Item 3: Central City District Plan Slide Deck — original pdf

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Central City District Plan Austin Planning | Downtown Commission September 16, 2026 Agenda 01 Progress Updates 02 From Feedback to Future 03 Transformational Ideas 04 Timeline to Adoption 05 Next Steps 2 Progress Updates Progress since June 17, 2026 briefing Downtown Commission Working Group Stakeholder Advisory Group Interagency Technical Advisory Group Community Engagement • July 13 Meeting • July 13 Meeting • July 28 Meeting • Received feedback on the Existing Conditions Report • August 10 Meeting • Reviewed the Plan’s outline • Shared the timeline to adoption • Discussed the first draft of Transformational Ideas • Workshopped what’s driving change in Austin • Discussed and prioritized draft actions that respond to the drivers of change • September 10 Meeting • Reviewed the Plan’s outline • Shared the timeline to adoption • Discussed an early draft of the Plan’s drivers actions • Reviewed and • August 25 Meeting discussed draft Transformational Ideas • Reviewed high level growth concept and select metrics • Introduced and edited the Transformational Ideas • Introduced draft list of Plan actions for review and comment. • August 1- August 31 • Filmed an informational video for social media • August 31-September 11 • Conducted 1:1 community conversations via Teams video • September 15 • Conducted an in person open house to discuss Transformational Ideas *Virtual – September 17 • Reviewed high level growth concept and selected metrics 4 From Feedback to the Future Vision on the Ground Future of the Central City District  Vision and Goals  What we heard from the community  Planning analysis  Existing projects and policies  Anticipated growth from ongoing efforts  Anticipated growth from suggested actions Future of the Central City District 6 Growth Concept Map Existing Character: Areas expected to generally maintain their existing character and development pattern. Mid to High Density Mixed Use: Areas expected to accommodate the greatest residential growth while supporting existing nonresidential uses, particularly around light rail expansion and other infrastructure investments. Cultural & Entertainment: Areas that reinforce Austin’s cultural and entertainment focus, with development supporting community events, activities, retail, and dining. Transitional Mixed Use: Areas that provide transitions in development intensity through a mix of uses and densities, while maintaining existing scale and adapting existing structures where appropriate Adaptive Reuse: Areas with concentrations of architecturally or culturally significant buildings suited for adaptive reuse when feasible. Existing character is preserved while accommodating new businesses and additional residential density to suit evolving District Needs. 7 How Do We Evaluate this Future? Maps show where growth could happen, but they do not tell us what that growth could mean for people and the district. We use a set of measures to understand how this future supports the plan’s Vision and Goals, along with priorities we’ve heard from the community. What do we measure? Population, Jobs, Housing, Commercial Space Housing Mix, Housing Cost Pressure, Jobs & Housing Balance Tree Canopy, Urban Heat Transit Trips, Car Trips, Transit-Supportive Density 8 How Do We Evaluate This Future? If successful, the plan sets the stage for a significantly greater residential population in the Central City District by enabling approximately 45,000 more people living in the district, spread across 25,000 additional housing units. This increase in housing and population capacity is aligned with future growth forecasts while also supporting the district’s future as a more complete neighborhood. +45k More residents in the district The plan aspires to enable enough capacity for jobs and business growth beyond CAMPO’s forecasted job growth for the Central City District by 2045, while also allowing for greater variety and diversity of uses through the introduction of more mixed-use zoning to help address changing market conditions for office. More jobs in the district 9 How Do We Evaluate This Future? With Austin’s continued investment in transit assets, along with this plan’s increases in housing and overall density, the plan aspires to significantly increase overall transit ridership and trips generated from within the district. The plan could increase transit ridership by ~25%, helping achieve the 50/50 mode split by increasing transit use within the district. +25% More transit ridership in the district With rising heat and a greater focus on pedestrian comfort, maintaining and expanding the urban tree canopy is a top priority. Policies that support green roofs, cool roofs, and improvements to trees within the right-of-way will help balance increased growth and density in the district. A cooler Central City 10 Transformational Ideas 2011 DAP Transformative Steps From the 2011 Downtown Austin Plan (for reference only): The DAP proposed seven transformative steps that can help realize the community’s vision. 1. Initiate a new generation of downtown signature parks. 2. Complete the first phase of urban rail. 3. Re-imagine East Sixth Street as a destination for everyone. 4. Provide permanent supportive housing. 5. Invest in Downtown infrastructure. 6. Amend the Land Development Code 7. Establish a “Central City Economic Development Corporation”. 12 Transformational Ideas Working definition:  Transformational ideas are bold, high-impact ideas that help to establish the strategic direction for how the area will grow while anchoring the long-term vision. Aspirational in nature, they address community and stakeholder priorities while guiding future investment, policy, and development to create benefits that extend beyond any single project or location. 13 DRAFT Transformational Ideas 1. Make Austin’s cultural corridors all-day destinations for everyone — without losing what makes them special. Develop strategies to channel regulatory, financial, and design tools that diversify uses in areas like East 6th Street, the Warehouse District, 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor, and Red River Street, while protecting the historic buildings, cultural venues, and legacy businesses that give each corridor its character. Tailor each corridor’s strategies to support its specific preservation, financing, and infrastructure needs so growth doesn’t come at the cost of displacement. 2. Create a connected, climate-resilient blue-green network through the Central City. Link major investments like the Waterloo Greenway, Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake, and Shoal Creek Trail into one district-wide blue-green public realm using strategies like bioswales, native plant corridors, and shade structures along streets, alleys, parks, and public spaces to reduce temperatures and improve water quality. 3. Repurpose vacant and underutilized spaces to support creative spaces and small-business opportunities. Accelerate adaptive reuse of obsolete office towers and vacant storefronts into an ecosystem of cultural spaces, incubator spaces, and businesses providing daily services, ensuring that small businesses and cultural venues can grow and thrive as the district evolves around them. 14 DRAFT Transformational Ideas 4. Accommodate Central City growth without increasing peak-period drive-alone vehicle trips into the district. Position the Central City District as a lead of the Austin Strategic Mobility’s Plan goal of 50/50 mode share through sustained investment in pedestrian infrastructure, the Project Connect transit network, an all-ages-and-abilities bicycle network, and street designs that prioritize people and transit over vehicle throughput. Multimodal connections should take into account highway caps and stitches, and the transportation network should be maintained through coordinated closure management and real-time traveler information to ensure safety and efficiency. 5. Expand affordable and supportive housing across the Central City. Grow and preserve the supply of affordable and permanent supportive housing by leveraging City-owned assets, redevelopment opportunities, partnerships, and incentives, so people across the income spectrum can live in the district they help sustain. 15 Timeline to Adoption Timeline to Adoption Draft Plan Development September - December 2026 Draft Plan Adoption January – May 2027 1:1 Community conversations August 31 – September 11 Transformational Ideas community open houses September 15 and 17 Board and commission briefings October – December Place types mapping community engagement Late November – Early December Draft plan release Final public meeting Late January Mid February Public comment period closes Late February Boards and commissions Through late Spring Council adoption late Spring 17 Next Steps  Virtual open house on September 17  Please attend and help us develop the plan's transformational ideas!  Register at SpeakUpAustin.org/CentralCity  Convert high-level growth concept map into the Place Types map following Imagine Austin open houses in late October 18 For more information: Shanisha Johnson, PMP Principal Planner/Project Lead Shanisha.Johnson@austintexas.gov (512) 974-3458 Chris Ryerson, AICP Long-Range Planning Division Manager Chris.Ryerson@austintexas.gov (512) 978-1422 www.SpeakUpAustin.org/CentralCity CentralCityDistrictPlanTeam@austintexas.gov 19