[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEIR SEATS.UH, SO, UH, WITH THAT I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING OF THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION FOR AUGUST 28TH.
AND SOPHIA, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO ROLL CALL? SURE THING.
UH, COMMISSIONER DAVID CARROLL.
COMMISSIONER MARISSA MCKINNEY.
COMMISSIONER BRENDAN TRE HERE YEAR.
SO WITH THE CHAIR BEING OUT, I WILL BE THE STANDING CHAIR TODAY.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? WE DO NOT.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS APPROVAL OF THE MEETING FROM JUNE 24TH, 2024.DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT? ONE HAPPEN.
COMMISSIONER WALLACE, I MEANT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING.
UH, WE HAVE APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONER WALLACE.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER HOWARD.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS.
BE PATIENT WITH ME 'CAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
[2. Staff briefing regarding the status of the affordable housing component to the Downtown Density Bonus Program. Presented by Rachel Tepper, Housing Department.]
WITH THAT WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM PRESENTED BY RACHEL TEPPER FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.UM, AND I'M WITH MY COLLEAGUE TONIGHT, UH, BRENDAN KENNEDY.
AND WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THE PROGRAM HISTORY AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM OUTCOMES AS WELL AS HOW WE'RE SPENDING DENSITY BONUS DOLLARS.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU WILL HAVE.
SO THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, AS MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, WAS ADOPTED IN 2013.
UM, IT REPLACED THE CENTRAL URBAN REDEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE OR FORMERLY KNOWN AS CURE.
UM, AND THEN IN 2014 IT WAS AMENDED TO ADD, UM, NEW PROVISIONS INCLUDING THE RAINY STREET SUBDISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.
AND THEN IN 2021 AND 2022, THERE WAS A REALLY INVOLVED RECALIBRATION OF THE DENSITY BONUS FEES, WHICH INCLUDED ADDING COMMERCIAL FEES AS WELL AS INCREASING THE RESIDENTIAL FEES.
YOU CAN SEE IN THIS SLIDE THAT IN 2014 WE HAD NO DOLLARS, UH, FOR, UM, THE FEE IN LIEU FOR COMMERCIAL.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD LOWER RESIDENTIAL FEES.
IN 2021, WE PASSED INTERIM FEES, UM, THAT RAISED THE FEES, UM, TO $12 AND $10, UM, IN THE CBD ZONES.
AND THEN, UM, OR IN, IN THE DOWN IN, UM, EVERY DISTRICT THAT'S NOT THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT, AND THEN THE $5 WITHIN THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT BECAUSE THAT ONE WAS SORT OF CAREFULLY CALIBRATED FOR THAT DISTRICT.
UM, AND THEN WE DID PASS COMMERCIAL FEES, INTERIM FEES, AND WE LOWERED THEM THE FOLLOWING YEAR, UM, TO $9 AND $6.
[00:05:01]
THOSE FEES SINCE 2022.SO IN THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS REALLY SMALL PRINT, BUT THIS IS BASICALLY THE ADOPTED BUDGET, UM, FROM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
AND THE FEES ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THEY WERE SINCE 2022.
AS FOR AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS STATES THAT 50% OF THE BONUS AREA MUST BE ACHIEVED THROUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING BENEFITS, WHICH CAN BE DONE THROUGH A FEE AND LIE OR ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
UM, WE GENERALLY DO SEE PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FEE AND LIE, UM, AND RAINY STREET IS SUBDISTRICT IS THE ONLY SUBDISTRICT THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRES THE ONSITE AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR A PORTION, UM, THAT'S CALCULATED AT 5% OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF DWELLING UNITS DEVELOPED WITHIN THE FLOOR AREA RATIO OF EIGHT TO ONE.
UM, AND THEY, UH, MUST BE AFFORDABLE AT 80% MFI OR BELOW THE DOWNTOWN ONSITE AFFORDABILITY TERMS ARE FOR OWNERSHIP, YOU CAN GO UP TO 120% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, UH, FOR 99 YEARS.
AGAIN, RAINY STREET THAT MFI LIMIT IS 80% AND WITH RENTAL IT'S 80% MFI FOR A PERIOD OF 40 YEARS.
AND I'LL PASS IT OVER TO BRENDAN TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE, UM, WITH THE ONSITE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND FEE AND L THANKS.
I OVERSEE, IS THIS ONE ON? OKAY.
I'M A PROGRAM MANAGER AND OVERSEE WITH MY TEAM THE IMPLEMENTATION, UM, AND ADMINISTRATION OF THESE PROGRAMS. IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE'LL START TALKING ABOUT KIND OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND JUST METRICS.
SO THIS IS A SLIDE SHOWING, UM, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE SORT OF THE PACE OF CERTIFICATION THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM OVER THE YEARS.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, FAIRLY, UH, RELATIVELY STEADY, UM, WITH A COUPLE YEARS, UH, WHERE JUST A FEW EXTRA, UM, APPLICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS CAME IN.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMPLETED PROJECTS, BUT ALSO QUITE A FEW PROJECTS CURRENTLY, UH, UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR WITH A SITE PLAN UNDER REVIEW.
SO WE DO HAVE AN ACTIVE PIPELINE CURRENTLY WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.
WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND THIS IS THAT CURRENT PIPELINE.
SO THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, OR HAVE EITHER A SITE PLAN UNDER REVIEW OR A BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED WHERE THEY'RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SO THIS SHOWS, UH, BOTH SEPARATELY FOR THE BROADER DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AND THEN SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE RAINY STREET SUBDISTRICT, UH, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP UNITS, AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE UNITS, UM, WITHIN BOTH PROGRAMS. SO YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS, UH, CURRENTLY CERTIFIED THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN BOTH RAINY, UH, AS WELL AS DOWNTOWN, UH, WITHIN, UM, OWNERSHIP.
HOWEVER, ONLY THE RAINY STREET SUBDISTRICT CURRENTLY SHOWS AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP UNITS.
THE BOTTOM ROW ALSO SHOWS THE ESTIMATED TOTAL, UM, FEE IN LIEU THAT IS CURRENTLY CERTIFIED AND PENDING FUTURE PAYMENT.
AND IF WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I CAN EXPLAIN A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT WE MEAN BY PENDING.
SO WHEN WE CERTIFY, UH, PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, AGAIN, AS RACHEL DESCRIBED, UH, 50% OF BONUS AREA AT MINIMUM MUST BE ACHIEVED THROUGH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
THAT CAN BE EITHER SOME FORM OF ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR IT CAN BE A FEE IN LIEU.
THE FEE IN LIEU IF IT IS BEING PAID IS, UM, BASED ON THE FINAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
SO FEE IN LIE IS NOT COLLECTED UNTIL, UM, THE BUILDING IS SUBSTANTIALLY DONE WITH CONSTRUCTION FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE BEING THAT THAT IS A POINT AT WHICH THE DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE, UM, UTILIZED THE DENSITY BONUS.
AND SECONDLY, THAT IS A POINT AT WHICH WE CAN VERIFY THE FINAL AS BUILT SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT AND ACCURATELY CALCULATE A FINAL FEE IN LIE TOTAL.
SO THOSE FEES ARE PAID AT THE COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION AND FOR COMPLETED PROJECTS, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT THE AVERAGE TIME FROM CERTIFICATION, SO SORT OF AT THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT, INITIAL DESIGN PHASE UP UNTIL THE POINT THAT THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE AND BUILT, UM, AND THOSE FEES ARE PAID IS AN AVERAGE OF AROUND FOUR YEARS
[00:10:01]
IN THIS CHART.UM, WE HAVE A FEW BARS THAT APOLOGIES IF THE LEGEND IS A LITTLE HARD TO SEE.
SO HASHED LINES ARE CERTIFIED FEES, SO FEES THAT ARE THE BAR IS HASHED BECAUSE THAT AMOUNT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED OF A, A PENDING FEE IN LIEU, BUT THE AMOUNT HAS NOT YET BEEN COLLECTED.
THE DARK GREEN BARS ON THE OTHER HAND, SHOW THE AMOUNT OF FEES THAT HAVE BEEN PAID.
SO DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE COMPLETED THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND PAID OUT THEIR FEE IN LIEU AND THE ORANGE BARS SHOW ENCUMBERED FEES.
SO FEES THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, BUDGETED FOR EXPENDITURE, THEY HAVE, UH, A DESIGNATED SOURCE FOR THAT MONEY TO BE SPENT ON, UH, IN OUR BUDGET AND EITHER HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPENT OR, OR WILL BE SPENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS THOSE FUNDS ARE DRAWN UPON, IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHILE THIS IS MORE A, A RULE OF THUMB AND ISN'T ALWAYS A CASE, UH, CASE BY CASE BASIS, WE DO SEE THAT PATTERN OF ABOUT A FOUR YEAR DELAY, UM, GENERALLY REFLECTED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF FEES COLLECTED, ROUGHLY THE AMOUNT OF FEES THAT WERE CERTIFIED FROM FOUR YEARS BEFORE HAVE BEEN PAID OUT, UH, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UM, SO WE CAN SEE THAT KIND OF AVERAGE TREND REFLECTED SOME IN THE, THE FEES THAT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AND COLLECTED.
IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN RECEIVING FEES IN A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT BECAUSE OF THAT LAG TIME AS WELL AS SOME OF THE EARLIER, AS RACHEL DESCRIBED CHANGES IN FEE AND LIE RATES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED IN DOWNTOWN.
THAT LARGER ORANGE BAR THAT WAS AT THE END OF THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THOSE FUNDS ARE REPRESENTED AS, UM, FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO SEABROOK SQUARE TWO.
UM, SO THIS SEABROOK SQUARE TWO IS A 60 UNIT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S ON LAND OWNED BY THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE GROUND LEASE TO A PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL INCLUDE A HFC, THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AS WELL AS A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, INTEGRAL CARE, WHO WILL ASSIST WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ON THE SITE.
UM, PROPERTY IS, UH, INCORPORATING TRAUMA-INFORMED DESIGN AND AS I SAID, UM, EXTENSIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THAT POPULATION.
IT'S LOCATED OFF OF MAINOR ROAD ADJACENT TO THE MUELLER DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IT DID RECEIVE A $7.9 MILLION, UM, LOAN OF GAP FINANCING, UH, IN THE FORM OF A LOAN, UH, 5.18 MILLION OF THAT WAS SOURCED THROUGH THE, UM, AVAILABLE FUNDS IN THE DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS.
IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
SO SEABROOK SQUARE TWO IS JUST ONE PHASE OF A LARGER MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY, UH, AGAIN ADJACENT TO MUELLER.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAP AT THE TOP SHOWS THE, UH, THE LOCATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT SITE.
OVERALL, THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL DELIVER 264 AFFORDABLE UNITS AT 60 50 AND 30% OF MFI.
UM, IT'S GONNA INCLUDE PUBLIC AMENITIES, UH, INCLUDING ONE THAT WAS, UM, UH, MUCH REQUESTED AS PART OF A COMMUNITY RFP.
THERE'S GONNA BE A COMMUNITY ARTIST INCUBATOR AND NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACE.
UM, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THIS IS LAND OWNED BY THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR LONG-TERM, UH, OWNERSHIP AND AFFORDABILITY.
UM, IT WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH, UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS.
BOTH OF THOSE PHASES HAVE BROKEN GROUND, UM, AND WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
IN PRIOR YEARS WHEN THERE WAS FAR, UH, LESS MONEY GOING INTO DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS FUNDS, UM, THESE WERE THE CONTRACTS THAT THAT FUNDING WAS SPENT ON.
SO, UM, IN A PREVIOUS SLIDE, THERE WERE SMALLER ORANGE BARS IN EARLIER YEARS.
UM, AGAIN, AS I'VE MENTIONED, DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS, UH, FEE AND L IS UH, DEDICATED TO BE SPENT ON PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND WITH THESE SMALLER FEE AND L AMOUNTS, WHAT IT WAS SPENT ON WERE, UM, CONTRACTS WITH THE, UH, ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION OR ECHO FOR VOUCHER PROGRAM PILOTS THAT WOULD, UM, SUPPORT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RESIDENTS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL FEES FOR CONSULTING.
SO THAT IN SOME IS, UM, NOT ONLY THE KIND OF DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE FEES COME IN, BUT WHERE WE'VE BEEN SPENDING FEES, UM, AS THEY HAVE BEEN COLLECTED.
AND THAT SHOULD BE THE FINAL SLIDE.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SINCE THERE IS NO RECOMMENDATION BEING SOUGHT, WE ARE WELCOME TO ASK QUESTIONS.
[00:15:02]
YES.COMMISSIONER WALLACE, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY BREAKDOWN ON, UM, BUILT UNITS VERSUS FEE AND LIE? UH, WE DO NOT.
WITHIN THE BROADER DOWN TENDENCY BONUS OR INCLUSIVE OF RAINY STREET, WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT.
UM, I I WILL SAY F AND L IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS YOU ELECT FOR F AND L.
CAN UCK, UM, ARE THERE, UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN ANY, UM, WHAT THE MECHANISMS ARE FOR ENFORCING THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS, UM, ON THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS? SURE.
SO ONCE A DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED, UM, THAT THERE'S A CERTIFICATION LETTER ISSUED FROM OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL, I KNOW IT GOES, THESE PROJECTS GO THROUGH DESIGN COMMISSION AND WE'LL HAVE OTHER RESTRICTIONS THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE THEN REVIEWED FOR AND IMPLEMENTED AT SITE PLAN REVIEW, UM, BY SITE PLAN REVIEWERS.
UM, BUT ONCE THE SITE PLAN IS APPROVED, OUR DEPARTMENT FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICALLY WILL PLACE ADMINISTRATIVE HOLDS ON THE BUILDING PERMITS FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
WHAT THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE HOLDS MEAN IS THAT A FINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AND FINAL INSPECTIONS CANNOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL OUR STAFF HAVE, UH, CLEARED ADMINISTRATIVELY THAT HOLD ON THE PERMIT.
SO BEFORE DEVELOPMENT CAN BEGIN LEASING OR CAN BEGIN ACCEPTING COMMERCIAL TENANTS OR CAN FINISH OUT WITH FINAL INSPECTIONS, THEY WILL CONTACT US, UM, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO RELEASE THAT HOLD.
AND THAT WILL BE ONE OF TWO THINGS, OR BOTH PAYMENT OF THE FINAL FEE IN LIEU PENDING CONFIRMATION OF THE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT WAS BUILT.
OR IT WILL BE, UH, EXECUTION AND RECORDING OF A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT FOR ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE BUILDING CAN RECEIVE ITS FINAL INSPECTIONS.
ONCE THAT IS IN PLACE, UM, OUR DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE THE PROJECT SHOWN AS COMPLETE AND OUR INTERNAL DATABASE AND IF THERE'S ONSITE AFFORDABILITY, THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS WILL BE MONITORED BY OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, FOR THE FULL AFFORDABILITY PERIOD.
OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. AND JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE BEFORE THE BREAK, WE SOMEWHAT CHANGED HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THIS, WHERE, UH, WE'LL HAVE THE PRESENTER SPEAK TO US AND THEN WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
AND THEN WE'VE BEEN DOING A MOTION TO EITHER RECOMMEND OR NOT RECOMMEND, UM, AND THEN HAVING DISCUSSION AND, UH, ENTERTAINING ANY AMENDMENTS, UH, TO THOSE MOTIONS.
SO ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? NO.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE
[3. Discussion and possible action to recommend to City Council whether the Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan reflects the Shared Values for Urban Areas in the Urban Design Guidelines. Presented by Alyssa Tharrett from the Parks and Recreation Department, Katie Robinson Edwards and Amanda Valbracht from the Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum, and Leland Ulmer, Melissa Gutierrez Soto, and Ginny Chilton from Page. ]
IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL, THE UMLA SCULPTURE, GARDEN AND MUSEUM, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN PRESENTED BY ALYSSA RETT FROM PARKS AND REC, KATIE ROBINSON EDWARDS AND AMANDA ACHT FROM UMLA SCULPTURE GARDEN AND MUSEUM, AND LELAND ULMER, UH, MELISSA GUTIERREZ SOTO, AND JENNY CHILTON FROM PAGE AND VICE CHAIR MINORS.UM, WE DO HAVE A MEMBER FROM THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, IF, UH, MR. RICHARD WISE CAN SPEAK EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER.
I THINK TYPICALLY THERE'S THE PRESENTATION FIRST AND THEN AFTERWARDS THERE'S THE SPEAKER.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO IT IN THAT ORDER.
UH, THAT'S FINE WITH ME UNLESS THERE'S ANY OBJECTION FROM ANYONE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ALYSSA THEAT.
I AM THE DIVISION MANAGER OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM AT PARKS AND RECREATION.
YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE A LOT MORE OF ME IN THE COMING YEARS.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT IS JOINING OUR PARTNERS AT THE MOF SCULPTURE GARDEN AND MUSEUM FOR A PRESENTATION OF THE VISION PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS PLAN GUIDES THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION OF THIS LONGTIME BELOVED AUSTIN ARTS FACILITY, THE GIFT OF THE HOME AND THE STUDIO, ALONG WITH THE ART COLLECTION DATES BACK TO 1985, NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO.
THE MUSEUM WAS OPENED IN 1991 AND FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UM, LAW HAS SERVED AS AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC PURPOSE AND PROVIDES OUR CITY WITH ACCESSIBLE ARTS, PROGRAMMING, ARTS, EDUCATION, AND EXHIBITS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND TOURISTS.
THE FACILITY IS ONE OF SEVERAL TREASURED CITY FACILITIES THAT PROVIDES ART,
[00:20:01]
CULTURAL, AND HISTORY PROGRAMMING.AND THIS PLAN REFLECTS THE VALUES FOR URBAN AREAS THAT ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE OUR UMOFF MUSEUM PARTNERS AND DESIGN TEAM AT PAGE FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORT IN DEVELOPING THIS PLAN.
WE ARE SEEKING THE SUPPORT OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE BOARD COMMISSION AND COUNCIL PROCESS FOR VISION PLAN ADOPTION.
AND I AM NOW PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR PARTNERS AT THE UMLA MUSEUM, KATIE ROBINSON EDWARDS, WHO IS THE CURATOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND AMANDA
AND THEY'LL GIVE A PRESENTATION IN TANDEM WITH LELAND UMER AT PAGE ARCHITECTS.
I'M KATIE, AND, UH, I'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF IT.
THE, UM, LAW'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN WAS CREATED BY PAIGE ARCHITECTURE FIRM AND THE UMOFF WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THE FULL PLAN IS AVAILABLE IN OUR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO YOU.
THE UMOFF IS NESTLED WITHIN AUSTIN'S CENTRAL GREEN NETWORK, ALONGSIDE BARTON SPRINGS, ZILKER PARK, AND LADY BIRD LAKE.
WE ARE A, A BELOVED 33-YEAR-OLD INSTITUTION, UH, GARDEN AND MUSEUM WITH A MISSION TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY CURIOSITY AND CONNECTION THROUGH NATURE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND THE WORK OF CHARLES MOF.
WE WELCOME MORE THAN 35,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR AND HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CHARLES MOF, IF YOU DO NOT KNOW, HE STUDIED AND MADE HIS CAREER IN CHICAGO WHERE HE MARRIED A FELLOW ARTIST, ANGIE ALLEN.
FOR 40 YEARS, HE WAS A LIFE DRAWING AND SCULPTURE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
CHARLES MOF HAS MORE SCULPTURE ON PUBLIC VIEW IN TEXAS THAN ANY OTHER ARTIST, AND IN IS IN PERMANENT COLLECTIONS IN CHICAGO.
THE MET THE SMITHSONIAN, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON, AND VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER MAJOR MUSEUM IN TEXAS.
IN 1985, CHARLES AND ANGIE MADE A MAJOR GIFT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT INCLUDED THEIR HOME, HIS STUDIO, THEIR PROPERTY, AND HUNDREDS OF SCULPTURES.
THE YELLOW SECTION AT THE CENTER OF THE MAP SHOWS WHERE THE MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDENS SIT.
TODAY, THE CITY OWNED LAND AND BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED BY THE UMOFF FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS THROUGH A COUNCIL SUPPORTED AGREEMENT.
HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL GIFT OF THE HISTORIC HOME AND STUDIO SEEN IN BROWN AT THE UPPER RIGHT IS NOT YET OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO INACCESSIBILITY CODE, COMPLIANCE AND NECESSARY RESTORATION.
THE HISTORIC SITE, AGAIN IN THE BROWN SECTION, SITS 50 FEET ABOVE THE GARDEN, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET FROM THE CURRENT GROUNDS TO THE HOMESTEAD.
THE GREEN SECTION AT LOWER LEFT SHOWS THE TWO ACRES OF GREEN SPACE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS NOT AT ALL ACCESSIBLE.
WE REFER TO OUR VISION PLAN AS A HISTORIC PRESERVATION, EXPANSION AND UNIFICATION OR HPEU PLAN.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS IN REFERENCE TO PRESERVING THE HISTORIC UMOFF HOME AND STUDIO SEEN HERE AND OPENING THE PROPERTY TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS YEAR, THE HOME AND STUDIO RECEIVED A NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DESIGNATION.
IT'S INCREDIBLY RARE TO HAVE AN ARTIST STUDIO, HOME AND MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THEIR WORK ON A SINGLE SITE ANYWHERE.
WE CONSIDER IT OUR CIVIC DUTY TO SHARE THE HOMESTEAD WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THE HOME EXHIBITS THE MINIMALIST AESTHETIC FROM A 1956 RENOVATION.
TYPICAL OF MID-CENTURY MODERN DESIGN, PRESERVATION, AND REUSE OF THE HOME WILL ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT PEOPLE BACK IN THESE ROOMS THAT PROTECT AND REVEAL THE STORIES OF CHARLES AND ANGIE'S LIFE AND AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
BUT WE ARE COMPETING WITH OURSELVES FOR PROGRAMMING, EXHIBITION AND RENTAL SPACE.
THE EXPANSION PIECE OF THE PLAN IS IN REFERENCE BOTH TO THE NEED FOR MORE PHYSICAL SPACE AND THE EXPANSION OF THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER TO THE PUBLIC.
IN ADDITION TO CHARLES UMOFF, WE EXHIBIT WORK FROM CONTEMPORARY AND EMERGING ARTISTS.
AS SEEN IN THIS SLIDE, NUMEROUS CITY OWNED UMOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN.
UH, UMOFF SCULPTURES ARE NOW IN STORAGE AND EXPANDED UMOFF MUSEUM WOULD ALLOW US TO SHARE THESE OBJECTS WHILE ALSO EXHIBITING OTHER ARTISTS.
WE'VE MENTIONED THE PRESERVATION AND EXPANSION PORTIONS OF THE PLAN.
THE OTHER MAJOR ENDEAVOR IS UNIFICATION.
THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES WHAT A FULLY UNIFIED AND EXPANDED UMOFF COULD LOOK LIKE.
THE HPU PLAN CONNECTS THE CURRENTLY INACCESSIBLE UNREACHABLE
[00:25:01]
AREAS FOR A SEAMLESS AND ACCESSIBLE SITE-WIDE USER EXPERIENCE.AND HERE TO PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN'S RECOMMENDATIONS IS AMANDA ALB ROCK FROM THE UMOFF, THE UMOFF AND PAIGE COMPLETED A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
FROM THAT PROCESS, THE PUBLIC IDENTIFIED SIX CATEGORIES OF PRIORITIES LISTED HERE THAT GUIDED THE STRATEGIES OUTLINED IN THE HPU PLAN.
IN ADDITION, THESE THREE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES SEEN ON THIS SLIDE DETERMINED THE SHAPE OF THE PLAN WITH THESE COMMUNITY AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN MIND.
THE PLAN DIVIDES THE UMLA SITE INTO FOUR ZONES, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE NATURAL ZONE IS COMPRISED OF TWO ACRES OF LAND ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE SITE.
THIS LAND IS CURRENTLY OVERGROWN AND NOT ACCESSIBLE.
THE PLAN RECOMMENDS OPENING THESE TWO ACRES TO PROVIDE NATURAL SPACE A TRAIL EDU AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS AREA WOULD BE FREE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS AND GIVE TWO ACRES OF PARKLAND BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS HOW THE NATURAL ZONE LOOKS.
NOW, UM, THE GARDEN AND MUSEUM ZONE IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THE PLAN RECOMMENDS IMPROVEMENTS TO ACCESSIBILITY, WATER MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS.
ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BORDERS OF THE SCULPTURE GARDEN WOULD ALLOW FOR VISUAL CONNECTIONS FROM THE ROADWAY AS WELL.
AND HERE'S WHAT THE SCULPTURE GARDEN LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
STEEP SLOPES SURROUND THE GARDEN.
RAINFALL IS INTERCEPTED BY THE EXTENSIVE TREE CANOPY, BUT THE SHEER VOLUME OF WATER FLOWING ONTO THE SITE ERODES SOILS, DAMAGES EXISTING WALKWAYS AND FLOODS.
THE RUNOFF WE RECEIVED MOSTLY SLOWS DOWN FROM BARTON BOULEVARD, WHICH IS THE ROAD THAT RUNS ALONG THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE IN PROPERTY.
YOU CAN SEE IN THIS VIDEO THAT IS STORMWATER RUNOFF COMING DOWN FROM BARTON BOULEVARD DOWN THE HILLSIDE.
AND, AND IN THESE PHOTOS YOU CAN SEE THE EXAMPLE OF THAT STORM WATER RUNOFF DAMAGE CAUSED FROM THE WATER FLOWING DOWN FROM BARTON BOULEVARD.
WATER THAT DOES NOT SEEP INTO THE GROUND HERE CONTINUES INTO BARTON CREEK.
SEVERAL STRATEGIES ARE RECOMMENDED TO ADDRESS STORM WATER, INCLUDING DETENTION PONDS, GREEN MULCH, RAIN GARDENS, AND ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR POND.
THE WELCOME ZONE IS THE AREA OF THE SITE WHERE VISITORS ENTER IMPROVEMENTS.
HERE INCLUDE ACCENTUATING THE ENTRANCE TO HIGHLIGHT THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE SITE, UPDATES AND RELOCATION OF THE CROSSWALK TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND SAFETY.
REDESIGNING THE PARKING LOT TO ENSURE A DA ACCESSIBILITY AND THE ADDITION OF A NEW BUILDING CALLED THE GATEWAY SEEN HERE IN THE FAR UPPER RIGHT.
AND AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY FROM THE WELCOME ZONE THROUGH THE EXISTING GARDEN, YOU'LL COME ACROSS AN ENTRYWAY NESTLED IN THE TREES, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO OUR FOURTH AND FINAL ZONE.
THIS NEW BUILDING NICKNAMED THE TREE HOUSE, WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF GETTING UP THE STEEP HILL TO THE HISTORIC HOMESTEAD AND IS KEY TO THE UNIFICATION PIECE OF THE PLAN.
AND NOW I WILL PASS IT OVER TO ARCHITECT LELAND ULMER FROM PAGE TO, UM, ADDRESS THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS OF THESE TWO BUILDINGS.
HELLO? UH, BEFORE WE SHOW THE CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS OF THE GATEWAY AND TREE TREEHOUSE, UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE DESIGN GUIDELINES IN THE HP EEU PLAN, UH, THAT LED TO THESE RESULTS.
UH, THE GUIDELINES IDENTIFY THE ARCHITECTURAL STRATEGIES BY WHICH THE DESIGN CAN MEASURABLY ACHIEVE THE DESIRED OUTCOMES.
FRAMING THE PROJECT WITH GUIDELINE PRINCIPLES PROMOTES FLEXIBILITY AND CREATIVITY WHILE ALIGNING FUTURE ACTION WITH PROJECT GOALS, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, AND THE INTENDED USER EXPERIENCE.
THIS GUARDS THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE SITE WITHOUT COMPROMISING INNOVATION, UH, AND EXPRESSED PRIORITY OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GUIDELINE PRIORITIES SHOULD BE HARMONIZE, SYNERGIZE, MATERIALITY, TOPOGRAPHY, VIEWS, TRANSPARENCY, INTERPRETIVE AND BIOPHILIA.
TO SATISFY ALL OF THE PROGRAM NEEDS WITHOUT OVERWHELMING ANY ONE PLACE IN THE GARDEN, WE SEPARATED
[00:30:01]
THE PROGRAM INTO TWO NEW STRUCTURES.UH, THE NEXT THREE SLIDES WILL SHOW CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS, UH, OF WHAT THE FIRST OF THOSE THE GATEWAY COULD LOOK LIKE.
CURRENTLY, THE MUSEUM AND ADMISSIONS AND THE GIFT SHOP ARE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ONLY ART GALLERY.
UH, IF YOU'VE EVER LIVED IN A 1950S RANCH HOME, UH, AS I SUSPECT MANY AUSTINITES MAY HAVE, UH, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS THE FRONT DOOR IN THE LIVING ROOM APPROACH.
UH, THE GATEWAY WOULD PROVIDE A FUNCTIONAL AND SAFE TICKET KIOSK AND WELCOME LOBBY ACCESSED BY THE GLASS DOORS TO THE RIGHT OF THE TICKET WINDOW.
UH, HERE VISITORS WOULD PURCHASE ADMISSION, HAVE CONVERSATION WITH STAFF, AND PERUSE THE GIFT SHOP.
RELOCATING THESE NEW AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS TO THE GATEWAY ALLOWS REUSE OF THE EXISTING PRIMARY EXHIBIT SPACE AS IT WAS INTENDED IN A SETTING APPROPRIATE FOR INTERPRETATION, REFLECTION, AND ENGAGEMENT.
THE SPACE FOR IMAGINATION FREE FROM DISTRACTION PERFORMS A CORE FUNCTION OF THE OLAF'S MISSION TO REACH AS DIVERSE A POPULATION AS POSSIBLE THROUGH ART.
UH, NEXT, UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GATEWAY ADDITION IS MADE OF TWO VOLUMES DEMONSTRATING THE ROLE OF MATERIALITY.
UH, ONE NEW MATERIAL AND ONE TO MATCH THE EXISTING STRUCTURES ACCOMPLISHES INTEGRATION AND PURPOSEFUL CONTRAST.
YOUR EYES DRAWN FIRST TO THE CENTRAL VOLUME WITH CLAIRE.
STORIES CLAD IN AN OXIDIZED METAL PANEL COLORED WITH NATURAL PATINA THAT RESEMBLES THE LEAF LITTER ON THE HILLSIDE AND THE SEASONAL FOLIAGE.
THESE CHOICES PROVIDE INTUITIVE WAY FINDING, UH, WHILE THE, UH, PARDON, UH, WHILE THE SECOND AND LOWER BUILDING EMPLOYS THE EXISTING LIMESTONE AND HOUSES ADDITIONAL STAFF OFFICES AND A MEETING ROOM, THESE COULD BE RENTED OUT, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT REVENUE GENERATOR PROMOTING THE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF THE MUSEUM FACING THE INTERIOR OF THE GARDEN.
THE GATEWAY EMPLOYS TRANSPARENCY TO CREATE INDOOR OUTDOOR.
ALRIGHT, WELL THAT IS TERRIFIC.
ARE YOU ABLE TO PROCEED? YES, I CAN.
UH, CAN WE PROCEED? DO WE HAVE EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING FROM AN AUDIO VISUAL.
UH, ACTUALLY I WOULD NEED A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT ON THE DESK, WHICH I CAN GET WITH A CELL PHONE.
OH,
IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH PROCEEDING LIKE THIS, THEN YEAH, BY ALL MEANS, I THINK I CAN.
UH, FACING THE INTERIOR OF THE GARDEN, THE GATEWAY EMPLOYS TRANSPARENCY.
AND ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM WITH THESE SLIDES.
UH, FACING THE INTERIOR OF THE GARDEN, THE GATEWAY EMPLOYS TRANSPARENCY TO CREATE INDOOR OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS. THESE WELCOME MORE CHILDREN AND CONNECT TO THE EXISTING COVERED PATIO, ENHANCING ITS FLEXIBILITY FOR NEW USES AND CURRICULA THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THE NEW STRUCTURES PROVIDE NEW ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS AND ROUTES WHICH ARE CURRENTLY MISSING BETWEEN THE PARKING AND THE GARDEN.
UH, NOTE THAT THE VOLUME CANTILEVERS.
OKAY, WE'LL NOTE ALSO IN, UH, THAT THE VOLUME CANTILEVERS OVER THE OLAF'S WATERFALL AND STREAM, UH, PROVIDING VIEWS TO THE ENGAGING SITES AND SOUNDS OF THE GARDEN.
UH, AND IT'S ALSO A NOD TO AN IMPORTANT PRECEDENT.
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S FALLING WATER.
UH, CURRENTLY THE UMLA HAS ONLY 411 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE AVAILABLE FOR INDOOR PROGRAMS. UH, THE GATEWAY WOULD ADD APPROXIMATELY 1500 SQUARE FEET IN THIS ONE BUILDING ALONE.
UH, AND THAT DEMAND DOES EXIST FOR THIS SPACE AND WOULD INCREASE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE MO.
UH, THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL SHOW THE CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS OF WHAT THE TREE HOUSE COULD BE.
UH, THIS IMAGE PORTRAYS HOW NEW CONSTRUCTION CAN BE INTRODUCED TO THE GARDEN IN A MANNER THAT IS HARMONIOUS AND MODEST.
THE DESIGN CHALLENGES FOR THE TREE HOUSE AT THIS LEVEL DO APPEAR DAUNTING.
UH, THEY INCLUDE ACCOMMODATING A NEW GALLERY AT GARDEN LEVEL, WHICH IS SHOWN HERE, MAKING A FULLY ACCESSIBLE 50 FOOT VERTICAL RISE, AS MENTIONED ACROSS STEEP GRADE, AND PROVIDING AN INDOOR RESPITE TO THE EXTERIOR EXHIBIT AND GARDEN BEING THE HALFWAY POINT
[00:35:01]
BETWEEN ENTRY AND THE UMLA HOME AND STUDIO.THIS PROVIDES A HUMANE ACCOMMODATION TO FUTURE PROOF THE OUTDOOR GARDEN EXPERIENCE IN ALL SEASONS.
THE NEXT LEVEL UP IS ACTUALLY SET WELL BACK FROM THE GARDEN FACADE AND BEHIND A CURTAIN OF TREES, WHICH HIDE IT AND PROVIDE SHADE PERMITTING THE USE OF FLOOR TO CEILING, BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS.
THIS LEVEL FOLLOWS THE TOPOGRAPHY SPREADING OUT IN TWO WINGS, NAVIGATING THE INTERSTITIAL SPACE BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE CANOPY.
FULLY FRAMED WITH MASS TIMBER, A SUSTAINABLE AND BIOPHILIC WOOD STRUCTURE WITH CANTILEVER POTENTIAL INVITES OCCUPIED ROOFS AND PORCHES UNDER DEEP CANOPIES, LIKE A FLOATING PLATFORM FOR EVENT SPACE.
AS AGAIN, A PRECEDENT OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO US.
THE THORN CROWN CHAPEL IN EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS BY FAYE JONES.
UH, THE BUILDING DISSOLVES INTO NATURE FROM ABOVE.
THE FULL CONTEXT OF THE TREE HOUSE COMES INTO VIEW.
UH, THE SMALL GLOWING VOLUME ON TOP MEETS JUST FLUSH WITH THE HILLTOP DRIVEWAY OF THE HOME STUDIO COMPOUND.
THE COMPACT RECTANGULAR VOLUME IS MODESTLY HORIZONTAL WITH A FLAT ROOF AND WOULD SIT QUIETLY IN THE TREES NOT TO DISTRACT FROM THE SCULPTURE GARDEN OR THE HISTORIC HOMESTEAD.
IT CONTAINS AN INTERPRETIVE HISTORICAL EXHIBIT OF THE, UM, L'S LIFE, ARCHIVAL DRAWINGS, WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN, AND SCULPTURES AND THE, UM, L'S LEGACY ON THE LAND AND IN THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS PLAN VIEW SHOWS HOW THE FOUR RECTANGLES FROM WHICH THIS BUILDING IS COMPOSED PINWHEEL ABOUT A CENTRAL ELEVATOR BURIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HILLSIDE.
THE GARDEN LEVEL IS ON THE LEFT.
THE EVENT AND OFFICE WINGS SPAN THE TOPOGRAPHY AND THE HISTORICAL EXHIBIT AND ARTS EDUCATION SPACES ON THE RIGHT.
AND IF YOU PERMIT THE PINWHEEL ANALOGY, IT IS ROTATED 180 DEGREES TO BRIDGE THE LAST GAP IN THE ACCESSIBLE ROUTE.
ALL IN ALL, 4,700 SQUARE FEET OF NEW FLEXIBLE PROGRAM EVENT AND EXHIBITION SPACE IS CREATED IN THE TREE HOUSE ALONG WITH OTHER FUNCTIONAL SPACES.
UH, LASTLY, THE PLAN DOES INCLUDE EXTENSIVE SUSTAINABILITY, UH, SECTION WITH SIX KEY SUSTAINABLE IMPORTANT CATEGORIES, UH, SHOWN HERE.
IMPACT CATEGORIES, PARDON, UH, PRESENTED IN A PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING.
UH, YOU CAN SEE HOW THESE SIX IMPACT CATEGORIES HERE SPANNING THE SITE, UH, WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A SITE THAT GIVES BACK MORE THAN IT TAKES AWAY.
THE HPEU PLAN IN CONCLUSION ALIGNS WITH THE GOALS AND THE NEEDS OF THE UMLA WHILE COMPLIMENTING THE EXISTING STRUCTURES IN SITE.
BY ECHOING THE DESIGN LANGUAGE AND PRINCIPLES OF THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE, THE NEW BUILDINGS WILL NOT ONLY HONOR THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE VISUAL COHERENCE OF THE SITE.
THE TREE HOUSE CREATES SYNERGY BY WEAVING TOGETHER THE PEOPLE AND PLACE PAST AND FUTURE INTO A CULTURAL AND NATURAL AMENITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO WE, WE WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ON THE PLAN.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE PROJECT WOULD OBVIOUSLY COME BACK TO THE DESIGN COMMISSION AT DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE PROJECT TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC INPUT ON ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND EVERYTHING ELSE FOR EACH PHASE.
UM, BUT ANY FEEDBACK NOW WOULD BE GREAT AS THEY MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL RELIES UPON THE DESIGN COMMISSION TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THE DESIGN OF CIVIC BUILDING AND SPACES, AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF ANY STATED SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN.
I THINK WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GET TO PUBLIC COMMENT, IF THAT'S OKAY.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY COMM UH, ANY COMMISSIONERS? I HAVE QUESTIONS.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS RELATED TO CONNECTIVITY.
UM, BEING VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE UMOFF UM, GARDEN.
I KNOW THAT PARKING FOR EVENTS IS FREQUENTLY TROUBLESOME, UM, THAT THERE'S PARKING SHARE WITH ACROSS, ACROSS AZ MORTON.
UM, AND THAT DOVETAILS INTO OVERALL LIKE CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY ACROSS THE SITE.
UM, THERE, YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN THE GARDEN,
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SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TREE HOUSE AND HOW TO GET UP TO, YOU KNOW, CHARLES AND ANGIE'S HOME.BUT WHAT IS THE LONG TERM PLAN FOR PARD TO IMPROVE PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BASE BUILDING OF THE UMLA, THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE CURRENT ENTRANCE TO THE GARDEN IS? WELL, THERE WAS A ZILKER VISION PLAN AT ONE POINT, UM, THAT WE COULDN'T GET SUPPORT IN ADOPTING, AND THAT WOULD'VE ADDRESSED PARKING AND ACCESS TO THE SITE.
SO I THINK OVER TIME WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND REVISIT THAT AND HOPEFULLY WITH, UH, COLLABORATION AT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO KIND OF ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.
SO WITH THIS PLAN, I DON'T THINK THEY CAN ADDRESS IT OUTSIDE OF THAT, BUT OVERALL, WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT THROUGH THIS L VISION PLAN.
YEAH, AND JUST TO ADD ON ONTO THAT, SO THE PLAN DOES INCLUDE A REDESIGN OF OUR CURRENT PARKING LOT, WHICH IS DEFINITELY NOT THE MOST EFFICIENT PARKING LOT.
UM, SO THAT WOULD ADD ADDITIONAL SPACES TO OUR CURRENT LOT, ALMOST DOUBLING ITS SIZE.
UM, IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME REARRANGING AT THE HOMESTEAD OF THE IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT IS UP THERE TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND ADD SOME, UM, A DA PARKING SPOTS, SPOTS FOR VENDORS TO ACCESS, UM, IF LOADING INTO THE, THE, UH, TREE HOUSE, THE NEW BUILDING.
UM, WE ALSO ENCOURAGE RIDESHARE AT THE UMOFF.
WE HAVE, UM, A DOCUMENT THAT IS ON OUR HPEU, UM, PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT SHOWS THE NUMBER OF SPACES WE HAVE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALKING DISTANCE OF THE UMOFF.
UM, YEAH, ANYTHING TO ADD? THANK YOU.
I REALLY, I JUST, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITHIN.
I MEAN, IF YOU ARE VISION PLANNING THE PROJECT, UM, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THE PROJECT FACES IS PARKING AND ACCESS.
AND SO I REALLY THINK AS PART OF THIS, THERE SHOULD BE, UM, SOME, SOME PIECE OF THE VISION PLAN THAT SPEAKS TO CONNECTIVITY, UM, AND PARKING ISSUES THAT, THAT THE, THE GARDEN FACES CURRENTLY AND NOT RELY ON THE ZILKER VISION PLAN TO FULFILL THOSE NEEDS FOR THE PROJECT.
CAN I ADD COMMENT JUST AT THE END THERE? I WOULD SAY, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS POSSIBLE ON OUR SITE, WE'VE, UH, TAKEN EVERY, UH, OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO INCREASE AND IMPROVE THAT AREA OF PARKING ADJACENT TO THE NATURAL AREA.
AND IT'S IN THE SUSTAINABILITY SECTION AS WELL, THAT THAT AREA IS CONCEIVED AS BEING, UH, SHADED PARKING WITH POSSIBILITY OF SOLAR PANELS ON TOP OF IT.
UH, THERE'S A, A DECENT AMOUNT OF SPACE, UH, THAT IS ON THAT.
SO, UH, SOUTHWEST AREA, UM, WHERE WE'VE EXPANDED THE PARKING I'D SAY, AS WELL AS THE ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATIONS WITH THE FIRE LANE UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILLTOP.
UM, WITHIN THE BOUNDARY THAT'S THERE, WE'VE DONE AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THE NEAR TERM.
AND THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSION OF THE PLANNING, UH, WE DID, UH, INCORPORATE ANTICIPATION OF BETTER CONNECTIVITY WITH BUSES AND WITH PARKING ACROSS THE STREET IN, UH, THE ZILKER PARK.
UM, SO IT'S, I WOULD SAY, UH, IN INCORPORATION READY WITH, UH, ANTICIPATED, UH, NEW TRANSPORTATION.
AND WE ALSO, WITH THE ADDITION OF THE TREE HOUSE, WHICH WOULD BE OUR INDOOR EVENT SPACE, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE UMOFF, YOU KNOW, WE ARE A COMPLETELY OUTDOOR VENUE FOR WEDDINGS AND EVENTS.
UM, THERE IS AN IDEA TO HAVE VENDORS, VENDOR PARKING AT THE BACK OF THE GARDEN FOR UNLOADING THAT WOULD SEPARATE THE NEED FOR OUR FRONT ENTRANCE TO BE A VENDOR LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONE, WHICH IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT WE FACE AND WHY OUR PARKING LOT GETS SO CONGESTED.
AND IT'S CONFUSING BECAUSE THE VENDORS ARE ACTUALLY TAKING UP A LOT OF THE PARKING SPOTS WHEN THEY COME TO SET UP FOR EVENTS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT WILL HELP RELIEVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER HOWARD, UM, I THINK RELATED TO THIS, THIS QUESTION, UM, I I HAVE A QUESTION.
HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO ANY OF THE OTHER CULTURAL AMENITIES AND ASSETS, KIND OF ALL THE, UM, SOUTH SHORE CULTURAL DISTRICT OR PROPOSED SOUTH SHORE CULTURAL DISTRICT REGARDING, UM, WE, WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
ARE YOU THINKING REGARDING PARKING OR ACCESSIBILITY IN GENERAL? I MEAN, UM, WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT, HOPEFULLY THERE'D BE SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST A, A CONSOLATION OF AMENITIES, BUT THERE'D BE SOME WAY THAT THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER AND ACCESS, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ALL HAVE A NEED FOR ACCESS.
WE ARE, AND WE'RE ACTIVELY MEETING WITH THEM, AND THAT IS
[00:45:01]
DEFINITELY HIGH ON OUR LIST OF WHAT WE CAN DO SO EVERYONE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THESE SPACE SITES.AND JUST TO ADD, I KEEP THINKING OF ADDITIONAL PARKING THINGS THAT WE HAVE CONSIDERED.
UM, WE HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO HAVE OFFSITE PARKING GARAGE THAT WE WOULD OPERATE A SHUTTLE FROM.
UM, I KNOW A LOT OF OUR GUESTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ZILKER SHUTTLE THAT RUNS FREE FROM ONE TEXAS CENTER, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK TO THE UMLA FROM THAT SHUTTLE AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER GALLES, THANK YOU.
UM, THIS ISN'T RELATED TO THE PARKING, IT'S MORE OF A, UM, OBSERVATION RATHER THAN A QUESTION.
AND, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I, I THINK THE, UH, APPROACH AND THE VISION IS IMPRESSIVE.
UM, MY FIRST OBSERVATION IS, UM, THE SCALE OF THE NEW PROPOSALS RELATIVE TO THE EXISTING BUILDING.
UM, CERTAINLY FROM THAT ARRIVAL BUILDING, UH, THERE'S A SENSE OF DOMINANCE OF THE, THE NEW PROPOSAL OVER THE EXISTING.
AND ON ONE HAND, UM, I, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE WE'RE AT THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF DESIGN AND, UM, THIS IS ALL GONNA BE DEVELOPED.
BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A STATEMENT THERE OF, UH, LOOKING FORWARD AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AND GROWING AND, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING THE CAPABILITIES OF THE, OF THE ORGANIZATION.
AND, AND I'M, I'M, I FEEL VERY IMPRESSED BY THAT.
UM, THE, UH, TREEHOUSE SCALE IS EQUALLY VERY IMPRESSIVE.
UH, I THINK AT, AT SOME POINT, UH, 50 FEET WAS MENTIONED, IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER, UH, BUILDING THAN, THAN WHAT IS THERE ALREADY.
AND I'M HAPPY YOU MENTIONED THE BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS.
UM, CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF GLASS AND A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND SO THERE'S THE PROMISE OF HOUSING, UM, ANOTHER CALIBER OF ARTWORK WITHIN THE SPACE, WHICH I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE.
UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, AND, AND THE COMMENT AND THE OBSERVATION IS I HOPE THERE'S CONSIDERATION FOR LARGE SCALE SCULPTURE WITHIN THE PROPOSAL, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR STRUCTURE, YOUR, UM, CRANE, YOUR, UH, ACCESS OF, UM, ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF SCULPTURE THAT MIGHT, UH, OCCUPY THESE NEW SPACES.
FLEXIBILITY OF, UM, WALL PARTITIONS, MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL WALLS THAT WILL ALLOW MUCH LARGER SCALE INSTALLATIONS TO HAPPEN HERE.
UM, LOOKING FORWARD AS THIS PROJECT IS PROPOSING AND PROMISING, YOU KNOW, TO THE NEXT 25, 50 YEARS WHEN WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NON-TRADITIONAL FORMS OF SCULPTURE ART IN INSTALLATION, UM, AND SO THAT'S JUST SORT OF POSITING MY, UM, HOPES FOR WHAT YOU'VE PRESENTED HERE.
AND, UH, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE BEAUTIFUL.
AND SOMETHING AS CURATOR, I THINK ABOUT ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, BIG BEING ABLE TO OPEN UP, WE'RE JUST NOT AT THAT POINT OF THE DESIGN YET.
OPEN UP SO THAT WE COULD GET LARGE SCALE OBJECTS IN BOTH INSIDE AND OUT IN ADDITION TO, UM, OFF'S WORK AS WE EXPLAINED LOTS OF NEW ARTISTS AND LOTS OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND NOT JUST TRADITIONAL SCULPTURE, BECAUSE WE THINK THESE SPACES WOULD REALLY ACCOMMODATE THAT.
COMMISSIONER WIT STRUCK, THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, THIS IS A ROBUST VISION PLAN, UH, AND QUITE AN EXCITING ONE.
UH, APPRECIATE THE, THE CARE THAT'S GONE INTO, UH, THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS LAYOUTS, AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT IN HERE THAT IS GOING TO SERVE AS VERY GOOD, UM, GUIDE TO THE, TOWARD THE, THE FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION.
UM, SO LOOK, I'M CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT WAYS TO BRIDGE THESE KINDS OF PLANNING EXERCISES WITH THE, THE CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION THAT FOLLOWS.
UM, YEAH, I, UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IN NOT ADDING MY CONCERN, UH, TO COMMISSIONER MCKINNEY'S COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, CIRCULATION PARKING AND ACCESS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I WISH WE WERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH A VISION PLAN FOR, UM, THE ZILKER PARK.
UM, BUT THAT PLAN DID CALL FOR A PARKING GARAGE CLOSE TO THIS LOCATION THAT WOULD'VE SOLVED SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
UH, I'M QUITE SYMPATHETIC TO THE LIMITATIONS YOU HAVE ON SITE.
UM, MY RECOMMENDATION THEN WOULD BE, UM, PERHAPS THE TO FOR THE TEAM TO LOOK AT, UM, UH, ENLARGING, ENLARGING THE, UH, UH, THE PRESENCE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IN THE DOCUMENT.
UM, I, I, UH, COMMEND THAT THAT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS IN THERE.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I, I WOULD RECOMMEND ADDING TO IT IF, IF THE TEAM WOULD CONSIDER IT.
UM, AND ONE OF 'EM WOULD BE, AND WHAT IS THE, WHAT ARE THE OFFSITE CONNECTIONS, UM, AND CIRCULATION, NOT JUST
[00:50:01]
PARKING, BUT ALSO WHAT IS THE, UH, PHYSICAL PEDESTRIAN PATH AND CONNECTIONS TO MARTIN SPRINGS TO THE REST OF ZILKER PARK.THIS IS, UH, WE HAVE SO MANY RICH AMENITIES IN THIS PART OF TOWN, AND THEY DON'T CONNECT TO EACH OTHER VERY WELL.
UM, SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT EVEN IF IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE PROJECT'S, POWER TO CONTROL MIGHT AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN MIGHT HELP GUIDE FUTURE EFFORTS, UH, IN THAT DIRECTION.
UH, SIMILARLY, UH, WANTED TO OFFER, UM, BUT THAT, UM, IMPLEMENTATION PLAN MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING SOURCES, UM, POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS, UH, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT MIGHT HELP GUIDE FUTURE PRACTITIONERS AND, UM, OBSERVERS OF THE PLAN TOWARD THE IMPLEMENTATION FUNDING.
I DON'T, I DIDN'T SEE A, A OPINION OF PROBABLE COST FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN HERE.
THEY ARE, THEY, THEY'RE SUBSTANTIAL.
THE COST OF THE, THE PRICE TAG OF THIS IS GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIAL.
UH, I WILL ARGUE THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH THAT COST.
UM, AND I COMMEND THE TEAM FOR, FOR AIMING HIGH.
UM, BUT I, I THINK IT WOULD HELP GROUND THE PLAN TO, TO HAVE THAT, AND FORGIVE ME IF I JUST SIMPLY OVERLOOKED IT.
UH, AND MY FINAL COMMENT, UM, REGARDING SITES, UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST PAR VISION PLANS THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER ENTIRELY SINCE PARS, UM, DECISION TO CERTIFY ALL PROJECTS.
IT IS NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES FOR AN INFILL SITE OF THIS SIZE.
UM, WRITING DOWN IN THE PLAN THAT WE'RE GONNA GO FOR GOLD IS GREAT UNTIL WE MISS.
UM, SO, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE, THE TEAM IS ABLE TO LOOK AT PREREQUISITES POSSIBLE PITFALLS, UH, BUILD IN SOME ELASTICITY WHILE STILL BEING ASPIRATIONAL, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE, THE VERY REAL CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH SITES, UM, SOME OF WHICH, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE INTEGRATED TEAMING AND, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ASPECTS OF SITES CAN BE FULFILLED BY THIS VISION PLAN.
SO GOING AHEAD AND, AND DOCUMENTING THOSE, WE'LL, WE'LL PUT THAT PROCESS ON THE BEST FOOTING TO SUCCESS.
UH, JUST A COUPLE BROAD COMMENTS.
I KNOW WE'RE VERY FAR ALONG IN THE CREATION OF THIS PLAN.
I DON'T MEAN TO TIP THE BOAT THERE, BUT I HOPE THESE ARE HELPFUL.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE IT, UM, ON ITS WAY TO ESTABLISHMENT AND TO CONSTRUCTION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THE SITE IS CURRENTLY SECURED AND IF THERE WILL BE ANY ALTERATION TO THAT SECURITY.
SO THE UMOFF IS, UM, A GATED GROUNDS.
OUR GROUNDS ARE GATED, UM, WITHOUT GIVING TOO MUCH OF OUR SECURITY LEGS.
I FEEL A LITTLE BIT, DON'T WANNA, YOU KNOW, GIVE OUR SECRETS AWAY, BUT RIGHT.
BUT YEAH, WE ARE GATED, WE ARE LOCKED.
UM, WE DO HAVE SECURITY ON SITE THAT DO PATROL THE AREA AS WELL AS THE HISTORIC HOMESTEAD UP THE HILL.
UM, THE PLAN DOES RECOMMEND SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EDGING OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, THERE WOULD BE ALTERNATING, UM, LIKE STONE THAT WE COULD PUT SIGNAGE ON WITH OUR, THE FENCING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
UM, UM, DOES THAT KIND OF ANSWER YOU? YEAH, YEAH.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE'D BE ANY CHANGES TO, LIKE A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE, ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, LIKE ON THE PERIMETER? NO.
THE PERIMETER WOULD HAVE CHANGES TO THE, THE, WHAT IT MAKES UP THE PERIMETER, THE, THE, THE, UM, FENCE AND STONE WOULD BE ADDED.
SO IS, IS THAT OUTLINED THE AESTHETIC ELEMENT OF THAT? IS THAT OUTLINED IN THIS PLAN? IT IS.
I DON'T HAVE THE PLAN IN FRONT OF ME.
SO I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE PAGE NUMBER, BUT MAYBE JENNY COULD LOOK IT UP OR, UM, THERE IS A DIAGRAM THAT SHOWS, AND ACTUALLY I WANNA SAY IF IT SHOWS IT ON THE GATEWAY, THE WELCOME.
SO ACTUALLY ON THE GARDEN AND MUSEUM SLIDE THAT I SHOWED, UM, YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, LOW, LOW STONE WALL AND FENCE IS, THERE'S THE DRAWING OF THAT ON THERE.
AND THEN I THINK WE DO HAVE ANOTHER PAGE.
THERE'S AN EDGE STUDY ON PAGE 79 OF THE PLAN THAT, UM, THAT GOES INTO JUST HIGH LEVEL DETAIL OF WHAT THE EDGE TREATMENT, UM, IS PROPOSED TO BE.
AND THIS WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AS WELL, SENSITIVE TO THE VIEWS INTO THE GARDEN, AS WELL AS THE KIND OF, UH, AREAS FOR BACKDROP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE GARDEN, BOTH THE STREET TO BLOCK NOISE, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE, UH, IMPORTANT BACKSTOPS TO IMPORTANT VIEWS ACROSS THE PONDS AND FOR SCULPTURAL AREAS.
UM, BUT IT WAS DEVELOPED TO BE, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, BOTH
[00:55:01]
PROTECTIVE BUT ALSO INVITING.UH, AND SO IT'S A, AS, UH, AMANDA MENTIONED THE RHYTHM OF STONE, UH, SOLID WALLS, AND THEN INFILL WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, ORNAMENTAL, UM, METAL RAIL, UH, FENCE PATTERN.
NO, AND JUST TO ADD THE, THE NATURAL ZONE WOULD ALSO BE WITHIN OUR FENCED IN AREA.
UM, IT WOULD BE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO COME IN THROUGH THE UMOFF GATES SO IT WOULD NOT JUST BE OPEN AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.
AND SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S ONLY ONE GATE, ONE ENTRANCE AND THAT'S YEAH, THE PLANT.
WE HAVE AN ENTRANCE GATE AND AN EXIT GATE.
AND THAT WOULD REMAIN THE SAME.
UH, AND THEN, UH, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD TOO IS JUST WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, EXISTING TRANSIT, IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THAT OBVIOUSLY, BUT, UM, AS FAR AS, UH, THE DISTANCE, UH, OF TRAVELING FROM EITHER, UM, PUBLIC TRANSIT OR THE ZIL GROVE SHUTTLE, WHAT, WHAT IS THE CHANGE THERE? HOW, HOW DRAMATIC IS THAT FROM THE ENTRANCE TO THE TRANSIT? THE CHANGE THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE.
SO THE ENTRANCE IS REMAINING IN THE SAME LOCATION.
UM, I THINK THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT I HAD.
ANY OTHER FINAL QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO PUBLIC COMMENT? THE, THE CLOSEST BUS STOP IS ON BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN AWKWARD CORNER, WHICH THE CITY IS WORKING ON.
AND WE NEED NEW, THE NEW SIDEWALKS.
WE NEED THE CITY TO KICK IN TO MAKE IT SAFER TO GET FROM THE CLOSEST BUS, BUS STOP.
'CAUSE THAT INTERSECTION IS DANGEROUS RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'RE VERY AWARE OF THAT AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT.
I THINK WE'RE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS AS FAR AS A TIME LIMIT? SOPHIA? 15 MINUTES.
UH, RICHARD, OH, IF YOU COULD TURN YOUR MICROPHONE ON.
IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO BE THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE UMOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN MUSEUM, WHICH HAS BEEN A TREASURED OPEN OASIS SINCE I MOVED TO AUSTIN OVER 30 YEARS AGO.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT, UH, 15 YEARS AGO WOULD MIDWAY THROUGH MY AUSTIN JOURNEY, I WAS CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN DESIGN COMMISSION WHEN THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES WERE ADOPTED.
UH, WHEN I JOINED THE UMOFF BOARD IN 2018, A MAJOR ITEM THAT WE WERE LACKING TO SATISFY OUR CHARTER WAS A CLEAR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF UMOFF.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE WORKED WITH PAIGE AND THEIR INCREDIBLE, UH, CONSULTANTS TO CREATE A PLAN THAT WILL ALLOW UMOFF TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH MORE EXHIBITION SPACE, EVENT SPACE, PRE PRESERVE CHARLES LAU'S HOUSE AND STUDIO, MAKE SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GARDEN, AND UNIFY THE EIGHT ACRE CAMPUS SO THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
I COULDN'T BE MORE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THEM REALIZED REGARDING, UM, UMA'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN CORE.
THIS PROPERTY PROVIDES A BALANCE TO THE DENSE URBAN ENVIRONMENT THAT AUSTIN HAS BECOME SINCE THE DESIGN GUIDELINES WERE FIRST APPROVED IN 2009, EMBODYING A MAJORITY OF THE PRINCIPLES OUTLINED IN THE SHARED VISION SECTION.
THESE PRINCIPLES, WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IN THE HPEU, INCLUDES CIVIC ART, A CONNECTION TO THE OUTDOORS, SUSTAINABILITY, HUMANE CHARACTER, AUTHENTICITY, DIVERSITY, A SENSE OF TIME IN AUSTIN, AND THE SAFETY TO EXPERIENCE ART IN NATURE.
IN ONE OF AUSTIN'S MOST TRANQUIL SETTING SETTINGS AS AN URBAN OASIS, UMLA PROVIDES A RESPITE FROM THE DENSITY THAT HAS DEVELOPED SINCE THE GUIDELINES WERE IMPLEMENTED, BALANCING THE MULTITUDE OF NEEDS THAT CREATE A VIBRANT CORE.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING, UH, AUSTIN, AND I HOPE, UH, THE COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE A MOTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE HPAU PLAN SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE UMASS FUTURE.
I DIDN'T WRITE THIS PART DOWN, BUT I WAS ALSO, UH, VERY, UM, UH, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT THE, UH, PARKING, YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN, UH, TRANSIT HAS BEEN A PROMISE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN REALIZED.
UH, SO I ACTUALLY, UH, THIS SUMMER DID ALL OF THE WALKS, UH, FROM EVERY ANGLE TO FIND OVER 1200 SPACES THAT WERE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF UMLA AND ALSO IDENTIFIED NINE, UH, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKING GARAGES THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS FOR LARGER EVENTS, SHUTTLES AND, AND SO FORTH.
SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE FULLY REPRESENTED IN THE PLANS, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY, UH, UH, ON OUR, UH, AGENDA TO, UH, IMPLEMENT ALONG WITH THESE OTHER CHANGES.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION CHAIR? I WOULD MOVE TO THE DESIGN COMMISSION SUPPORT THIS PLAN.
[01:00:02]
OKAY.WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER UCK.
WAS THAT YOU? I SAW YOUR HAND GO UP.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION CHAIR IF I MAY? UH, REALLY QUICK.
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU REALLY QUICKLY, UM, IF THAT'S OKAY.
COMMISSIONER WHIT STRUCK, UH, PER DISCUSSION, I, I WANTED TO PUT TO TOGETHER, TO THIS, UH, COMMISSION WHETHER WE WANTED TO, IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THIS PLAN, ALSO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN CONTINUE TO EXPLORE CONNECTIVITY AND MOBILITY OPTIONS TO HELP STRENGTHEN THIS PLAN AND OTHERS.
SO ARE YOU MAKING AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION? I DON'T THINK I'M ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
CAN YOU DO THAT SOPHIA, IF YOU, OR DO WE NEED A NEW MOTION? UM, WELL, THERE CAN BE A MOTION IN SUPPORT AND A LOT OF, ADDENDUM IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD, BUT A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
SO IT, IT SOUNDS JUST, SINCE IT'S BOTH COMING FROM COMMISSIONER UCK, I'M ASSUMING THERE'S SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN, BUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOME DETAILS OF CONSIDERATIONS.
BUT YOU CAN, YOU CAN ALSO DO IT TWO WAYS.
YOU CAN AMEND THE MOTION OR YOU CAN JUST ABANDON THE EMOTION AND START OVER.
COMMISSIONER WIRICK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, WITHDRAW YOUR INITIAL MOTION AND CREATE A NEW MOTION WITH THAT AMENDMENT? OR WOULD YOU PREFER I WOULD WELCOME A FRIENDLY AMO AMENDMENT TO BOTH SUPPORT THIS PLAN, UH, AND RECOMMEND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, HELP SUPPORT THIS PLAN BY IDENTIFYING MOBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT IT.
COMMISSIONER LEE, DO YOU SUPPORT THAT? I SECOND IT.
UM, ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? NO.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION, UM, THAT THE UMLA SCULPTURE GARDEN MEETS THE DESIGN AND THE CITY DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS.
UM, WITH THE CONSIDERATION THAT MOBILITY AND PARKING AND CIRCULATION BE CONSIDERED, DID THAT CAPTURE IT APPROPRIATELY? THAT'S THE POINT OF ORDER.
MY, MY MOTION IS NOT, UH, THAT IT SUPPORT THAT IT MEETS THE SU DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS.
MY MOTION IS THAT DESIGN COMMISSION SUPPORTS THE VISION PLAN AS PRESENTED.
UM, JUST TO WEIGH IN BECAUSE IT'S POSTED THE WAY THAT IT'S POSTED, THE, THE RECOMMENDATION HAS TO RESPOND TO THE POSTING, LIKE WHAT VICE CHAIR MINORS WAS, HOW HE WAS PHRASING IT.
I WITHDRAW MY POINT OF ORDER THEN.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE WITH NO ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION.
SO WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM
[4. Discussion and possible to recommend to City Council whether the project located at 400 W 14th Street complies with the Urban Design Guidelines for the City of Austin in accordance with Land Development Code § 25-2-586 (C)(1)(a)(ii). Presented by Drew Rafael, Drenner Group PC]
FOUR, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL WHETHER THE PROJECT LOCATED AT 400 WEST 14TH STREET COMPLIES THAT THE URBAN DESIRED GUIDELINES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.IT'LL BE PRESENTED BY DREW RAPHAEL, UH, FROM JENNER GROUP VICE CHAIR.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I'M RECUSING FROM THIS ITEM.
I'M LEAH BOJO WITH RENER GROUP.
DREW IS HERE WITH US AS WELL,
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT AT 14TH AND THE, UH, IN GUADALUPE, EXCUSE ME.
UM, AND HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE.
UM, DO YOU MIND PULLING UP MY PRESENTATION PLEASE?
[01:05:03]
THANK YOU.WE HAVE A MODEL, ACTUALLY, IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.
UM, SO JUST TO, TO SITUATE EVERYONE, UM, WE ARE IN THE DMU SECTION OF DOWNTOWN.
UM, SO THIS SITE IS ZONED DMU AND IS SURROUNDED BY, UM, CBD GO, DMUH AND OTHER DMU ZONING DISTRICTS.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS INTENDED TO BE A MIXED USE SECTION OF DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND THIS IS THE FORMER CLEAT BUILDING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, AND I'LL BE JUST AS ALWAYS QUICKLY WALKING YOU THROUGH COMPLIANCE WITH GREAT STREETS, OUR COMPLIANCE WITH THE, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING RATING, UM, THE GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENTS THERE, AND THEN ALSO SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES AND A REVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
UM, SO HERE WE ARE IN THE UPTOWN CAPITAL SUBDISTRICT.
UM, SO THIS SECTION OF DOWNTOWN, UM, IS ALLOWED TO HAVE A 15 TO ONE FAR ADMINISTRATIVELY AND HAS A 400 FOOT CAP TO HEIGHT.
AND THEN THIS SITE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THAT IT'S HALF IN AND HALF OUT OF THE DENSITY BONUS AREA.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT, UM, THE SECTIONS ALONG GUADALUPE, THE TWO, IT'S A FOUR LOT SORT OF HALF BLOCK.
THE TWO LOTS, UM, TO THE EAST ARE ALONG GUADALUPE ARE IN THE DENSITY BONUS.
AND THEN THE TWO LOT, THE TWO, THE SIDE ON THE WEST, THE TWO LOTS ARE NOT IN THE DENSITY BONUS, UM, AREA.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT BREAKS DOWN AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR PROJECT.
BUT, UM, WITH DMU, UM, YOU START WITH A FIVE TO ONE FA ONE F FIVE TO ONE FAR DIFFERENT THAN CBD ZONING.
UM, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE DENSITY BONUS, UM, APPLIES AFTER THAT.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE, YOU CAN SEE HERE AGAIN, KIND OF HOW THE LOT IS LAID OUT.
AND THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE, UM, THE OVERALL FAR ON THE SITE ACROSS ALL FOUR LOTS IS 10, ABOUT 10 TO ONE, JUST UNDER, UM, THE LOT ON THE FURTHEST WEST SIDE HAS A HISTORIC STRUCTURE ON IT, WHICH WE WILL OF COURSE NOT BE TOUCHING.
UM, AND THEN THE REST OF THE BUILDING IS SORT OF SPREAD OVER THE OTHER THREE LOTS.
SO THE TWO LOTS THAT ARE NOT INSIDE THE DENSITY BONUS DO COMPLY WITH THE BASE ZONING DISTRICT.
AND THEN THE TWO LOTS ON THE, UM, EASTERN SIDE IS WHERE OUR DENSITY IS AND WHERE OUR COMPLIANCE COMES IN.
SO HERE ALSO JUST SORT OF, AGAIN, TO SITUATE YOU, IT'S IMPORTANT I THINK TO KNOW THIS IS A PRETTY EXCITING LOCATION, UM, BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE UNIVERSITY AND BETWEEN THE CAPITAL AND THEN SORT OF THE LOWER DENSITY, UM, PART OF TOWN.
UM, WHICH ALSO, UM, I'LL LET JONATHAN DESCRIBE HOW IT, UM, AFFECTS OUR DESIGN BECAUSE THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, JONATHAN SCHWARTZ WITH PAIGE.
SO AS LEO WAS MENTIONING, UM, WE WE'RE AT A REALLY UNIQUE SITE, UH, THAT'S BETWEEN A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, DOWNTOWN, UH, UT THE CAPITAL COMPLEX, AND THEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF WEST AUSTIN.
UM, AND WE REALLY TRIED TO PULL FROM THOSE, UM, EACH OF THOSE AREAS AND, UH, TO CREATE AN ARCHITECTURAL EXPRESSION THAT WAS UNIQUE TO THIS SITE AND, UH, AUTHENTIC TO THIS SITE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND LOOKING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THAT THERE IS THIS, UH, REPETITION OF THE IDEA OF THE ARCH, AND THAT PROBABLY COMES FROM THE CAPITOL ITSELF, YOU KNOW, IN LATE 18 HUNDREDS.
BUT YOU HAVE THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE, THE LAST A HUNDRED YEARS, UM, EVERYTHING FROM THE CAMBRIDGE TOWERS, UH, NOT SHOWN HERE, BUT, UM, IN THE, IN THE SIXTIES, UM, THE, UH, ST.
MARTIN'S CHURCH RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, ALSO IN THE SIXTIES, UM, YOU HAVE THE MOODY BANK AND THE TOWERS ALONG 15TH STREET, UM, A CC CAMPUS, UH, RIO GRANDE, AND THEN AGAIN TODAY WITH, UH, AT THE BLANTON, WITH THE SCULPTURAL TREES AND THE ELLSWORTH KELLY INSTALLATION.
UM, WE FOUND THIS, UH, THIS MOTIF OF THE ARCH, UH, QUITE COMPELLING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S BEEN DONE IN DIFFERENT WAYS OVER THE YEARS.
UM, AND SO IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, WE USE THAT AS A WAY OF INTRODUCING, UH, THAT'S FINE.
WE USE THAT AS A ELEMENT ALONG THE GROUND, THE GROUND PLANE, WHERE WE WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED OUR EFFORTS ON CREATING A POSITIVE PEDESTRIAN, UH, EXPERIENCE.
UM, IF YOU, YOU CAN GO TO ONE MORE SLIDE, PLEASE.
UH, FROM HERE YOU CAN SEE THE PODIUM IS ACTUALLY, UH, CONSTRUCTED OF A MASONRY, UH, DRAWING OFF THE HISTORIC, THE MATERIAL OF THE HISTORIC HOUSE NEXT DOOR THAT WE'LL BE MAINTAINING.
UM, IT HAS A, A LIME WASHED MORTAR STRUCK,
[01:10:01]
UH, LIMESTONE ON THAT BUILDING.AND WE'LL BE DOING A MASONRY THAT HAS A, A HAND, UH, HAND TROW, UH, LIME WASHED APPEARANCE, UM, ON THIS.
AND THEN THE WHOLE THING, WHILE, WHILE IT IS, IS BIG IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE DID OUR BEST TO ALLOW IT TO, TO TOUCH THE GROUND LIGHTLY, UM, THROUGH THE IDEA OF THESE VAULTS, RIGHT? BUT DOING IT IN KIND OF A NEWER WAY, UH, THAT'S MORE PLAYFUL, UH, FEELS A LITTLE BIT MORE RESIDENTIAL, BUT ALSO INVITING TO PEDESTRIANS, UH, UH, AS NOT JUST AN ARCHWAY AND A FLAT MOTIF ON A BUILDING, BUT AS A HABITABLE THREE DIMENSIONAL SPACE THAT, UH, HAS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTRY FOR PATIOS, FOR RESTAURANTS, UM, FOR RETAIL, ET CETERA.
UM, AND THEN IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE CAN SEE THAT A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, UH, HERE ON THE GROUND PLANE.
UM, SOME OF THE SPACES THAT ARE CREATED, AS YOU SAW, PROBABLY THE MODEL PASSED AROUND, UM, THERE'S SOME, UH, REALLY UNIQUE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME ABOUT FROM THIS AND INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, CUTTING ONE OF THESE ARCHES AT THE CORNER TO REALLY OPEN UP THAT INTERSECTION AT GUADALUPE AND 14TH STREET, UH, AS A, AS A WELCOME TO THAT, UH, TO THE BUILDING.
AND THAT, THAT CORNER WILL BE OCCUPIED BY, UH, A RETAILER AND, AND WON'T BE ANYTHING PRIVATE, BASICALLY.
SO THAT, THAT BIG OPEN ARMS AT THE CORNER IS, IS THE FIRST SORT OF PUBLIC GESTURE TO THE CITY.
UM, AND I THINK WITH THAT, I THINK CAMERON WILL WALK US AROUND THE GROUND PLANE AND TALK ABOUT, UM, OUR STREET SCAPE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
CAMERON CAMPBELL, PROJECT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
UH, OKAY, SO JUST TO ORIENT YOU ON THE SITE, IT'S A HALF BLOCK.
UM, WE HAVE GUADALUPE TO THE EAST, 14TH TO THE SOUTH, AND SAN ANTONIO TO THE WEST, UH, STREET TREES RUNNING ALONG OUR PRIMARY STREET 14TH WILL BE CEDAR ELMS. THEY ALSO ALIGN WITH THE STREET TREES IN A MATCHING, UM, THE SOUTH BY, UM, HEADQUARTERS, UM, LIVE OAKS ON GUADALUPE.
AND THERE'S ESSENTIALLY RED OAKS, ACTUALLY.
UM, THE SURVEY WAS INCORRECT, BUT RED OAKS, EXISTING RED OAKS ALONG, UH, SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO, UH, THE PLAN CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF AN EIGHT FOOT WIDE PLANTED, UH, STREET FURNITURE ZONE, INCLUDING THE STREETLIGHTS, THE BENCHES, THE BIKE RACKS, UM, THEN A 10 TO 12 FOOT WIDE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY, UM, 10 FOOT MINIMUM, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY EXCEEDING THAT ON 14TH STREET AND SOME OF THE OTHER STREETS, UM, FOLLOWED BY THE COLON AID WITH THE ARCHWAYS.
UM, AND THERE'S A BIT OF SLOPE FROM EAST TO WEST ALONG 14TH.
SO THE, THE, THE STREET SCAPE IS SLOPING DOWN TOWARDS SAN ANTONIO, AND SO THE BUILDING IS STEPPING WITH THE GRADE, AND I'LL SHOW THAT IN A SLIDE IN A SECOND.
UM, SO WE HAVE A NICE SHADED ARCHWAY COLONNADE.
UM, WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY TWO RETAIL SPACES.
WE HAVE A LOBBY SPACE, AND WE HAVE AN OFFICE SPACE.
AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS SITE AND THIS PLAN IS WE HAVE A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY ON THE NORTH, WHICH ALLOWS FOR US TO PROVIDE THE AUSTIN ENERGY VAULT INDOOR, UH, UM, EGRESS EXIT OF THE, UM, PARKING GARAGE.
ALL THE LOADING, BASICALLY, ALL OF THE STUFF THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH ON OTHER PROJECTS IN URBAN SETTINGS CAN ALL BE LOCATED ON THE ALLEYWAY, WHICH ALLOWS FOR US TO REALLY ACTIVATE 14TH ACTIVATE GUADALUPE.
AND ALONG THE SAN ANTONIO SIDE, WE HAVE THE, UM, MUY MIY MYRICK HOUSE THAT WILL BE PRESERVED, UM, ALONG WITH THE EXISTING PLAZA AND FRONT PORCH THERE.
SO WE'RE KIND OF PRESERVING THAT GARDEN AND THAT AS THE PROPERTY TRANSITIONS FROM THE EAST SIDE AS, UM, THE DIAGRAM KIND OF SHOWED EARLIER, YOU CAN SEE THE LARGER CONTEXT.
WE GO FROM THE URBAN DOWNTOWN TO THE EAST TO MORE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE WEST.
AND SO THIS KIND OF WALKABLE CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE, THE RESIDENTS ON THE WESTERN PORTION TRANSITIONING TO MORE OF THE URBAN DOWNTOWN.
UM, THE STREETSCAPE REALLY HELPS STITCH THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER.
UH, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS JUST A LITTLE DIAGRAM TALKING ABOUT PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY ALONG THE SIDEWALKS.
UM, THE OUTDOOR SPACES IN ORANGE, SHOWING THE INFORMAL SEATING AREAS FOR BOTH RETAIL SPACES.
WRAPPING AROUND THE CORNER ON, UH, GUADALUPE AND ON 14TH STREET, AND ACTUALLY ENGAGING, KIND OF LOOKING OUT TOWARDS THE WEST AS WELL, THAT WILL BE VERY VISIBLE FROM THE SAN ANTONIO SIDE.
UM, ALLOWING FOR A LOT OF PERMI PERMEABILITY AND CONNECTIVITY INTO THE BUILDING.
UM, ESSENTIALLY, UH, STARTING ON THE GUADALUPE SIDE AND THE NORTHEASTERN, UH, CORNER, WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE OFFICE SPACE, TO THE PARKING GARAGE, AND TO THE LOBBY OVER THERE.
SO WE HAVE SOME PERMEABILITY ON THAT SIDE.
UM, WALKING DOWN THE TREELINE STREET, THE VEGETATED,
[01:15:01]
UM, AREA ON THE GROUND PLANE WITH THE STREET FURNITURE.AND THEN, UM, BEING ABLE TO ENTER INTO THESE COLON AIDS OF THE ARCHWAYS, UM, ENTERING INTO THE BUILDING FOR BOTH THE RESIDENTIAL TENANTS AND THE RETAIL SPACES ON BOTH SIDES.
UH, JUST SOME QUICK DIAGRAMS SHOWING, YOU KNOW, BIKE RACKS AND, UM, BENCHES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, OH, I SHOULD ALSO MENTION TOO, THAT WE HAVE A DROP OFF ZONE ALONG 14TH STREET.
AND, UH, THE DROP OFF ZONE IS REALLY ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
UM, 14TH IS, IS A, UM, YOU KNOW, EAST WEST STREET, BOTH DIRECTIONS, BUT WE REALLY SEE A LOT OF TRAFFIC COMING IN OFF OF GUADALUPE, WHICH IS, UH, ONE WAY SOUTH.
UM, THERE'S A BUS LANE THERE, THERE'S A BIKE LANE AS WELL.
UM, PULLING IN AND GETTING OUT OF RIDESHARE VEHICLES, GETTING DROPPED OFF AND PULLING INTO THAT SAFE SPACE LINED BY BOLLARDS AND ALSO PROVIDES, UM, A DA ACCESSIBILITY INTO THE, THE SIDEWALK STREET ZONE.
AND THEN THIS DIAGRAM REALLY SPEAKS TO A DA ACCESS.
UM, THE SITE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, DROPS OFF.
AND SO WE'VE STEPPED DOWN THE RETAIL AND LOBBY FLOOR PLATES, UM, FROM EAST TO WEST.
THE FIRST DROP IS, IS 18 INCHES, AND THEN THE SECOND DROP DOWN TO THE FIRST RETAIL SPACE IS, UH, TWO FEET.
AND SO TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY A DA RAMPS, UM, WAS REALLY A GOAL OF OURS.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A LOT OF RAILINGS EVERYWHERE.
AND SO, UM, THESE PLANTERS THAT KIND OF SEPARATE THE PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK FROM THE COLON AID SHADED SPACE TAKE UPGRADE AND STEP THE BUILDING DOWN.
WE WILL HAVE A SERIES OF STEPS, BUT THE BLUE, UH, DIAGRAM LINES HERE SHOW HOW, UM, A DA ACCESS WILL ACCESS ALL OF THE DOORS, UM, AT GRADE WITH NO, UH, ACTUAL A DA RAMPS.
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I BELIEVE.
UM, YEAH, SO WE MET WITH THE WORKING GROUP IN JUNE.
UM, AND I'LL SPEND THE NEXT COUPLE MINUTES JUST WALK WALKING THROUGH SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE THAT WERE FAVORABLE ABOUT THE PROJECT, AND THEN ALSO SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE MADE TO IMPROVE IT IN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN RESPONSE TO THOSE.
I THINK Y'ALL HAVE THE LETTER IN YOUR BACKUP, BUT I HAVE ONE HERE AS WELL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, SO FIRST, FIRST SLIDE SHOWS, UM, WE GOT, UM, RECOGNITION FOR ACKNOWLEDGING ROOFTOPS BEING SEEN FROM OTHER BUILDINGS.
UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THE MECHANICAL PENTHOUSE APPEARS LIKE IT'S JUST ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL FLOOR.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, FOR OUR RESPECT FOR THE HISTORICAL BUILDING, SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT HERE AND YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE MODEL THAT, UM, RELATED TO WHAT I SAID AT THE BEGINNING ABOUT THE WAY THE LOTS LAY OUT AND THE WAY THE DENSITY LAYS OUT.
THE DENSITY HAS REALLY PUSHED TOWARD THE GUADALUPE SIDE AND THEN STEPS DOWN.
UM, SO THE TOWER IS ENTIRELY ON THE TWO LOTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE DENSITY BONUS AREA.
AND THEN THE GARAGE IS IN THE THIRD LOT, AND THEN THE HISTORIC HOME AND, UM, THAT UNTOUCHED LOT IS, IS TO THE WEST.
UM, SO HERE IS, AGAIN, THERE'S THAT CORNER THAT JONATHAN TALKED ABOUT.
UM, WE ARE CREATING A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN ADDITION TO, UM, THE RESIDENTIAL AND THE RETAIL.
WE ALSO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF OFFICE AROUND THE TOP, THAT SORT OF RIBBON OF OFFICE.
UM, SO WE REALLY DO HAVE A VARIETY OF USES.
UM, ACCENTUATING OF PRI OF PRIMARY ENTRANCES WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND, UM, ENCOURAGING, UH, THE INCLUSION OF LOCAL CHARACTER.
UM, AND THEN THE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT THAT WERE MENTIONED WERE, UM, WERE PROVIDING PROTECTION FROM CARS, WHICH IS, I THINK IS THE MAIN ONE.
AND SO WHAT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SORT OF ELABORATE ON ON THAT POINT IS THAT WE HAVE SORT OF THREE LAYERS.
WE HAVE THE BUILDING OBVIOUSLY, AND THE INTERIOR TO THE BUILDING.
WE HAVE THIS ARCADE, WHICH IS SORT OF THIS MIDDLE AREA.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR GREAT STREET TREATMENT.
SO, UM, IN ADDITION TO HAVING TREES, UM, AND THE REGULAR GREAT STREET TREATMENT, WE SORT OF HAVE THIS TRANSITION IN FROM THE PUBLIC REALM, UM, INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WITH SORT OF AN EXTRA LAYER INVOLVED THERE, WHICH I THINK SERVES TO PE TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS, AND THAT IT'S GONNA SORT OF BRING THAT URBAN FRICTION AND SLOW PEOPLE DOWN AND GIVE A LOT, UM, TO LOOK AT AS PEOPLE ARE MOVING THROUGH.
AND THEN ON THIS SLIDE, UM, WE DO HAVE, WHICH I THINK CAMERON JUST MENTIONED, UM, THE PULL IN, WHICH IS AGAIN, IS ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE EXPECTING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE COMING HERE, GETTING DROPPED OFF, UM, AND USING RIDESHARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO THIS PROVIDES A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND LOAD IMMEDIATELY ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND THEN AGAIN INTO THOSE TRANSITION AREAS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT WAS THE AREA IMPROVEMENT WE GOT ON THIS SLIDE.
BUT I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE ACCOLADES WE GOT WERE ACCENTUATING THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE, UM, THE MAIN ENTRANCE, AND THEN ALSO SORT OF SOME, SOME OF THE SECONDARY ENTRANCES ALSO HAVE THEIR
[01:20:01]
OWN SPECIFIC, UM, CANOPIES AND, AND COVERINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.UM, MINIMIZING CURB CUTS, UM, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS A SAFETY COMPONENT FOR PEDESTRIANS.
AND THEN CREATING DENSE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATING MIXED USE AGAIN.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, AS YOU'RE, AS YOU'RE MOVING AROUND THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, NOW YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THOSE TWO PRIMARY ENTRANCES.
UM, IT WAS HIGHLIGHTED, UM, THAT THERE IS A LOT OF SHADE IN THAT SUPPLEMENTAL SPACE, UM, AND THAT, THAT SORT OF PLAZA OR, UM, PLAZA LIKE SPACE IS CREATED THROUGH THE ARCADE.
SO THERE IS, AGAIN, SHADE AND SORT OF A, A COVERED PLACE, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THE WAY INTERIOR TO THE BUILDING.
AND THEN HERE WE HAVE, IF YOU GO BACK AROUND, SO THIS IS WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS IS OUR ORIGINAL SLIDE, UM, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OBVIOUSLY OF STANDING IN FRONT OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING AND LOOKING UP, AND A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK WE GOT WAS ABOUT SORT OF BUFFERING BETWEEN, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD EDGE BETWEEN OUR BUILDING AND THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE, UM, CONTROLLING ONSITE PARKING, HIGH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, UM, HERE, IF YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE IS WE HAVE WRAPPED, UM, WE HAVE WRAPPED THE, UM, WINDOWS FROM THE, OR THE OPENINGS FROM THE PARKING GARAGE AROUND THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING SO THAT THEY FOLLOW THE LINE OF THE ARCHES.
SO YOU CAN SEE NOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST LIKE A FRONT AND A SIDE, THEY, IT REALLY KIND OF WRAPS AROUND.
AND THOSE ARCHES GET SMALLER AS THEY GO BACK.
SO THE, THE OPENINGS, THOSE AREN'T REAL OPENINGS, BUT THEY WILL MIMIC THE OPENINGS AND THEY GET SMALLER AS WELL.
SO IT KIND OF BRINGS THAT TO A, TO A DEFINITE POINT.
UM, WE ALSO INCLUDED PUBLIC ART, SO IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO SEE IN THE LIGHT, BUT ON THE, UNDER THAT BIG ARC ARCH ON THE FIRST SLIDE WE HAD ORIGINALLY WE HAD JUST A TREE RIGHT THERE UNDER THAT CORNER, UM, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY KIND OF A GRAND OPENING.
UM, WHAT WE'VE ADDED INSTEAD IS JUST, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY JUST A PLACEHOLDER, BUT SOME KIND OF, UM, PUTTING SOME KIND OF SOME SCULPTURE OR SOME KIND OF ARC THERE UNDER THAT EDGE, STILL PUTTING THE TREE IN.
UM, BUT A LITTLE TO THE SIDE TO SORT OF FRAME THAT, UM, THAT ART THERE AND MAKE THAT SORT OF A POINT OF INTEREST.
UM, AND THEN, UM, AND THEN AS FAR AS DETAILS OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE, I THINK JONATHAN CAN TALK MORE ABOUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT WE DO, WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE A SAMPLE OF THE, THE MASONRY AND THE WAY THAT IT'S, UM, BEEN CHOSEN TO ACCENTUATE AND, AND COMPLEMENT THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE AS WELL.
AND THEN HERE, THIS IS, UM, A SORT OF A LESS FORMAL RENDERING, BUT WE THOUGHT IT, IT'S A GOOD ONE TO SHOW AGAIN, THE RIBBON OF OFFICE AT THE TOP, SORT OF THE WAY THAT DENSITY, UM, MOVES TOWARD THE DENSER PART OF THE SITE.
EVEN JUST ON THIS ONE HALF BLOCK, THERE REALLY IS KIND OF A VARIATION THERE.
SO I THINK THIS IS KIND OF, THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THIS ANGLE IS TO SHOW THAT.
AND THEN ON THE LAST SLIDE, UM, YOU CAN SEE INTERIOR TO THAT ARCADE AREA.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ACCENTUATING PRIMARY ENTRANCES, INCLUSION, INCLUSION OF LOCAL CHARACTER, AND THEN CREATING A QUALITY SPACE.
IT IS, YOU KNOW, BIG ENOUGH TO FEEL OPEN AND AIRY, BUT NOT SO BIG THAT IT'S KIND OF A, A NO MAN'S LAND.
UM, THIS SPACE, UM, WAS CREATED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
UM, ONE MORE SLIDE ON THIS POINT.
ALSO, IT WAS RAISED AT THE WORKING GROUP THAT, UM, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LIGHT WAS ADEQUATE, BOTH FOR SAFETY AND JUST FOR COMFORT.
UM, SO THIS IS NOT VERY EASY TO SEE IN THIS LIGHT, BUT IT IS OUR, UM, PHOTOMETRIC THANK YOU EXHIBIT.
UM, AND SO WE DO HAVE LIGHTS ALONG THE ALLEY.
IT DOES SHOW WHERE THE LIGHTS ARE WITHIN THE ARCADE.
UM, SO THERE WILL BE, THERE IS, UM, A LOT OF THOUGHT GOING INTO THAT, UM, ASPECT.
WE WILL BE, OF COURSE, UM, MEETING AT LEAST THE AUSTIN ENERGY GREEN BUILDING, TWO STAR RATING AS A GATEKEEPER REQUIREMENT.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, ON THE LAST SLIDE, WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT.
SO WE WILL BE CONTRIBUTING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT WILL BE TO FEE IN LIEU OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, BECAUSE BY RIGHT, USUALLY YOU SEE CBD CASES, BUT THIS ONE IS DMU, SO THE BY RIGHT IS FIVE TO ONE FAR.
UM, WE ARE, WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT FOR THE ENTIRE 20 TO ONE FAR, WHICH IS THE SECTION THAT'S IN THE DENSITY BONUS AREA.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, MOVING ALL THAT DENSITY OVER ALSO, UM, RESULTS IN A MUCH HIGHER COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE LAST SIDE.
IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST LET US KNOW.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER LEE? I'VE GOT A, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, IS THE SITE OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITAL DOMINANCE ZONE? YES.
YEAH, I, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE PROMENADE.
[01:25:01]
COLONATE OR, YOU KNOW, IN THE IMAGES YOU SHOW, UM, THERE'S A SORT OF PERCEIVED CONNECTIVITY ALL THE WAY ALONG.UM, BUT IN, IN REALITY, IT'S SORT OF BROKEN UP BY THESE VERY LARGE STRUCTURAL WALLS.
AND, UM, I'M, I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THE, THE TOWER IS NEEDING THESE GIANT BUTTRESSES, BUT I WONDERED, BEYOND THE STRUCTURE, WAS THERE A DESIRE ON THE, UH, USER SIDE TO SEPARATE THE, UM, ENTRANCE LOBBY FROM THE RESTAURANTS? I'M JUST, JUST CURIOUS, DID YOU HAVE THESE VERY LARGE WALLS THAT PREVENT YOU FROM WALKING ALL THE WAY ALONG THAT THAT COVERED AREA DID YOU PULL UP FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT COMMENT.
I, I THINK THE MAIN, UH, CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE ELEVATION CHANGES AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A DA ACCESSIBILITY, UM, ACROSS THE COLON AID, UM, WITHOUT TAKING UP SO MUCH, UM, STOREFRONT AREA WITH A DA RAMPS TO DROP DOWN.
WE HAVE, FROM THE RESIDENTIAL LOBBY DOWN TO THE FIRST, THE LOWEST RETAIL SPACE ON THE WEST, IT'S A TWO FOOT DROP.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE A LONG RUN OF RAMPS, AND THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE THAT CIRCULATION OUT ON THE STREET.
UM, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THE MAIN DRIVING FACTOR TO THIS DECISION.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, JONATHAN, IF YOU WANNA SPEAK ANY FURTHER TO THAT, BUT I THINK, UH, WE, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT CONNECTED, BUT IT'S CHALLENGING TO PROVIDE THAT ACCESS ALONG, ALONG THE STREETSCAPE, UM, FROM AN A DA STANDPOINT AND HAVE IT INTERNALLY CONNECTED.
SO, SO JUST SO I'M CLEAR, EVEN THOUGH THERE, THERE COULD BE STEPS TO, YOU KNOW, TO CONNECT YOU ALL ALONG SO THAT IF YOU WERE GOING FROM ONE RETAIL, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME OUT ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE STREET TO THE OTHER RETAIL.
UM, BUT IF YOU PUT STEPS, UH, ACROSS, YOU WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A RAMP ALL THE WAY ALONG.
IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN? YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK SO, BECAUSE THAT'S A, IT'S A, A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING MM-HMM.
AND SO, UH, THAT WOULD, YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR INTERPRETATION.
THERE ARE STEPS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THEM, BUT THERE ARE SOME SMALL, LIKE TWO OR THREE STEPS ALONG THAT LONG FRONTAGE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, TO CAMERON'S POINT, IF WE WERE TO PUT A LONG, IF WE WERE TO, TO PUT, WE'D HAVE TO PUT A RAMP EITHER AT EACH ONE OF THOSE OR ALONG IT WITH A RAIL
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE CORNER RETAIL AND THE MAIN LOBBY BEHIND THE PLANTERS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE A DA ROUTES THERE, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH THE WALL, BUT IT, IT DOESN'T GO OUT TO THE SIDEWALK, BUT IT WAS SUCH A BIG STEP DOWN BETWEEN, I THINK IT'S ANOTHER THREE FEET, UH, FROM THE LOBBY THEN TO THE WESTERN MOST RETAIL, UM, THAT IT KIND OF MADE SENSE TO GIVE IT ITS OWN EXPERIENCE THAT WAS GONNA, YEAH, IT'S A LARGE RETAIL SPACE, AND IT KIND OF LENT ITSELF TO KIND OF HAVING A, A, A PATIO THAT COULD USE ALL OF ITS SPACE AND NOT BE, YOU KNOW, ENCUMBERED BY STEPS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I JUST, I WANTED TO ADD THAT THE EXISTING BUILDING THERE, UH, IS A SERIES OF STEPS THAT GO UP, UM, TO ONE LEVEL, AND IT REALLY SEPARATES THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE STREETSCAPE.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS TO CREATE THESE INCREMENTAL STEPPING CONDITIONS TO REALLY ENGAGE OUT ON THE STREETSCAPE AS MUCH AS WE CAN, CONSIDERING THE CHALLENGES OF THE CROSS SLOPE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
SO, UM, SIMILAR, LIKE SIMILARLY, THE THING THAT WAS EXCITING ME ABOUT THE COLON A WAS NOT AS, NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE RETAIL EXPERIENCE IN MY MIND, I THINK WHAT WAS NICE ABOUT THE COLON AID WAS THAT YOU WERE PROVIDING A POTENTIAL LIKE TRULY SHADED WALKABLE PATH.
UH, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT THE LIGHT RAIL'S COMING UP AND DOWN GUADALUPE AT SOME POINT.
UM, I THINK GETTING FOLKS TO THOSE STATIONS IS ALWAYS GONNA BE CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY IN A HOT CLIMATE THAT WE HAVE HERE.
UM, SO IN ADDITION TO THE STREET TREES PROVIDING SOME TYPE OF LIKE BUILDING SHADING THAT FOLKS CAN ACTUALLY WALK UNDER, I FOUND THAT TO BE EXCITING.
SO HOPEFULLY, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS CONSIDER AS YOU DEVELOP THIS MORE.
UM, IT WOULD BE A NICE EXAMPLE.
UM, I, I, UH, I REALLY LIKE THIS PROJECT.
UM, I, I WANNA COMMEND Y'ALL FOR HOW YOU, UH, CAME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SCREEN THE BACK OF HOUSE, UH, SERVICES.
I THINK THE, THE LOBBY AND ELEVATOR, UM, UH, KIND OF SCREENING THE AUSTIN ENERGY VAULT IS A REALLY STRONG MOVE.
[01:30:01]
A WHOLE LOT MORE OF THAT IN AUSTIN.UM, UH, I THINK THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY THAT YOU'VE GOT, THE FREQUENCY OF ENTRANCES AND KIND OF, UH, THAT DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE SIDEWALK FEELS REALLY STRONG.
UM, AS IN, UH, THE WORKING GROUP MEETING, I, I STILL WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH BACK ON THE, THE DROP OFF PAD.
I THINK THE DROP OFF AND KIND OF THAT, THAT ZERO STEP IS, IS A REALLY GREAT MOVE.
BUT I THINK LOSING THE STREET TREES FOR THAT WHOLE LENGTH IS NOT NECESSARY.
UM, THE CURB, THE CURB TO CURB DIMENSION OF THAT STREET IS LIKE 40 FEET.
AND SO ACTUALLY THE MORE WE ALLOW, UH, THE CAR TO C THE, THE, UM, RIDESHARE CARS TO BE PARKING FURTHER INTO THE TR THE PLANTING ZONE, UH, THE FASTER PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE TRAVELING ON 14TH.
UM, AND SO THE, THE FRICTION OF THE PEOPLE LEAVING THE CARS IS WHAT GIVES US A LOT OF PROTECTION AND, AND KEEPS CARS MOVING SLOWER, UH, ON STREETS WITH, ON STREETE PARKING.
AND SO THAT ACTUALLY IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE SAFETY PEDESTRIANS IN THAT, IN THAT PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S A LITTLE COUNTERINTUITIVE, BUT I, I, I THINK THAT FROM A URBAN DESIGN STANDPOINT, THE, THE PARKING LANE SERVES AS A, AS KIND OF A, A, UM, AN IMPORTANT TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE IN THAT WAY.
WE CAN TAKE, WE CAN TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
COMMISSIONER WHIR, UM, I ECHO, I REALLY LIKE THIS PROJECT.
IF EVERY PROJECT WE SAW WAS TAKING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, UM, THIS SERIOUSLY, OUR JOB WOULD BE A LOT EASIER.
UM, SO COMMENDING COMMITTING THE DESIGN TEAM, UH, PARTICULARLY ON THE TRANSITION SPACE, LEE, YOU SPOKE TO THAT, AND THAT IS ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITE THINGS TO SEE, UM, IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
THEY SORT OF SHARED SEMI-PUBLIC, SEMI-PRIVATE AND, AND ENCLOSED SPACE.
UM, I REALLY DO LIKE HOW THE BUILDING IS, UH, CAMERON AS YOU SPOKE, THAT WE'RE NOT JUST DEALING WITH A SOLID PLANT THAT CUTS OFF MOST OF THE BUILDING.
UH, I'M SYMPATHETIC AND AGREE WITH, UM, MY COMMISSION, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER'S, UM, COMMENTS ABOUT TRYING TO HAVE SOME CONNECTION VIA STAIRS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE COLON AID, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO CARVE UP ALL THAT USABLE SPACE THAT WOULD BE PROCEEDING WITH, WITH RAMPS.
UM, AT THE SAME TIME, UH, PERHAPS LOOKING AT THE, THE RESTAURANT COURTYARDS ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE WIDTH, IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT WIMPY COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER EXCESSES.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S SOME CROSS SLOPE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT, BUT IF THAT COULD BE MADE A LITTLE BIT MORE INVITING RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE ONE SPOT THAT JUMPS OUT TO ME IS FEELING LIKE, UM, A PERSON WITH A MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT IS, IS BEING TREATED WITH LESS RESPECT.
UM, BUT I, I RECOGNIZE THAT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR Y'ALL, UH, TO LOOK AT THAT, UH, THE ALLEY ACCESS IS FANTASTIC.
UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US A PROJECT WITH, WITH NO CURB CUTS.
UM, I REALLY JUST, I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH HOW, HOW, HOW GOOD THAT IS TO SEE, UM, A COUPLE SMALL RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, AND, AND QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, COMMISSIONER LEE MENTIONED THE, THE LIGHT RAIL.
UM, WHEN THAT COMES, UM, IT, UH, I, I WISH THIS PROJECT HAD MORE OF ITS RETAIL ENTRANCES, FRONTING A LOT OF LOOP STREET.
THE MOTH MYRICK HOUSE, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEING PRESERVED.
WHAT IS THE USE, WHAT IS THE PROPOSED USE OF THAT BUILDING? IT'LL CONTINUE TO BE AN OFFICE USE.
UM, 'CAUSE IT, IT FEELS LIKE THAT THERE'S THAT, UM, BE BEING THAT IT'S NOT A RESIDENTIAL USE, THERE'S A VERY RESIDENTIAL STYLE FRONT YARD.
UM, SO MIGHT, MIGHT LOOK AT THAT.
UH, THE LIVE OAKS ON, ON, ON GUADALUPE, I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH WHATSOEVER.
I KNOW GREAT STREETS SAYS TO STAY AWAY FROM THEM, SO I'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOU GUYS AND STAFF, UH, ON THOSE.
AND THEN A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT ARE INTERIOR THAT ARE SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THE PUBLIC REALM HERE.
UM, ARE THE, IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN, HOW DOES ONE GET, HOW DO RESIDENTS, WHAT IS THE PATH FOR RESIDENTS USING THE LONG-TERM INDOOR BICYCLE STORAGE? HOW DO THEY INGRESS AND EGRESS OUT OF THE BUILDING? UM, AND THEN TIED TO THAT QUESTION, WHAT ARE THE GROUND FLOOR RESTROOMS? HOW ARE THEY THOSE FOR THE RESTAURANT FACILITY? HOW ARE THOSE ACCESSED? DO YOU MIND PULLING UP SIDE 14, PLEASE? YOU, UM, I'LL START WITH YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE BIKES.
UM, SO WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE, IT'S NOT HIGHLIGHTED ON THIS PLAN PLAN, BUT, UM, JUST SOUTH OF THE, UH, OFFICE ENTRY
[01:35:01]
LOBBY, WHICH IS AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF, UH, ALONG GUADALUPE, UM, WE HAVE A, A RESIDENT AND, UM, EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE.UM, AND THAT BASICALLY GOES STRAIGHT BACK, UH, THROUGH THE BACK OF HOUSE TO THE LONG-TERM BIKE STORAGE, WHERE WE HAVE 72, UH, LONG-TERM, UH, SECURE BIKE SPACES IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER 32 ON THE, I BELIEVE 32 ON THE STREETSCAPE.
UM, AND I GUESS I'LL POINT OUT TOO, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE MADE A BIG POINT ABOUT IT DURING THE PRESENTATION, BUT THERE IS JUST NORTH OF THAT, THERE IS THE, THE MAIN OFFICE ENTRY JUMP LOBBY, UH, RIGHT THERE OFF OF GUADALUPE, UH, TUCKED BASICALLY BETWEEN THE REMAINING SPACE WE HAD WITH THE AE VAULT, UM, AND, AND GUADALUPE STREET.
UM, SO THAT WILL TAKE, THAT WILL, THAT WILL HAVE DEDICATED SIGNAGE, UH, ENTRY AND, AND AN ELEVATOR.
AND THAT WILL TAKE, UH, OFFICE USERS UP TO THE OFFICE ABOVE THE GARAGE BASICALLY.
SO, UM, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, VISION GLASS AND, UH, RETAIL FRONTAGE, UH, FROM RETAIL TOO, AS YOU MENTIONED.
UM, SO WE'RE CERTAINLY COGNIZANT OF TRYING TO, UH, ACTIVATE GUADALUPE AS WELL.
UM, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TIGHTER SECTION FOR OUR PARTICULAR FOOTPRINT, WHEREAS ON ON 14TH WE HAD THE ABILITY TO PUSH BACK AND GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BUFFER ZONE.
AND YEAH, UH, WE DO HAVE A BATHROOM, UH, WITH A SHOWER, UM, FOR ALL USERS OF THE BUILDING, UH, INCLUDING RESIDENTS, UH, OFFICE USERS AND RETAIL EMPLOYEES, UH, IN THE GROUND FLOOR, BASICALLY BEHIND THE LOBBY ACCESSIBLE OFF OF THE ROUTE TO THE BIKE ROOM.
UH, I APPRECIATE THOSE RESPONSES, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE, THESE ARE DEFINITELY NETPICKS, UH, ON MY PART.
SO, UM, AGAIN, THIS IS A REALLY OUTSTANDING PROJECT.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THOSE, AND APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT THE, AT AT MORE OF THAT, UM, RETAIL TO ACCESS TO, TO GUADALUPE AS, AS IS POSSIBLE.
UM, AND, AND YOU, I SHOULD NOT GO ON SAID THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING SO MUCH BIKE IN INSIDE BIKE PARKING.
UH, THAT'S A REALLY KEY AMENITY THAT, UM, I WOULDN'T UNDERSELL.
UM, I, I, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THE, THE BATHROOMS BEING SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN A GOOD RESTAURANT FACILITY THERE.
UM, I, AGAIN, I KNOW THIS ISN'T STRICTLY SPEAKING THE URBAN DESIGN, BUT IT, IT IS VERY MUCH THE URBAN DESIGN TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL STOREFRONT THERE.
SO I'M JUST MAYBE A, SOMETHING TO LOOK AT FOR THAT FINISH OUT SPACE.
AND SORRY TO CLARIFY, EACH RETAILER WOULD, UH, BE BUILDING THEIR OWN, UH, INDIVIDUAL RESTROOM FACILITIES INSIDE THE RETAIL.
SO, UH, THAT, THAT RESTROOM IS REALLY JUST, UH, FOR USERS OF THE BUILDING, NOT, NOT PATRONS, UH, JUST FOR EMPLOYEES WHO WANTED TO TAKE A SHOWER AFTER A BIKE RIDE OR, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, I, I WANNA JUST AGREE WITH, UM, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER AND SAY, YES, THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND WE ARE VERY NITPICKING.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR, UM, PRESENTING IT.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, UM, BECAUSE, BECAUSE THERE, THERE IS THE ABILITY TO, UH, NITPICK, UM, A SMALL DETAIL ABOUT LIGHTING AND, UM, SECURITY.
AND I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL GONNA COME THROUGH, UM, IN THE FINAL DESIGN.
BUT JUST TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, THE FEELING OF, UM, A SECURE ACCESS FOR PEDESTRIANS BETWEEN THE COLONATE AND THE TREE, UM, GOES A LONG WAY TO, YOU KNOW, YOUR COMFORT LEVEL WALKING ALONG SUCH A LONG LENGTH OF FACADE AT NIGHT, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEPTH OF THAT COLONAD COLONATE, THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LURKING.
UM, BUT ALSO YOU HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL SCULPTED, SCULPTED SCALLOPED, UM, EXPRESSION THERE.
SO, SO I CAN FORESEE AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE SCALLOPS.
I'M SURE THIS IS ALL PART OF THE, THE GRAND PLAN AND IT, AND IT'S GONNA COME THROUGH IN THE END, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD REALLY CREATE A FRIENDLY PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE THAT WILL ENHANCE THIS AREA OF DOWNTOWN.
UM, SO IF THAT WAS YOUR IDEA, A HUNDRED PERCENT COMMEND YOU ON THAT, IT'S GONNA BE STUNNING, UM, AND ADD TO THAT SENSE OF SAFETY AND, AND SECURITY FOR THE PEDESTRIAN.
YES, I AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND, UH, IT'S ABSOLUTELY, UH, ALREADY IN THE PLANS, UH, WE'LL BE UPLIGHTING ALL THOSE CANOPIES AND THEN WE'LL HAVE STREET SEPARATE STREET LIGHTING, UH, ON THE, THE RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DECIDE TO, OR, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR OWNER DECIDES TO NAME A BUILDING LUMINARY, UH, WE'RE SORT OF ON THE HOOK FOR REALLY GREAT LIGHTING, SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT DILIGENTLY.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MCKINNEY.
I HAVE A QUICK COMMENT ON TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON TO COMMISSIONER HOWARD'S
[01:40:01]
COMMENT ABOUT THE DROP OFF.UM, ONE, DOES PARKING ON 14TH GO AWAY? BECAUSE CURRENTLY 14TH IS STREET PARKING.
SO DOES THAT, THAT IS MODIFIED IN THIS PLAN.
UM, I THINK THE STREET PARKING CONTINUES JUST NOT FOR THE DROP OFF AREA.
AND THEN A SECOND COMMENT AS, UM, A LADY WHO LIKES HER SHOES, UM, WHERE DO I SIT AND WAIT FOR MY UBER? BECAUSE THE GREAT STREETS BENCHES HAVE BEEN PUSHED PRETTY FAR IN EITHER DIRECTION.
AND SO WHAT TYPE OF SEATING HAPPENS? UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I ACTUALLY OBSERVED LEAVING, UH, AN EVENT RECENTLY.
SO WHERE DOES THIS, UH, WHERE DOES THIS, YOU KNOW, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THE DROP-OFF AREA IN A MORE THOUGHTFUL WAY? ABSOLUTELY.
SO WE, I THINK, I THINK THIS, I'M GONNA SAY THIS CORRECTLY.
WE HAD OUR BENCHES CLOSER AND WE, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO US THAT BECAUSE OF THE HISTORIC HOME, WE PUT BENCHES IN FRONT OF THE HISTORIC HOME SO THAT THE VIEW OF THE HISTORIC HOME WAS, UM, UNENCUMBERED, UNOBSTRUCTED.
SO WE ARE CERTAINLY OPEN, I THINK, TO MOVING THE BENCHES AND BIKE RACK, LIKE WE JUST SWITCHED BIKE RACKS AND BENCHES FOR THAT REASON.
UM, BECAUSE WE DID TALK WITH THE HISTORIC, UM, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
AND, UM, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CERTAINLY OPEN TO MOVING BENCHES AROUND FOR YOUR SUGGESTION.
UM, I ALSO WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE, I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE FAR, BUT INSIDE THE, THE ARCADE WOULD ALSO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD SIT WHILE THEY'RE WAITING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT, HOW LONG YOU'RE WAITING, YOU MAY NEED TO BE CLOSER.
I'D, I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR INFORMAL SEATING ALONG THE EDGES OF THE PLANTERS.
THEY'RE GONNA BE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GROWING AND CHANGING IN GRADE BECAUSE OF THE SLOPE, BUT THEY'RE GONNA RANGE FROM ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 24 INCHES AS THEY STEP DOWN.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO ILLUMINATE THOSE, UM, UH, PLANTERS AS WELL.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S GONNA BE A GREAT INFORMAL SEATING.
WE'VE EVEN DISCUSSED THE CONCERNS OF SKATEBOARDS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE, WE KNOW THIS IS AN URBAN SETTING, BUT I THINK INFORMAL SEEDING ON THE EDGE OF THE PLANTERS WILL BE A REALLY GREAT PLACE TO SIT.
UM, AND, UH, AS YOU WAIT FOR A PICKUP OR DROP OFF.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? ALL MOTION? OKAY.
COMMISSIONER HOWARD, I'LL MOTION THAT THIS, UM, SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIES WITH THE DESI, UH, URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER UCK.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE ITEMS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP THAT, UM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS STAFF CONTINUES TO REVIEW THIS, THAT THESE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE, UM, FURTHER LOOKED AT, BUT IN THE STAFF APPROVAL PROCESS, UM, ONE OF THOSE IS TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE EAST WEST CONNECTIVITY UNDERNEATH THE COVERED COLON AID.
THE SECOND ITEM WAS TO REDUCE OR INCORPORATE TREES INTO THE DROPOFF ZONE, REDUCE THE DROPOFF ZONE AND OR INCORPORATE TREES INTO THE DROPOFF ZONE.
UM, TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE A DA ACCESS TO THE RETAIL ONE PATIO THAT'S FEASIBLE, UM, TO MAKE IT COMPARABLE TO THE STAIR ACCESS TO RETAIL, ONE PATIO TO POTENTIALLY ADD, UM, RETAIL TWO ACCESS OUT TO GUAD IN HOPES THAT THAT, UM, STREET SCAPE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTIVATED, UM, WITH RETAIL ACCESS.
AND THEN TO CONSIDER THIS IS GONNA BE VERY VAGUE, CONSIDER SOMETHING, UM, ON THE MA MYRICK SITE TO CONTINUE TO ACTIVATE THAT STREET SCAPE AS IT MOVES WEST.
UM, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS A HISTORIC HOME AND WHAT COMES WITH A LOT OF REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, UM, IT'S A SHAME TO JUST REALLY LIKE LOSE EVERYTHING.
WE'VE WORKED SO HARD FOR ON THE EAST WEST ACCESS THERE AS IT JUST KIND OF KAPUTS IN FRONT OF THAT, UM, OFFICE USE, WHICH ISN'T GONNA SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY AFTER 5:00 PM.
SO, UM, I THINK IF STAFF CAN CONSIDER THOSE ITEMS AS THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD IN REVIEW, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
AND, UH, DO WE NEED THAT IN A FORMAL AMENDMENT, OR IS THAT SUFFICIENT? SOPHIA
[01:45:01]
THAT, OH, I HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING.I PROBABLY DO, HUH?
AND WE HAVE ONE RECUSAL THE MOTION PASSES.
[5. Select a representative to serve on the Downtown Commission per City Code § 2-1-140.]
WE HAVE IS SELECTING A REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.UM, SO FOR THAT, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, IN SEVERAL MEETINGS.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANYONE WHO IS NOW CAPABLE OF SERVING ON THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION? AGAIN, THE MEETINGS ARE WHAT? WEDNESDAYS? IS THAT RIGHT? WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
UM, CAN WE PROCEED SOPHIA TO THE NEXT ITEM IF WE HAVE NO VOLUNTEER FOR THAT? YES.
UM, SO AGAIN, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY INTEREST, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
[6. Discussion and possible action on the November 2024 Design Commission meeting date.]
SIX, DISCUSS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE NOVEMBER, 2024 DESIGN COMMISSION MEETING DATE.I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, ARE YOU GONNA COVER THAT FOR US? SURE.
UM, SO IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, WE HAD TO E EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO ADOPT THE MEETING SCHEDULE, RIGHT? WELL, IN ORDER TO AVOID THANKSGIVING, WE ACCIDENTALLY SCHEDULED ON, UH, VETERAN'S DAY.
SO WE JUST, WE NEED TO LOOK AT A DIFFERENT DATE FOR OUR NOVEMBER MEETING.
I WAS ABLE TO SECURE THIS ROOM ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH.
AND SO IF THAT DATE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS, NOVEMBER 4TH WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
I WOULD, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT WE SWITCH IT TO THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, OPEN TO DISCUSSION.
ANY CONCERNS? DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER MCKINNEY? SO WE HAVE, BUT WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE 28TH, SO THEN WE WOULD BE MEETING THE NEXT WEEK.
ARE WE GONNA HAVE ENOUGH TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT IN A WEEK.
SOPHIA, ANY RESPONSE?
UM, I, I MEAN, I GUESS THE OTHER, THE OTHER MONDAY THAT WE HAVE IS THE 18TH.
SO STILL TWO WEEKS BETWEEN GIVE OR TAKE.
UM, COMMISSIONER LADNER? OH YEAH, I THINK SO.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, I GUESS SHOULD WE DO A MOTION TO CANCEL OR TO MOVE IT TO THE 18TH MOTION? DO YOU HAVE ONE? COMMISSIONER MCKINNEY, WERE WE ABLE TO SECURE THIS ROOM ON THE 18TH? OH, JORGE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR US?
EXECUTIVE LIAISON FOR THE COMMISSION STAFF DOESN'T RECOMMEND YOU CANCEL ANY MEETINGS YOU CAN CANCEL AT A FUTURE DATE.
JUST THIS FAR OUT WOULD BE UN ADVISABLE AT THIS TIME, IN CASE YOU WISH YOU WISH TO HAVE A MEETING, YOU CAN ALWAYS CANCEL PERHAPS THE WEEK BEFORE, JUST GAUGING UPON THE INTEREST AND THE NUMBER OF ITEMS YOU WOULD HAVE ON THE AGENDA.
NOW I BELIEVE THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THE COMMISSION WANTS TO DO WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
AND GIVEN THAT, UH, THAT'S BEEN KIND OF IN THIS SUMMER HIATUS, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE PICKING UP SOME OF THAT WORK, UH, STARTING IN THE FALL.
SO I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU, YOU FIND A MEETING PERHAPS IN NOVEMBER.
IF THAT'S NOT ACCOMMODATING, YOU CAN DO A SPECIAL CALL MEETING AS WELL FOR THE URBAN DESIGN CONTEXT.
[01:50:01]
FOR EITHER OPTION I MOTION TO MOVE THE MEETING TO NOVEMBER 18TH TENTATIVELY.WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE TO NOVEMBER 18TH.
ALRIGHT, SO NOVEMBER 18TH, AND THEN WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.
IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CONTENT, UH, THEN WE CAN, UH, TALK ABOUT, UH, CANCELLATION AS NEEDED.
ALRIGHT, THAT MOVES US ON TO OUR
[7. Update from the Urban Design Guidelines Working Group regarding the meeting on July 26, 2024.]
WORKING GROUP AND COMMITTEE UPDATES.UM, SO FOR THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, COMMISSIONER CARROLL IS NOT HERE, UH, TO SPEAK TO THE WORKING GROUP.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN HIS PLACE? COMMISSIONER HOWARD? UM, I THINK WE HAVE NOT CERTAINLY NOT BEEN ON HI HIATUS THIS SUMMER.
UM, WE'VE BEEN GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD.
IT'S, UH, QUITE A BIT OF WORK.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN QUITE A BIT TO PROCESS, UH, KIND OF ALL OF THE FEEDBACK WE GOT IN PREVIOUS ROUNDS AND TURN IT INTO A RIGOROUS KIND OF PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENT THAT CAN REALLY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE.
UM, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, WE, WE ARE, WE HAVEN'T MADE A FINAL DECISION ON THE NEXT STEP.
I THINK WE WERE, WE'RE BEHIND SCHEDULE BY ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO POTENTIALLY.
UM, WE, WE ARE KIND OF IN THIS PROCESS OF KIND OF A RIGOROUS REVIEW, UM, KIND OF A RUBRIC STYLE SORT OF GRADING AND, AND KIND OF DRAFTING OF EACH OF THEM TO GET THEM TO A, SOME LEVEL OF POLISHED, UM, DETAIL, UM, AND, UH, USABILITY FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND FOR INTERDEPARTMENTAL REVIEW.
UM, BUT I THINK WE'RE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE, WE'RE A COUPLE WEEKS BEHIND BEHIND SCHEDULE AND THAT THAT PROCESS HAS ACTUALLY TAKEN A LOT OF EFFORT.
UM, WE WOULD, I THINK, I MEAN I, I'M, I WON'T SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE WORKING GROUP, BUT I THINK IF ANYBODY IS REALLY JUST ITCHING TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY AND WANTS TO, WANTS TO KIND OF, UH, LEARN THE PROCESS, I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE COULD TAKE ON SUPPORT.
UM, NOW THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING ON PAPER, WE'RE NOW, IT'D JUST BE KIND OF GETTING UP TO SPEED ON THE, THE LOGIC AND, AND KIND OF THE, THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING TO EDITING.
UM, BUT WE PROBABLY, I THINK AT THIS POINT COULD USE A LITTLE SUPPORT.
UM, WE'RE ALL LOSING OUR MINDS JUST A LITTLE BIT.
COMMISSIONER WALLACE, IS THE SUPPORT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, LIKE A SET OF EYES TO KIND OF EDIT, LIKE CLEAN UP EDIT TYPE WORK? I WOULD SAY IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.
IT'S, UM, WE ARE, WE HAVE A DRAFT, UM, AND WE ARE NOW TAKING THAT DRAFT AND, AND, AND, UM, TAKING A MORE CONSISTENT APPROACH ACROSS ALL OF THE GUIDELINES.
AND SO SOMETIMES THAT MIGHT BE LITTLE EDITS HERE AND THERE, BUT MORE OFTEN THAN THAN NOT, IT IS REDRAFTING, IT'S KIND OF SYNTHESIZING WHAT'S THERE, UM, IN THE DRAFT AND KIND OF, UM, REWRITING IT ACCORDING TO A NEW, A NEW STANDARD ESSENTIALLY.
BUT I THINK ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT, IT, YOU KNOW, TO CLARIFY LIKE, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE TECHNICAL? BECAUSE I'M WILLING TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH LIKE, TRYING TO CLEAN EVERYTHING UP AND MAKE IT IN THE SAME TONE AND LANGUAGE, BUT I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA BE AS HELPFUL WITH LIKE, DRAFTING MORE TECHNICAL LIKE CONTENT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND ALSO, IS THERE ANY THREAT OF QUORUM AT THIS POINT? YOU'RE, YOU HAVE A FULL GROUP, RIGHT? I THINK CURRENTLY IT'S COMMISSIONER WHIR, COMMISSIONER CARROLL, COMMISSIONER HOWARD, UM, MYSELF, AND THEN, UM, COMMISSIONER LADNER HAS
YEAH, WELL, WE'LL WORK WITH STAFF, UM, TO HELP FACILITATE ANY ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION FROM THE DESIGN COMMISSIONER SO THAT WE DON'T BREACH QUORUM.
OH, SORRY, GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER GILLES.
I REMEMBER LAST TIME WE MET THERE WAS STILL THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENT THAT WAS SORT OF BLURRY.
I WONDERED WHETHER THAT WAS PART OF THE CURRENT DRAFT OR WHETHER THERE WAS STILL A HEAVY LIFT NEEDED IN THAT CATEGORY? YEAH, SO THE, THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING, I WOULD SAY IS RATHER THAN, UH, DESIGNATE GUIDELINES TOWARDS PARTICULAR COMPONENTS OF A PROJECT OR TYPES OF PROJECTS, UH, THE IDEA IS THAT THE GUIDELINES REPRESENT CORE PRINCIPLES OF URBAN DESIGN AND THEREFORE CAN BE APPLIED TO ALL PROJECTS.
UM, HOWEVER, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND OTHER PROJECTS WE MIGHT SEE OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM PROJECTS MAY NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT ALL OF THE GUIDELINES WILL BE APPLICABLE, BUT, UM,
[01:55:01]
GENERALLY WE HAVE DEVELOPED A SYSTEM.WE BELIEVE WE CAN ACTUALLY USE THE SAME GUIDELINES AND JUST TURN CERTAIN OFF, UH, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IT'LL BE NOTED ON THE GUIDELINE WHICH TYPES OF PROJECTS IT'S APPLICABLE TO.
SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE A, A HUGE LIFT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
YEAH, I, I THINK I UNDERSTOOD BECAUSE LAST WE MET, I, I UNDERSTOOD IT AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE GUIDELINES WERE REFERRED TO BUT DIDN'T NECESSARILY EXIST AT ALL.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DIRECTING THE REDRAFTED DESIGN GUIDELINES WHERE THEY APPLY TO INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS INSTEAD OF CREATING A WHOLE NEW SET.
AND, AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, WHEN ARE YOU MEETING, I'M SURE YOU'VE TOLD US THIS BEFORE, BUT AT WHAT TIME OF THE WEEK IS THE WORKING GROUP? CURRENTLY MEETING? WE, WE HAD BEEN WORK, UH, MEETING AT TWO, ON TWO ON FRIDAYS, UM, BUT NOT, IT HADN'T BEEN EVERY WEEK.
UM, AND NOW THAT WE'RE KIND OF GETTING TOWARD THE HOME STRETCH, WE'VE MIXED THAT UP A BIT AND WE'RE TRYING WEDNESDAY MORNINGS IF NINE, UM, BUT IT'S NOT, I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S CONSISTENT.
WE'RE KIND OF ADJUSTING TO SCHEDULES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS AN UPDATE FROM THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, UH, REGARDING THE JANUARY 24TH MEETING, OR SORRY, JULY 24TH MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY, WHAT'S THAT? OH, SALINAS.
UM, UH, SINCE CHAIR SALINAS IS NOT HERE, THEN WE WILL FORGO THAT UNLESS SOMEONE HAS SOMETHING.
UM, SO, UH, ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM THE COMMISSION? NO.
ALRIGHT, AND JUST AS A REMINDER, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, YOU JUST NEED TWO PEOPLE TO SPONSOR THAT.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE READY TO ADJOURN.
SO I CALLED THIS MEETING ADJOURNED.