2 600 block
3 700 block
E. 7THST.
Stream plans to redevelop the 600 block’s north side into an o ce building, with a music venue included.
The revitalization proposal includes a focus on bringing more business uses, from restaurants to music venues, to the corridor.
PHOTOS BY BEN THOMPSON COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER RENDERINGS COURTESY STREAM REALTY PARTNERS
Roppolo's Pizzeria
1
2
E. 6THST.
35
3
Casino El Camino
N
E. 5THST. “Sixth Street doesn’t have a bar problem; it has a ratio problem,” she said. “What we’re trying to do is high- light the history of it and then make that ratio a little bit more even.” That vision was shared by District 1 Council Member Natasha Harp- er-Madison, who in June proposed a city code update that would allow for increased height on some Stream properties. The rm said that move is needed to unlock some redevelop- ment potential for a shift into a more accessible arts and tourism hub. “I remember distinctly the moment where I decided it was not OK to bring my children downtown after dark, and I’d like for us to x that,” she said. “With all kinds of businesses that activate the street day and night, we are more inclined to get closer to meeting that goal.” Between Neches and Sabine streets, Stream is considering the additions of a multistory hotel and o ce building
committed to designs focused on maintaining the block’s history. In early Austin, Sixth—originally Pecan Street—and the neighboring Congress represented the “only streets of consequence” in the city, according to the district’s listing in the National Register of Historic Places. And even- tually, the Pecan commercial hub’s eth- nic diversity became “one of its most striking characteristics.” But despite its goal of preservation, the development team also highlighted the issue of historic context and another piece of history in line to be scrapped. “Dirty Sixth,” a nickname many now associate with the area’s violence and chaotic drinking culture, is one Stream intends to move away from. Ryan said the name had a racist origin, as local minority-owned businesses earned a derogatory label from others in town over time. “We want to push very strongly to change that moniker, because I don’t
that could rise up to 10 stories. And at the block’s edge along I-35, more live music space could be coming to a par- cel now home to a parking lot. Team members also said they hope those plans can be timed with upcoming improvements to Waller Creek, part of the Waterloo Greenway restoration continuing through the 2020s. Alto- gether, the work is aimed at drawing a wider variety of visitors to a more lively corridor. “Everything that we’ve talked about in uses and experience of this district is about dinner and a show, or meeting for lunch, and activation of street,” said Paul Clayton, principal at the architecture rm Clayton Korte partnering with Stream. Preservation, pushing forward While modern development in some of Austin’s other historic districts has come at the expense of older build- ings there, Stream representatives
think a lot of people understand when they use it what the original reference point was,” Ryan said. “We thought it was of very, very high importance to rebrand this district to honor what was there and not so much disrespect.” Before Stream moves forward, the height allowance and a separate mea- sure tied to the creation of a new local historic district there must be resolved by city o cials. For now, Ryan said Stream’s team is re ning its outline and considering the array of input received since the plans were publicly detailed. “I foresee that people are going to be down there from 8 in the morning until 2 a.m. at night, and we’re going to nd a great way of taking this street and allowing it to have as many uses that we can possibly have that are rooted in Austin,” Ryan said.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
TRAVIS COUNTY WANTS TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU Travis County Purchasing Office is located at 700 Lavaca Street Suite 800 Austin, Texas 78701 Phone: 512 854-9700
Visit our website for current solicitations. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/purchasing
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • AUGUST 2022
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