03 C14-2025-0103 - Council Initiated Block 16 Rezone; District 1 - Letters of Support — original pdf

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December 12, 2025 City of Austin Planning Commission City of Austin, City Hall Council Chamber 301 W Second Street Austin, Texas 78701 Re: Support for Block 16 & 18 Rezone on E. 11th Street Dear Austin Planning Chair & Commissioners, I am writing in support of the Block 16 & 18 development project. As Board President of the Texas Music Museum, located in the Marvin Griffin Building at 1009 E. 11th Street, I want to express our full support for the proposed affordable housing project across the street on Block 16 and the Arts and Music Cultural Center on block 18. The Texas Music Museum has been operating for 42 years, researching, archiving, collecting, and presenting detailed exhibits and programs that preserve and honor the legacy of amazing African American musicians from East Austin. Our mission is deeply rooted in preserving East Austin’s history and culture through community-centered projects that help reduce displacement and gentrification. We are hopeful that this project will bring more housing options for our community, including many East Austin musicians who would likely qualify for affordable units. We also support the inclusion of housing for Huston-Tillotson University students. The Texas Music Museum works closely with Huston-Tillotson, hiring archival interns and docents from this important institution who provide exceptional museum tours for visitors from all over the world , across Texas and the US. We would be pleased to see affordable housing on E 11th St. that further strengthens this anchor of the African American Cultural Heritage District Corridor. Thank you for your consideration in supporting equitable development in East Austin. Sincerely, Clay Shorkey, PhD Board President, Texas Music Museum 1009 E 11th St., Austin, Texas 03 C14-2025-0103 - Council Initiated Block 16 Rezone; District 11 of 203 C14-2025-0103 - Council Initiated Block 16 Rezone; District 12 of 2