AN NU AL RE PO RT
Our Vision For Downtown
Downtown Austin is the heart and soul of Central Texas. It is a welcoming community and a vibrant neighborhood for all.
Downtown is our area’s cultural hub and a thriving business, government and residential center. The area is easy to reach and enticing to explore— a place where nature’s beauty beckons. It is a prosperous place that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.
The Board Chair
Pamela Power
Ask a group of Austinites why they love our city and, after they name a few favorite places, they’ll inevitably say something like, “I just love the vibe here.”
While Austin can certainly boast impressive economic and demographic statistics, it’s that intangible feeling—the positive, creativity-inducing energy—that ultimately makes talented people want to call this place home. And that in turn makes companies want to locate and grow their operations here.
Retaining this quality of life, especially in our urban core, is crucial to keeping our edge as one of America’s most beloved cities. We’re enjoying a new building cycle downtown, with exciting projects like the JW Marriott, Whitley apartments and the redevelopment of the Seaholm Power Plant and Green Water Treatment Plant. All these bricks-and-mortar developments must be backed by heart and soul.
That’s why the Downtown Austin Alliance has put much emphasis this year on enhancing the downtown experience for residents, business owners, employees and visitors alike.
Our initiatives included PlazaLife—a “makeover” event that enlivened Frost Bank Plaza through music, food, enticing design and diverse activities. The public’s highly positive response created a placemaking model that we plan to help other downtown property owners follow. We also continued to shape Congress Avenue into a united retail district through marketing campaigns, events and ambient tree lighting, which will soon make its debut.
In addition to spearheading initiatives,
the DAA continued to leverage strong partnerships to exponentially increase the change we can effect downtown. From our volunteer leadership who championed downtown projects to be included on this year’s bond election ballot, to our board members who advocated for urban rail, to our friends at Austin Park Foundation who pioneered new public-private park management models, the DAA network exemplified Austin’s entrepreneurial spirit.
On behalf of the DAA and its board of directors, I thank you for your involvement and interest in enhancing downtown. We invite you to visit our new website, DowntownAustin.com, where you’ll find more ways to connect with us throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Pamela Power
Letter
the Executive Director
The construction cranes dotting downtown Austin’s skyline, along with our alreadyhealthy occupancy rates, are signs of a city relatively untouched by the recession. And the announcements keep coming. From the Waller Creek Tunnel to the Capitol Complex Master Plan to the University of Texas’s planned medical school and teaching hospital, there is a future for the central business district that’s a dramatic enhancement to today’s downtown.
In addition to improving mobility, as downtown areas become more interconnected we must transform entertainment districts like East Sixth Street from primarily nighttime destinations to multi-use areas that encourage shopping, dining and recreation around the clock. We cannot recruit a diverse mix of retailers to these areas without first tackling security and maintenance challenges, so the DAA is working with partners on innovative solutions.
Charlie Betts
Executive Director Downtown Austin Alliance
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE
Who We Are
The Downtown Austin Alliance is a nonprofit organization that works with key downtown stakeholders to advance our collective vision for the future of downtown Austin. Downtown property owners with property valued over $500,000 are automatically assessed members of the DAA, and any other Austin organizations or individuals are welcomed to join.
When we refer to “the DAA” and “we” throughout this report, we’re alluding both to our talented staff and the teams they assemble to drive initiatives forward. These include:
• The DAA board and advisory board
• DAA committees
• Downtown stakeholders: – property owners
residents
business owners – community organizations – government officials
What We Do
The DAA is engaged in dozens of projects and issues that increase the appeal of downtown Austin to residents, employees and visitors. As a full-time advocate for downtown, the DAA is actively involved in planning decisions that impact the area. We also advance downtown’s vision through direct services supporting safety and cleanliness.
Public Improvement District
About the PID
The Downtown Austin Alliance’s primary source of funding comes from a special assessment on privately owned, large properties within the Downtown Public Improvement District. The PID assesses properties at 10 cents per $100 after the first $500,000 in value.
PID Renewal
In 2012, the DAA and downtown property owners successfully petitioned the Austin City Council to renew the Downtown PID through 2023. City Council first created the PID in 1993.
The DAA spent much of the year educating downtown property owners about the PID renewal and collecting their signatures for the petition. State law requires us to collect signatures from property owners representing at least 50 percent of the value of the property liable for assessment, and either 50 percent of the land area or 50 percent of the total number of property owners. The DAA submitted petitions representing 85 percent of the value and 71 percent of the land area. The City Council conducted a hearing on Oct. 11, 2012 and approved the Public Improvement District for the next 10 years.
by the Numbers
Office Market
Residential and Hotel Markets
Retail Market
Downtown Austin Alliance
Strategic Plan
In 2008, the Downtown Austin Alliance created a 5-year strategic plan, incorporating extensive input from downtown property owners, leaders and residents. This plan guides our special projects and daily activities as we serve the community’s interests. Our impact areas and ongoing initiatives are interconnected—each is essential to the success of the others.
Impact Areas
We chose three impact areas where we can have the greatest impact on downtown’s vitality.
• Congress Avenue: Develop Congress Avenue into an extraordinary place that is the heart and soul of Austin and “The Main Street of Texas.”
• Mobility: Actively participate in transportation planning to monitor and influence transportation ingress, egress and circulation in downtown Austin.
• Northeast Quadrant: Advocate for the transformation of the Northeast Quadrant into a safe, appealing, economically vital and historically significant asset to downtown including the transformation of East Sixth Street.
Ongoing Initiatives
Our team works steadily to improve these interconnected elements of downtown Austin.
Promoting Economic Vitality
• Economic Development: Promote positive growth of downtown’s retail, commercial and residential markets.
• Retail: Provide leadership in the implementation of the Downtown Retail Redevelopment Strategy, an initiative to cultivate a mix of local, regional and national retailers downtown.
• Music, Culture & Events: Foster an environment that is supportive of cultural organizations, music and events
for the region that make downtown the premier destination for cultural events and entertainment.
• Parks and Open Space: Foster public-private partnerships to revitalize and activate downtown squares, plazas and public spaces.
Improving the Basics and Public Realm
• Natural Environment: Protect and enhance the natural environment through a Downtown Parks Master Plan, Waller Creek Corridor planning and implementation, the increased usage and ownership of parks and ongoing maintenance.
• Infrastructure: Provide leadership to facilitate appropriate aboveground and belowground infrastructure in downtown Austin and to identify funding sources.
• Cleanliness: Provide leadership and direct services to create an appealing, welcoming and clean downtown.
• Public Safety: Facilitate collaborative efforts and engage elected officials, leadership of public and private agencies and downtown stakeholders to improve public safety and public order and to reduce homelessness.
Developing Downtown Leadership Capacity
• Research and Information: Identify, collect, maintain and distribute key data that helps to describe, analyze and assess the progress of downtown Austin.
• Education: Provide educational events and communications to downtown property owners, downtown stakeholders and the community in general.
• Funding Development: Explore the potential to fund the DAA’s strategic priorities with new sources of revenues if appropriate.
• Vision & Planning: Clearly articulate the need, advocate for and participate in planning activities for downtown.
• Strong Partnerships: Identify and develop effective relationships with key stakeholders and create and sustain liaisons and partnerships that align with and support the DAA’s mission and current and future strategic priorities.
• Leader Engagement: Develop and engage downtown leadership.
• Communications: Increase knowledge of and interest in downtown Austin and the DAA.
• Advocacy and Policy: Monitor and advocate for policy that enhances downtown’s economic prosperity and competitive advantage.
congress avenue
As the central corridor of an internationally beloved city, Congress Avenue has all the ingredients needed to become a grand thoroughfare—one that links downtown districts through inspired activity, not just geography. Change is coming steadily, but it requires constant collaboration among everyone from artists and chefs to retailers, property owners and office tenants.
Background and Goals
This year, the Downtown Austin Alliance continued working with diverse downtown stakeholders to transform Congress into an extraordinary place that is the heart and soul of Austin and “The Main Street of Texas.”
Our Progress Plaza Life
To show the downtown community how a public space can be transformed from a vacant area to a lively gathering place, the DAA organized PlazaLife in April 2012. Using Frost Bank Plaza as a test case, we solicited designers’ plans and worked with them to transform the area through
Congress Avenue Vision
landscaping, lobby re-design, public art, inviting furniture and outdoor dining spaces, food vendors, music performances and activities like yoga and the Imagination Playground.
We surveyed attendees to gather their opinions of all PlazaLife elements and are using their feedback to create a toolkit that gives downtown property owners immediate steps they can follow to transform their public spaces.
Tree Lighting
We continued working with the City of Austin on the installation of year-round, decorative lighting of all 136 street trees along Congress Avenue. The lights, which the DAA funded, will unify the avenue visually,
In 2010, we led a group of downtown stakeholders in creating a vision for Congress Avenue. We identified six critical components to achieving the vision.
enhance the outdoor dining environment and provide retailers and property owners with a foundation for holiday decorations.
Bond Package Advocacy
The City of Austin recommended that the 2012 General Obligation Bond Package include funding to design a new Congress Avenue Streetscapes Improvement Project. Reconstruction will eventually align with the timeline for building an urban rail system. The project, which falls under a citywide line item on the bond package called “Design of New Projects,” will build upon the Congress Avenue Vision outlined in 2010 by downtown stakeholders.
Read the report: DowntownAustin.com/CongressAvenue 1 2 3
Mobility
Background and Goals
Central Texas’ population is projected to double by 2040, yet we already suffer from major traffic congestion. To remain an appealing, economically competitive area—with an easily accessibly urban core—we must find ways to increase the number of people our transportation system can serve.
This year, the Downtown Austin Alliance continued to participate in regional transportation planning, specifically working toward solutions that will improve transportation ingress, egress and circulation in downtown Austin.
Our Progress Urban Rail
In 2012, the DAA saw much progress toward establishing an urban rail system that will link key destinations in central Austin and provide direct connections to other parts of the regional transportation system. While the urban rail proposal has been postponed to a future bond election, the City of Austin Transportation Department’s planning and public outreach continues—with the DAA acting as an ongoing advocate for downtown.
The public feedback we collected showed that people want to know how urban rail fits into a regional plan, and they also need more information on the MetroRail Red Line’s success. This knowledge led to the formation of two new groups:
• Project Connect: This regional planning group—comprising the City of Austin, Capital Metro, Lone Star Rail and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization—is creating a regional transportation plan to show
how the Red Line, urban rail and other options will work together to serve all of Central Texas.
• Transit Working Group: Mayor Lee Leffingwell reconvened this group—which includes representatives from the DAA, Austin Chamber of Commerce, property owners and elected officials—and tasked it with creating a multi-modal transportation plan.
MetroRail Red Line
The DAA was a leader in supporting the planning and implementation of the MetroRail. The commuter rail service has been enormously successful, and peak hour trips are consistently standing room only. In response to public demand, Capital Metro (with financial support from the City of Austin) added night and weekend hours to service this year, along with two additional trips during peak weekday commuting hours.
MetroRapid
Capital Metro received a grant to purchase high-capacity, high-frequency buses, which will have fewer stops, lower boarding areas for quicker wheelchair access and the ability to pre-empt traffic lights. The first line will start in late 2013 or early 2014. The DAA supported the project and continues to work with Capital Metro staff and other stakeholders on the design of downtown stops and other details.
Managed Lanes
In September, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority completed plans for two express lanes on Mopac. Using $230 million in federal funds provided by CAMPO, the CTRMA will begin constructing the lanes in early 2013. The project, which
the DAA advocated for over many years, will provide a free-flowing route and predictable travel time for transit vehicles and—under certain conditions—for private vehicles. In an innovative agreement, the CTRMA will repay CAMPO $330 million, which will be dedicated to other regionally significant transportation improvements.
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE
Northeast Quadrant
Background and Goals
Describing downtown’s Northeast Quadrant invokes many superlatives—future home of a world-class medical center, site of the country’s largest urban creek redevelopment and home to two Texas landmarks with major makeover potential—the Capitol area and East Sixth Street. The key challenge will be ensuring these projects work together to lay the foundation for transformation.
This year, the Downtown Austin Alliance continued to advocate for the transformation of the Northeast Quadrant into a safe, appealing, economically vital and historically significant asset to downtown.
Our Progress
New Medical School and Medical Education
The University of Texas System voted to allocate at least $25 million per year from the state’s Available University Fund to establish a medical school, and the Seton Healthcare Family has preliminarily committed up to $250 million to build a new teaching hospital. Both are tentatively planned for the Northeast Quadrant area.
After careful consideration, the DAA supported Central Health’s plan to ask Travis County voters to support a 5-cent property tax increase, which would fund medical school training, securing a site for a new teaching hospital and various health care projects. It will also allow Central Health to capitalize on an opportunity to receive $1.46 in federal funds for every local dollar spent providing public health.
Waller Creek Conservancy
The DAA contributed $50,000 to the Waller Creek Conservancy’s international design competition for the redevelopment
of this area, as well as $25,000 in annual funding support towards the Conservancy’s operating budget. The winning design will provide the blueprint for the nation’s largest urban creek transformation—a transformation that will ignite all of downtown Austin.
Capital Studios
The DAA supported downtown affordable housing project Capital Studios during its successful application for $11 million in federal tax credits. The 135-unit project will rent to those who earn less than $27,000 per year, with 10 units reserved for musicians and artists, and 27 units reserved for downtown clients of the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, Salvation Army, Caritas, Trinity Center or Downtown Austin Community Court.
Bond Package Advocacy
Two of the projects the DAA recommended for inclusion in the 2012 General Obligation Bond Package affect the Northeast Quadrant.
• Waller Creek Improvements –This project would provide baseline improvements for the Waller Creek Trail, Palm Park and Waterloo Park. The DAA was a strong advocate for these bond funds, as Waller Creek Conservancy can leverage the city’s investment by nearly five to one, seeding a capital campaign that will combine public and private contributions to lay a strong foundation for building a world-class destination.
• East Sixth Street Streetscapes Improvements – This project, which was recommended in the Downtown Austin Plan, would transform the physical environment of East Sixth Street so
it can better support a mix of daytime uses and provide a vital connection to Waller Creek. Enhancing the area’s brand would also help the DAA recruit more retailers there. While the project was not included in the recommended bond package, the DAA will continue to work to get the project funded and built—2010 bonds already funded its design and engineering.
Downtown Austin Connects
The DAA joined the City of Austin, Texas Facilities Commission, the University of Texas and the Seton Healthcare Family to form Downtown Austin Connects, a collaborative initiative to ensure all of Austin’s exciting revitalization plans are working together toward our collective vision.
Downtown
Austin Connects
Learn more at DowntownAustinConnects.org
stin is our al hub and a ness, government ial center.
Economic Development
Background and Goals
While the recession touched Austin much less than other American cities, an overall climate of uncertainty slowed downtown development over the past few years. This challenged the Downtown Austin Alliance and other organizations to continue building a strong environment for post-recovery development.
This year we saw construction cranes return to the downtown skyline, with investors building upon the strong foundation of safety and infrastructure improvements that the DAA helped to spearhead. We continued promoting positive growth of downtown’s retail, commercial and residential markets.
Our Progress New Developments
Developments under construction or recently completed:
• Hyatt Place – Third and San Jacinto Streets: This 300-room hotel, located a block west of the Austin Convention Center, is expected to be completed in early 2013.
• Hampton Inn & Suites at The University – 17th and Lavaca Streets: This recently completed eight-story, 137-room near the University of Texas campus and the Capitol was formerly The Fondren, and before that La Vista on Lavaca.
• Federal Courthouse – Fourth and San Antonio Streets: The General Services Administration is developing a new, 250,000-squarefoot Federal Courthouse across from Republic Square.
• The Whitley: Riverside Resources LLC is building an 18-story apartment tower at the site of the former Whitley Printing Co. Plans include 266 multifamily units, 6,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space for office or retail usage and a 3,650-square-foot restaurant.
• JW Marriott: White Lodging has broken ground on a 1,012-room convention hotel at 2nd Street and Congress Avenue
The DAA supported five new downtown development projects as they went through the City of Austin process.
Downtown Austin Plan
We continued to support the Downtown Austin Plan, which the Austin City Council adopted in December 2011. The DAA successfully convinced the Council not to impose a 45-foot height limit in the Warehouse District. The Council adopted the controversial Density Bonus Program with some modifications, and the DAA will continue to monitor this program as it is recalibrated and codified.
Heritage Tree Ordinance
DAA participated in ongoing stakeholder meetings aimed at reconciling the potentially competing goals of downtown density and tree preservation. The latter goal is addressed in the Heritage Tree Ordinance that the City Council adopted in 2010.
Downtown Sound Mitigation Proposal
At the Austin Music Commission’s recommendation, the City Council passed a resolution calling for new building code requirements for sound mitigation in downtown residential and hotel development projects. Concerned about potential cost implications for property owners
FEDERAL COURTHOUSE
HYATT PLACE
JW MARRIOT
THE WHITLEY
HAMPTON INN & SUITES
Music, Culture and Events
Background and Goals
Arts and entertainment events and attractions unite people in joy, bring life to an area and encourage people to spend time and money. This is especially true in downtown Austin, the epicenter of The Live Music Capital of the World.
The Downtown Austin Alliance’s goal is to foster an environment that is supportive of cultural organizations, music and events for the region that make downtown the premier destination for cultural events and entertainment.
Our Progress Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll
The DAA partnered with KUT 90.5 FM to fund and produce the annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll, which attracted more than 12,000 attendees. We installed a 30-foot holiday tree with custom, enhanced decorations outside the Capitol.
Sponsorships
As part of our mission to enhance the value and vitality of downtown Austin, the DAA offers annual sponsorships to organizations or venues within the Public Improvement District. This year, the sponsorship committee focused on Placemaking and awarded $60,000 to organizations whose projects or programs promote a sense of community, enhance local economic activity and the pedestrian experience, inspire collaboration and public/private partnerships and foster pride and ownership in downtown.
Placemaking Sponsorship Program
2012 Sponsorships
Snap Kitchen Snap Kitchen Pod: Enhancing Congress
AnnMade Upkeep of Butterfly Mural at 721 Congress
Art Alliance Austin Alphabet City: Place-Based Site-specific Temporary Art Project Mexic-Arte Museum
Eighth Street Mural Project Eighth Street Mural Project (temporary art project)
Texas Book Festival
Austin School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Rock the House on 12th: Performance/showcase of student work
Viva la Vida Festival
Ballet
Austin Get Fit! 2013
ChingoZine Artist Collective Public Mural Project at Frank
Waller Creek Conservancy Creek Show (four temporary art and landscape installations)
Austin Area Art From the Streets
Royal Blue Grocery
Royal Blue Pocket Park
AMLI Residential 2nd Street District Holiday Window Walk Scholarship Competition
Austin Theatre Alliance/ The Paramount & State Theatres Paramount Film Institute Place-Making Program
Art From the Streets 20th Annual Show and Sale of Art by People who are Homeless
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE
Parks and Open Space
Background and Goals
In addition to providing recreation opportunities and a collective backyard for downtown residents, urban parks and open spaces mitigate the environmental impact of buildings and highways. Unfortunately, as is the case in many cities, Austin parks are severely under-funded—to the tune of $2 billion per year citywide.
Realizing that revitalizing and activating downtown squares will take more than the current funding, the Downtown Austin Alliance is fostering public-private partnerships to accomplish our goals.
Our Progress
Public-Private Partnerships
• The DAA initiated and managed a study to identify public-private partnership options for operating and managing Republic Square Park. The study was funded by the DAA, Austin Parks Foundation and the City of Austin and conducted in partnership with the City’s master plan update for Republic Square.
• We worked with the City of Austin and Austin Parks Foundation to bring bakery and café La Boite to the Old Bakery. This partnership introduced a new source of both park revenue and visitors—foot traffic to the Old Bakery Store has increased by 20 percent and sales have increased by 15 percent.
• We also contributed $50,000 to the Waller Creek Conservancy’s international design competition for the redevelopment of this area, as well as $25,000 in annual funding support towards the Conservancy’s operating budget.
Planning and Physical Improvements
• The DAA provided an annual $25,000 contribution to the Austin Parks Foundation to support its work to improve and program the downtown squares.
• We supported efforts by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and Friends of Wooldridge Square to improve Wooldridge Square by installing irrigation and sod, replacing trees and making electrical improvements.
• We also worked with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Austin Parks Foundation and Old Bakery stakeholders to identify possible improvements to the Old Bakery Park.
Park Usage Study
The DAA designed and launched a study to measure when, how and why people use downtown parks. Over five months, we observed more than 1,000 users at Republic Square Park and the Old Bakery in 30-minute intervals. Our results provide baseline in-
formation on park conditions, park activities, visitor demographics and usage patterns.
C munity Programming
We provided $10,000 to sponsor events, including Austin Parks Foundation’s Movies in the Parks series, Midtown MuttMinster, PlazaLife and a Valentine’s Day event at the Old Bakery. Through our Arts and Placemaking Sponsorships, we also supported the Sustainable Food Center Farmers’ Market Downtown and the Austin Parks Foundation’s Imagination Playground at Republic Square.
Bond Package Advocacy
The DAA recommended two park-related projects for inclusion in the 2012 General Obligation Bond Package.
• Downtown Squares – The three remaining downtown squares need investment in basic infrastructure, including irrigation, lighting and seating. Such investments will allow organizations like the DAA and Austin Parks Foundation to leverage this seed funding for additional private investments and volunteerism that can transform our parks into vital community amenities.
• Waller Creek Improvements –This project would provide baseline improvements for the Waller Creek Trail, Palm Park and Waterloo Park. Tax Increment Financing district funds will only pay for the underground flood control and water quality tunnel, so the City of Austin’s contributions toward the public realm will seed the Waller Creek Conservancy’s capital campaign for other essential aspects of this area’s transformation.
Retail
Background and Goals
A diverse mix of shops, restaurants and service providers makes downtown a place where employees want to linger after work, where residents can fulfill all of their needs, where families can do their weekend shopping and where companies want to relocate to get in on the action.
Over the past year, the Downtown Austin Alliance continued to provide leadership in the implementation of the Downtown Retail Redevelopment Strategy, an initiative to cultivate a mix of local, regional and national retailers downtown.
Our Progress Recruitment
We increased our DAA retail recruiter position from part time to full time and continued our focus on East Sixth Street and Congress Avenue, researching and recruiting local and regional retailers to those areas. To connect with retail experts and meet with national retailers interested in the Austin market, we attended the annual International Council of Shopping Centers convention in New York City. We also attended the Downtown Works annual retail recruiting seminar in Portland to learn best practices from other cities.
Pop-up Stores
The DAA worked with Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole and City of Austin staff to change the city code so retailers can open pop-up stores, such as the one Limbo Jewelry set up during the Holiday Stroll on Congress Avenue. Now retailers can apply for a temporary change of occupancy (i.e. from restaurant to retail) for up to 90 days at a time. We also created a toolkit to help retailers set up and maximize these urban storefronts.
East Sixth Street
In addition to recruiting retailers, we supported policies and infrastructure improvements that work toward our vision of East Sixth Street, which states that the area can and should be an actively managed live music, entertainment, mixed-use and historic district that lives up to its brand and is a source of pride for all Austinites.
Congress Avenue
We created a Congress Avenue Shopping Guide and Directory—available at all Congress Avenue retailers, hotels and visitor centers—to help promote the area and its individual stores. We also assisted retailers with window merchandising and held a “cash mob” event encouraging people to bring $20 to Congress Avenue Card & Gift Shop at a designated time.
Retail Wins: Congress Avenue Announcements
Consuela – 910 Congress Ave. Handbags and accessories
LaVazza – 914 Congress Ave. Coffee shop
Openings
Brooks Brothers – 101 W. 6th Street
Men’s and women’s clothing
CsillaWear – 504 Congress Ave. Women’s clothing
La Boite – 1006 Congress Ave. Bakery
Lomography – 912 Congress Ave. Photography equipment
Swift’s Attic – 315 Congress Ave. New American cuisine
Urban Wine + Liquor –200 Congress Ave.
Spirits
Retail Wins: East Sixth Street
Openings
Easy Tiger – 709 E. 6th Street
Bakery + Biergarten
Midnight Cowboy – 313 E. 6th Street
Cocktail bar
Streetscape Improvement Projects
East Second Street, Phase III – Congress Avenue to Trinity Street
Federal Courthouse Sidewalks
Colorado Street – West Third Street to West Tenth Street
Third Street – West Avenue to Trinity Street
Eighth Street – West Avenue to Congress Avenue
Infrastructure
Background and Goals
Austin’s transportation system must keep pace with its population growth if our city is to retain its quality of life and appeal to investors and employers. In addition to facilitating greater mobility for vehicles, we must also cultivate safe, enticing streetscapes for pedestrians and cyclists.
This year, the Downtown Austin Alliance continued striving to improve access to and mobility within downtown Austin.
OUR PROGRESS
Wayfinding
The DAA monitored the City of Austin’s progress toward the development of a downtown wayfinding system and advocated for a timely implementation. The City and its design consultants presented three wayfinding strategies to the public and used feedback to develop a final direction. The DAA was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition—we assembled the initial exploratory task force in 2005 and have been strong advocates for it since. Now that the project is underway we continue to provide input through a representative on the project steering committee.
Parking
After the City of Austin extended paid parking hours at downtown meters in 2011—a move which the DAA supported— downtown saw an increase in parking garage use for long-term customers (those parking a vehicle for more than three hours), which has made it easier for shortterm parkers to find on-street spaces. The meters’ expanded hours of operation have also yielded an extra $2 million in parking fees, of which 40 percent will be used for
downtown improvement projects, including the wayfinding program.
Movability Austin
We continued to support Movability Austin, downtown’s new transportation management association, in its efforts to educate area employers and employees about alternative commuting solutions. The DAA, the City of Austin, Travis County and Capital Metro all pledged to fund Movability Austin for three years, and the organization received a grant from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to help fund its efforts.
Street Closures
The DAA informed the downtown community of all upcoming street closures. We also worked with special-event organizers to help them minimize the impact their street closures had on our members.
Great Streets
The DAA continued supporting the City of Austin’s downtown street improvement projects, which follow the Great Streets Master Plan. Our Great Streets advocacy work helped ensure that all street rebuilding projects include streetscape improvements. Since the Great Streets Master Plan was completed in 2001, several dozen block faces have been made over, including the 10-block Brazos Street project, which was completed during the past year. Several more projects that are underway or pending will significantly increase that total.
Bond Package Advocacy
The DAA recommended two streetscapes improvement projects for inclusion in the 2012 General Obligation Bond Package.
• Street Reconstruction Program –We supported this citywide alloca-
tion of funds, which includes four downtown projects. These projects have either already been designed or will complete connections in strategic locations. In addition to addressing failing streets and improving street surfaces, this program will also upgrade utilities and improve sidewalk connectivity and accessibility.
• East Sixth Street Streetscapes
Improvements – This project, which was recommended in the Downtown Austin Plan, would transform the physical environment of East Sixth Street so it can better support a mix of daytime uses and provide a vital connection to Waller Creek. While the project was not included in the recommended bond package, the DAA will continue to work to get the project funded and built—2010 bonds already funded its design and engineering.
Public Safety and Cleanliness
Background and Goals
Since its inception, the Downtown Austin Alliance has recognized public safety and cleanliness as the fundamental components needed to create a vibrant downtown. Through its direct services and advocacy, the DAA strives to make downtown safer and cleaner—providing the foundation for building value and vitality.
OUR PROGRESS
Affordable Housing Advocacy
The DAA continued its support for permanent supportive housing to help downtown’s chronically homeless population stay safe and resist criminal activity. Our efforts included:
• Capital Studios: We formally supported Foundation Communities’ plans to build Capital Studios, a complex at 11th and Trinity Streets that will dedicate 27 of its 135 affordable housing units to providing low-barrier, permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless. This is part of a plan—created by the DAA, Austin City Council, City of Austin, Ending Community Homeless Organization, Reentry Roundtable and other community organizations—to eventually create and operate 350 permanent supportive housing units citywide.
• Caritas/Community Court Partnership Housing Program: The DAA committed funding and actively assisted in the implementation of this permanent supportive housing program, which targets the Downtown Community Court’s frequent, chronically homeless offenders and refers them to Caritas for placement in permanent housing with robust services.
Bond Package Advocacy
The DAA helped shape an Affordable Housing bond package for inclusion in the 2012 General Obligation Bond Package. We recommended a significant allocation for low-barrier, or Housing First, permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless with multiple barriers to housing.
Crime Safety Cameras
We worked with the Austin Police Department on the implementation of a DAAfunded crime safety camera system. The APD installed 27 cameras throughout downtown, which officers monitor 24/7 at APD’s RealTime Crime Center to help prevent crimes, catch criminals in the act and assist in solving crimes and prosecuting offenders. In the first six months of use, the cameras assisted the APD in solving 108 cases.
Downtown Rangers
The DAA continued to fund and oversee the Downtown Rangers program, which puts 14 full-time civilian APD staff on the street as “eyes and ears” to protect and assist citizens and to assist APD officers. We worked with the APD to fund and implement two Rangers “Leads” positions—which provide added supervision during all Rangers’ shifts—and to pilot a new nighttime Rangers patrol in areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as the convention center, hotels and parking lots. At the end of the pilot, we’ll evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts and determine where we need extra Ranger patrol hours and how they will be funded.
Nighttime Lighting Pilot
We worked with APD to implement a pilot program that floods key downtown areas
with bright light from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. This initiative was so successful in reducing vehicle burglaries, assaults and other crime that APD is now working with Austin Energy to add permanent lighting to these areas and to retrofit existing poles with brighter fixtures.
Entertainment District Traffic Control
The DAA supported the APD’s entertainment district traffic control initiative, which places officers at key intersections to move traffic out of downtown more quickly after bars close. This helps relieve late night traffic congestion and helps reduce crime and traffic-related incidents.
Krimelabb
We worked in partnership with Krimelabb to complete the development of a web-based system for analyzing and mapping crime within the Downtown Public Improvement District. This information provides a factual basis for the DAA’s public safety advocacy and assists in its assessment of safety-related programs and initiatives.
Refuse and Recycling
The DAA successfully advocated for the re-authorization of the Downtown Refuse Contract District and assisted Austin Resource Recovery in the development and implementation of the Universal Recycling Ordinance and single-stream recycling in the Refuse Contract District. These are significant steps on the path to achieving Austin’s Zero Waste plan.
Alley Reconstruction
We assisted the City’s Public Works Street and Bridge Division in identifying and
Maintenance Department
HOURS
REMOVING LITTER AND GRAFFITI
HOURS
CLEANING
SIDEWALKS AND REMOVING
CHEWING GUM
GRAFFITI TAGS
REMOVED
Downtown Rangers
HOURS
ASSISTING CITIZENS, VISITORS AND THE APD
17,160 5,720 4,608 29,120
prioritizing the reconstruction of five downtown alleyways and the completion of nine water and wastewater improvement projects. We also helped communicate to property owners and residents about these projects, which improve serviceability to businesses, property owners and residents and build capacity for increased development and utility services.
Maintenance Services
The DAA’s crew of 11 maintenance specialists continued to hit the streets at dawn each day, washing sidewalks and removing litter, chewing gum and graffiti tags. In addition to serving the downtown community, the DAA maintenance department strives to provide gainful employment to individuals with barriers to employment.
Advocacy and Policy
Background and Goals
With November 2012 marking Austin’s largest bond election since 2006, this year brought the Downtown Austin Alliance many opportunities to encourage positive downtown initiatives. And as we do every day of every year, we also continued to advocate for policy that enhances downtown’s economic prosperity and competitive advantage.
OUr progress
Downtown Austin Plan
We supported the Downtown Austin Plan, which the Austin City Council adopted in December 2011 after incorporating many DAA-recommended changes.
Urban Rail
In preparation for a future bond election, we developed a campaign to educate the community about the scope and benefits of a potential regional urban rail system.
Ongoing Advocacy
We monitored other issues that may impact downtown development, such as:
• Heritage Tree Ordinance
• Sound mitigation requirements in new downtown residential and hotel buildings
• Expansion of MetroRail service to include Friday nights and Saturdays
• Foundation Communities’ Capital Studios complex
• Downtown Refuse Contract District
Bond Package Advocacy
The DAA evaluated all projects for potential inclusion in the City Council’s 2012 bond election package, and actively supported those that enhance downtown access, transportation and vitality. Most DAA priority projects were included in the bond package.
Background and Goals
From bond elections to street closures, every day brings news that affects the downtown community and Central Texas at large. The Downtown Austin Alliance constantly communicated these issues to our stakeholders to increase their knowledge of and interest in downtown Austin— as well as the DAA.
Our Progress
Media Relations
The DAA kept all Austin-area news reporters informed of downtown issues and events, and responded to requests for information and interviews. Our daily activity led to 2,251 mentions of downtown activities in the media between July 2011 and June 2012.
Website
We hired Austin creative agency Foxtrot Bravo Alpha to redesign the DAA website at DowntownAustin.com. The new website, which will launch in Fall 2012, will:
• Give businesses access to the latest downtown office vacancy and demographic data.
• Inform everyone of downtown news and events as well as the DAA’s initiatives.
• Help visitors and Austinites plan their downtown experiences.
• Help residents find groceries, pet care and daily essentials.
Downtown Austin Connects
The DAA developed Downtown Austin Connects - a campaign connecting the exciting plans for the future of downtown - in partnership with the City of Austin and the Texas Facilities Commission.
Retail and Event Support
The DAA developed marketing campaigns—with a heavy emphasis on social media—to support events including PlazaLife and the Holiday Sing-Along & Downtown Stroll. We also developed promotional and educational tools for
businesses, such as the Congress Avenue Shopping Directory and toolkits for opening pop-up stores and programming public plazas.
Advocacy C munications
We worked with government and community groups to coordinate our communications efforts related to urban rail and mobility issues. This ensured the public received consistent information from all parties.
C munication Channels
• Weekly e-newsletter: This Week in Downtown
• Website: DowntownAustin.com
• Events Calendar: DowntownAustin.com/Events
• Facebook Pages: Fans of Downtown Austin, Congress Avenue
• Twitter: @DowntownATXInfo
• Holiday Website: DowntownAustinHolidays.com
• DOWNTOWN TV Website: DowntownAustinTV.org
Social Media Followers
487
1,985
1,147
1,681
education
Background and Goals
Our most important downtown issues are complex by nature, involving many diverse groups, policies and viewpoints. The best understanding comes from discussion, so the Downtown Austin Alliance gives the downtown community opportunities to discuss important topics with local and national leaders.
Our Progress
Annual Meeting
On Oct. 28, 2011, we held our annual DAA Membership Breakfast featuring keynote speaker Carol Coletta, president of ArtPlace and national placemaking thought leader, who discussed why downtowns matter, what people look for and think about when choosing a place to live, and how Austin can keep its lead as one of the premiere downtowns in the world.
Issues & Eggs
The DAA organized and hosted five educational breakfast meetings—called “Issues and Eggs”—to help the community learn about hot topics affecting downtown. These sessions, which draw 100-200 attendees on average, are designed for DAA members but open to all interested parties.
JULY 2011
Bikesharing
Jason McDowell, Projects and Logistics Manager, BCycle, LLC.
Cindi Snell, Executive Director, San Antonio Bike Share
Todd Hemingson, Vice-President of Strategic Planning & Development, Capital Metro
Craig Staley, General Manager, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop
John C. Rosato, Principal, Southwest Strategies Group
FEBRUARY 2012
TransitLeadersBreakfast
Gary C. Thomas, President and Executive Director, Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Neil McFarlane, General Manager, TriMet (Portland)
Paul Jablonski, CEO, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Linda Watson, President and CEO, Capital Metro
MARCH 2012
MovabilityAustinkickoff
Jim Pledger, Partner, Jackson Walker
L.L.P. and Chair, Movability Austin
Glenn Gadbois, Executive Director, Movability Austin
Council Member Chris Riley, City of Austin
Christina Song, Project Coordinator, HomeAway
APRIL 2012
ProphetofParking
Donald Shoup, Professor of Urban Planning, UCLA
APRIL 2012
Transformingpublicspaces
Meredith Powell, Executive Director, Austin Art Alliance
Daniel Woodroffe, President & Founder, dwg.
Eleanor McKinney, Principal, Eleanor McKinney Landscape Architect
Matthew Passmore, Principal, Rebar Art & Design Group
Retail Training
In February 2012, we hosted a free “Raising Your Retail IQ” seminar series for downtown retailers and prospects. Jan Triplett, CEO of Business Success Center, addressed these topics:
• Reducing the Dangers and Enhancing the Delights of Daily Deals: Best Practices in Online Coupon Marketing
• Capturing and Keeping the Best Local Customers: How to Attract
Platinum Customers
• How to Find Your Business a BFF: Successful Strategic Alliances and Partnerships
Leadership
Background and Goals
Downtown leadership doesn’t come just from elected officials. Anyone with a desire to contribute to downtown’s vitality can be a leader, whether they’re an organizational director or volunteer, property owner or resident, student or retiree. A diversity of perspectives helps us all arrive at the best solutions to downtown challenges.
This year the Downtown Austin Alliance continued helping people and organizations to increase their knowledge of and interest in downtown, and then engage in the future of downtown.
Our Progress
Research and Information
The DAA has long served as a key data source for the downtown community and
other interested parties. In redesigning the DAA website (DowntownAustin.com) this year, we will bring in large amounts of downtown-related data together in one place for easy public access. Visitors will see the latest demographics, download DAA reports like our Congress Avenue Vision and review master plans like the Downtown Austin Plan and Waller Creek Plan.
Strong Partnerships
We continued to develop effective relationships with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, creating partnerships that support the DAA’s mission and projects. Examples include:
• Movability Austin
• Project Connect
• Downtown Austin Connects
• Austin Parks Foundation public/private park management partnerships
• Caritas/Community Court Partnership Housing Program
• Waller Creek Conservancy
Leader Engagement
The DAA developed downtown leadership by connecting residents, property owners and partners with opportunities to shape the area’s future.
C mittees
Any DAA member can join these DAA-managed groups, which meet monthly.
Committee
Committee
Committee
Austin rous place ironmentally h economically
FINANCIAL REPORT
ASSETS CURRENTASSETS
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE
C bined Statement of Financial Position FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 30, 2012
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
3,420,902
Changes in Unrestricted Net Assets
Supporting Services
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE
C bined Statement of Activities
FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 30, 2012
FINANCIAL REPORT
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE
Budget
Fiscal Year 2012-2013
Board and Advisory Board
Officers
Chair
Pamela Power
Vice Chair
Larry Graham, Texas Gas Service
Secretary
Amy Shaw Thomas, The University of Texas System
Treasurer
Laura Gass
Large Property Owners
*Eddie Burns, Austin-American Statesman
Jerry Frey, CBRE
Carrie Holt, AMLI Residential Properties Trust
Adam Nims, Trammell Crow Company
Andy Smith, Thomas Properties Group
Tom Stacy, T. Stacy & Associates
Medium Property Owners
Nancy Burns, Norwood Tower Management
Matthew Hooks, Ironwood Real Estate
*Laura Gass
Sharon Kilmartin, InterContinental
Stephen F. Austin
Alex Pope, Alex Pope Company
Jim Ritts, Austin Theatre Alliance
Small Property Owners
Will Wynn 2011-2012
Cid Galindo, The Galindo Group
Jude Galligan, REMAX Downtown Austin
Allen Green, Wells Fargo Wealth Management
*Charles Heimsath, Capitol Market Research
Pamela Power
*Sania Shifferd, SDSArchitects
Associate Members
Larry Graham, Texas Gas Service
Greg Hartman, Seton Family of Hospitals
*Marshall Jones, The Wine and Food Foundation of Texas
Michael Kennedy, Commercial Texas, LLC
Carol Polumbo, McCall, Parkhurst & Horton LLP
Mark Tester, Austin Convention Center
Michele Van Hyfte, Seton Family of Hospitals
*Daniel Woodroffe, dwg.
Public Members
Linda Watson, Capital Metro
Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, City of Austin
Commissioner Karen Huber, Travis County
Aundre Dukes, Texas Facilities Commission
Chair Emeritus
Joel Sher, Congress Holdings Group
Advisory Board Representative to Board of Directors
Fred Schmidt, Wild About Music
*Denotes Committee Chair
Advisory Board
John A. Barclay, The John A. Barclay Agency, Inc.
Bobbie Barker, St. David’s Community Health Foundation
Sinclair Black, Black & Vernooy Architects
David Bodenman, Highland Resources, Inc.
Terry Boothe, T. Boothe Commission Company
Hayden Brooks, American Realty Corporation
O. Philip Breland Jr.
Kent Collins, Centro Development
Cathy Coneway, Stanberry & Associates
C. Wade Cooper, Jackson Walker LLP
Carl Daywood, Carl Daywood Realtors
Sue Edwards, City of Austin
Tim Finley, Finley Company
Robert Gaston, Transwestern
John Horton, Horton Investments
Bill Keenan, Wells Fargo Bank
Eva Martin, AT&T
Jim McBride, Blue Sage Capital
Bill McLellan, Family Eldercare
John Nyfeler, Consulting Architect
Tom Petrie, Community Volunteer
Mac Pike, The Sutton Company
Bill Renfro, Community Volunteer
John Rosato, Southwest Strategies Group
Rob Roy, CBRE
Fred Schmidt, Wild About Music
Beverly Silas, Beverly Silas & Associates
Jeff Trigger, LaCorsha Development
Downtown Austin Alliance
Staff
Executive Director
Charles Betts
Associate Director
Molly Alexander
Arts and Parks Director
Melissa Barry
Security and Maintenance Director
Bill Brice
Accounting Director & Human
Resource Director
Samia Burns
Streetscapes and
Transportation Director
Thomas Butler
Economic Development Director
Julie Fitch
Retail Recruiter
Meredith Sanger
Membership Director
Alice Vargas
Communications Director
Julie Weaver
Downtown Austin
Maintenance Team
Chris Rolig, Supervisor
Ramiro Beltran
Ernest E. Covington
Mamadou Kane
Maurice Richards
Daniel Torres
Downtown Rangers
Dane Sullivan, Supervisor
Angelica Casas
Ming-Hsi (Justin) Chen
Brian Madry
Caleb Manno
Jonathan Martin
Jeffery McCartney
Ian McGarrahan
Julianna Milam
David Rodriguez
John Rodriguez
Dustin Sites
Contact
Downtown Austin Alliance 211 E. 7th Street, Suite 818 Austin, TX 78701
Tel: 512.469.1766 Fax: 512. 381.6276
Connect
Downtown Austin Alliance: DowntownAustin.com
DOWNTOWN TV: DowntownAustinTV.org
Twitter: @DowntownATXInfo
Facebook: Fans of Downtown Austin
Annual Report Credits
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Michael Knox
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY:
Brian Gray, Waller Creek Conservancy
EDITOR:
Erica Hess, Plume
DESIGN: Matthew Bromley, Graphic Engine Design
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE
