The 2nd Street District consists of six downtown blocks, mostly owned by the City, fronting West 2nd Street. The City developed the District from 2000 to 2012 through a series of public-private partnerships with the intent to bring a dense, walkable urban experience to downtown Austin. By 2017, the District hosted more than: 600 residences, 250 hotel rooms, 3,000 jobs and 175,000 square feet of retail space. With the essential support of community leaders and private partners, the 2nd Street District has surpassed expectations for a world-class destination to live, work, shop and dine and continues to be a catalyst for Austin’s downtown.
Public Benefits
Job Creation:
- More than 3,000 office and retail jobs
- Retail consistently exceeds 30% locally owned business requirement
Public Art:
- $200,000 contributed by Stratus & AMLI for public art in the District
- 7 pieces are within the Art in Public Places (AIPP) collection
Affordable Housing:
- 12 units included in Block 22
- 40 percent of City property taxes from District are contributed to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to fund affordable housing use city-wide
Pedestrian Connectivity/Streetscape:
Sustainability:
- District participates in Austin Energy’s District Cooling Program (chilled water)
- All eligible District buildings are certified as Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This includes: 4-star AEGB for W Residences and AMLI on 2nd; LEED Gold for Austin City Hall; and LEED Silver for W Hotel.