What does the future hold for downtown Austin?
At a town hall meeting Saturday hundreds of people listened to the city's downtown plan and told organizers what changes they would like to see.
"We do not want an exclusionary downtown where people cannot afford to live," one attendee said.
"So that people can efficiently get to their destination." another said.
 |  |
 | |  |
| | | | | | | |
Downtown Plan
Planners seek input in developement of plan for the future of downtown Austin.
 
| | |
| | | | | |
|
The City of Austin's downtown plan covers everything from parking and transportation to business and residential development.
"Essentially a road map from where we are to where we want to
be. How do we accomplish that vision," Jim Robertson, with neighborhood Planning and Zoning said.
As that road map is developed the city wants input from as many
people as possible.
"Everyone is a steak holder , not just the business owners and
the people who own property," Marguerite Jones with the group Liveable City said.
"The city is great right now but we have to work as a group as a
whole, as community to insure that the city grows the way we want it," local business owner Hector Torres said.
"We have a downtown devoid of children, and the way we're going it's going to continue that way," another attendee said.
According to city planners less than seven per cent of Austinites
can afford one of the growing number of downtown high rise condos.
That makes it nearly impossible for many in the service industry to live near where they work, something the downtown plan hopes to change.
"I think they have to live out wherever they can find a place and I think it's getting so expensive in Austin that they're being pushed
out," Jones said.
With downtown growth expected to continue the city believes a
detailed, workable plan is necessary.
"It's a downtown that has a lot going for it, the point of
developing a downtown plan is to become more strategic and
purposeful about how we continue to grow and make our downtown better," Robertson said.
A better downtown that is a place that everyone can enjoy,
The Downtown plan also looks at the effects growth will have on
transportation and how to maintain the city's culture.
The plan will be presented to the city council for a vote next
month.
