City of Austin Downtown Commission Wednesday, February 19, 2020 5:30 p.m. Boards and Commission Room 1011 Austin City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, Texas AGENDA Call to Order Citizen Communications Each speaker will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. Approval of Minutes of the January 15, 2020 Meeting Minutes Discussion and Possible Action (10 minutes) Writing on the Walls Presentation by Molly Alexander, Downtown Austin Alliance (10 minutes) Discussion and Possible Action (10 minutes) Our Austin Stories Presentation by Melissa Barry, Downtown Austin Alliance and Ted Eubanks (20 minutes) Discussion and Possible Action (15 minutes) Downtown Public Safety Presentation by Commander Jay Bryant, Austin Police Department (20 minutes) Discussion and Possible Action (15 minutes) Downtown Density Bonus Program Recalibration Presentation by Erica Leak, Land Development Code Team (20 minutes) Discussion and Possible Action (15 minutes) Working Groups A. Moonlight Tower Working Group Discussion and Possible Action (5 minutes) B. Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACTP) Working Group Discussion and Possible Action (5 minutes) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Items from other Commissions Update from Commissioner Melissa Henao-Robledo on recent activities and actions taken by the Design Commission The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Mona Sanchez at the Economic Development Department, at (512) 974-7864, for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. Update from Commissioner Ben Heimsath on recent activities and actions taken by the Update from Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby on recent activities and actions taken by the Update from Commissioner Felipe Garza and recent activities and actions taken by the Arts Update from Commissioner Richard DePalma on recent activities and action taken by the Historic Landmark Commission Urban Transportation Commission Commission Parks and Recreation Board Staff Updates Statements of Financial Information Terms of Office Discussion 10. 11. Impact of Past Housing Bonds: Affordable Units Potential Future Agenda Items Wayfinding Initiative Update Small Cell Initiative / Downtown Installation Downtown Public …
OUR AUSTIN STORY Project Consultant OUR AUSTIN STORY GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE The Historic Squares and Congress Avenue: Austin’s original public spaces Wooldridge Square Hamilton Square e u n e v A s s e r g n o C Republic Square Brush Square Cordova Map of Austin, 1872 OUR AUSTIN STORY PROCESS • Steering Committee • Project website (with engagement opportunities) • Public open houses • Public walks and talks • One on one interviews • Media and social media outreach The Downtown Austin Alliance, in partnership with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, is developing a comprehensive interpretive strategy for the three historic city squares: Brush, Republic, and Wooldridge. The goal is to find meaningful stories–grounded in these civic spaces–that connect to the people and places of Austin.Online downtownaustin.com/ouraustinstory #OurAustinStoryCommunity Events Thursday, March 23 11am – 1pm City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street Saturday, March 25 11am - 1pm Departure Lounge, 311 W. 5th Street OUR AUSTIN STORY STEERING COMMITTEE • Kate Singleton, Preservation Austin -Chair • Ashley Dowgwillo, Visit Austin • Mike Miller, Austin History Center • Sylvia Orozco, Mexic-Arte Museum • Clarissa Perez, Visit Austin • Charles Peveto, Friends of Wooldridge Square • Dr. Andrea Roberts, Texas A&M University • Bob Ward, Travis County Historical Commission • Allison Watkins, Austin Parks Foundation • Joanna Wolaver, Shoal Creek Conservancy Laura Esparza Austin Parks and Recreation Department • • Rey Hernandez • Kim McKnight • Cara Welch • Vanessa Castro, also Tejano Trail Narratives (stories) are used in planning to connect new with old and to foster a sense of identity and community BRUSH SQUARE George Washington Littlefield 1. Cattle, Cotton and Commerce 2. Austin’s New Deal 3. Powerful Women 4. The Cowboy’s Culture Ted Lee Eubanks Cattle Drives Ted Lee Eubanks REPUBLIC SQUARE Walker’s Austex Chili Factory, 1948 1. Austin’s Birthplace and the Auction Oaks 2. Guadalupe Park and Austin’s Mexico 3. The Soul of the Square Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Austin History Center Austin History Center Jim Franklin Poster, 1968 WOOLDRIDGE SQUARE 1. Keep Austin Weird 2. Soul of the City 3. Winds of Change Wooldridge Square Bandstand Concert Austin History Center HAMILTON SQUARE • Austin’s First High School (1900 – 1956) • First Baptist Church (1969) “Old Red” Austin High School The Portal to Texas History; Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Austin, Texas CONGRESS AVENUE – VIBRANT CONNECTIONS • The Colorado River • 5th Street …
Downtown Area Command Commander Jay Bryant Violent Crime Initiative Goals • To reduce violent crime in DTAC • To reduce the fear of crime Violent Crime Initiative • Guns • Gangs • Narcotics Violent Crime Initiative • 2019 14% of violent crime involved an individual experiencing homelessness • Of those cases 51% were homeless vs. homeless • Of the remaining 49 % of cases the victim was a person experiencing homelessness 58 % of the time • Less than 3 % of total violent crime consisted of a person experiencing homelessness attacking someone who was not Violent Crime Initiative • DPS • UTPD • Organized Crime • Metro Tactical Violent Crime Initiative • 1,236 Self initiated LE Contacts (Traffic and Pedestrian) • 146 Misdemeanor Arrest • 55 Felony Arrest • 176 Cite and Release Citations • 4 firearms recovered
DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM RECALIBRATION DOWNTOWN COMMISSION February 19, 2020 Real Estate Development Fundamentals 2 Real Estate Development Fundamentals Zoning and Affordability Requirements Public Policy Viable Sites Land Development Can Occur Market Feasibility Rents, Prices, and Construction Costs Capital Competitive Returns on Capital 3 Real Estate Development Fundamentals $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$ $ 0 Value of Building to Base Entitlements 4 Real Estate Development Fundamentals Bonus Value $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$ $ 0 Value of Building to Base Value of Building to Bonus Entitlements Entitlements 5 Real Estate Development Fundamentals Public Affordability Benefit Bonus Value $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$ $ 0 Value of Building to Base Value of Building to Bonus Entitlements Entitlements 6 Real Estate Development Fundamentals $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$ $ 0 Public Affordability Benefit Bonus Value Development Benefit via Bigger Buildings Value of Building to Base Value of Building to Bonus Entitlements Entitlements Value of Building to Bonus Entitlements Minus Affordability Requirement 7 Real Estate Development Fundamentals $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$ $ 0 Poorly calibrated requirements result in no bonus uptake and no public benefits. Base entitlements used Bonus Value Public Affordability Benefit Value of Building to Base Value of Building to Bonus Entitlements Entitlements Value of Building to Bonus Entitlements Minus Affordability Requirement Development Disbenefit of Bonus Building 8 Real Estate Development Fundamentals $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$ $ 0 Bonuses do not have value in some submarkets. Base entitlements used. Bonus Value Impact Development Disbenefit of Bonus Building Public Affordability Benefit Value of Building to Base Value of Building to Bonus Entitlements Entitlements Value of Building to Bonus Entitlements Minus Affordability Requirement 9 Density Bonus Calibration • Careful calibration to weigh development benefit and public benefit • Without participation in the bonus, no bonus units – market-rate or affordable – will be constructed • Careful calibration needed to maximize public benefit and achieve policy goals Development Benefit Public Benefit 10 Downtown Density Bonus Program In-Lieu Fee Recalibration 11 DOWNTOWN BONUS PROGRAM CHANGES Council Direction “Allow an unlimited CC bonus across Downtown, except do not map this unlimited bonus in the small area of Downtown where there currently is no bonus, on first reading. Council intends to add a bonus with new height and density in this northwest area on second reading, while maintaining a transition in height to areas that are primarily Residential House-Scale within the Downtown area. This transition in heights is to be considered …
DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: AUSTIN EXISTING DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM – LDC-RELATED BONUS AREA January 28, 2020 LDC Revision Team, City of Austin Ian Carlton and Michelle Anderson, ECONorthwest 1. Background and Purpose As part of the Land Development Code (LDC) Revision process, the City of Austin is seeking assistance to determine the appropriate amount of fees that developers may pay in lieu of building affordable housing units where the City’s existing affordable housing density bonus programs apply. The LDC-related affordable housing density bonus programs (bonus areas) are the Downtown Density Bonus Program (including the Rainey Street Subdistrict) and the University Neighborhood Overlay (see Exhibit 1). This memorandum presents ECONorthwest’s analysis of in-lieu fees for LDC-related bonus areas, documenting methods and recommended per-square foot fees. The goal of the analysis is to inform the City’s discussions about setting new in-lieu fees that capture a portion of the upside (or development benefit) of a density bonus, without discouraging developers from utilizing the bonus program. This will help address Austin City Council’s goal of increasing affordable housing capacity from bonus programs and encouraging the production of income- restricted housing by the private market. This analysis focuses only on calibrating in-lieu fees. It does NOT evaluate recalibration of the affordable housing bonus incentives or affordable housing performance requirements in the bonus areas; nor does it offer recommendations to change or improve the housing capacity delivered in each bonus area. Such a calibration would potentially adjust the target incomes and/or the set-aside required. Per direction from the City of Austin, this fee analysis assumed that these aspects of the LDC-related bonus programs do not change. ECONorthwest | Portland | Seattle | Eugene | Boise | econw.com 1 Exhibit 1. Existing Plan Areas Census Tracts 001604 University Neighborhood Overlay Downtown Density Bonus 001603 000204 000603 000500 000307 000302 000401 001605 000604 000601 1 000700 35 001200 001100 001602 001919 001910 001911 000402 000802 000803 000804 000902 343 000901 000801 001901 001303 001304 1 Miles 001305 001401 001402 001000 0 2. Approach ECONorthwest worked with City of Austin staff, primarily with the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development (NHCD) department, to define an approach for calibrating the fees in lieu of affordable housing for both the Downtown Density Bonus Program (Downtown) and the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO). At the highest level, this analysis evaluates the value a density bonus provides so that public benefits can be appropriately calibrated. …
F O U N D A T I O N The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation is a charitable, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization implementing key projects, public space activations and place-based research creating a “living, learning, lab” to ensure we are building a downtown that everyone will love. Our Role C R E A T E A L I V I N G , L E A R N I N G , L A B F O R D O W N T O W N P L A C E D E V E L O P M E N T P L A C E A C T I V A T I O N P L A C E R E S E A R C H O U R I M P A C T A L A S T I N G L E G A C Y T R A N S F O R M A T I O N R E P U B L I C S Q U A R E A C T I V A T I O N S C R E A T I N G B E L O V E D P L A C E S R E S E A R C H W H A T M A K E S P L A C E S V I T A L ? L E A D E R S H I P F O S T E R I N G T H E N E X T G E N E R A T I O N We have a great opportunity to foster new leadership in our community and the Foundation will work with companies and individuals to increase corporate and citizen engagement. K N O W L E D G E A U S T I N ' S R O L E As an emerging 21st century global city, Austin and downtown are a lense into the future of city building. We will cultivate knowledge leaders creating an Urban Think Tank for place-based research. P H I L A N T H R O P Y B U I L D I N G N E W C A P A C I T Y We have a great opportunity to build a lasting legacy in our …
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200219-05 Date: February 19, 2020 Subject: Our Austin Stories Motioned By: Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol Seconded By: Commissioner Sam Sargent Recommendation To recommend that City Council support Our Austin Stories project and provide funding to support implementation for the report’s recommendations and activation. Chair Joel $her, Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol, Commissioner Meghan Skomia, Commissioner Sam Sargent, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner David Gomez, Commissioner Christopher Lehman, Commissioner Andrew Harrison, Commissioner Jim Schissler, Commissioner Megan Meisenbach 10-0 Vote For: Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Commissioner August Harris Attest: Mona Sanchez, Commission Liaison, Economic Development Department 1 of 1
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200219-06 Date: February 19, 2020 Subject: Downtown Public Safety Motioned By: Vice Chair Bristol Seconded By: Commissioner Megan Meisenbach Recommendation Recommend to City Council to fully staff the Austin Police Department and improve lighting and cameras along pedestrian heavy areas in downtown Austin. Chair Joel Sher, Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol, Commissioner Meghan Skomia, Commissioner Sam Sargent, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner David Gomez, Commissioner Christopher Lehman, Commissioner Andrew Harrison, Commissioner Jim Schissler, Commissioner Megan Meisenbach 10-0 Vote For: Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Commissioner August Harris Attest: Mona Sanchez, Commission Liaison, Economic Development Department 1 of 1
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 The Downtown Commission convened in a meeting on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 301 W. 2nd Street in the Boards & Commissions Room. Downtown Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Joel Sher, Vice Chair Jennifer Bristol, Commissioner Meghan Skornia, Commissioner Sam Sargent, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner David Gomez, Commissioner Christopher Lehman, Commissioner Andrew Harrison, Commissioner Jim Schissler, Commissioner Megan Meisenbach, Commissioner Melissa Henao-Robledo, Commissioner Ben Heimsath, Commissioner Richard DePalma Downtown Commissioners Not in Attendance: Commissioner August Harris, Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby, Commissioner Felipe Garza City Staff in Attendance: Christine Maguire and Mona Sanchez, Economic Development Department Commander Jay Bryant, Austin Police Department Erica Leak, Land Development Code Team 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. 2. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No citizens were signed up to speak. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 15, 2020 MEETING MINUTES Commissioner Meisenbach motioned to approve the January 15, 2020 meeting minutes with Vice Chair Bristol’s second on a vote of 9-0 with Commissioner Christopher Lehman off dais. The Commission received a presentation from Molly Alexander, Downtown Austin Alliance. 4. WRITING ON THE WALLS 5. OUR AUSTIN STORIES No action was taken. The Commission received a presentation from Melissa Barry, Downtown Austin Alliance and Ted Eubanks. Vice Chair Bristol motioned to recommend that City Council support Our Austin Stories project and provide funding to support implementation for the report’s recommendations and activation with Commissioner Sargent’s second on a vote of 10-0. - 1 - 6. DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SAFETY The Commission received a presentation from Commander Jay Bryant, Austin Police Department. Vice Chair Bristol recommended to fully staff the Austin Police Department and improve lighting and cameras along pedestrian heavy areas in downtown Austin. 7. DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM RECALIBRATION The Commission received a presentation from Erica Leak, Land Development Code Team. No action was taken. 8. WORKING GROUPS A. Moonlight Tower Working Group No progress to report. B. Austin Core Transportation Plan (ACTP) Working Group No progress to report. 9. ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMISSIONS Commissioner Melissa Henao-Robledo reported that there is a District 7 vacancy on the Design Commission. Commissioner Ben Heimsath reported that the Historic Landmark Commission had discussions regarding the signage at Republic Square Park and the expansion of the French Ligation that will allow upgrades to the visitor’s center and on the next meeting agenda the German …
