Eastside Development: A community dialogue

This photo by John Langmore is on display through April 27, as part of the Mexican American Cultural Center’s exhibit “Fault Line: A Portrait of East Austin.”

On Saturday, April 26, Central East Austin neighborhood residents, East End property owners, and all interested citizens are invited to a second consensus-building meeting concerning proposed developments in the East End. The meeting – organized by the Austin Revitalization Authority, in partnership with the city of Austin – will address changes to the East 11th and 12th streets Urban Renew­al Plan. The ARA has taken a good deal of heat in the community for its weak execution of the plan to date, as well as for other problems – thus the need for dialogue.

The purpose of the Urban Renewal Plan is to encourage positive new development that has "a thriving mix of uses." As a guide to development on East 11th and 12th, it describes, block by block, the details of desired height, density, and parking. The April 26 session will be the second in a series of three; the final session will be on Saturday, May 17. The outcome is expected to change the city's Neigh­borhood Conservation Combining District, which provides incentives for development.

Call 469-1705 or visit www.austinrev.org for meeting materials, summaries, and more information. Both sessions start with refreshments and a social at 9am. Meetings run 9:30am-noon, at Street-Jones Building, Room 400-A, 1000 E. 11th.