AN NU ALDowntown Austin Alliance 2011-2012 RE PO RT 4 Downtown Austin A annual rep 2011-2012 Annual Report own Alliance 5 annual report 2011D O W N T O W N A U S T I N A L L I A N C E -2012 Our Vision For Downtown Downtown Austin is the heart and soul of Central Texas. It is a welcoming community and a vibrant neighborhood for all. Downtown is our area’s cultural hub and a thriving business, government and residential center. The area is easy to reach and enticing to explore— a place where nature’s beauty beckons. It is a prosperous place that is both economically and environmentally sustainable. contents 32 P"!oting Econ!ic Vitality 32 Music, Culture and Events 34 Parks and Open Space 36 Retail 8 Welc!e 8 Letter from Board Chair Pamela Power 39 Improving the Basics 9 Letter from Executive Director Charles Betts 11 About the Downtown Austin Alliance and Public Realm 14 Downtown Public Improvement District 39 Infrastructure 42 Public Safety and Cleanliness 15 Downtown by the Numbers 44 Building Leadership Capacity 15 Downtown Office Market 16 Downtown Residential and Hotel Markets 44 Advocacy and Policy 17 Downtown Retail Market 45 Communications 46 Education 47 Leadership 20 Strategic Plan 23 Background and Goals 50 Financial Reports 24 Mobility 26 Northeast Quadrant 54 Board and Advisory Board 30 Economic Development 56 DAA Staff DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE Letter fr! 8 The Board Chair Ask a group of Austinites why they love the DAA continued to leverage strong our city and, after they name a few favorite partnerships to exponentially increase the places, they’ll inevitably say something like, change we can effect downtown. From “I just love the vibe here.” our volunteer leadership who championed While Austin can certainly boast downtown projects to be included on this impressive economic and demographic year’s bond election ballot, to our board statistics, it’s that intangible feeling—the members who advocated for urban rail, positive, creativity-inducing energy—that to our friends at Austin Park Foundation ultimately makes talented people want who pioneered new public-private park to call this place home. And that in turn management models, the DAA network makes companies want to locate and grow exemplified Austin’s entrepreneurial spirit. their operations here. On behalf of the DAA and its board of Retaining this quality of life, especially directors, I thank you for your involve- in our urban core, is crucial to keeping ment and interest in enhancing down- our edge as one of America’s most beloved town. We invite you to visit our new cities. We’re enjoying a new building cycle website, DowntownAustin.com, where downtown, with exciting projects like the you’ll find more ways to connect with us JW Marriott, Whitley apartments and throughout the year. the redevelopment of the Seaholm Power Plant and Green Water Treatment Plant. Sincerely, All these bricks-and-mortar developments must be backed by heart and soul. That’s why the Downtown Austin Alliance has put much emphasis this year on enhancing the downtown experience for residents, business owners, employees Pamela Power and visitors alike. Pamela Power Our initiatives included PlazaLife—a “makeover” event that enlivened Frost 2011-2012 Board Chair Bank Plaza through music, food, enticing Downtown Austin Alliance design and diverse activities. The public’s highly positive response created a place- making model that we plan to help other downtown property owners follow. We also continued to shape Congress Avenue into a united retail district through marketing campaigns, events and ambient tree light- ing, which will soon make its debut. In addition to spearheading initiatives, 2011-2012 Annual Report Letter fr! 9 the Executive Director The construction cranes dotting downtown In addition to improving mobility, as Austin’s skyline, along with our already- downtown areas become more intercon- healthy occupancy rates, are signs of a city nected we must transform entertainment relatively untouched by the recession. And districts like East Sixth Street from primar- the announcements keep coming. From ily nighttime destinations to multi-use the Waller Creek Tunnel to the Capitol areas that encourage shopping, dining and Complex Master Plan to the University of recreation around the clock. We cannot re- Texas’s planned medical school and teach- cruit a diverse mix of retailers to these areas ing hospital, there is a future for the central without first tackling security and mainte- business district that’s a dramatic enhance- nance challenges, so the DAA is working ment to today’s downtown. with partners on innovative solutions. It is obvious that downtown Austin has These partners include the Austin Police an exciting mix of urban living, employ- Department, who installed DAA-funded ment and entertainment opportunities. high definition cameras in the East Sixth However, in my visits with many of you in Street District, and the Travis County Dis- the past few months, it is apparent that trict Attorney, who stepped up prosecution there are two challenges that could curb in the same area. We also made progress in future investment if left unaddressed.The our advocacy efforts to create permanent biggest of which is—how will we move supportive housing units downtown, which even more people into, out of and around will help the chronically homeless to stay downtown when we already suffer such safe and resist criminal activity. severe congestion problems? This question Creating a transportation system that affects every aspect of our economic vitality can grow with Austin, protecting the integ- and the downtown experience. rity of our historic entertainment districts The Downtown Austin Alliance and cultivating a retail mix that satisfies strongly believes that the answer must the needs of both residents and venues will include urban rail, and we spent much of be the future charge of this organization. the last year advocating for a multi-modal, With the recent reauthorization by our regional transportation system. While the membership, the DAA board and staff are Charlie Betts Austin City Council has postponed voting to confident that we can address the chal- Executive Director a future bond election, we laid the ground- lenges that face us and continue our work Downtown Austin Alliance work for public demand and will continue to build a great downtown. advocating on our stakeholders’ behalf. Meanwhile, we continued working with Sincerely, groups like Movability Austin, the City of Austin and the Texas Department of Trans- portation to advance projects from managed lanes on Mopac to wayfinding systems to commuter education campaigns. Charlie Betts DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE 10 2011-2012 Annual Report About the 11 DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE Who We Are What We Do The Downtown Austin Alliance is a non- The DAA is engaged in dozens of projects profit organization that works with key and issues that increase the appeal of downtown stakeholders to advance our downtown Austin to residents, employees collective vision for the future of down- and visitors. As a full-time advocate for town Austin. Downtown property owners downtown, the DAA is actively involved with property valued over $500,000 are in planning decisions that impact the automatically assessed members of the area. We also advance downtown’s vision DAA, and any other Austin organizations or through direct services supporting safety individuals are welcomed to join. and cleanliness. When we refer to “the DAA” and “we” throughout this report, we’re alluding both to our talented staff and the teams they assemble to drive initiatives forward. These include: • The DAA board and advisory board • DAA committees • Downtown stakeholders: – property owners – residents – business owners – community organizations – government officials The Downtown Austin Alliance’s mission is to preserve Our Mission and enhance the value and vitality of downtown Austin. DAA Total Membership Associate & Voluntary Members (Dues-paying) Assessed Members (Property owners) 490 106 596 DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE 12 Downtown Austin is t heart and s of Central T2011-2012 Annual Report own s the 13 art and soul ntral Texas. D O W N T O W N A U S T I N A L L I A N C E MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD 14 Public 18th STREET Improvement 17th STREET District STREET LAVACA COLORADO STREET COLORADO 16th STREET CONGRESS AVENUE CONGRESS GUADALUPE STREET GUADALUPE IH-35 ACCESS ROAD ACCESS IH-35 About the PID 15th STREET The Downtown Austin Alliance’s pri- mary source of funding comes from a special assessment on privately owned, TRINITY STREET TRINITY SAN JACINTO STREET JACINTO SAN large properties within the Downtown STREET BRAZOS Public Improvement District. The PID assesses properties at 10 cents per $100 after the first $500,000 in value. PID Renewal STATE CAPITOL 12th STREET In 2012, the DAA and downtown property owners successfully petitioned 11th STREET the Austin City Council to renew the Downtown PID through 2023. City 10th STREET Council first created the PID in 1993. The DAA spent much of the year educating downtown property owners 9th STREET about the PID renewal and collecting their signatures for the petition. State law requires us to collect signatures 8th STREET from property owners representing at least 50 percent of the value of the 7th STREET property liable for assessment, and either 50 percent of the land area or 50 TRINITY STREET TRINITY SABINE STREET SABINE NECHES STREET NECHES RED RIVER STREET percent of the total number of property 6th STREET STREET JACINTO SAN owners. The DAA submitted petitions ROAD ACCESS IH-35 representing 85 percent of the value and STREET NUECES STREET ANTONIO SAN STREET GUADALUPE STREET LAVACA STREET COLORADO AVENUE CONGRESS 5th STREET 71 percent of the land area. The City Council conducted a hearing on Oct.