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VISION STATEMENT The Palm District is a vibrant historic hub of downtown where the past is honored, culture is celebrated, and the future is shaped. Dense transit-oriented development is balanced with history and natural spaces creating physical connections that invite people to move easily to and through the district. The district is a dynamic place, growing and evolving, while actively retaining families and individuals who have traditionally called this place home. Creativity and innovation are cultivated, and people from Austin and beyond are welcome to live, relax, work, play, learn, and connect with others. 40 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan VISION FRAMEWORK As the district evolves, the plan will guide development and programming to achieve the vision for a vibrant, accessible and successful district. Informed by an understanding of area history, the elements of the vision are inclusive growth, culture, connection and nature. The desired outcomes for each of these elements are outlined in the following sections. 41 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan KEY OPPORTUNITY SITES Key Opportunities identified on the following map series represent sites that are controlled by a variety of public and private entities, and not all sites are under the direct ownership of the City of Austin. Opportunity sites are sites that are likely to serve as key anchors supporting placemaking and helping to achieve desired outcomes in the District over the years ahead. The Vision is intended to provide an aspirational view of how the district could develop over time. Implementation will require a range of actions by the City of Austin and its partners. While Palm Park is currently owned by the City of Austin, the adjacent Palm School is owned by Travis County, and Travis County has been undertaking a process to explore options for this site. For additional information on the Palm School site please visit - https://www.traviscountytx.gov/planning-budget/economic- development-strategic-investments/palm-school. 42 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Dell Medical School and Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas at Austin 35 Health South Waterloo Park Texas State Capitol INCLUSIVE GROWTH VISION FRAMEWORK Key Opportunities Palm District Parks Waterways To Huston-Tillotson University, Six Square Black Cultural District, and French Legation ARCH APD Headquarters To Plaza Saltillo East Austin 35 To Republic Square Convention Center INCLUSIVE GROWTH PARTNERS & COORDINATION RESOURCES » Housing and Planning » Capital City Innovation » Waterloo Greenway Conservancy » Austin Convention Center » Downtown Austin Alliance » Travis County » Homeless support services providers » Housing Authority of City of Austin » Austin Economic Development Corporation » Waller Creek Local Government Corporation N 43 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Innovation DistrictTexas State Capitol Dell Medical School and Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas at Austin Moody Amphitheater Waterloo Park 35 Symphony Square Red River Cultural District ARCH To Huston-Tillotson University, Six Square Black Cultural District, and French Legation 6th Street Historic District Fifth Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor To Republic Square Convention Center Palm Park Palm School Rainey Street Historic District To Plaza Saltillo East Austin 35 Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center CULTURE VISION FRAMEWORK Key Opportunities Key Corridors Palm District Parks Waterways CULTURE PARTNERS & COORDINATION RESOURCES » Austin Convention » Center Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American » Cultural Center » George Washington Carver Museum » Huston-Tillotson » » University Six Square Cultural District Red River Cultural District » Mexic-Arte » La Peña » Tejano Trails » Waterloo Greenway Conservancy » Travis County » Downtown Austin Alliance Preservation Austin » » Austin Parks & Recreation » Austin History Center » Austin Economic Development » Visit Austin » Waller Creek Local Government Corporation N 44 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Dell Medical School and Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas at Austin Texas State Capitol 35 Potential Stitch Potential Stitch To Huston-Tillotson University, Six Square Black Cultural District, and French Legation Red River Cultural District ARCH ARCH To Republic Square Future Brush Square Station Potential Highway Caps & Stitches 4th Street Project Connect Enhancements Downtown Station To Plaza Saltillo East Austin Rainey Street Historic District 35 Potential Stitch CONNECTION VISION FRAMEWORK Key Opportunities Key Corridors Palm District Parks Waterways I-35 Redesign Project Connect Light Rail Project Connect MetroRail Project Connect Transit Stations Project Connect MetroRapid (BRT) CONNECTION PARTNERS & COORDINATION RESOURCES » CapMetro » Austin Transit Partnership » Waterloo Greenway Conservancy » Austin Transportation » Downtown Austin Alliance » Austin Energy » Austin Watershed Protection » Austin Water » Austin Parks & Recreation » Waller Creek Local Government Corporation N 45 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Innovation DistrictDell Medical School and Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas at Austin Texas State Capitol 35 Waterloo Park NATURE VISION FRAMEWORK Key Opportunities Palm District Parks Waterways To Huston-Tillotson University, Six Square Black Cultural District, and French Legation ARCH ARCH The Refuge To Republic Square Brush Square To Plaza Saltillo Palm Park To Shoal Creek The Confluence 35 East Austin NATURE PARTNERS & COORDINATION RESOURCES » Waterloo Greenway Conservancy » Waller Creek Local Government Corporation » Austin Parks & Recreation » Austin Watershed Protection » Austin Public Works » Austin Office of Sustainability Trails Conservancy » N 46 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Texas State Capitol Dell Medical School and Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas at Austin Moody Amphitheater 35 Waterloo Park Health South Potential Stitch Symphony Square Potential Stitch Red River Red River Cultural Cultural District District ARCH APD Headquarters The Refuge To Huston-Tillotson University, Six Square Black Cultural District, and French Legation To Republic Square To Shoal Creek 6th Street Historic District Fifth Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor Brush Square 4th Street Project Connect Enhancements Downtown Station Potential Future Highway Caps & Stitches Convention Center Palm Park Palm School To Plaza Saltillo Rainey Street Historic District The Confluence 35 East Austin Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Potential Stitch N 47 VISION ELEMENT KEY OPPORTUNITIES Inclusive Growth Culture Connection Nature PLANNING AREA Palm District Parks Waterways I-35 Redesign Project Connect Light Rail Project Connect MetroRail Project Connect Transit Stations Project Connect MetroRapid (BRT) The combined map shows points of interests and ongoing projects that are opportunities for coordination to work towards a shared vision for the future of the district. Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Innovation DistrictDESIRED OUTCOMES The following desired outcomes for the Palm District came directly from community, partner, and stakeholder input during the visioning phase of the planning process. The desired outcomes are synthesized statements that express the recommendations and visions for how the Palm District should develop and grow. The desired outcomes were then grouped into the four thematic elements from the draft Palm District Vision Framework. 48 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan AN INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, AND PROSPEROUS PALM DISTRICT... • Acknowledges and prioritizes history and • Ensures the redevelopment and expansion of INCLUSIVE GROWTH the Convention Center providing a world-class community-friendly facility that contributes positively to Austin and Central Texas’s economy, and enhances the surrounding public realm. • Ensures that the economic benefits of the Innovation District reach all Austinites, especially historically excluded populations. • Promotes a thriving retail environment to foster small business ownership or creation, and to support economic well-being, including first- floor retail activations. • Encourages private development to positively contribute to the public realm. • Provides a variety of affordable options for people to access and get around the district. • Creates opportunities to use publicly owned properties for dense, mixed-income housing, as well as places for cultural celebration, and to preserve those sites that are of historical, social, and cultural significance. I E C N A I L L A N T S U A N W O T N W O D : I T D E R C 49 cultural heritage and integrates these concepts into new development and any redevelopment in the area. • Establishes anti-displacement policies, such as a right to return, for the District’s existing, lower income residents. • Makes housing a priority, not just a luxury, for all socioeconomic groups. All development should produce affordable housing and preserve existing affordable housing. • Increases the real and perceived sense of safety in the District by providing lighting, accessibility, signage, staffing, and a continuum of care that includes adequate shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness. • Leverages redevelopment opportunities and increased transit options to increase housing density and walkability with options to live, work, learn, and play. • Supports all aspects of the local creative economy and artists of color. • Promotes destinations for families and children. • Creates and promotes recreational spaces and destinations as downtown amenities. Public Review Draft Palm District Plan CULTURE A CULTURALLY RICH AND DIVERSE PALM DISTRICT... • Honors the presence and experiences of • Uses the redesign of I-35 to create gateways American Indians, Mexican Americans/Tejanos, Latinos, African Americans, as well as the Chinese, Greek, German, Lebanese, and Jewish immigrants who lived and worked in the District through interpretive projects such as Texas Historical Commission’s Undertold Marker program and enhanced Waterloo Greenway cultural programming. • Preserves and promotes physical cultural resources and architecture. • Creates welcoming places for Austin’s and Central Texas’s Mexican American population. • Incorporates cultural uses in the future plans for Palm School. • Expands Austin’s musical identity as the Live Music Capital of the World by including and promoting local Tejano/Latinx/Spanish-language music and culture and includes the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, Palm Park, and Brush Square as performance venues during citywide events. • Creates a sense of identity and place through public art by local artists. • Utilizes the redevelopment of the Convention Center to create gathering spaces for the local community that foster a sense of belonging. into Downtown and East Austin that celebrate the District’s rich cultural identity and history. • Engages Huston-Tillotson University, Six Square, and other institutions to identify and preserve remaining historic resources associated with African American history, including the former Freedman community and Black-owned businesses along Sixth Street and Red River Street. • Enhances the pedestrian life of the district by promoting active, street-level uses such as restaurants and retail, with an emphasis on fostering businesses owned by people of color and locally owned businesses. • Preserves performance venues in the Red River Cultural District through incentives, public private partnerships, and regulatory tools such as transfer of development rights, historic and landmark designations, and the Iconic Venue Fund. • Conserves the history of the District through preservation of historic structures, adaptive reuse of existing structures, and thoughtful integration of historic structures into new development. 50 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan CONNECTION A WELL-CONNECTED AND ACCESSIBLE PALM DISTRICT... • • • Leverages the lowering and replacement of I-35 to create better and more attractive connections between East Austin and the District. Increases safety and visibility on pedestrian paths and along connections between amenities such as the Butler Trail to Rainey Street and to Cesar Chavez. • Creates a cohesive and complimentary edge to new, urban-designed boulevards with slower travel speeds that will replace traditional frontage roads that exist along the I-35 corridor today. • Leverages potential wider, larger connections across new freeway caps at Palm Park, Holly Street, and other key crossings along I-35 to create a seamless connection between downtown, Waterloo Greenway, and East Austin/Saltillo. Increases circulation through Waterloo Greenway investments with universally accessible bridges and trail connections. • Leverages the significant transit investments under the Project Connect transit vision to foster placemaking. • Creates a more welcoming pedestrian experience in and around the Convention Center by improving the pathways and connections linking it to other parts of the District and to the rest of Downtown. • Encourages walking, biking, public transit, and creates accessible pedestrian paths that guide people through the district to all amenities. • • Provides continuity and connectivity from Rainey Street up to the Innovation District. • Leverages Waterloo Greenway as a pedestrian pathway (open year-round, twenty-four hours a day) linking Lady Bird Lake to Palm School, Palm Park and Waterloo Park. • Creates a series of signature locations, such as in the Innovation District, Red River Cultural District, and Rainey Street National Historic District, that are worthy of celebrating. Increases sustainability and resilience of utility and infrastructure networks throughout the District by implementing autonomous technologies, supporting expansion of District cooling and the reclaimed water network, and supporting stormwater management through engineered and green infrastructure approaches. • Creates better pedestrian infrastructure and vehicle circulation for Rainey Street and East Sixth Street and connections crossing Cesar Chavez Street. 51 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan NATURE AN ECOLOGICALLY HEALTHY PALM DISTRICT... • Serves as a natural recreational area for • Promotes the proposed Waterloo Greenway everyone and a respite from the hardness of the Central Business District. Plan that provides a 1.5-mile park system and 35 acres of connected greenspace. • Restores natural creek and delta areas including creek bank stabilization, re-planting landscape with new plants and trees, and new east-west connections. • Connects Palm Park area with the hike & bike trail through a creek-level trail. • Improves public health through quality access to nature, active transportation options, and other healthy community initiatives including Waterloo Greenway programming designed to bring people closer to nature. • Focuses on native/regional plants that are resilient and suited to our climate, providing a sense of place, educational opportunities, and long-term maintenance benefits. • Manages stormwater in the District with fine- grained solutions throughout that keep our water clean and make the District more resilient to future flooding. • Creates an interconnected ribbon of green spaces throughout Downtown connecting the Waterloo Greenway, the Roy and Ann Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, and the Shoal Creek Trail which facilitates travel through Downtown and beyond. • Creates a welcoming Palm Park though better lighting and improved amenities to make it more attractive to visitors. • Improves the Waterloo Greenway, south of Palm Park to the Confluence, through lighting, interpretive signage, and other amenities, to invite visitors and residents to explore and experience Waller Creek. • Enhances ecological function of Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake. • Increases tree canopy in the district, specifically along Red River Street and on pedestrian and bicycle pathways. • Enhances sustainability of the district by using standards of nationally recognized rating systems such as the Sustainable SITES Initiative for site development. 52 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan SCENARIOS SCENARIOS Building upon the stakeholder input received during the five Palm District Future Scenarios Focus Group workshops in August 2022, the Asakura Robinson design team generated three possible future scenarios for the District. The scenarios are differentiated by the three purposes they represent: Live, Work, and Play. NOTE: The following scenarios represent visualizations of potential future development in the district. The visualizations include sites that are controlled by a variety of public and private entities, and not all sites are under the direct ownership of the City of Austin. These scenarios are intended to provide an aspirational view of how the district could develop over time; they do not bind individual property owners or the City of Austin and partner agencies. Implementation would require a range of actions by the City of Austin and its partners. Palm School: The Palm School site is owned by Travis County, and Travis County has been undertaking a process to explore options for this site. See https://www.traviscountytx.gov/planning-budget/ economic-development-strategic-investments/palm-school for additional information. Austin’s Cap and Stitch Program: The Texas Department of Transportation is currently evaluating options the reconstruction of I-35 through the federally-required environmental review process, and the City is working in tandem with that process to explore possible approaches for capping I-35 and/or designing enhanced bridges (stitches) over the freeway that could be used for a range of purposes in the future. In 2023 Our Future 35 will be working with community members to identify preferred concepts and program elements for new caps and stitches. The following scenarios assumes construction of caps and stitches and small-scale development for visualization proposes only. See https://austintexas.gov/ourfuture35 for additional information. The Live Scenario focuses on increasing the amount of mixed-income housing developed through density programs and promoting supportive, goods, services, and activities in the Palm District. The Live Scenario: • Increases the amount of supportive goods and services such as pharmacies, downtown-scaled grocery stores, dine in casual and fast casual restaurants, coffee shops, dry cleaners, and cultural activities. • Locates new housing, supportive retail and services, on publicly owned land and sites currently • used for surface and structured parking. Improves localized transit options by implementing a circulator route within the District along Red River Street to link the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican America Cultural Center, Convention Center, Downtown Station, Red River Cultural District, Waterloo Park, Innovation District, and the Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, as well as the Dell Medical School, and the University of Texas’ School of Nursing. • Leverages the Waterloo Greenway trail to create safe and attractive pedestrian and bicycle transportation choices. 53 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan • Potential cap and stitch development over I-35 may support by providing amenities for the growing resident populations The Work Scenario focuses on growing the number of jobs by increasing new office and mixed-use development throughout the district. A primary objective of this scenario is to promote more daytime, evening, and nighttime activities. The Work Scenario: • Promotes business and work supportive retail such as office services like printing, delivery services, dry cleaners, and diners in and near these developments. • Offers more flexible office and creative spaces to support the growing numbers of people who commute to the District as well as those who live and work there. • Expands opportunities for new work and/or rehearsal spaces for the Palm District’s creative and innovation job sectors. • Leverages I-35 caps and stitches to provide programming and amenities, potentially including, but not limited to, new business incubation space, gathering places, and employment opportunities that will encourage new economic and community activity. The potential caps and stitches at 11th and 12th Street offer strong links to the neighboring Innovation District.Develops underutilized and aging creek-side properties for mixed use developments, with ground floor commercial space of varying heights (due to the Capitol View Corridors) to establish a more vibrant District identity. The Play Scenario maximizes the amount of greenspace in the Palm District by building upon the reimagining of Waller Creek with the Waterloo Greenway and promotes additional open spaces such as skate parks and recreational playscapes for people of all ages and abilities. The Play Scenario: • Leverages I-35 caps and stitches to provide programming and amenities, potentially including, but not limited to, small scale commercial, entertainment, and open spaces to build east/west connection. Introduces two new hotels with entertainment spaces between East 6th and East 7th Streets to support new tourist and entertainment investments, existing music venues, and other cultural assets in the District. • • Repurposes existing publicly owned buildings between 10th and 11th Streets to meet the District’s housing and office needs. • Establishes the District as a citywide destination, elevating its rich history through such street-level 54 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan 55 "*Renderings are for illustrative purposes only; Cap and Stitch design to be developed as part of the Our Future 35 community process. Public Review Draft Palm District Plan 56 "*Renderings are for illustrative purposes only; Cap and Stitch design to be developed as part of the Our Future 35 community process. Public Review Draft Palm District Plan 57 "*Renderings are for illustrative purposes only; Cap and Stitch design to be developed as part of the Our Future 35 community process. Public Review Draft Palm District Plan  PREFERRED SCENARIO The Preferred Scenario builds on the Live, Work, Play scenarios. Through feedback via the online survey most respondents favored the Live scenario and emphasized a desire for more housing in the future growth of the Palm District. Taking advantage of density initiatives, this scenario significantly increases mixed income housing to support a more vibrant and diverse community. The Preferred Scenario: • Envisions the Palm District as thriving, 24-hour a day community. • Prioritizes a strategic placement of goods and services, such as pharmacies, mixed-scale groceries, and eateries within a ten-minute walk of residences. • Prioritizes mixed use buildings with ground floor spaces for retail, entertainment, recreation, cultural activities, and services. • Creates new work or practice spaces for the Palm District’s creative and innovation industries by proposing strategic repurposing of existing government buildings between 10th and 11th streets. • Supports new tourist and entertainment investments and bolsters existing live music and cultural spaces by introducing two new hotels with entertainment venues. • Supports Project Connect and the Waterloo Greenway trail expansion by proposing a transit circulator along Red River, connecting riders to key locations like Waterloo Park, the Red River Cultural District, and the Mexican American Cultural Center. • Promotes the potential I-35 Cap & Stitch that could create opportunities to expand the Palm District’s retail and commercial environment and create more open and green space to support the eastern edge of Downtown. 58 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan BIG IDEAS Preferred Scenario RAINEY NEIGHBORHOOD PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS LADY BIRD LAKE CONVENTION CENTER SITE BRUSH SQUARE MEXICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR WATERLOO GREENWAY RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT STATE CAPITOL I-35 I-35 N AUSTIN ENERGY POWER STATION PALM PARK CONNECTION TO EAST AUSTIN PALM SCHOOL T. S S E V A H R C A S E C T. D S R 3 T. S H T 4 T. S H T 5 . T S H T 6 . T S H T 7 . T S H T 8 . T S H T 9 . T S H T 0 1 . T S H T 1 1 1 2 T H S T. This scenario envisions Palm District as an area with all day activity, including a range of cultural and necessary elements required to thrive in the area. BIG IDEA Provide new spaces for services that support residents and new open, green spaces for recreation and cultural uses on I-35 Caps and Stitches. 59 BIG IDEA Preserve and grow the Red River Cultural District and its venues and expand the downtown live music economy into a “Music Mile” a 24-hour activated neighborhood with new cultural, entertainment and hospitality uses. BIG IDEA Provide a new public transportation circulator that moves people along Red River Street and connects them to cultural sites like Waterloo Park, Red River Cultural District and the Mexican American Cultural Center. Public Review Draft Palm District Plan BIG IDEAS Preferred Scenario RAINEY NEIGHBORHOOD PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS LADY BIRD LAKE CONVENTION CENTER SITE MEXICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR WATERLOO GREENWAY RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT STATE CAPITOL I-35 I-35 N AUSTIN ENERGY POWER STATION PALM PARK CONNECTION TO EAST AUSTIN PALM SCHOOL T. S S E V A H R C A S E C T. D S R 3 T. S H T 4 T. S H T 5 . T S H T 6 . T S H T 7 . T S H T 8 . T S H T 9 . T S H T 0 1 . T S H T 1 1 1 2 T H S T. Taking advantage of density initiatives, this scenario significantly increases mixed income housing to support the building of a more vibrant and diverse community. 60 BIG IDEA Prioritize dense buildings with a majority of residential uses that are accessible to a range of incomes and with ground- floor uses that serve residents and activate the street. BIG IDEA Locate ground-floor retail and goods and services uses like groceries, pharmacies, dry cleaners, salons and eateries within a 10 minute walkshed. BIG IDEA Repurpose publicly-owned sites and buildings with affordable, mixed-income residential uses and affordable commercial uses like child care, social services, live/work, non-profits, start-ups, creative arts studios and galleries and collaborative gathering spaces. 10 MINUTE WALK10 MINUTE WALK10-MIN WALK10 MINUTE WALK10 MINUTE WALK10-MIN WALK10 MINUTE WALK10 MINUTE WALK10-MIN WALK10 MINUTE WALK10 MINUTE WALK10 MINUTE WALK10 MINUTE WALK10-MIN WALK10 MINUTE WALKPublic Review Draft Palm District Plan PREFERRED SCENARIO Putting it All Together CONVENTION CENTER SITE BRUSH SQUARE MEXICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR WATERLOO GREENWAY RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT STATE CAPITOL RAINEY NEIGHBORHOOD PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS LADY BIRD LAKE I-35 I-35 PALM PARK CONNECTION TO EAST AUSTIN PALM SCHOOL T. S S E V A H R C A S E C T. D S R 3 T. S H T 4 T. S H T 5 . T S H T 6 . T S H T 7 . T S H T 8 . T S H T 9 . T S H T 0 1 . T S H T 1 1 AUSTIN ENERGY POWER STATION N LEGEND Goods / Services Food/ Restaurants Bar/Pub Residential Cultural Connectivity Other Low Income Market Rate Music Venue Theatre Streetcar Parking Waterloo Greenway Trail Food Truck/ Street Vendors Mixed Income Visitors Center Project Connect Blue Line Retail Hotel Health Services Office Open Space Park Artist Studio/ Creative Office Trail Connections Mixed Use: Office, Hotel, Residential Project Connect Red Line Project Connect Green Line Project Connect Purple Line Project Connect Gold Line 61 Project Connect Stations Streetcar Improvements Sidewalk/Streetscape Improvements Public Review Draft Palm District Plan PREFERRED SCENARIO Putting it All Together Music/Entertainment/Recreation The diverse array of entertainment venues in the Palm District distinguishes it as a nighttime district. With new venues like the Moody Theater and Waterloo Amphitheater serving as assets in and around the area, there is an increased need for a more developed nighttime ecosystem with commercial and retail amenities in-between key entertainment destinations to move visitors through the district. Many participants indicated that they would like to see more daytime programming like festivals, recreation activities for visitors of all ages, museums, street markets, and other programming to make Palm District into a 24-hour area. Connectivity/ Walkability/Bikeability Enhanced walkability and safer pedestrian crossings surfaced as top priorities among stakeholders. Missing and broken sidewalks are a major hindrance to walkability across the Palm District and inhibit access to transit connections like the Downtown Rail Station and Plaza Saltillo, as well as access to other areas of Downtown and the University of Texas. Particular intersections like the crossing at Red River and E Cesar Chavez were identified as major district pain points in need of necessary improvements like preserving high quality right-of-way to maximize pedestrian safety. Transportation As new CapMetro investment breaks ground in the district, it is essential to break up existing super-blocks to maximize shorter routes andencourage easier movement in and around the district. New ideas included the included the addition of a public transit circulator along Red River Street, or to add a new shuttle that easily and affordably moves people from the new MACC/Rainey Blue Line Station to the MACC and other district destinations. New investments may also be complemented by more transit-oriented wayfinding, guiding people station areas to local assets like Waterloo Park, or the Red River Cultural District. Music Venue Theatre Visitors Center Park Trail Connections Parking Project Connect Stations Streetcar Improvements Sidewalk/Streetscape Improvements Streetcar Waterloo Greenway Trail Project Connect Blue Line Project Connect Red Line Project Connect Green Line Project Connect Purple Line Project Connect Gold Line 62 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Commercial Development/ Business Mix To support the influx of development in the area, there is a need for a heightened variety of commercial developments and business types. Business and service considerations moving forward include more affordable dining options, bars, designated food truck areas, locally owned stores, retail, pharmacies, health services, and grocery stores of different scales (ie. grab-and-go vs. full service grocery). Collectively, there is a desire to see more ground-floor commercial development throughout the district to support street level activity all day. Key sites for commercial or mixed-use redevelopment include the Austin Police Department and I-35 Cap & Stitch. Suggestions for repurposing both locations include a combination of small business incubation, affordable housing, stacked groceries, and ground floor eateries. Office In support of developing sub-areas like the Innovation District, new flexible office spaces are needed across Palm District. This may spur partnerships between major entities in and around the area. More work-oriented retail is also needed to support office investment, including additions like dry cleaners, quick lunch options, and after-work bars or cafes. Culture While Palm District boasts a rich historic legacy, celebrated elements of its culture are not currently widely recognized or showcased throughout the district. There is a strong desire for this area to become a destination where “history is honored & displaced are welcome back”. Suggestions to increase the presence of cultural elements throughout the district include: solidifying connections between the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) & Latinx Holly neighborhood; bringing back displaced communities through Black and Hispanic businesses and cultural placemaking; adding a historic trail that moves people from Waterloo Park to Rainey Street; introducing digital or analog informational kiosks; and identifying gateways to highlight other important cultural E-W corridors like E 11th Street, 6th Street, or E Cesar Chavez Street. Food/ Restaurants Bar/Pub Food Truck/ Street Vendors Retail Health Services Artist Studio/ Creative Office Mixed Use: Office, Hotel, Residential Hotel 63 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan RECOMMENDATIONS By Subarea CONVENTION CENTER SITE BRUSH SQUARE MEXICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR WATERLOO GREENWAY RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT STATE CAPITOL RAINEY NEIGHBORHOOD PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS LADY BIRD LAKE I-35 I-35 N AUSTIN ENERGY POWER STATION PALM PARK CONNECTION TO EAST AUSTIN PALM SCHOOL T. S S E V A H R C A S E C T. D S R 3 T. S H T 4 T. S H T 5 . T S H T 6 . T S H T 7 . T S H T 8 . T S H T 9 . T S H T 0 1 . T S H T 1 1 1 2 T H S T. South € Create safe, accessible, and welcoming north-south pedestrian and bicycling connections along the Waterloo Greenway from Lady Bird Lake and Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail to Waterloo Park linking all of the Palm District’s many amenities. € Create safe, accessible, and welcoming north-south pedestrian and bicycling connections along the Waterloo Greenway from Lady Bird Lake and Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail to Waterloo Park linking all of the Palm District’s many amenities. € Expand opportunities for cultural space in the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) expansion. € Implement Phase Two of the Waterloo Greenway, the Confluence, to help restore the ecological health of Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake. € Improve pedestrian and bicycle connections across East Cesar Chavez € Improve pedestrian and vehicular circulation within the Rainey Street national Historical Register District. Avenue. 64 Central € Continue to fund Iconic Venue Fund. € Develop policies and programming to support small business development and retention for existing businesses and those locating in ground-floor retail spaces. € Ensure that people experiencing homelessness have the opportunity to access to shelter and a continuum of care. € Improve automobile and transit circulation for East 6th Street. € Improve pedestrian mobility and circulation for East 6th Street. € Incentivize greater levels of affordable housing in the Palm District. € Incentivize the preservation of existing affordable housing in the Palm District. North € Create opportunities for cultural spaces to locate in the Innovation District. This will requre exploring new governance models, funding sources, and active programming partnerships. € Develop new programs to support all aspects and sectors of the local creative economy. € Incorporate elements into the development and programming of the Innovation District spaces such as educational pathways for underrepresented students, promotion of health and wellness, and inclusive arts initiatives that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. € Leverage publicly-owned sites for affordable and mixed-income housing. *Renderings are for illustrative purposes only; Cap and Stitch design to be developed as part of the Our Future 35 community process. Public Review Draft Palm District Plan IMPLEMENTATION Implementation of the Palm District Plan will require support from multiple public and private sector partners. While many of the recommendations identified build on work that is already underway, some of the longer-term actions may require that additional funding or sponsors be identified. Governance Implementation of the Plan will require on-going collaboration. There are several options for governance as this plan moves into the implementation phase: Tier 1: COA Housing and Planning Department monitors and reports on implementation of the Plan. Under this option, Housing and Planning Department staff would monitor implementation of this plan (as we monitor implementation of other adopted small area plans) and would report on implementation at regular intervals over time. City Council or others could use implementation reporting to guide future decision making and policy guidance. Tier 2: Build on governance structures that already exist in the district. Under this option, the City would partner with existing organizations to coordinate implementation of various aspects of the plan that are aligned with the missions of those organizations. For example, the City could partner with the ESB-MACC to coordinate across cultural entities in support of the cultural outcomes of the plan. Tier 3: Identify a governing entity to serve as coordination lead. Under this option, a governing entity would be established or identified that would provide robust governance for future implementation of the plan. Many community members, including the East Austin thought leaders interviewed by Martha Cotera, provided input that new governing entity should be created to coordinate implementation of various aspects of the plan, in particular the enhancements to cultural assets that would be needed to implement the plan. An existing governing entity may be able to step into this role. 65 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan RECOMMENDATIONS This section includes a list of concrete actions that the City and others should take to move toward the desired outcomes identified in this Plan. In some cases one action may help to move closer to multiple desired outcomes. These actions have been identified through the planning process by agency, organizational, and community stakeholders. The actions are intended to be feasible, and in many cases are already moving forward as part of one or more ongoing initiatives in the district. Sponsors: Austin Convention Center Capital City Innovation Downtown Austin Alliance ECHO Homeless Strategy Office Preservation Austin Red Line Parkway Initiative Travis County Waterloo Greenway Conservancy AE - Austin Energy AHC – Austin History Center ATD - Austin Transportation Department APD - Austin Police Department AW - Austin Water Department CPO - Corridor Program Office DSD - Development Services Department EDD - Economic Development Department FSD - Financial Services Department - Real Estate HPD - Housing and Planning Department OoS - Office of Sustainability PARD - Parks and Recreation Department TxDOT - Texas Department of Transportation WPD - Watershed Protection Department 66 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan UNDERWAY # Recommendation Sponsor (s) Theme/Outcomes NTR_6 Implement the Waller Creek Master Plan to transform Waller Creek into a restorative and welcoming place for all Austin residents and out- of-town visitors. Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, PARD Nature CLTR_1 Develop new programs to support all aspects and sectors of the local creative economy. EDD Culture CLTR_2 Expand opportunities for cultural space in the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) expansion. PARD Culture CLTR_4 Complete Heritage Wayfinding Program ensuring it is bilingual and accessible to diverse visitors and that it honors the history of Palm District’s diverse communities EDD Culture IG_7 Ensure that people experiencing homelessness have the opportunity to access to shelter and a continuum of care. ECHO, Homeless Strategy Office Inclusive Growth IG_15 Ensure Live Music Fund Guidelines are promoted to Mexican American and Black musicians and assist with access to City funding for local acts. EDD Inclusive Growth IG_18 Continue to the fund Iconic Venue Fund. EDD Inclusive Growth 67 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan 1-3 YEARS # Recommendation Sponsor (s) Theme/Outcomes CLTR_3 Create opportunities for cultural spaces in City of Austin owned parcels and properties during new development and redevelopment projects. Convention Center, FSD-Real Estate, HPD Culture CLTR_3.1 Create opportunities for cultural spaces to locate within the Innovation District. Capital City Innovation Culture CLTR_3.2 Create opportunities for cultural spaces to locate at the Palm School site and through the redesign of Palm Park. Travis County, PARD Culture CLTR_5 Incorporate cultural uses and programming into the Palm School site in addition to site restoration. Travis County Culture CLTR_7 Ensure I-35 Cap & Stitch alternatives incorporate cultural uses that provide space for diverse communities CPO, PARD Culture CLTR_8 CLTR_8.1 Implement the Heritage Wayfinding for African American Cultural Heritage District and include points of interest such as Freedman Communities found within and near the Palm District. Implement the Heritage Wayfinding for Mexican American history in the city and include points of interest such as the Palm School, Rainey Street, ESB-MACC, Mexic-Arte and sites within and near the Palm District. CLTR_11 Create opportunities for the implementaion of the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor and larger Mexican American Cultural District. EDD Culture EDD Culture EDD Culture 68 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan 1-3 YEARS # Recommendation Sponsor (s) Theme/Outcomes IG_1 IG_2 Incentivize new development to include ground floor retail spaces to provide opportunities for: local-serving goods, services, entertainment, and cultural spaces to foster complete communities in the Palm District. Incentivize new development to positively contribute to the public realm such as improved streetscape designs, public art, and pedestrian- oriented design for the ground floor spaces. HPD Inclusive Growth HPD Inclusive Growth IG_3 Promote/incentivize denser, mixed-income housing. HPD Inclusive Growth IG_8 Improve street lighting throughout Palm District. APD, AE Inclusive Growth IG_9 IG_10 Develop policies and programming to support small business development and retention for existing businesses and those locating in ground- floor retail spaces. Ensure that the redevelopment and expansion of the Neal Kocurek Memorial Convention Center results in a world-class facility with a more open design that repairs the surrounding public realm. EDD Inclusive Growth Convention Center, HPD, ATD Inclusive Growth IG_13 Identify opportunities to develop publicly subsidized affordable housing. HPD Inclusive Growth IG_13.1 Make affordable housing units available to residents whose families were historically displaced from the area. HPD Inclusive Growth 69 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan 1-3 YEARS # Recommendation Sponsor (s) Theme/Outcomes IG_14 HPD Inclusive Growth Using the development regulations proposed in the Waller Creek Master Plan as a baseline, engage community stakeholders to develop code amendments that meet the intent of the Waller Creek Master Plan and the goals and desired outcomes of the Palm District Plan. IG_16 Include public and open spaces in the redesign of the Austin Convention Center and enhance connectivity through the site. Convention Center Inclusive Growth IG_19 Convention Center Inclusive Growth Create a public engagement strategy to solicit wide-ranging community input from residents, property owners, business owners, intuitions, and Austin’s design community during the design process to ensure that the Convention Center’s redesign is pedestrian-friendly and reflects the broader community’s values. IG_21 Create policies and opportunities to preserve music venues in the Red River Cultural District EDD Inclusive Growth NTR_3 NTR_7 Partner with area property owners to locate and construct an additional district cooling facility in the Palm District as redevelopment occurs in order to support expansion of the downtown district cooling network. Engage the community, including people with historic connection to Palm Park, to regain its status as a community gathering place which provides recreational activities for people of all ages and abilities. NTR_10 Implement Phase Two of the Waterloo Greenway, the Confluence, to help restore the ecological health of Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake. AE Nature Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, PARD Nature Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, PARD Nature 70 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan 3-5 YEARS # Recommendation Sponsor (s) Theme/Outcomes CNCT_10 Identify opportunities to improve mobility and circulation along East 6th Street through Austin Core Transportation Plan. ATD, APD Connection CNCT_2 Create a pedestrian-friendly environment with connections linking the Palm District’s northern and southern attractions to the Downtown Station. ATD Connection CNCT_3 Create safe and easy-to-use bicycle connections linking the Palm District’s many attractions to the Downtown Station. ATD, ATP, Red Line Parkway Initiative Connection CNCT_4 Remove pedestrian mobility barriers and create better connections to the Convention Center from the other parts of the Palm District and the rest of Downtown. CNCT_5 Create safe, accessible, and welcoming north- south pedestrian and bicycling connections along the Waterloo Greenway from Lady Bird Lake and Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail to Waterloo Park linking all of the Palm District’s many amenities. Convention Center, ATD Connection ATD, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy Connection CNCT_6 Develop safe and accessible east-west connections to and across the Waterloo Greenway. ATD, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, Red Line Parkway Initiative Connection CNCT_7 Improve pedestrian and bicycle connections across East Cesar Chavez Avenue. ATD Connection CNCT_8 Improve pedestrian circulation within the Rainey Street National Register Historic District. ATD Connection 71 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan # Recommendation Sponsor (s) Theme/Outcomes 3-5 YEARS CLTR_10 Recognize the history of the people who lived, went to school, and worked in the Palm District through the strategic placement of interpretive and commemorative installations. IG_11 IG_12 Promote, recruit, program the reimagined Neal Kocurek Memorial Convention Center to become a significant economic driver for the Austin and Central Texas economy. Incorporate elements into the development and programming of the Innovation District spaces such as educational pathways for underrepresented students, promotion of health and wellness, and inclusive arts initiatives that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. EDD, Austin History Center Culture Convention Center Inclusive Growth Capital City Innovation, Downtown Austin Alliance Inclusive Growth NTR_5 Expand reclaimed water network to support additional portions of Palm District as redevelopment occurs. AW Nature NTR_8 Improve the pedestrian experience throughout the Palm District by the introduction of street trees. HPD, ATD Nature 72 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan 5-10 YEARS # Recommendation Sponsor (s) Theme/Outcomes CNCT_12 Use the opportunities created by the redesign and reconstruction of I-35 to create better and more welcoming connections between East Austin and Downtown. ATD, CPO, TXDOT Connection CNCT_13 The frontage roads along the redesigned and reconstructed I-35 should function as lower speed boulevards. ATD, CPO, TXDOT Connection CNCT_14 Improve pedestrian and bicyclist mobility throughout the Palm District by creating and improving north-south and east-west connections to include wider, shaded activated sidewalks and continuous, dedicated bike lanes. ATD, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy Connection IG_20 New development along the redesigned and reconstructed I-35 frontage roads should create a welcoming pedestrian environment. ATD, CPO, TXDOT Inclusive Growth 73 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan ONGOING/LONG-TERM # Recommendation Sponsor (s) Theme/Outcomes CNCT_9 Improve vehicular circulation within the Rainey Street national Historical Register District. ATD Connection CLTR_6 Ensure cultural and public spaces encourage programming to include Tejano, Latino, and Mexican American arts and music. PARD, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, Convention Center Culture CLTR_9 Preserve historic sites in the district. HPD, Preservation Austin Culture IG_4 Leverage publicly owned sites for affordable and mixed-income housing. See IG_13 in 1-3 Year table for additional housing goal. Office of Real Estate, HPD Inclusive Growth IG_5 Incentivize greater levels of affordable housing in the Palm District. HPD Inclusive Growth IG_6 Incentivize the preservation of existing affordable housing in the Palm District. HPD Inclusive Growth NTR_11 Enhance the sustainability of the district by using standards of nationally recognized rating systems such as the Sustainable SITES Initiative for site development. Sustainability, HPD, DSD, AE, WPD, AW Nature NTR_2 Promote the design and programming of the Palm District’s parks to be family friendly. PARD, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy Nature 74 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan LOOKING FORWARD Bold Moves for the District’s Future The Palm District is experiencing and will continue to experience transformative change through the remainder of this decade and into the next. In no other place in our city will there likely be the concentrated investments in infrastructure, parks, cultural facilities, and public and private development. The Palm District Plan should be used as a guide for that transformation in order to ensure that as the district changes it grows into a truly special place where the past is honored, culture is celebrated, and the future is shaped. The plan’s adoption is only the first step in moving toward its Vision. There are two important steps still needed to codify the guidance provided by this Plan. The first is to amend the Downtown Austin Plan to incorporate the changes created by the Palm District Plan and to reconcile any discrepancies created by its adoption. The second is to implement parts of the Palm District Plan by initiating amendments to the Land Development Code to ensure that properties adjacent to Waller Creek develop in a way that supports the function and design of Waterloo Greenway. In addition, the plan will be implemented through multiple significant initiatives that are underway in the district, and the City will work with its partners to ensure that the guidance provided by the plan informs these initiatives, including: • The redesign and reconstruction of IH 35 and the My 35 Program • The redesign and reconstruction of the Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center • Continued development of parks and trails as part of the Waterloo Greenway • Travis County-led work to identify a future plan for the Palm School site • The ongoing work of the Economic Development Department, Red River Cultural District, ESB- MACC and others to support the vitality and health of the creative ecosystem and the live music industry • The implementation of the Project Connect Transit Improvements • The re-imagining of East 6th Street being undertaken by property owners and partners • The future re-imagining and redevelopment of the Austin Police Department’s Headquarters site by the City in coordination with Waterloo Greenway • Continued implementation of improvements throughout the Innovation District and its interface and integration with Red River Cultural District Together, Austin can create a district where the past is honored, culture is celebrated, and the future is shaped. 75 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Execute the Council-approved vision for Waterloo Greenway. € Create opportunities for cultural spaces to locate in the Palm School site and through the redesign of Palm Park. € Engage the community, including people with historic connection to Palm Park, to regain its status as a community gathering place which provides recreational activities for people of all ages and abilities. € Implement Heritage Wayfinding for Black and Mexican American histories that include points of interest found within and near the Palm District. € Incorporate cultural uses and programming into the Palm School site in addition to site restoration. € Ensure that the parks and public spaces in the Palm District serve as amenities to residents and visitors. Bolster the Red River Cultural District and the “Live Music Mile”. € Create new policies and opportunities to preserve music venues in the Red River Cultural District. € Ensure Live Music Fund Guidelines are promoted to Mexican- American and Black musicians and assist with access to City funding for local acts. € Incentivize new development to include ground floor retail spaces to provide opportunities for local-serving goods and services and entertainment and cultural spaces to foster complete communities in the Palm District. € Ensure cultural and public spaces encourage programming to include Tejano, Latino, and Mexican American arts and music. 76 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Stay Focused on Cap and Stitch, and I-35 frontage roads. € Ensure I-35 Cap & Stitch alternatives incorporate cultural uses near Cesar Chavez Street and Palm Park that provide space for diverse communities. € New development along the redesigned and reconstructed I-35 frontage roads should create a welcoming pedestrian environment. € The frontage roads along the redesigned and reconstructed I-35 should function as lower speed boulevards. € Use the opportunities created by the redesign and reconstruction of I-35 to create better and more welcoming connections between East Austin and Downtown. Leverage E-TOD, Downtown Station connectivity, and future Convention Center cultural programming. € Ensure that the redevelopment and expansion of the Neal Kocurek Memorial Convention Center results in a world-class facility with a more open design that repairs the surrounding public realm. € Create opportunities for cultural spaces to locate in the expanded Convention Center. This will requre exploring new governance models, funding sources, and active programming partnerships. € Prior to commencing preliminary design, create a public engagement strategy to solicit wide-ranging community input from residents, property owners, business owners, intuitions, and Austin’s design community to ensure that the Convention Center’s redesign is pedestrian-friendly and reflects the broader community’s values. € Include public and open spaces along 2nd and 3rd Street in the redesign of the Austin Convention Center Downtown Station. € Create safe and easy-to-use bicycle connections linking the Palm District’s many attractions to the € Promote, recruit, program the reimagined Neal Kocurek Memorial Convention Center to become a significant economic driver for the Austin and Central Texas economy. € Remove obstacles and create better connections to the Convention Center from the other parts of the Palm District and the rest of Downtown. 77 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan Accommodate housing at a range of incomes. € Housing stock in the Palm District is increasing rapidly due to market forces. As new market-rate development increases, there is a desire to see more creative and affordable housing options including artist lodging, full-service housing with onsite employment and service provision, or other mixed-income solutions to address waning affordability in the district. € New opportunities for housing should include repurposing existing parking garages, and leveraging publically owned sites for housing. € Incentivize new development to positively contribute to the public realm such as improved streetscape designs, public art, and pedestrian- oriented design for the ground floor spaces. € Promote/incentivize denser, mixed-income housing. € Identify opportunities to develop publicly subsidized affordable housing. € Make affordable housing units available to residents whose families were historically displaced from the area. € Incentivize the preservation of existing affordable housing in the Palm District. 78 Public Review Draft Palm District Plan