Tag Archives: Downtown Austin Alliance
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Downtown survey shows small window for many businesses to reopen and recover
A large majority of business storefronts in downtown Austin are at risk of closure in the next two to three months without significant increases in commercial activity, according to a new study on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.The Downtown…
Thursday, April 16, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
City, chamber, downtown alliance working to assist small businesses amid Covid-19 restrictions
With many businesses either closed or operating with restrictions caused by the Covid-19 health crisis, the Downtown Austin Alliance and Austin Chamber are gathering data from local business owners about the types of assistance they’ll need to stay open for…
Monday, March 2, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Roads
Planning nonprofit suggests stitching Austin back together over I-35
With last week’s announcement of funding to improve Interstate 35 through Central Austin, the Downtown Austin Alliance is inviting the community to gather around a vision for a more ambitious plan.Dewitt Peart, president and CEO of Downtown Austin Alliance, said…
Friday, February 28, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Health & Human Services
With state approval, ATX Helps will take over the homeless campsite at U.S. 183
State officials agreed Thursday to lease state-owned land to an Austin nonprofit for $1 a month to house homeless Austinites, with the goal of ultimately building a shelter on the 6.7-acre tract.The approval from the Texas Transportation Commission will allow…
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Roads
Panel will look at future of development and displacement along I-35
A panel of national experts convened by the Urban Land Institute will look at ideas next week for how Austin could steer development plans for the land surrounding – and possibly covering – Interstate 35 in the years to come.…
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Planning
Area leaders hear of economic, community benefits forecast for innovation district
A market analysis of the burgeoning health care innovation district in the northeastern section of downtown forecasts the cluster of businesses could eventually increase property values by an additional $102 million over standard development, and bring the city an estimated…
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Development
Downtown to grow in a new direction
Generally speaking, residents used to take in the downtown skyline from the east or west. Today, the skyline has shifted 90 degrees so that the volume of development is better viewed from the north or the south shore of Lady…
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Downtown Commission hears fundraising plans for 300 new shelter beds
A partnership between the Downtown Austin Alliance and the Austin Chamber of Commerce has identified 14 sites that could become the location for a new large shelter to serve the city’s homeless population.At last month’s Downtown Commission meeting, representatives from…
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
Parks
Parks board tries to negotiate impasse over use of Republic Square
Managers of the weekly farmers market that has taken place at Republic Square since 2003 have expressed frustration that the Downtown Austin Alliance’s use of the space for special events has started to negatively impact some of the more than…
Friday, September 27, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
City Council
Adler, others on Council want staff to lead on homelessness; DAA says city at ‘tipping point’
Mayor Steve Adler and City Council members Jimmy Flannigan and Paige Ellis weighed in Wednesday and Thursday with their views that the city manager, leaders from the Austin Police Department and the city’s new homeless strategy officer should determine how…
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Salvation Army seeks funding on top of city dollars to open shelter for families
The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation has pledged $100,000 to help open a new shelter for homeless families in East Austin, months after the city agreed to a one-time contribution of $1 million.The funding will help cover some of the $4.9…
Thursday, August 22, 2019 by Andrew Weber
City Council
At homelessness forum, Council members challenge fears and ‘urban myths’ about shelters, revised law
Austin’s mayor and members of City Council tried to allay fears about the city’s revised rules on homelessness and its push to expand shelter space, at a forum hosted by the Downtown Austin Alliance.The brunt of Wednesday’s discussion focused on…
Thursday, July 11, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Austin
Camping rules continue to stoke arguments
City Council’s decision to revise ordinances related to where homeless people may camp, sit or lie down continues to cause controversy in the city, with some claiming the changes are making things worse for everyone, particularly law enforcement.Mayor Steve Adler…
Friday, June 7, 2019 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Sparks fly over proposed changes to camping laws
Representatives of the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition and the Downtown Austin Alliance continue to stress that they are working together to end homelessness in Austin. But their conflicting messages to City Council on Thursday about proposed changes to ordinances that…
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Austin
DAA launches annual report and new nonprofit
Amidst a multitude of rosy economic statistics on Tuesday, the Downtown Austin Alliance released its first State of Downtown report at the inaugural Future of Downtown event. The report seeks to be “a market snapshot illustrating the central role downtown…
Friday, August 31, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Transportation
Affordable Parking Program expands
Downtown parking may have just gotten a bit easier, thanks to a public-private partnership aimed at downtown service industry workers.The city of Austin and the Downtown Austin Alliance announced yesterday that, after a partnership with Premier Parking, the Affordable Parking…
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Program expansion more than doubles cheap nighttime parking downtown
The city is more than doubling the amount of affordable parking spaces available for evening-hours workers in downtown Austin businesses, building on the success of a pilot program that started in 2016.The expansion of the Affordable Parking Program will see…
Friday, July 6, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Courts
Groups criticize Paxton for suing commissioners
The people who urged Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to file suit to remove eight members of the Austin Planning Commission on Monday have nothing but praise for Paxton; however, other more business-oriented groups are not pleased with the legal…
Tuesday, July 3, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Possible changes to panhandling ordinance draw concern from business leaders
A possible revision of the city’s ordinance regulating panhandling is drawing concern from downtown business leaders who say the proposed changes would allow aggressive requests for money and could create safety issues in areas with heavy foot traffic.The amendments to…
Tuesday, June 26, 2018 by Caleb Pritchard
Austin
Ciclovia on hold while parking proposal creates controversy on Congress Avenue
The dream of shutting down Congress Avenue for a daylong bicycle festival is in a state of suspended animation.City Council made a step toward the idea just over a year ago when it voted on a resolution directing the city…
