About the Author
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Most Popular Stories
- New federal cash paves way for East Austin’s ‘wishbone’ bridge over Lady Bird Lake
- Austin’s airport is getting a new concourse and 20 more gates but not until the 2030s
- Judge rules city can’t use taxpayer money for South Central TIRZ
- Save Our Springs Alliance sues City Council over Open Meetings Act
- Democrats vs. Republicans: First election coming for Travis Central Appraisal District board
-
Discover News By District
Staff says decision needed on Winnebago Lane
Wednesday, February 3, 2016 by Jo Clifton
City Council must make a decision this week on whether to sell a piece of property at 4711 Winnebago Lane – as proposed by the department that owns the land, Austin Resource Recovery – or it will lose the buyer. City real estate officer Lauraine Rizer told Council during Tuesday’s work session that the prospective buyer, Jimmy Nassour, has indicated he would walk away from the deal if Council postpones a decision again. It has already postponed it once at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo. ARR Director Bob Gedert is proposing to sell the tract for $1.45 million as part of a $7.5 million financing package for the [re]Manufacturing Hub, which the department intends to develop. Tovo wants to explore the feasibility of developing a live/work project on the property with a group called Artspace. That would mean the city would have to find funding for the [re]Manufacturing Hub somewhere else. Council Member Sheri Gallo wanted to find out whether Council has a process for determining what to do with unused city land. Council Member Delia Garza said she, too, would like to have a clear process. Garza said it was her understanding that all other city departments had told Gedert they did not have a use for the property, leading him to believe that he could sell it in order to help fund the [re]Manufacturing Hub. Thursday’s conversation will likely be about money and how the city should pay for the hub, although Tovo and Council Member Leslie Pool would like to discuss the artists who could live and work there.
Join Your Friends and Neighbors
We're a nonprofit news organization, and we put our service to you above all else. That will never change. But public-service journalism requires community support from readers like you. Will you join your friends and neighbors to support our work and mission?