Austin, Monitored: The state of downtown and the future of solar

Downtown report: Office vacancies up, infrastructure growth continues

From Chad Swiatecki:

Downtown Austin is in a transitional period, with the latest “State of Downtown Austin” report highlighting diverging paths for public and private sector development. The Downtown Austin Alliance’s annual review, now in its seventh year, notes an increase in downtown office vacancies, up to 22 percent versus the 18 percent reported last year.

The report showed the downtown population now exceeds 15,000 residents, with a workforce of over 131,000, reflecting continued centralization of employment despite remote work trends. There are 13 major projects under construction totaling 6.63 million square feet, including more than 2,600 new housing units and nearly 900 hotel rooms.

Austin could soon see more rooftop solar power systems on public buildings

From Amy Smith:

With the backing of Public Citizen and other local organizations, the City Council last week passed a measure directing city staff to make recommendations for maximizing solar installations on municipal buildings, parking lots and open spaces. The resolution further directs staff to explore opportunities for expanding this endeavor to public buildings under other jurisdictions within the Austin Energy load zone.

“We have millions of square feet of rooftop space between our facilities and school district facilities that are empty,” said Council Member Ryan Alter, sponsor of the resolution. By filling those empty spaces with solar systems, he added, the city could “create and generate cheap, clean electricity, which not only helps stabilize our grid but saves money for ratepayers.”

Airport art contracts unpause

After pushback about the lack of local representation, the city is once again moving forward with Art in Public Places contracts for the ongoing expansion of the airport with “clear pathways for Austin-based artists to participate,” according to a recent memo. Of particular concern was the national call for artists which, according to the memo, now requires artists to subcontract at least 10 percent of the total contract cost to Austin-based creatives. “Additionally, because these works are integrated directly into new airport construction, staff anticipates further collaboration with local trades and fabricators, ensuring deeper participation from Austin’s creative and technical workforce,” reads the memo. These contracts, totaling up to $10.6 million, will be on the June 5 City Council agenda. At that meeting, Council will also consider the second phase of contracts, which was open to artists anywhere in Texas. According to the memo, “(t)his phase has already demonstrated strong Austin participation (of the seven artists selected, four are Austin-based) and exemplifies how the AIPP program fosters opportunities for local talent.” A third phase, which was open exclusively to Austin-based artists, closed on April 30 with an expectation that City Council will consider those contracts in September 2025.

But what about a Cuter Sixth Street Initiative?

Anyone wondering about the current design sense of Sixth Street downtown might want to tune in to the Downtown Commission’s latest meeting. Carey Chaudoir, who is the APD Commander of the Downtown Area Command, gave a brief update on the state of the Safer Sixth Street Initiative, with particular emphasis on the barriers used to separate pedestrians from traffic now that the street is not (generally) closed on weekend nights. The pilot program that opened Sixth Street to vehicular traffic launched in January. Since then, she explained, crowds leaning on fences and cars running over their footings had led to their collapse in several sections. This month, the city replaced the white fencing with orange-and-white, water-filled plastic barricades, which are more durable, but also much less attractive. Chaudoir explained that the new barricades were also temporary until a more long term, aesthetic solution could be found “so that our Sixth Street Downtown area looks presentable, welcomes tourists and things like that.” She said that, at the moment, city staff was meeting with stakeholders to find a more permanent solution that factors in their feedback. 

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS

Austin Business Journal takes a look at why our fair city’s growth has slowed of late.

The Texas Senate has voted to end STAAR testing and change how the Texas Education Agency rates public schools.

Community Impact reports that Lime is rolling out new, seated scooters in Austin.

And a bill that would allow smaller homes on smaller lots continues to move forward at the lege.

Thanks for reading!

Liz

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