South Central Austin Edition | February 2025

Development

BY BEN THOMPSON

Sixth Street renewal eorts advance; road reopening in place

A stretch of the Sixth Street entertainment district reopened to weekend vehicle trac under a new city public safety strategy this year, while a project to restore and revitalize several of the corridor’s historic buildings is moving ahead. What happened Austin police started a trial run for Sixth Street’s reopening in December before fully implementing the change in January. While several blocks had traditionally been lled with crowds on the week- ends, the roadway is now open while sidewalk areas are expanded and blocked o with rubber curbs, plastic poles and fencing. “The chaos that ensues when we’re locking down these streets like this and inviting more chaos into this place, it is not tenable,” Police Chief Lisa Davis said after the change. Plans to reopen Sixth Street were in develop- ment well before the deadly Jan. 1 vehicle attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, ocials said,

and the new strategy will remain under review. Zooming out Sixth Street is also undergoing cosmetic and business changes as Stream Realty Partners seeks to revamp some of the many vacant commercial spaces it now owns along the corridor. The rm’s Old 6th initiative involved many civic reviews to ensure structures and character in the historic district would be maintained. Building reha- bilitation work is well underway as of early 2025. Old 6th no longer includes any larger residen- tial, hotel or oce construction; the project will stick to bringing bring street-level commercial concepts to existing properties. The initiative may eventually end up bringing a mix of new eateries, tness studios, retailers and other busi- nesses to the corridor. For now, Stream is starting with a search for new restaurant concepts. The Old 6th team hopes to have new tenants opening their doors in 2026.

Fencing and barriers divide the sidewalks and roadways. BEN THOMPSONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Reopened on weekends Old 6th properties

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