Downtown

May 1996

• ADA Curb & Sidewalk - East Austin
  Engineering Micro Research, Inc. has completed all of the ramps in the East Austin section. The project is in warranty.

• Austin Downtown Rangers
  The Rangers will celebrate their 2nd Anniversary on June 1, 1996. The Rangers will soon be working with security teams of major Downtown buildings to provide increased service to the Alliance's largest property owners.

• Downtown Convention and Visitor Activities
  This new report covers a time period from March 1, 1996 to April 31, 1996, and reports Downtown Convention and Visitor Activities.

• Congress Avenue Street Reconstruction and Overlay
  The Congress Avenue Street Reconstruction and Overlay Project began April 29. The outside lanes from César Chávez to 10th St. will be reconstructed in reinforced concrete. A second contract will be let shortly after completing the above work, to pave the inside lanes and to reconstruct the block form 10th to 11th. As a result of cost increases since the project was originally bid in 1993 and design changes, it was necessary to re-bid a portion of the work.

• Downtown Library Renovations
  Library renovations are complete and the libraries are open.

• Downtown Office Space Consolidation (formerly "New City Hall")
  On February 29, 1996, the City Council approved Amendment #2 to the professional services agreement with Keyser Marston Associates, Inc., which will add a real estate consultant to their downtown redevelopment team. Building on the recommendations made by the Business Group, the real estate consultant will investigate current and actual opportunities in the following areas: 1) long-term lease consolidation for 325,000 NUSF (net usable square feet), 2) purchase of an existing building or campus of buildings comprising 325,000 NUSF, 3) public/private partnership for construction of an new City Hall with 325,000 NUSF.

  It is expected that the real estate consultant will make recommendations to the City Council in July, 1996.

• First Tuesday Downtown (Downtown Alliance Program)
  First Tuesday Downtown is a new type of event for Austin, to be sponsored by the Downtown Austin Alliance. This is a monthly "evening on the downtown" that showcases Austin's unique, diverse, creatively and economically thriving Downtown neighborhood, as well as bring families, students, seniors, and singles Downtown, where they may stroll from theaters to art exhibits in large buildings, hotel lobbies, and galleries, and into businesses, retail and gift shops, and restaurants along the way. The event will spread outward from an Alliance-sponsored core of activity on Congress Avenue's 600-900 block area. Venues throughout the Downtown area are invited to participate by remaining open and possibly having special offerings.

  First Tuesday Downtown will be held the first Tuesday of each month from 5:00-9:00p.m., beginning in July 1996. Although the event is for all of Downtown, the Alliance will initially focus its core activity along Congress Avenue's 600-900 block area and will feature entertainment from 5:00-7:00p.m. Venues will remain open until 9:00p.m. As the Downtown Austin Alliance is committed to at least an initial 6-month run, the dates for the first six First Tuesdays will be July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5 (Election Day), and December 3.

• Scattered Cooperative Infill Housing Program (SCIP 2)
  It is anticipated that ACDC will submit another application to the State in May or June, 1996. An award of tax credits to the SCIP 2 project is not anticipated until mid-July, 1996.

• South 1st Street
  The project is being constructed in five phases. Phase IV has been completed, and Phase V started April 19, 1996. The total project should be completed by May 31, 1996.

• Street Reconstruction and Overlay
  
  • Congress Avenue: The contract has been awarded; construction started April 29.
  • Colorado Street / Brazos Street: The design is essentially complete; bidding is on hold pending completion of Capital MetroÕs bus route plan for the downtown area.
  • San Jacinto Street: The design is complete; construction is scheduled for fall 1996.

• Waller Creek Flood Management and Water Quality Improvements Study
  The final report has been submitted. The project will be listed as an unfunded potential C.I.P. project. Employees of the Watershed Management Department have reviewed the project with the U.S. Corps of Engineers. COE funding is unlikely, given the low benefit/cost ratio of the project.