Government
Development
BY BEN THOMPSON
BY BEN THOMPSON
Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised by groups for and against Austin’s tax rate increase ballot measure, Proposition Q. Approval of a higher city tax rate would bring in almost $110 million for homelessness response, public health and safety, and other uses. Its rejection would force officials to trim Austin’s budget based on a lower tax rate. Political entities campaigning around the tax rate election include Love Austin and Austinites for Equity, raising more than $130,000 in support by early fall. Restore Leadership ATX and Save Austin Now, which led the successful 2021 campaign to restore Austin’s public camping ban, raised more than $110,000 in opposition. TRE campaigns ramp up
Austin skyline expanding south of Lady Bird Lake Two million square feet of new housing and com- mercial space are planned at the Ego’s bar property, the latest of many prominent high-rise redevelop- ments around the South Central Waterfront near downtown. What happened A 6.5-acre project from Related Cos. at 500 S. Congress Ave. was approved Sept. 11 with: • 950 residences • A 225-room hotel • 600,000 square feet of offices and 135,000 square feet of commercial space Retailers, restaurants, a grocer and the return of Ego’s are planned. The site’s tallest tower may reach up to 650 feet, with the rest of the property capped at 500 feet.
South Central Waterfront development District boundary
Zooming in
Fundraising in focus From July though late September, political groups raised and spent tens of thousands of dollars for and against Austin's tax rate election.
High-rise projects
Mayor Kirk Watson and council members Vanessa Fuentes and Chito Vela contributed a combined $26,000 to Love Austin. The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition and a public employee union also each donated $25,000, and a local EMS workers’ political group and nonprofit Foundation Communities each pledged $25,000. Other homelessness and housing entities added thousands of dollars. Hundreds of people sent $10- $10,000 to Save Austin Now. Restore Leadership’s largest donation was $25,000 from an LLC linked to Horizon Bank. Donations of $1,000- $10,000 came from other entities and five West Austin residents. Final preelection financial reports are due Oct. 27, after press time.
Donations
Spending
Cash on hand
N
Austinites for Equity (supports Proposition Q)
$30,000
Ego's bar
$307.48
35
4K-capacity Riverside venue breaks ground Global live entertainment company AEG Presents broke ground on a 65,000-square- foot indoor music venue in September. The details The venue plus two apartment buildings and a hotel at 4700 E. Riverside Drive will anchor the 109-acre River Park mixed-use development. AEG officials said the venue with space for 4,000 attendees, opening in 2027, fills a gap in Austin’s music market.
$82,447.08
Love Austin (supports Proposition Q)
$102,870.30
$58,837.08
N
$41,972.92
$52,522.42 Restore Leadership ATX (opposes Proposition Q) $49,000 $2,549.29 $63,506.76 Save Austin Now (opposes Proposition Q) $10,309.13 $12,863.19
Another project A 510-foot tower planned nearby at 600 E. Riverside Drive was also reviewed in September, but its final approvals are months away. Endeavor Real Estate Group’s lakeshore project would replace the Cidercade bar with 200 condos and retail space. Other mixed-use tower projects are also coming to the waterfront district, like the 19-acre “Statesman PUD” redevelopment on Lady Bird Lake.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
35TH STREET 1500 West 35th St (512)-277-2518 HIGHLAND 5775 Airport Blvd (512) 366-8300
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