See our annual priorities.
2026 - 2027 Milestones & Goals
HOMELESSNESS & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION
EAST SIXTH STREET EVOLUTION
FUTURE PROOF I-35 CAPS ENHANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CENTRAL CITY PLAN
LIGHT RAIL STATION DESIGN
The Downtown Austin Alliance is the 24/7 champion for Downtown Austin, creating and protecting the vibe, vitality and value of downtown everyday while forging a future by and for everyone. Our goals and milestones for FY 26-27 balance long-term advocacy and planning needs with tactical, market-responsive action. In addition to these goals, we remain committed to providing core services to ensure downtown is clean, safe and welcoming for all.
Mitigate the impacts of construction through a comprehensive effort to preserve downtown visitation and employee access while maintaining thriving businesses.
• Advance and expand existing grant programs and tools, such as construction relief grants and parking programs
• Develop and pilot a construction placemaking strategy that integrates art, culture and activation and drives people to businesses in impacted areas
Improve homelessness and behavioral health outcomes through strategic collaborations resulting in increased mental health beds and services and enhanced laws, ordinances and enforcement to improve public order.
• Advocate for increased involuntary commitment beds and expand commitment authority
• Increase enforcement of ordinances
• Create a coalition of support among local businesses and stakeholders
Evolve Sixth Street into a safe and vibrant 18-hour district with active storefronts and diverse uses. Continue to improve conditions of the street through both tactical placemaking and sustained progress toward design and funding of the long-term reconstruction.
• Help to identify and secure funding to advance the long-term street reconstruction
• Launch a creative placemaking partnership to drive foot traffic, support small businesses and animate underused spaces along Sixth Street
• Complete maintenance of 55+ street trees to preserve tree canopy health
• Compile existing historic information into a
The potential to build highway caps in downtown is preserved as part of a strategic approach to economic development along the eastern edge of downtown.
• Establish a working group including the City of Austin and key partners to develop a funding strategy and governance structure for the Cesar Chavez to 4th Street highway cap
Stand up a user-friendly economic development toolbox that helps attract and retain downtown businesses while continuing to evolve and implement the Economic Development Strategy for downtown.
• Advance a second season of LIVE! From Downtown Music Series
• Operationalize & scale Lab Fifty6 creative co-working concept
• Launch a second round of Storefront Improvement Grants
• Identify dedicated, sustainable funding streams for downtown
• Evaluate the feasibility of a membership program
• Evaluate market interest in expanding the boundaries of the Downtown Public Improvement District into adjacent areas
A future-forward and implementable Central City District Plan is advanced and resourced to expand the density, vibrancy, and quality of life in downtown while increasing and harnessing economic impact to make critical investments for downtown's future.
• Complete and widely share/communicate the Value of Downtown Economic Impact Report results
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of downtown parking conditions to support advancement of policy-level solutions to improve parking affordability and access
Advance design of downtown light rail stations in partnership with the Austin Transit Partnership to establish iconic destinations and uplift adjacent businesses through creative placemaking and superior place management.
• Create a cross-program working group and develop context-sensitive design suggestions for downtown light rail stations, including peer-city precedent examples
