[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER ]
EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 15TH, UH, 2023 MEETING OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.IT IS 5 36, AND WE ARE IN SESSION.
UH, THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS TO, UH, CHECK THE ROLE.
UM, CHRISTINE, WOULD YOU PREFER THAT I DO THAT OR, AND THEN I'LL GET TO ANOTHER ISSUE? YES, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO THE ROLE.
AND I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MONA, UH, SANCHEZ, WHO IS WITH US VIRTUALLY.
BUT, UH, AND MONA, I'M, I'M HAPPY TO DO THE ROLE FOR YOU.
UM, BEFORE, BEFORE SHE DOES, LET ME, LET ME MAKE A SPECIAL NOTE.
MONA HAS BEEN OUR STAFF LIAISON FOR YEARS AND HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB.
SHE'S INVALUABLE TO THIS COMMISSION.
SHE'S LEAVING US, SHE IS MOVING OVER TO THE FINANCE DIVISION.
AND, UH, MONA, I JUST, I WISH YOU WERE HERE IN PERSON TODAY SO WE COULD EXPRESS OUR AFFECTION FOR YOU AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOU'VE MEANT TO ALL OF US.
UM, AND WE WANT TO WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR NEW VENTURE.
UM, AND WE WILL HAVE GATHERING, UH, OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, UH, AND I'LL WORK WITH EVERYBODY ON, ON A TIME AND PLACE THAT WILL WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT BEFORE CHRISTINE CALLS THE ROLE.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO, OH, I'M SORRY.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, I, I INVITE ONE FROM THE FLOOR.
I, I, I'D ALSO LIKE TO E ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, MONA, I WANT TO, UM, GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND JUST SAY HOW, HOW DEDICATED SHE'S AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
AND I ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE ERIN JENKINS, JENKINS, WHO WILL, WHO WAS A STAFF LIAISON FROM THE URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION, WHO WE STOLE FROM THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE HIM IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN HERE.
WE REALLY MISS ERIN AT DESIGN COMMISSION.
HE DID AN AMAZING JOB OF TRACKING, UM, THE ISSUES WE WOULD FOLLOW.
AND, UM, I'M EXCITED TO HAVE HIM HERE.
AARON, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
AND BILL, YOU'RE WORKING WITH
CHRISTINE, IF YOU GO AHEAD WITH A ROLL.
COMMISSIONER HEIM, SETH? HERE VIRTUALLY.
DO WE HAVE ANY EXCUSED ABSENCES? UH, COMMISSIONER TEMPLETON, MONA AND I CAN CHECK THE ROLE ON THAT.
SHE MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED SOME, UH, EXCUSED ABSENCES BY EMAIL.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
HAVING, NO, NOBODY HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO APPROVE OR TO REVIEW THE MINUTES? CAN WE POST THE MINUTES TO THE SCREEN? HAS EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW? ARE THERE ANY CHANGES FOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED?[00:05:03]
C? NONE.ARE THERE ANY FOLKS ONLINE THAT HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE MINUTES? ALRIGHT.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, UM, THE MINUTES STAND AS A, UH, STAND APPROVED.
UH, THE FIRST STAFF BRIEFING OF THE EVENING IS FROM AUSTIN, THE AUSTIN RESEARCH RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS OR ARCH, UH, ADRIAN STIRK, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER HARRIS, MAYBE WE MOVE TO DON'T SOUND, UH, FIRST.
WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THEM OUT OF ORDER.
IF, IF THE COMMISSION IS FINE WITH THAT.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF FOLKS HERE ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
[3. Staff briefing on the Conceptual Plans for Redevelopment of 1215 Red River Street and 606 & 614 East 12th Street (former HealthSouth property) by Margaret Shaw, Economic Development Department. ]
UH, SO THIS IS, WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM THREE, THE STAFF BRIEFING, BRIEFING ON THE CONCEPTUAL PLANS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF 1215 RED RIVER STREET AND 6 0 6 AND SIX 14 EAST 12TH, THE FORMER SOUTH SOUTH PROPERTY.MARGARET SHAW, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND COMPANY.
MY NAME IS MARGARET SHAW AND I AM A REAL ESTATE PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND ONE OF MY PROJECTS THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE RE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS OF 1215 RED RIVER.
I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY AMANDA SCHWAR OF DRER GROUP.
WE'RE IN A LITTLE PRESENTATION FOR YOU TONIGHT, AND THEN WE'RE OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION.
SO AGAIN, TONIGHT, UM, WE'RE HERE AT THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL WHO ASKED FOR A SERIES OF, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'RE STARTING WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO FIRST I WANNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE PROJECT ITSELF, JUST TO REFRESH PEOPLE'S MEMORIES.
AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO NEGOTIATING TERMS ON THE CONCEPTUAL SITE PLANS, THE BFO, AS WE CALL IT, THE BEST AND FINAL OFFER, UM, THE TERM SHEET FOR THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE A REQUEST FOR YOU TONIGHT FOR A RECOMMENDATION IF IT SO SUITS THE WILL OF THIS COMMISSION.
UM, AND THEN I'LL COME IN FOR NEXT STEPS IN DISCUSSIONS.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AMANDA IN A MOMENT.
SO JUST, UM, FOR MAJOR MILESTONES, AND I DO WANNA CALL OUT, ESPECIALLY FOR ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING OR WATCHING ONLINE, WE DO HAVE A PROJECT WEBSITE, UM, ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PAGE THAT IF YOU GOOGLE AND I JUST CHECKED IT, CITY OF AUSTIN, 1215 RED RIVER.
IT SHOULD COME UP FIRST WHERE WE POST ALL THE INFORMATION AND THE CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS WITH THIS PROJECT.
IF FOLKS WANT TO, UM, KEEP UP WITH IT OVER TIME.
SO JUST TO RECAP, THE CITY ACTUALLY PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY BACK IN THE FIFTIES AND SEVENTIES, BUT SOME OF THE KEY MOMENTS RECENTLY ARE IN 12, IN 2016, WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE LEASE HOLD OF THAT REHAB HOSPITAL.
SO WE GOT SI CITY GOT SITE CONTROL BACK.
SO FROM LIKE 17 TO 18, COUNCIL DEBATED WHAT TO DO WITH THIS PROPERTY, WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE, AND SETTLED IN OCTOBER OF 2018 WITH ISSUING A, A SOLICITATION SEEKING, UM, TO REDEVELOP THE SITE FOR MIXED INCOME HOUSING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MULTI BEDROOMS, SO PLACES WHERE FAMILIES COULD LIVE, UM, EARNING 60% OF MFI MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND BELOW.
AND TO ALSO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CITY OBLIGATIONS WE HAVE ON THE SITE.
SO WE DID, WE CONDUCTED AN REQUEST, RFP REQUEST FOR, UM, PROPOSALS.
WE RECEIVED FOUR PROPOSALS THAT CAME IN RIGHT AS THE PANDEMIC HIT.
SO APRIL OF 2020, WE THEN WENT THROUGH OUR STANDARD, UM, PURCHASING LAW PROCESS TO EVALUATE THAT WITH A STAFF TEAM OF EXECUTIVES.
AND THEN CAME BACK TO COUNCIL IN JANUARY OF 27, JANUARY 27TH, 2021, THE FOLLOWING YEAR, W WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO PARTNER WITH ASPEN HEIGHTS DEVELOPER AND, UM, ISSUE A EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT E N A.
SO IN MY SPEAK, THAT'S JUST A AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH WITH ONE PARTNER AND IT SHOULD LEAD TO A MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
TWO DIFFERENT TERMS. SO BY MAY OF 2021, WE HAD EXECUTED THAT E N A AND THEN WE CAME BACK TO COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 28TH.
AND COUNCIL AUTHORIZED US TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS TO REACH A MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE BIGGER DOCUMENT UNDER CERTAIN C TERMS THAT BFO BEST AND FINAL OFFER.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP TO NOW.
THEY ALSO PASSED IN DECEMBER, UM, OF 22.
SO JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TO INITIATE STAFF TO INITIATE REZONING OR COUNSEL TO INITIATE REZONING OF THESE PROPERTIES.
SO THE NEGOTIATING TEAM FROM THE CITY SIDE IS THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT LED, UM, LED BY THEIR DEPUTY MANDY DE MAYO FINANCIAL SERVICES REAL ESTATE, MERRICK ISADOR LAW, RON PGE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
[00:10:01]
OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR IS THE LEAD FOR THE CITY ON THE NEGOTIATING TEAM, MYSELF AS PROJECT MANAGER.AND THEN WE HAVE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL COUNSELORS ON THE OUTSIDE.
THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE WAS PLEASED TO SELECT A TEAM THAT IS A LOCALLY BASED DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
ASPEN HEIGHTS IS THE DEVELOPER.
THEY'RE PARTNERING AT THE CAPITAL A, WHICH IS LOCAL N HP FOUNDATION FOR THE AFFORDABLE COMPONENTS.
S STG DESIGN IS THE ARCHITECT SOLITUDE FOR THE ENGINEER STUDIO BALCONIES AND RENNER GROUP FOR ENTITLEMENTS.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO AMANDA.
UH, MY NAME'S AMANDA SWER WITH DRINKER GROUP.
IT HAS BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE TO WORK ON THIS.
UH, MARGARET GETS THE ALPHABET SOUP PART.
I GET THE PRETTY PICTURES PART, SO, UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ASPEN HEIGHTS HERE WHEN WE'RE DONE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
SO, THE HEALTH SOUTH PROPERTY THAT THE CITY TOOK OUT FOR THE, UM, FOR THE OFFERS IS THE PROPERTY THAT YOU SEE IN GREEN.
SO IT'S THE ENTIRE NORTHERN BLOCK ABOVE A, ABOVE AN EXISTING ALLEY BORDERED ON THE EAST BY SABINE ON THE WEST BY RED RIVER, AND ON THE NORTH BY THE CENTRAL HEALTH SITE.
THAT AS WELL AS THE, IS THE SMALL QUARTER OF A BLOCK THAT IS LOCATED MIDBLOCK JUST NORTH OF 12TH STREET, WHERE THE TWO PIECES OF THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY TOOK OUT FOR OFFERS, UH, ASPEN HEIGHTS DID ACQUIRE THE SITE THAT'S IN BLUE, THE FAA SITE.
IT IS THERE UNDER CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY.
SO THE, AS I TALK THROUGH THIS, I TALK, WE TALK ABOUT IT AS THE NORTH SITE AND THE SOUTH SITE.
AND WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT IS THE SITE THAT'S ON THE NORTH OF THE EXISTING ALLEY AND THE SITE THAT'S ON THE SOUTH OF THE EXISTING ALLEY.
THE SOUTH SITE DOES INCLUDE BOTH THE F FAA PROPERTY THAT ASPEN HEIGHTS IS UNDER CONTRACT TO PURCHASE, AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY THAT IS PART OF THE CITY'S, OR THAT IS THE CITY PROPERTY.
THE, THE SITE AS ASPEN HEIGHTS STARTED LOOKING AT IT HAD A LOT OF CONSTRAINTS.
UM, WE LIST THESE, I'LL, I'LL GO THROUGH 'EM PRETTY QUICKLY, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT ALL OF THESE SITES WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO BE INCORPORATED.
ALL OF THE CONSTRAINTS WERE ABLE TO BE INCORPORATED BACK INTO THE PROJECT.
SO THERE IS THE 12TH STREET CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR THAT BISECTS THE SITE PRETTY MUCH DOWN THE MIDDLE.
UM, AND IT'S A PRETTY BIG SWATH THAT GOES THROUGH IT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SHOW YOU THE NEXT PICTURE, WHICH IS HOW WE INCORPORATED THAT INTO THE PROJECT AND REALLY CELEBRATED IT RATHER THAN TRYING TO JUST DESIGN AROUND IT THERE.
THE, THE SITE IS, IT IS BOUND ON, ON FOUR SIDES BY ROADWAYS.
SO ON THE EAST WE HAVE SABINE, WHICH IS A PRETTY NARROW STREET ON THE SOUTH.
UM, THERE IS AN ALLEY THAT REALLY BISECT THE TWO PROPERTIES ON THE WEST.
WE HAVE WHAT IS NOW A REALIGNED RED RIVER, BUT AT THE TIME WAS, WAS NOT.
AND THEN, UH, ON THE NORTH THERE'S THAT, WHAT WHAT HAPPENS WITH 13TH STREET.
SO ALL OF THOSE WERE ITEMS THAT WERE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
THERE'RE ALSO SEVERAL TREES ON THE SITE, A COUPLE OF 'EM THAT ARE LIKELY HERITAGE TREES.
AND THEN WE HAVE JUST OVERALL THE UTILITY IN THE DRAINAGE.
THE CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR IS WHERE I WANNA START BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS A MAIN FOCAL POINT OF HOW THIS PROJECT CAME TOGETHER.
SO THE CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR IS SHOWN ON WITH THE RED DASH LINES IN.
LIKE I SAID, IT RUNS THROUGH AND TAKES A BIG SWATH OUT OF THE BIGGER PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THE CITY HAD, UM, HAD OUT FOR OFFER.
WHAT ASPEN HEIGHTS HAS DONE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT IS REALLY CREATED A, UH, A PUBLIC PLAZA AREA THAT IS ON THE SIXTH FLOOR OF, OF THE PROJECT.
SO IT TAKES WHAT IN MANY PROJECTS, DOWNTOWN SERVE AS A, OH, LET'S SLICE A PIECE OF THE BUILDING OFF, LET'S, YOU KNOW, CHOP A PIECE HERE AND REALLY CREATES THIS UNIQUE AMENITY TO THE PUBLIC IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROJECT.
SO AGAIN, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IS THE NORTH, UH, IS THE NORTH SITE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT HERE WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR SITE AND THE TOWER TO THE NORTH OF THAT.
AND THEN WHAT WE CALL THE SOUTH SITE, YOU SEE ON THE, ON THE HILL SOUTH GARAGE AND THE FAA SITE.
SO THIS IS A RENDERING THAT IS LOOKING TO, LOOKING TO THE NORTHWEST.
SO YOU HAVE, YOU CAN SEE THE CAPITAL IN THE BACKGROUND.
THE TOWER THAT IS PRIMARILY WHITE IS THAT NORTH TOWER THAT SITS ENTIRELY ON THE, ON THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY, WHERE YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE, THE CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR THAT SPLITS THE TWO SITES AND HOW THAT, UH, AMENITY AREA HAS BEEN UTILIZED.
AND THEN YOU SEE THE SOUTH PROPERTY THAT, UH, IS IN THE TAN, WE'RE GONNA USE THAT, THE MULTI-COLORED, UH, MULTI-COLORED BUILDING.
BOTH OF THESE ARE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THAT I AM GONNA TALK MORE ABOUT THEIR MAKEUP IN JUST A MOMENT.
UM, BUT FIRST I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO, UH, AGAIN, I, I MENTIONED THE AMENITY TERRACE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER WITH THE ELEVATED VIEWING DECK.
UM, THIS IS GONNA HAVE SOME OF THE MOST STORIED VIEWS OF THE CAPITOL ANYWHERE IN THE CITY WITH THAT DIRECT, UM, BASICALLY YOU GET TO SIT AT THE TOP OF A CAPITAL VIEW CORRIDOR VERSUS JUST DRIVE BY IT.
UH, REAL QUICK IN YOUR CAR, THE GREAT STREETS ARE PROPOSED ALONG THE, ALONG THE SURROUNDING STREETS OF THE PROPERTY.
THERE ARE, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SITE, YOU SEE THE TWO HERITAGE TREES THAT WHERE
[00:15:01]
I MENTIONED THAT IS WHERE WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE AMENITIES.BUT THERE'S A DAYCARE PROPOSED ON THE SITE AND THAT AREA IS REALLY BEING INCLUDED IN THE OUTDOOR AREA FOR THE DAYCARE TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THOSE TREES AND MAKE THEM A, A, A UNIQUE COMPONENT OF THE, UH, OF THE PROJECT.
UH, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE RENDERINGS.
THIS IS WHAT, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN, HOW WE SEE THE, THE PROGRAMMING REALLY TAKING PLACE OF THAT, UH, OF THE PUBLIC PLAZA.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I WANNA POINT OUT THE SIDE ON THE RIGHT, THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT REALLY SHOWS HOW YOU GET TO THAT PLAZA.
SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE ELEVATED AREAS, IT'S A MATTER OF DO PEOPLE SEE IT? DO THEY HAVE TO GO INSIDE A BUILDING? DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO AN ELEVATOR THAT YOU'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE? IS IT REALLY KNOWN THAT ME AS A CITIZEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET CAN ACTUALLY UTILIZE IT? THE DESIGN TEAM TOOK SPECIAL CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A CELEBRATED, UH, WAY TO GET TO THAT AREA, BOTH WITH THIS, UH, WITH THE STAIRWAY AND THEN THE GLASS ELEVATOR THAT YOU SEE.
AND THESE ARE ALONG THE, THE RED RIVER SIDE OF THE PROJECT.
UH, GETTING INTO SOME OF THE, THE DOWN AND DIRTY ON WHAT THE PROJECT IS MADE OF.
SO AGAIN, I SAID THERE'S A, A NORTH TOWER AND A SOUTH TOWER.
THE NORTH TOWER IS A PROPOSED 37 STORY, UH, MARKET RATE, UH, RESIDENTIAL PROJECT THAT WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 573 UNITS.
THIS SITE WILL CONTAIN A LIVE MUSIC VENUE AND AN ARTS VENUE.
UH, IT WILL HAVE A FOOD HALL AS WELL AS PUBLIC PARKING.
THE SOUTH, UH, TOWER IS ALSO A 37 STORY TOWER THAT IS PROPOSED TO HAVE 348 UNITS.
THIS IS WHERE THE CHILDCARE CENTER AS WELL AS, UM, SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL GROUND FLOOR RETAIL WILL BE.
THAT PUBLIC PLAZA THAT I'VE, UH, BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS ABOUT 30,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO NOT INSIGNIFICANT AS PART OF THE BEST AND FINAL OFFER.
ASPEN HEIGHTS DOES HAVE A $12.2 MILLION, UH, PAYMENT TO THE CITY.
AND, AND THEN, UM, SORRY, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
UM, AS MARGARET SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY WAS REALLY TARGETING WHEN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CAME OUT WAS THE ABILITY TO HAVE NOT ONLY HOUSING ON THIS SITE, BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NOT JUST, AND NOT JUST TINY UNITS.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, THE NORTH TOWER IS UH, 573, UH, MARKET RATE UNITS.
IT'S A MIX OF STUDIOS, ONES TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS.
BUT WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING IS THAT THE SOUTH PROJECT IS A MIX OF BOTH MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE UNITS.
SO THIS PROJECT WILL PRI PROVIDE, UH, 921 TOTAL UNITS.
OF THAT 25% OF THEM WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
UM, THOSE 20, 25% OF THE TOTAL UNITS ARE IN THAT SOUTH TOWER, UH, PROVIDING 116 MARKET RATE UNITS AND 232 AFFORDABLE UNITS.
THERE IS A MIX OF 50% AFFORDABLE UNITS WITH 170% OF THOSE UNITS BEING RESERVED FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 50% MFI AND 115 RESERVED FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 60% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
THAT IS, IT'S, IT'S ON THERE, BUT I'LL READ IT JUST FOR, UM, ANYBODY THAT'S JUST LISTENING TO THIS AND NOT HEARING IT.
CUZ I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST STORIED THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT THERE ARE, UM, 35 PROPOSED 35 STUDIOS, 84 BEDROOMS, 92 BEDROOMS, AND 23 3 BEDROOM UNITS.
SO PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT, UH, ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MULTIPLE BEDROOM TYPES.
THE PROJECT IS COMPLIANT WITH CITY STANDARDS.
UH, THE AFFORDABILITY TERM IS ALSO TIED TO THE GROUND LEASE.
SO MOST PROJECTS THAT YOU SEE IN MOST PROJECTS THAT ARE, ARE DONE USUALLY HAVE 40 YEAR AFFORDABILITY TERM.
THIS WOULD PROVIDE A 99 YEAR AFFORD AFFORDABILITY TERM WITH THE BEST AND FINAL OFFER.
THAT'S CURRENTLY WITH THE, THAT'S CURRENTLY IN REVIEW.
THERE ARE THE TWO PRO, THE TWO TOWERS, THE NORTH TOWER AND THE SOUTH TOWER.
UH, THE SOUTH TOWER HAS TO BE BUILT FIRST OR AT THE SAME TIME, THE, AS THE NORTH TOWER, MEANING THAT THE AFFORDABLE UNITS HAVE TO COME ONLINE FIRST OR WITH THE OTHER TOWER.
YOU CAN'T JUST BUILD THE MARKET RATE TOWER AND HAVE THE AFFORDABLE HOU THE AFFORDABLE TOWER COME AT A LATER DATE.
UH, I'LL JUST HIT A COUPLE OF THE AMENITIES THAT I, THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE HIT ON AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS THAT ARE PART OF THE BEST AND FINAL OFFER.
SO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE TALKED ABOUT, THERE IS AN ONSITE CHILDCARE CENTER THAT WILL SERVE 75, UH, CHILDREN IN THE AREA.
AGAIN, THAT HAS A 99 YEAR LEASE.
WE DO HAVE, UH, PUBLIC ART SUSTAINABILITY OVER WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED WITH JUST A DOWNTOWN PROJECT.
WE ARE MEETING LEAD GOLD OR FOUR STAR GREEN BUILDER, UH, LIVE MUSIC VENUE, WHICH WAS, UH, A THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AS WE WENT THROUGH THE BEST AND FINAL OFFER PROCESS.
IT DOES HAVE A 99 YEAR GROUND LEASE WITH, UH, GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO SERVE HIS SERVE HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED OPERATORS.
THAT IS A MOUTHFUL, UM, TO POP OUT.
AND THEN THERE IS, UH, THE COMMERCIAL SPACE THAT IS PROPOSED WITH OVER 35,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE IN WITH A PORTION OF THAT RE UH, LEASE TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AT A REDUCED RATE.
AGAIN, A COUPLE OF THE, UH, A COUPLE OF THE ADDITIONAL, I THINK I'VE REALLY TALKED THROUGH MOST OF THESE.
[00:20:01]
ADDITIONAL PIECES THAT GO INTO THE PLACEMAKING, PLACEMAKING AND ACTIVATION.THE, REALLY THE ACTIVATION OF RED RIVER STREET.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS PROJECT STARTED, RED RIVER WAS STILL A ROAD THAT DID THIS
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SURROUNDING STREETS, PROVIDING PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE CONNECTIVITY.
THE PLAZA, UM, THAT, AGAIN, I'VE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE CHILDCARE.
AND THEN THE PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE PARKING, UM, THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
SO WE, WE ALL TALK ABOUT PARKING, UH, AND EVERYONE HAS THEIR, THEIR DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON IT.
BUT WHAT WE ARE BEING ABLE TO DO IS, UH, IS BUILD PARKING AS PART OF THIS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE.
WE DID, UH, OUR FIRST STOP AS WE'VE BEEN DOING THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS AT THE DESIGN COMMISSION.
THE DESIGN COMMISSION DID VOTE, UM, TO SEND A RECOMMENDATION ONTO COUNCIL THAT THE PROJECT DID, UH, SUBSTANTIALLY MEET THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
UH, IT'S SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT THAT WAS IN JANUARY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE, BUT IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S FEBRUARY 15TH.
AND WITH THAT, I TOSS IT BACK TO MARGARET.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS REALLY EXCITING PROJECT TO YOU.
SO YES, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING IF IT'S THE WILL OF THIS COMMISSION TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK FOR, UM, COUNSEL AND WITH A RECOMMENDATION ON THIS PROJECT AS IT STANDS UNDER THESE TERMS. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
JUST TO GIVE Y'ALL SOME CONTEXT FOR THE NEXT STEPS.
OUR, OUR NEXT STOP WILL BE AT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
UM, AS, UH, PART OF OUR TRI-PARTY BOARDS AND COMMISSION, WE'RE ALSO PUTTING TOGETHER A SERIES OF STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AS WELL AS NEIGHBORHOOD AND PUBLIC SESSIONS.
UM, FRANKLY, WE'RE ALL, AS WE KNOW IN DOWNTOWN MOVING TOWARDS THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST JUGGERNAUT.
SO I THINK SOME OF THOSE THINGS WILL COME AT LATE MARCH AND IN APRIL.
AND THEN, AS WE SAID, WE EXPECT TO BE BACK TO COUNCIL, UM, LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER FOR A DISCUSSION WITH THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT, THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
AND SO WITH THAT, WE CONCLUDE AND WE'RE HERE.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE DESIGN TEAM TOO HERE AS WELL, AND THE DEVELOPER, IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US.
LET ME OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION.
COMMISSIONER GOMEZ, I HAVE IS THIS ONE NO, UH, TAP ON IT.
ONE IS, UM, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DECISION TO MAKE THE AFFORDABLE UNITS ONLY AVAILABLE ON THE SOUTH PART AS OPPOSED TO BOTH? YES, I CAN TAKE A STAB AT OR YOU WANT TO START.
UM, SO GENERALLY WHEN, WHEN THIS PROJECT FIRST CAME IN, IT DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH AFFORDABILITY AS IT DOES TODAY.
UM, AND AS WE CONTINUED TO GO THROUGH, WE BROUGHT IN SEPARATE PARTNERS AND REALLY TO MAKE THE HOUSING WORK.
UH, THE PARTNERS ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES THAT INDICATED THAT THE, THAT THE, UM, MY BRAIN'S NOT WORKING.
THAT THE UNITS NEED TO BE PUT TOGETHER.
IT ALLOWS FOR THE FINANCING TO HAPPEN.
SO WHEN YOU START SPREADING UNITS AROUND, THE FINANCING DOESN'T WORK TO ALLOW THE PROJECT TO ACTUALLY FUNCTIONS THAT ACTUALLY, LEMME TAP IN CHIP, PLEASE.
AND COMMISSIONERS, WE DO HAVE MANDY DE MAYO VIRTUALLY WITH US TONIGHT IF YOU DO HAVE QUESTIONS TO THE DEPUTY FOR THE HOUSING, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
AND THE SECOND QUESTION WAS THAT, WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN OF BEDROOMS FOR THE NORTH? YOU, YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, ONE BEDROOM STUDIOS AND, AND TWO AND THREE BEDROOMS. DID, DO YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN FOR THE I DON'T HAVE NORTH SIDE.
UM, THE UNITS THAT I WALKED THROUGH WERE SPECIFICALLY THE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
UH, OUR COMMITMENT AS PART OF THE BEST AND FINAL IS THAT THERE WILL BE A MIX OF STUDIOS ONES AND ONES TWOS AND THREE BEDROOMS, BUT THERE IS NOT A DEFINED UNIT MIX AS PART OF THE BEST AND FINAL OFFER OF THE BEST AND FINAL OFFER ON THE NORTH TOWER.
SO THERE WILL BE, UH, TWO AND THREE BEDROOM APARTMENTS AVAILABLE ON THE NORTH SIDE TOO.
SO IT'S NOT JUST GONNA BE FOR SINGLES.
STUDIOS, ONES, TWOS, AND THREES.
I JUST DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS.
AND I, I DO AND I SAW MANDY THERE TOO.
IF YOU WANNA ADD, WHO'S OUR DEPUTY HOUSING DIRECTOR WHO'S ONLINE IF YOU WANNA SPEAK TO, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ONE TOWER.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
I'M DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND I'VE BEEN PART OF THE NEGOTIATING TEAM, UM, FOR THE HEALTH SOUTH PROJECT.
UH, I JUST WANNA PIGGYBACK ON WHAT AMANDA PREVIOUSLY SAID.
UH, WE INCREASED, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THROUGH THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS, UH, THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND ONCE WE HIT A CERTAIN TIPPING POINT, UH, OUR FINANCING REALLY BECAME, UM, SOLID.
AND WE KNEW WE WERE GONNA, UH, NEED TO DO A LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT, UH, PORTION FOR THAT 232 UNITS.
UH, AND WE FOUND, UH, A PARTNER, THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THE ASPEN HEIGHTS DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS PARTNERING WITH, UH, N H P FOUNDATION, WHICH IS A NATIONAL
[00:25:01]
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DOES AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.AND SO PRIMARILY THE TWO REASONS FINANCING, AS AMANDA MENTIONED, AND THEN ALSO FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, RATHER THAN HAVING THE UNITS, THE AFFORDABLE UNITS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE TWO TOWERS, IT REALLY MADE SENSE FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
AND IT WAS FRANKLY, THE OPERATOR'S PREFERENCE TO HAVE ALL OF THE UNITS, UM, IN ONE BUILDING.
I GUESS IT'S, IT'S MY HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE A WAY OF SHOWING THAT BOTH TYPES OF HOUSING AFFORDABLE AND FAIR MARKET CAN EXIST PRETTY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER WITHOUT THERE BEING THE FEAR THAT, UM, THE AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE GONNA CAUSE THINGS TO GO BAD.
AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD, THE SOUTH TOWER IS NOT 100% AFFORDABLE, WHICH IS ANOTHER PRO.
THERE IS MARKET RATE UNITS IN THE SOUTH TOWER AS WELL, BUT AS MANDY AND AMANDA HAVE REFERRED TO, IT WAS EASIER FROM OUR OPERATING AND FINANCING.
BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE PART OF, UH, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT.
AND EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO ALL OF THE AMENITIES.
THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE THAT I LIKE TO MAKE SURE.
SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT SEPARATE.
IT IS, IT IS ONE TOWER THAT EVERYONE GETS TO USE THE SAME AMENITIES.
COMMISSIONER
SO, UH, NICK GALEN, UH, DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITH ASPEN HEIGHTS PARTNERS, UH, WE'RE THE LOCAL DEVELOPER.
UM, HE WAS CHOSEN, UH, AND WERE HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, ASPEN HEIGHTS IS A LOCAL, UH, LOCALLY BASED NATIONAL STUDENT HOUSING AND MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPER.
UM, SO THE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL IN THE CONCEPTUAL STAGES OF HOW THE MUSIC VENUE WILL BE OPERATED.
WE HAVE NOT YET SELECTED AN OPERATOR, BUT WE'VE, UM, AGREED WITH, UH, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH, UM, CITY STAFF TO SOURCE AN OPERATOR FROM A, UM, THAT'S LOCALLY BASED THAT TYPICALLY, UM, DRAWS FROM, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED ARTISTS.
AND SO WE HAVE A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF WHAT REALLY, UH, WHAT REALLY IS AN AUSTIN, UM, ARTIST, UH, AND, AND A GOOD REPRESENTATION FROM THE ARTIST COMMUNITY THAT'S, UM, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, MAKES AUSTIN SO FAMOUS.
UH, AND THEN BEYOND, UH, MUSIC VIDEO, WE WILL BE, UM, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE, UH, LOCAL EXHIBITIONS AND, AND USE OF SPACE IS KIND OF LIKE A FLEX SPACE AS WELL OR, UM, FOR LOCAL USES AND, AND OTHER ARTISTS BESIDES MUSICIANS.
HI, IT'S MARGARET AGAIN AT THIS STAGE OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS, CUZ WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL ASSIGNED AGREEMENT YET.
WHAT THE TEAM WAS MOST EXCITED ABOUT FROM THE CITY SIDE IS FOR THAT SPACE WE HAVE LOCKED IN, WHICH IN MY 25 PLUS YEARS I'VE NOT SEEN, WHICH THEY HAVE LOCKED IN A MINIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE TENANT IMPROVEMENTS.
SO THEY'RE GONNA BE SUPPORTING IT, DOING THE CORE AND SHELL THE TENANT IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WHAT I THINK IS REALLY SPECIAL IS THEY'RE LOCKING IN A RENT.
SO WE'RE STARTING AT $35 A SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS BELOW MARKET TODAY, AND WE HAVEN'T BUILT THE BUILDING YET.
THEY'RE LOCKING THAT IN WITH A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, 3% INCREASE, AND THEN THEY'RE LOCKING IT IN FOR THE LIFE OF THE 99 YEAR LEASE.
SO WHAT AT THIS STAGE OF NEGOTIATION IS SO POWERFUL FOR ME IS THAT IS SETTING US UP FOR SUCCESS TO HAVE, UH, AN OPERATOR.
AND THEY'VE ALSO COMMITTED TO A PROGRAMMING THAT IT'S NOT JUST A NIGHTTIME BAR VENUE, THAT THIS IS A SPACE AS NICK WAS ALLUDING TO, THAT'S FLEXIBLE, THAT CAN BE USED AND ALWAYS REGRET DOING THIS AT A BOARD AND COMMISSION FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE BUILDING OPENS MM-HMM.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA HOLD YOU TO THAT.
I APOLOGIZE, NICK, BUT WE'RE, UM, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS TOGETHER WITH THIS TEAM, THAT IT WAS SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU COULD HAVE A STORY HOUR FOR KIDS IN THE MORNING AND THEN A MUSIC AF AFTERNOON.
BUT I THINK WHAT GOT THE TEAM SO EXCITED FROM THE CITY SIDE IS WE'RE SETTING IT UP FOR FAN AS MUCH SUCCESS AS WE CAN WITH THESE BELOW MARKET CORE AND FINISH RIGHT TENANT FINISH OUT THAT THIS IS BASICALLY READY.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE LOCKING IN A RENT THAT'S BELOW MARKET FOR THE LIFE OF THE LEASE.
I THOUGHT I SAW COMMISSIONER LEHMAN WITH HIS HAND UP.
I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND, AND THE, THE, UH, PROPOSAL.
UM, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE AFFORDABILITY IS BUILT INTO THE DAYCARE CENTER.
[00:30:02]
I HEARD THAT THE RENT WOULD BE REDUCED, BUT HOW, HOW IS THAT GOING TO HELP THE PROVIDE, WILL IT PROVIDE ACCESS TO DAYCARE FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING KEEP? UM, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER LAYMAN FOR THE QUESTION.IT DOES, UM, AGAIN, AT THIS STAGE OF NEGOTIATION, UM, THE CITY ACTUALLY DOES RUN A CHILDCARE CENTER AND HAS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING CHILDCARE.
SO OUR TEAM MEK, UM, WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW DIFFICULT THE, THE BARRIERS ARE TO CHILDCARE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
SO WHAT'S LOCKED IN IS THAT FRAMEWORK TYPICALLY THE SAME AS WHAT WE HEARD.
SO TENANT FINISH OUT CORN, SHELL TENANT FINISH OUT, AND A LOCKED IN RENTAL RATE FOR THE LIFE OF THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME OPTIONS WHERE IF ASPEN HEIGHTS CANNOT FIND AN OPERATOR, THE CITY HAS THE RIGHT TO STEP IN ON THAT WITH THAT SPACE.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE NEGOTIATIONS ACROSS A BROAD NUMBER OF TERMS. YES SIR.
SO WHAT I'M HEARING AGAIN IS THAT THERE'S A GOOD DISCOUNT TO THE OPERATOR, BUT I WONDER HOW YOU MAKE SURE THAT PASSES THROUGH TO THE USERS.
I'M ASSUMING THESE HUNDRED OR DOZENS OF FAMILIES WILL WANT SOME AFFORDABLE DAYCARE.
I THINK IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, LET ME REPEAT TO SEE IF I'M CORRECT.
YOUR CONCERN IS THAT THAT IS JUST FOR THE BUILDING OPERATOR AND NOT THE ACTUAL TENANT OF THE CHILDCARE SPACE.
I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW I THINK THAT THE COST SAVINGS WOULD BE PASSED THROUGH THE FAMILIES GET THE, OH SORRY, SHE'S CORRECTING ME.
OR IS IT THE FAMILIES? HOW WILL THAT BE PASSED ALONG TO THE FAMILIES THAT USE THAT? OH, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BOTH OF YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
UM, ON THAT WE HAVE PHRASING IN THERE, HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IS WHAT WE'RE INTENDING WITH THAT LANGUAGE.
I'VE JUST, AS, AS PART OF THE PROCESS, I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET TO WHERE THE LANGUAGE IS SPECIFIC ENOUGH THAT IT'LL BE ACCESSIBLE AND WILL PEOPLE QUALIFYING UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PART OF IT? MAYBE THERE COULD BE SOME QUALIFICATION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE DAYCARE.
YEAH, SO THE INTENT IS TO IS TO HAVE AN OPERATION THAT, UM, ALLOWS FOR, UM, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH CITY STAFF, UM, ALL ALONG.
AND SO IN ORDER TO GET, UH, AFFORDABLE, UH, CHILDCARE, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE OPERATORS, THEY REQUIRE LOWER OVERHEADS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE THE STRESS OFF OF, UH, THOSE, UH, OPERATORS WHO OFFER THIS GREAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY BY, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE RENT IS ACCEPTABLE AND THAT THEY CAN BE, UH, SUCCESSFUL.
UM, IT, IT IS ALSO OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WE WILL, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULD GIVE PREFERENCE TO TENANTS THAT ACTUALLY ARE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE PROPERTY.
UM, BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT STILL.
THAT'S, THAT'S, WE KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE, THE CITY STAFF WOULD LIKE.
AND WE'VE HEARD THAT, UH, PREVIOUSLY.
AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY ON IT IS THAT ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SIDE OF IT, THE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY TO GET THE AFFORDABLE UNITS HAVE TO MEET A TEST OF MEDIAN INCOME.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOME MECHANISM SO THAT THIS AFFORDABLE DAYCARE WOULD ACTUALLY BE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.
CUZ IF IT'S SIMPLY AFFORDABLE, WEALTHY PEOPLE WILL BE HAPPY TO FILL IT UP.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MEISENBACH.
UM, ARE ANY OF THE UNITS OF HAVING SHARED BATHROOMS OR SHARED KITCHENS, DO THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN KITCHEN? YES, MA'AM.
THEY'RE ALL STANDALONE UNITS, SO IT'S NOT, THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER MEISENBACH, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER? NO, THANK YOU.
HI MY VOICE A LITTLE, CAUSE COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE, THE CHILDCARE, THE CAPACITY FOR THE CHILDCARE 75 CAPACITY, SO WITH SO MANY, UM, TWO BEDROOM, THREE BEDROOM.
SO, UM, THE INTENT OF HAVING A CHILDCARE IN, IN THIS PROJECT, UH, IS IT,
[00:35:01]
UH, THE TENANTS, BECAUSE HAVE YOU DONE THE, THE, THE PLANNERS, UH, WITH SO MANY BEDROOMS, YOU KNOW, SO MANY UNITS THAT HAS TWO BEDROOM, THREE BEDROOMS THAT WILL SERVE FAMILIES.SO DO YOU THINK THAT 75, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER 75 CAPACITY IS, IS ENOUGH TO SERVE THE, SERVE THE TENANTS WHO LIVE THERE? IF NOT, THEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RESOLVE THAT TO ENROLL AND WHO DON'T? BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT, UM, CHILDCARE SERVICE ARE IN GREAT DEMANDS.
AND NUMBER TWO IS I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE SPACE FOR, UH, ART IN PUBLIC PLACES ALLOCATED AND ALSO FOR, UM, A FORMAL SPACE.
I PRESUME YOU WILL, UH, GIVE THIS PRESENTATION TO THE MUSIC COMMISSION, UH, COMMISSION AND ALSO TO THE ARTS COMMISSION.
I SEE IN YOUR, UM, IN YOUR PLAN TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION TO, UM, DIFFERENT COMMISSION.
AND COMMISSIONER MOCK IS ON THE ARTS COMMISSION, SO IT'S IT'S A PARTICULAR PRIORITY FOR HER.
AND, AND I, IT BROKE UP A LITTLE BIT HERE IN THE CHAMBER, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE GOT THAT BECAUSE THIS IS ALL REALLY WONDERFUL FEEDBACK.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL AGAIN.
WE ARE NOT AT AN OPERATING STAGE.
I DO WANNA SAY THAT WE'RE, AND SO I APPRECIATE THE, THE GOAL AND THE INTEREST AND THE GOAL.
I CAN CERTAINLY HAVE NICK COME BACK TO SPEAK TO WHY IT'S 75.
75 IS A VERY IMPORTANT NUMBER BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND FIRE CODE REQUIREMENTS AROUND CHILDCARE AND DESIGNING A CHILDCARE.
SO A LOT OF THE NUMBERS THAT YOU MAY BE SEEING COMMISSIONER MOCK IS BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS AROUND THAT.
AND I CAN LET HIM SPEAK TO THAT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT FIRE CODE AND OUTDOOR SPACE, UM, AND HOW YOU GET CHILDREN OUT THE DOOR.
I LEARNED A LOT DURING THIS NEGOTIATION PROCESS ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD JUST SPEAK TO, WE ARE GATHERING FEEDBACK AND SO WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS HOW IMPORTANT ALL OF Y'ALL IS THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT SERVES THOSE TENANTS.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH, AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT ABOUT THE LAWS GOVERNING RIGHTS AND CHILDCARE AND WHO YOU CAN RESERVE CHILDCARE SPACES FOR AND WHO YOU CANNOT.
FOR EXAMPLE, MY BACKGROUND'S IN FAIR HOUSING, MANDY CAN SPEAK TO IT TOO.
THERE ARE VERY VIGOROUS RULES ABOUT WHO HAS ACCESS TO A A HOUSING UNIT.
AND I WANT, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK TO OR PROMISE SOMETHING THAT LEGALLY WE CAN'T DO WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDCARE AND OTHER, BUT WE HEAR VERY CLEARLY THAT THAT'S OF INTEREST TO MAKE SURE THEY DO SERVE THE AFFORDABLE TENANTS OF THAT BUILDING.
WE'RE ALSO, FRANKLY, EXCITED ABOUT THIS LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY TO THE HOSPITAL ITSELF.
SO AGAIN, MANY PEOPLE PREFER TO HAVE THEIR CHILDCARE AND DAYCARE CENTERS CLOSER TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT, SO THEY CAN PICK THEIR CHILD UP PRETTY EASILY AFTER WORK AND THEY MAY NOT WANT TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.
SO WE ALSO WANNA BE CONSCIOUS OF THE MARKET FACTORS AROUND THAT CHILDCARE CENTER.
AND THEN WHAT I THINK I HEARD ON YOUR SECOND POINT WAS THE LIVE MUSIC VENUE AND THAT ARTS AND THE PROGRAMMING AT THE PLAZA WOULD BE A VERY GREAT INTEREST TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND TO HEAR FEEDBACK ON WHAT THAT PROGRAMMING IS.
AND, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
AGAIN, WE'RE AT THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT STAGE, WHICH IS REALLY ABOUT DOES THIS HAVE A NICE MIX? COUNSEL HAS GIVEN US THIS BLESSING OF WHAT THESE TERMS ARE AND WE APPRECIATE HEARING THE, THE MORE DETAILED, NUANCED FEEDBACK AROUND THESE AMENITIES.
SO THANK YOU IF I CAPTURE THAT AND DID YOU WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NICK AND AMANDA CAN FOLLOW UP WITH? JUST FYI, WE HAVE A CHILDCARE PROGRAM AT THE ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, SO WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE RULES AND REGULATION OF THE LICENSING AND THE QUALITY OF CHILDCARE.
I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT, I THINK IT'S THE BEST INVESTMENT FOR UPWORK MOBILITY IS IN OUR QUALITY CHILDCARE.
SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE THIS QUESTION, 75 NUMBER CAPACITY, IS IT ENOUGH TO SERVE THE AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THIS PROJECT? SO I I HOPE YOU'LL BE MINDFUL ABOUT THAT.
UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE PRESENTATION AGAIN.
[00:40:01]
I APPRECIATE THE INCORPORATION OF THE FEEDBACK FROM DESIGN COMMISSION ON THE RENDERINGS.UM, I, I THINK THIS DEFINITELY CON CONTINUES TO COMPLY WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
UM, MY TWO COMMENTS TONIGHT ARE, ARE AROUND THE PARKING GARAGE.
UM, SO, UH, POTENTIALLY THE CAP AND STITCH COULD BE AT 12TH STREET.
IT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION THERE IS, UM, BUT 12TH STREET AT 9 35 AND THEN THIS BUILDING WILL SIT AT THE CORNER OF 12TH STREET AND THE PARK.
SO, UM, I GUESS I'M KIND OF JUST EXCITED TO SEE ACTIVATION BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT.
WE'RE BURYING POTENTIALLY I 35 AT THIS INTERSECTION AND THEN WE, WE HAVE A PARKING PODIUM ADJACENT, SO WE'RE NOT BURYING THE PARKING ON THIS, THIS, UH, PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
SO JUST, JUST POINTING THAT OUT.
UM, AND I, I JUST, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BUILDING INCREASE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND, UM, THE PARK.
LIKE I'D LIKE TO, IF THERE'S A PARADE OR YOU KNOW, PLACES TO SIT OUT, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE THE SIX FLOOR TERRACE AND THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THAT INVOLVES MOVING FOLKS UP.
BUT, UM, YEAH, I JUST, I'M, I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN KIND OF ACTIVATING THE STREET.
UM, AND I, I FEEL LIKE THE PARKING PODIUM DOESN'T EXACTLY DO THAT.
UM, AND THEN THE SECOND COMMENT IS, UM, JUST ABOUT IF FOLKS DON'T HAVE CARS AND THEY'RE LIVING IN THIS BUILDING, WHAT'S THEIR ACCESS TO GROCERIES? AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS ON THAT AND I, I'M NOT REALLY SEEING A SOLUTION HERE AT THIS TIME AND I, I APPRECIATE YOUR AND A LOG CALL OF A PROCESS, BUT I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE THAT, UM, IF SOMEONE'S GOT A FAMILY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT REALLY BUYING GROCERIES THAT THE BODE GOT, AND IF WE'RE ENCOURAGING A CARF LIFESTYLE, HOW ARE, HOW ARE THEY GETTING THOSE GROCERIES? LIKE SOME SORT OF MINI GROCERY STORE OR MAYBE GROCERY DELIVERY SYSTEM.
I I JUST THINK SOMETHING COULD ENHANCE THE AFFORDABLE PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE HEAVILY INVESTED IN AS A PROJECT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER WEAVER.
UM, WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF CHILDCARE, UM, I THINK I WAS LISTENING TO COMMISSIONER MOCK AND TO, TO COMMISSIONER GOMEZ AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF ONE, IT'S POSSIBLE OR TWO, IF IT'S BEING CONSIDERED THAT PRIORITY FOR THOSE 75 SPOTS GO TO RESIDENTS WITHIN THE TWO BUILDINGS.
AND THERE, LIKE I SAID, THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MIX AND WHETHER THEY COME FROM THE AFFORDABLE UNITS OR THE MARKET RATE UNITS, BUT THERE IS A, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOSPITAL.
THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WILL WORK AT THE HOSPITAL THAT NEED PROXIMATE CHILDCARE AND THAT IF THERE WERE SPACE AVAILABLE, THEY MIGHT TAKE THAT SPACE.
AND SO FOR THIS, THIS PROJECT TO HOPEFULLY BRING SOME CHILDREN BACK INTO 7 87 0 1, UM, THE ABILITY TO HAVE ONSITE CHILDCARE IS CRITICAL.
UM, I WOULD ALSO, UH, POINT OUT THE STATE HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB WITH ITS NEW BUILDINGS.
UH, IF YOU'VE HAD, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO, TO SEE THE NEW CONGRESS MALL, IT'S REMARKABLE.
BUT THE NEW BUILDINGS, UM, THEY'VE GOT A CHILDCARE FACILITY ONSITE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE.
AND THEY'RE DOING IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY, UH, TO ENHANCE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND BRING IT OVER TO THIS SITE TO HELP CURTAILED COSTS, UM, OPERATING COSTS.
SO JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
WE'RE UNFORTUNATELY FIVE YEARS AWAY FROM THIS.
SO LOTS, LOTS CHANGE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S A VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL MODEL FOR THE STATE.
UM, I DO COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ.
YEAH, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY JUST A QUESTION SORT OF ON PIGGYBACKING ON THE FIVE YEAR PROCESS.
AT WHAT POINT IN THE PROCESS THAT'S COMING UP, WILL WE BE SORT OF, UM, MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OPERATORS AND FINE-TUNING THINGS LIKE CHILDCARE AND ACCESS TO GROCERIES, LIKE, UH, THERE, THERE, THERE'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD.
AND AT WHAT POINT DO ARE THOSE DECISIONS BEING MADE? I THINK ALL THREE OF US COULD GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT ANSWER ON ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF THIS
SO REAL, I'LL TAKE THE FIRST STAB AND THEN Y'ALL, AND Y'ALL, Y'ALL CHIME IN.
SO REALISTICALLY, ONCE THIS PROJECT GETS THROUGH THE BEST AND FINAL OFFER PROCESS GETS THROUGH THE, THE AGREEMENTS, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF STEPS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN FROM A DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
SO WE STILL HAVE TO REZONE THE PROPERTIES TO, UM, ZONE 'EM TO CBD.
AND THEN FROM THERE, THIS PROCESS WILL, THIS PROJECT, UM, WILL HAVE
[00:45:01]
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMITS.THOSE SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMITS WILL GO THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROCESS.
AND SO AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE USUALLY HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION AND THEN, UM, I CAN LET NICK THAT, SO THAT'S KIND OF THE, AS WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE MORE DEFINED PIECES OF INFORMATION.
BUT NICK, I'LL LET YOU ANSWER THE OTHER PIECE ON OPERATORS, ET CETERA.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK MOST OPERATORS, UM, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD FEWER THAN FIVE YEARS.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE, UM, WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHO WE ARE GONNA HAVE, UH, SIGNED UP FOR THESE SPACES FOR THESE, UH, SEVERAL RETAIL SPACES, WHICH COULD BE A BODEGA AND ONE OF THEM, I, I PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT IDEA.
UM, I WOULD SAY WITHIN 24 MONTHS OF, OF DELIVERY OF THE PROJECT AND THAT FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE.
SO WE HAVE TO BUILD THE BUILDING.
WE'VE BEEN IN DEEP CONVERSATIONS WITH EXPERTS ABOUT HOW TO DESIGN AND SPACE.
THAT CHILDCARE FACILITY MOVED A LOT IN THE LAST YEAR OF OUR TALK, RIGHT? TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS CODE MEETS LOGIC.
IN FACT, I COMMEND OUR PARTNERS BECAUSE THEY WENT OUT ON THEIR OWN TO DO AN OPTION ON THE FUTURE FARMERS BUILDING AT SIX 14 12TH, WHICH ENABLED US TO PUT THE BLOCKS.
A LOT OF THIS RIGHT, IS DOMINO'S FALLING IN, UM, A LITTLE TETRIS GAME.
SO I JUST WANNA REITERATE, WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH A LOT OF THE SITE PLAN, THE DESIGN, THE ZONING, AND THEN TYPICALLY YOU DON'T START TALKING ABOUT OPERATORS UNTIL YOU'RE WELL INTO CONSTRUCTION, IS WHAT NICK WAS SAYING.
SO WE'RE STILL, AS CHAIR HARRIS SAID, WE'RE STILL YEARS AWAY FROM THIS.
AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE.
UM, GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER, WE HAVE LOCKED IN SOME RENTS AT 2022 PRICES.
SO, AND THEY'RE VERY WELL AWARE OF THAT, RIGHT? SO WE'VE LOCKED IN SOME STARTING POINTS ON PRICES WHERE THE BUILDING ISN'T EVEN BEEN.
SO I THINK, AS WE SAY, FROM THE NEGOTIATING TEAM, WE'VE TRIED TO SET THESE SPACES UP FOR AS MUCH SUCCESS AS WE CAN IN A MARKET THAT WE KNOW IS ONLY SEEMING TO GET MORE POPULAR.
AND AS CHAIR, UM, SORRY, AS COMMISSIONER WEAVER IN THIS SENSE, UM, SAID WE HAVE CAP AND STITCH AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER REALLY DYNAMIC PROJECTS LIKE, UM, CHAIR HARRIS SAID WITH THE STATE THAT WILL ALL HOPEFULLY FIT SYNERGY.
THE SITE OF THE, THIS SITE IS VERY EXCITING AND A VERY EXCITING LOCATION, BUT I JUST WANT TO CAUTION THAT WE DON'T WANNA GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF US WHEN WE GET INTO THE DEPTHS OF OPERATIONS.
BUT I LOVE THE IDEA OF CHILDCARE PREFERENCES THAT IS VERY OPEN TO BOTH SIDES OF THIS TABLE THAT WHAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE IN HERE IS WHAT I HEAR.
OUR CHILDCARE PREFERENCES FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE BUILDING OR WORK WITHIN A MILE, YOU KNOW, UM, THOSE KINDS OF ASPECTS ARE REALLY WONDERFUL.
UM, AND I ALSO, UH, COMMISSIONER MOCK, I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK TO SAY THAT YES, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC ART IN THIS, AND SO WE WILL BE SEEKING SOME INPUT FROM ARTS COMMISSIONS AND OTHER ARTS LEADERS OF LIKE HOW THAT WORKS.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT THROUGH THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PROJECT.
IT'S BY THEIR VOLUNTARY, UM, COMMITMENT TO THE ART IN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ENLIVEN THIS SPACE.
I JUST CAN ADD TO THAT, UM, THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT.
DEREK VAMP WITH ASPEN HEIGHTS.
UM, AS FAR AS THE, UM, THE, THE CHILDCARE, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF SOLUTIONS WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT THE INTENT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD HAVE THE OPERATOR BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN OPEN BOOK TO ENSURE THAT THOSE SAVINGS ARE PASSED DOWN TO THE FAMILIES THAT, THAT HAVE CHILDREN THERE.
UM, WE HAVE A THIRD OF THE GROUND FLOOR, WHICH IS RETAIL SPACE, AND SO I THINK THAT'S ABOUT 30,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF SPACE TO PUT IN THINGS LIKE AN URBAN TARGET, UH, GROCERY STORE, OTHER FOOD SERVICES, YOU KNOW, A FARMER'S MARKET, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
SO I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WE ARE BOOKMARKING SPACE FOR THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
AND THEN AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN COLLECTIVELY FIND OPERATORS AND THE TYPES OF USES THAT WE WANT TO REALLY COMPLIMENT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIVING IN THE BUILDING.
UM, BACK ON THE, UM, UNIT MIX, UM, BETWEEN THE 50 AND 60% MFI, HOW ARE THE, THE AFFORDABLE UNITS BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN THOSE TWO LEVELS OF MFI? IT'S ROUGH.
IT, IT'S ROUGHLY HALF AND HALF.
I CAN GIVE YOU THE, THE REAL NUMBERS, BUT IT'S, I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UH, THEY WERE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE, THOSE BELOW 50 AND BELOW 60% OF OUR TIME.
I I THINK IT'S 117 AND 115, SO, OKAY.
UM, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF 13TH STREET WAS NOT RECONNECTED? I KNOW EVERYBODY LIKES COMPACT AND CONNECTED, BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, ACCESS THAT
[00:50:01]
SPACE OR THERE UTILITIES THAT RUN A RUN AFOUL OF ANOTHER DEPARTMENT? CORRECT.AND SO THE 13TH STREET POTENTIAL CAME UP AS PART OF COUNCIL'S WISH TO HAVE MORE CONNECTIVITY, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
CHAIR HARRIS AT THIS POINT, IT IS A GREAT STREETS SIDEWALK.
SO IF, IF WE CAN'T MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN WITH CENTRAL HEALTH, IT WILL BE A WIDER SIDEWALK WITH ACTIVATION ALONG THAT FROM A PEDESTRIAN.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT A FUNCTION OF IF 13TH STREET WERE NOT TO BE REOPENED THAT PERHAPS THE NORTH TOWER COULD EXPAND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL UNITS.
UM, WHERE DOES THE 12.2 MILLION, ONE POINT TI ONE TIME PAYMENT GO? UH, IT ACTUALLY WILL GO BACK TO GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN HOW IT'S UP TO COUNCIL TO HOW IT'S DISTRIBUTED.
SO IT JUST, IT'LL JUST BE CHALKED UP TO GENERAL REVENUE AND NOT DEDICATED.
SO IT TURNED OUT THROUGH THE PROCESS THERE WAS NOT OUTSTANDING DEBT.
THEY HAD NOT ISSUED THE DEBT ON THAT.
UM, AND SO, SORRY TO BE TOO WONKY.
SO 12.2 GOES BACK, AND I DO THINK FOR, AND ESPECIALLY FOLKS WHO, UM, FOLLOW THIS PROCESS VERY CLOSELY, THE ORIGINAL OFFER WAS 21 MILLION FROM ASPEN HEIGHTS COUNCIL, CHOSE TO TAKE THE MINIMUM BID WAS 12.2 IN THE RFP TO, UM, FACILITATE, FACILITATE SOME OF THE THINGS ON THE CITY SIDE.
AS I SAID EARLIER, THAT'S THE CITY OBLIGATIONS COUNCIL CHOSE TO PUT BACK INTO THE DEAL, THE BALANCE BETWEEN 12 TWO AND THE 21.
AND THAT'S WHAT STARTS TO GET YOU TO SOME OF THE, UH, TERMS THAT WE HAVE HERE.
UH, I REALIZED THAT THE, THE HOTEL SITE IS SEPARATE, SEPARATELY OWNED, YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT, BUT HAS THERE ANY, HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION WITH THE DEVELOPER OF THAT SITE AND THIS SITE IN HOW YOU MIGHT EFFECTIVELY INTEGRATE THE TWO AND MAKE THEM FLOW WELL TOGETHER? NOT AT THIS TIME, NO.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IF, IF THAT WAS ABLE TO MATERIALIZE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE CAUSE WE THINK IT'D BE PROBABLY A BETTER OUTCOME.
DO, DO WE KNOW, I WOULD SAY I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE TO, IF IT'S OKAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, GIVEN REAL ESTATE AND AUSTIN, TEXAS DOWNTOWN, I'D LIKE TO NOT DISCUSS THAT OR MAKE PROMISES IN AN OPEN FORUM.
I'M A REALTOR, BUT WE ARE
NOT TALKING NECESSARILY ABOUT ACQUIRING IT.
HOW THEY INTERACT, JUST HOW THEY INTERACT, HOW THEY INTERFACE.
UM, LA LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS IS A REMARKABLE PROJECT.
I KNOW HOW HARD EVERYBODY'S BEEN WORKING ON IT.
UH, THE, UH, OPEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION IS REMARKABLE.
I THINK IT HAS THE CHANCE TO REALLY BE A HALLMARK OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
SO I COMMEND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT.
I WISH IT WEREN'T FIVE YEARS OUT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK.
COMMISSIONER GOMEZ, I I WANT TO THANK YOU.
UM, I, I DO WANT TO, I HOPE THAT AUSTIN CAN BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF, UM, CREATING, HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO ACTUALLY STAY AFFORDABLE.
THE THING THAT MAKES, UM, ATTEMPTS BY COMMUNITIES TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHOUT TAKING THE CONSIDERATION, TRANSPORTATION, GROCERIES, AND CHILDCARE THAT THEN TURNS THAT SUPPOSEDLY AFFORDABLE APARTMENT OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE ACTUALLY NOT AFFORDABLE.
SO IT, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN INCORPORATE THOSE THINGS, WHETHER IT'S IN THE RETAIL SPACE BY PUTTING GROCERY STORES THERE, THAT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT, YOU KNOW, LIKE $5 FOR A TOMATO.
UM, UM, BUT I THINK ALSO TO SAY THAT IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE HERITAGE TREES, AND I, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, YOU SAID THAT THE CHILDCARE IS, WAS, WAS PUT IN A WAY THAT IT KIND OF INCORPORATES THE HERITAGE TREES THAT, THAT WE LOOK AT CHILDCARE AS AS IMPORTANT AS THE HERITAGE TREES.
UM, AND SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDCARE, UH, SLOTS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
UM, BUT I, I, I WOULD HOPE THAT AS BEING THAT WE COULD BE, THAT AUSTIN COULD BE IN THE FOREFRONT OF CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOUSING THAT INCORPORATES, YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THE STUFF THAT MAKES LIVING IN AUSTIN AFFORDABLE.
AND IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GO PAST THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO IF WE DON'T, THEN WE JUST KEEP SUCKING OUT THE, THE, THE INCOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND THEY, THEY, THEY CAN'T MOVE ON.
[00:55:01]
THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THIS PACKAGE OF TERMS WHERE, AND I, I DID NOT CALL OUT FOR THEM THAT THEY'VE, UM, COMMITTED TO THE 30, AT LEAST 30% OF THE BUSINESSES WILL BE LOCALLY BASED THAT WE'VE LOCKED IN SOME AS BEST AS WE CAN.ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE AS A DEVELOPER WHO'S LOOKING AT A LONG-TERM PROFORMA WITH THEIR INVESTORS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE LOCKED IN AS BEST WE CAN.
THESE SPACES, YOU'RE RIGHT TO SERVE, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FAMILIES AND PEOPLES IN THE AREA.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN IN THIS FORUM, WE DO ENVISION AND BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE SEE, BELIEVE THAT WE CAME UP WITH A PROPOSAL THAT WE HOPE TO SEE PEOPLE WHO CAN LIVE DOWNTOWN FAMILIES.
AND I DO THINK, I'M GONNA STEAL THE CHAIRMAN'S PHRASE, BRINGING CHILDREN BACK TO 7 8, 7 0 1, UM, WHERE WE CAN HAVE FAMILIES LIVING IN DOWNTOWN, WALKING TO WORK, HAVING CHILDCARE ACCESS.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE HIT HARD ENOUGH TONIGHT.
THE PLAZA IS REALLY, TRULY SPECIAL WITH PROGRAMMING THAT THEY INTEND TO SEE WHERE ANYBODY, UH, UM, ANY A VISITOR WHO CAN COME IN WHO'S ON FAMILY VACATION CAN PARK IN THAT GARAGE, GO HAVE LUNCH AND THEN GO TOUR THE CAPITOL OR GO TO WATERLOO PARK OR GO VISIT UT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UM, AS WELL AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS AT THE HOSPITAL HAS A PLACE TO COME FOR LUNCH.
UM, WE REALLY TALKED ABOUT HOW, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC, HOW STRESSFUL PEOPLE'S LIVES WERE IN THAT AREA.
AND TO GIVE THEM AN OPEN SPACE WHERE THEY CAN SIT, HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE.
AND ANYWAY, FOR SOMEONE WHO'S SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF ELDER CARE, IT FEELS REALLY SPECIAL TO ME TO THINK THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD FIND A PLACE TO GATHER AS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
AND, UH, IT JUST CAME TO MY MIND, BUT WHAT SCHOOL, IF THESE KIDS ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS, WHAT SCHOOL WOULD THEY GO BE, BE GOING TO? AND HAS THAT BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE THEY WOULD'VE GONE TO PEAS.
YEAH, I KNOW, BUT THAT'S CLOSED.
I, I I THINK THAT AS WE PLAN STUFF LIKE THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIGURE OUT, SO HOW FAR IS THE SCHOOL, CAN THEY WALK TO IT? WILL THEY BE ABLE TO USE THE, THE CAP AND STITCH THING TO GET TO A, TO A SCHOOL IN EAST AUSTIN OR WHATEVER? AND, AND THINK, UH, FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY HAS DONE A REALLY WONDERFUL JOB OF, OF, OF WORKING WITH, UH, THE SCHOOLS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO, TO INCREASE THEIR, THEIR, UH, THE GRADES