Downtown

March 1996

• ADA Curb & Sidewalk - East Austin
  Engineering Micro Research, Inc. has completed 90% of the ramps in the East Austin section.

• Downtown Convention and Visitor Activities
  This new report covers a time period from January 1, 1996 to February 29, 1996, and reports Downtown Convention and Visitor Activities.

• Downtown Development Initiatives
  At the March 20 worksession, Gerald Trimble of Keyser Marston Associates briefed the City Council on the current progress of the proposed Tax Increment Finance District reinvestment zone for downtown Austin and the downtown development corporation. The city staff and downtown consultant were directed to proceed with the creation of a TIF district and development corporation by City Council resolution on June 8, 1995. A downtown development schedule was provided to the Council in November of 1996 outlining the necessary steps and timeline to implement the Councils' direction.

• Downtown 'Dillo Routes (Capital Metro)
  The route of the #88 / Old Pecan Street 'Dillo has been extended further east to Pleasant Valley Road.

• Downtown Library Renovations
  The renovation of the John Henry Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe, is well underway, including replacement of lighting fixtures, ceiling and carpet; installation of an upgraded fire detection and security system; and asbestos abatement. Sunday, April 28, is the date for the grand reopening and renaming of the John Henry Faulk Central Library, featuring Cactus Pryor as emcee, and guests including Molly Ivins, Bobby Bridger, and numerous dignitaries. The event will be held from 3-5 p.m., during which check-out of Library materials will be permitted. The APL Foundation inaugural event will take place from 1-3 p.m., prior to the reopening of the Faulk Central Library on Sunday, April 28.

• Downtown Mobility Action Plan
  The Capital Metro-sponsored DMAP is scheduled for completion of a draft plan in early May 1996. Public participation for DMAP is targeted to existing boards and commissions. Meetings will be continued in May 1996.

• Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) Downtown Noontime Concerts
  The concerts have been held every Tuesday each Spring and Fall since 1994. They will resume in April 1996. The Spring 1996 schedule is:
  • April 2 - Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes (60's and Motown)
  • April 9 - Ponty Bone & the Squeezetones (Cajun / Mexican)
  • April 16 - Sissy Siero (Country Western)
  • April 23 - Wimberley Volunteer Fire Ants (Eclectic Bluegrass)
  • April 30 - Mady Kaye & the All-Star Big Band (17 Piece Big Band Sound)
  • May 7 - Los Pinkys (Tejano / Conjunto in Spanish and English)
  • May 14 - Doc Grauzer (Irish Harp) - tentative
  • May 21 - Jazz Pharaohs (nostalgic New Orleans Dixieland jazz)
  • May 28 - Denim (4 piece original Austin progressive country music)
  • June 4 - Tejazz (it's jazz with the Jazzmanian Devil himself, Tomas Ramirez)
  • June 11 - Double-O-Soul (original soul and top 40 cover tunes)
  • June 18 - Correo Aereo (South American vocals and multi-instrumental) - tentative
  • June 25 - 47 Indians (Unique rock-a-billy with a horn section)

• E. Fifth Street Roadway Amendment
  On February 8, 1996 the City Council held a Public Hearing to consider the amendment, and adopted the Planning Commission recommendation (5-0, with Mitchell and Shea off the dais).

• Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) Great Streets Program
  The pink sidewalk is in place on the Second Street project. It will be completed when trees have been placed in the tree grates. The Alliance has also written three ISTEA grant applications for three other Great Streets projects - the 200 block of Congress, Red River from César Chávez to Sixth Street, and Fourth Street from Congress to Lavaca.

• Holly To Seaholm Transmission Line
  Construction projects should be completed in April 1996, with clean-up and restoration activities concluding in May 1996.

• Downtown Office Space Consolidation (formerly "New City Hall")
  On February 29, 1996, the City Council approved Amendment #1 to the professional services agreement with Keyser Marston Associates, Inc., which will add a real estate consultant to their team. Building on the recommendations made by the Business Group, the real estate consultant will investigate current and actual opportunities in the following areas:
  • long-term lease consolidation for 325,000 NUSF (net usable square feet), including contract with the buildings currently occupied by the City, and including an option to purchase
  • purchase of an existing building or campus of buildings comprising 325,000 NUSF
  • public/private partnership for constructin of an new City Hall with 325,000 NUSF

• O. Henry Museum Restoration - Phase I
  Construction is approximately 98% complete. One punch list item remains to be completed (5 sets of new shutters to be installed on the house). The bonding company has been notified to complete the remaining punch list item and to resolve subcontractor claims against the general contractor for non-payment.

• Scattered Cooperative Infill Housing Program (SCIP 2)
  In September, 1995, Anderson Community Development Corporation (ACDC) completed and submitted its application to the State for Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) for the Scattered Cooperative Infill Housing Program (SCIP) 2 project. Subsequently, the request was denied. ACDC's contract with the City of Austin for federal assistance to implement SCIP 2 is contingent upon the approval of LIHTCs. The City's contract with ACDC was extended beyond the original expiration date of December 31, 1995, to allow ACDC the opportunity to reapply for the tax credits. It is anticipated that ACDC will submit another application to the State in April, 1996. An award of tax credits to the SCIP 2 project is not anticipated until mid-June, 1996.

• Shoal Creek Flood Repair
  Construction is underway; the project is 70% complete. Completion is expected in April 1996.

• South 1st Street
  The project is being constructed in five phases. Phase II has been completed, and Phase III started January 24, 1996. The total project should be completed by July 1996.

• Street Reconstruction and Overlay
  
  • Congress Avenue: The contract has been awarded; construction is on hold.
  • Colorado Street / Brazos Street: The design is essentially complete; bidding is on hold pending completion of Capital Metro's bus route plan for the downtown area.
  • San Jacinto Street: The design is in progress; construction is scheduled for September, 1996.

• Waller Creek Flood Management and Water Quality Improvements Study
  The final report has been submitted. An 18 foot diameter tunnel from 15th Street to Town Lake, under Trinity Street, is being proposed. The tunnel will divert flood flows from Waller Creek and will provide limited water quality improvements. The proposed project will include pumping of water from the tunnel to Waller Creek at 15th Street to increase base flow. The estimated project cost is $16,800,000. The project's benefit/cost ratio under current conditions is 0.50.

  The project will be listed as an unfunded potential C.I.P. project. Employees of the Drainage Utility Department are inquiring with the U.S. Corps of Engineers on their interest in funding the project. COE funding is unlikely, given the low benefit/cost ratio of the project.