Item 2: Downtown Strategy Office Slide Deck — original pdf

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Priorities Framework Downtown Strategy Office presentation to Austin Downtown Commission | October 21, 2026 What is the DSO? ▪ Convenes internal and external stakeholders ▪ Acts as a force multiplier ▪ Facilitates cross-departmental goal setting ▪ Monitor, advisor, and analyst ▪ Strategic project identification ▪ Fast lane and slow(er) lane ▪ Geographic focus primarily on downtown core (Lady Bird Lake to MLK, I-35 to N Lamar) Image: Central City District Plan Existing Conditions Report 2 Goal Setting Task Force In August, the Downtown Strategy Office formed an internal task force comprised of department leaders from the following departments: ▪ Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment ▪ Communications and Engagement ▪ Economic Development ▪ EMS ▪ Equity and Inclusion ▪ Financial Services ▪ Homeless Strategies and Operations ▪ Parks and Recreation ▪ Planning ▪ Police ▪ Project Connect ▪ Transportation and Public Works The task force reviewed context and key insights and identified strategic approaches and initial multidisciplinary goals. Image: Royal Blue Grocery Website 3 Outreach and information gathered to date ▪ DASI Council Resolution ▪ 50+ Downtown Strategy Office Meetings (council, internal departments, external implementers, advocacy organizations) ▪ DSO Personal Observation ▪ DAA State of Downtown 2026 ▪ September External Partner Forum ▪ Completion of Director Task Force ▪ Example City of Austin Plans ▪ CCDP existing conditions, initial goals, and ongoing planning process ▪ Palm District Plan and Imagine Austin Plan ▪ ACT plan and ongoing engineering (6th, 7th, 8th) ▪ Citywide Strategic Plan ▪ Convention Center, Project Connect, CAUDI,I-35, Cap and Stitch, and other capital plans ▪ Economic and Cultural District Framework Policy ▪ Draft Place Network Investigation policy ▪ Example External Plans ▪ DAA 2023-2028 Strategic Plan & Annual Agenda ▪ Visit Austin Downtown Commission Presentation ▪ Waterloo Greenway Phase 3 and Palm Park Plans ▪ Old 6th / Stream Realty 4 DSO Mission & Vision Vision: Downtown is the heartbeat of Austin. It is a place where people feel connected, ideas thrive, and visitors from around the world feel welcomed into the rhythm of our city. It stands as a vibrant, inclusive urban center recognized for exceptional design, economic & cultural vitality, and an unmatched quality of life. Mission: We are catalysts. We bring City and community partners together, coordinating action and advancing shared priorities to fuel the economic and cultural strength of downtown Austin. Image: Waterloo Greenway Social Media 5 Our Progress ▪ Defined Mission & Vision ▪ Facilitated Goal Setting Task Force → Living Framework ▪ Recent Launch of Mayor's Save Red River Task Force ▪ Scheduled External Partner Forum for November 9 6 Planning Approach Community Vision Measurable Outcomes Market Understanding Activity Alignment & Work Plan Catalytic Priority & Goal Identification ▪ Catalytic Priorities – Keep focus on economic or livability change 1. User-based (definable group that has demand but unmet needs) 2. Experience-based (cultivation of existing or new experience/cluster) ▪ Collaborative goals ▪ Identified activities (DSO, City Departments, External Partners) 7 Our Priorities Catalytic | 3-Year Focus Fundamental downtown experience Focused place- based transformation Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Unmistakably Austin Red River Cultural District and Historic 6th Thrive Downtown Works for Austinites Differentiated destination and identity Priority user relationship 8 A Living Framework Catalytic | 3-Year Focus Catalytic Priorities Collaborative Goals Areas of Work 1. Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Downtown Wide Priorities 2. Unmistakably Austin 1. Construction impacts are coordinated to protect access, activity, and confidence in downtown 2. Downtown demonstrates visible care, investment, and stewardship 3. People experiencing homelessness and behavioral health crises receive coordinated support while impacts on the downtown experience are effectively addressed 1. Austin’s heritage, culture, and creativity are visible and experienced throughout downtown 2. Local entrepreneurship and creative industry thrive through growth and change 3. There is momentum behind the visions of established cultural districts Comms & Engagement Programming, Services, & Activation Partnerships & Collaborations Public Safety 3. Downtown Works for Austinites 1. Austinites of different ages, abilities, incomes, backgrounds, and circumstances can access, use, and enjoy downtown 2. Downtown’s businesses, services, events, and experiences are relevant to and supported by Austinites Focused Geography 4. Red River Cultural District and Historic 6th Thrive 1. Support active and diverse experiences morning through night 2. Strengthen the unique identities and connectivity of both corridors Design & Public Realm Redevelopment & Reinvestment Business Support & Entrepreneurship 9 Priority Framework Example Example goal actions across areas of work; both internal and external Illustrative only, these do not represent decisions by the City Priority 4: Red River Cultural District and Historic 6th Thrive Goal 4.2: Support active and diverse experiences from morning through night Comms & Engagement Programming, Services, & Activation Partnerships & Collaboration Business Support & Entrepreneurship ▪ Construction impact mitigation support ▪ Supporting events through media pushes ▪ Business recruitment and retention supporting diversification ▪ Startup friendly spaces ▪ Amplifying identity and messaging; counter messaging to inaccurate safety perceptions Public Safety Design & Public Realm ▪ Environmental design ▪ Historic 6th Street (CPTED) evaluation; alleys ▪ Pedestrian enhancements focused on safety streetscape project ▪ Increased public art ▪ Enhanced maintenance ▪ Festival infrastructure (e.g. and beautification bollards) ▪ Right of Way management ▪ Cultural District entities ▪ Property Improvement Districts ▪ Events and activations that change visitation patterns (e.g. festival street, night markets, farmers markets) ▪ Focused services for unhoused & mental health Redevelopment & Reinvestment ▪ Adaptive reuse projects ▪ ▪ Public realm Increased housing density enhancements 10 Priority 1: Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Highest priority of all feedback ▪ 1.1 – Construction impacts are coordinated to protect access, activity, and confidence in downtown ▪ 1.2 – Downtown demonstrates visible care, investment, and stewardship ▪ 1.3 – People experiencing homelessness and behavioral health crises receive coordinated support while impacts on the downtown experience are effectively addressed 11 Priority 2: Unmistakably Austin Authenticity | District Positioning | Tourism | Commitment to Creative Industry ▪ 2.1 – Austin’s heritage, culture, and creativity are visible and experienced throughout downtown ▪ 2.2 – Local entrepreneurship and creative industry thrive through growth and change ▪ 2.3 – There is momentum behind the visions of established cultural districts 12 Priority 3: Downtown Works for Austinites 50% of all non-employment visits to downtown | Civic Heart | Employment Center ▪ 4.1 – Austinites of different ages, abilities, incomes, backgrounds, and circumstances can access, use, and enjoy downtown ▪ 4.2 – Downtown’s businesses, services, events, and experiences are relevant to and supported by Austinites 13 Priority 4: Red River Cultural District and Historic 6th Thrive Convention Center Reopening | Waterloo Greenway | ACT Plan | Risk of Cultural & Business Displacement ▪ 3.1 – Support active and diverse experiences from morning through night ▪ 3.2 – Strengthen the unique identities and connectivity of both corridors 14 Next Steps ▪ Planned External Partner Forum ▪ Activity Alignment & Work Plan Development ▪ Sequential working groups based on each priority; starting with Red River and Historic 6th ▪ Identification of Downtown Strategy Office projects and programs; “force multiplier” ▪ Regular updates to Economic Opportunity Committee starting in 2027 ▪ Periodic updates to Downtown Commission 15 Q & A