s Red Bud Facility, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd., room 108 in Central West Austin.

The land is owned by the University of Texas. The City of Austin leases a portion of the tract for the Lions Municipal Golf Course. The tract is also comprised of a biological field laboratory and more than 500 student apartments, including the Colorado Apartments and the Brackenridge Apartments, and commercial development including Randalls and Hula Hut.

Last year, a blue ribbon panel advised the University of Texas System’s Board of Regents that some portions of the tract should be redeveloped to earn money for the University of Texas.

Neighborhood Planning and Zoning officials hope to hear what residents of the area believe would be best for the neighborhood. Ideas and opinions from this meeting will be formally communicated to the University of Texas.

"The importance of this meeting is to identify the desires regarding the potential development of the Brackenridge Tract," said Paul DiGiuseppe, Principal Planner with the Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department. "These desires will be included in the Central West Austin Neighborhood Plan as well as communicated to the University of Texas for its consideration as part of its master planning process,"

The City of Austin neighborhood planning process results in a plan that addresses land use, transportation, and urban design issues.

"The goal of neighborhood planning is for diverse interests to come together and develop a shared vision for their community," DiGiuseppe said. "Neighborhood planning provides an opportunity for citizens to take a proactive role in the planning process and decide how their neighborhoods will move into the future."

The City’s Neighborhood Planning Process is separate from the University of Texas Master Planning Process.

Free parking will be available for the meeting.

Contact:
Paul DiGiuseppe, Principal Planner, Neighborhood Planning and Zoning, (512) 974-2865
Reyne Telles, Public Information Specialist, (512) 974-7988, (512) 695-9686