Waller Creek Project to Bridge 55 Year Divide?
When I-35 was built, it created a “racial divide” for many people in Austin. Prior to interstate 35 being built in 1953, East Avenue was known as “that tranquil tree-lined boulevard” that served as the ideal roadway for a horse and buggy view of downtown and the Capitol. I live in East Austin and even after 55 years, people are still scared of the “unknown” on the other side of the highway. What they don’t know is East Austin may be one of the most dynamic parts of Austin. East Austin (Central East Austin, East Cesar Chavez, Holly, Chestnut, Rosewood, French Place) has more visual art studios, performing arts venues, and theatre companies than any other part of Austin. I see this as a very important project to re-connect East Austin to the rest of the city. Even though many people have already discovered the appeal of East Austin thanks to events like SXSW and the East Austin Studio Tour, this project will allow people to get closer to the “unknown.” Then people can realize there are families and neighbors doing…well what families and neighbors do in East Austin. Live.
Before I-35, East Avenue was a Thoroughfare with a View
East End Cultural Heritage District
New Plans for Waller Creek Improvements
by SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News
Posted on April 7, 2010 at 9:20 PM
Updated yesterday at 10:25 PM
The Mexican American Cultural Center in downtown Austin was packed Wednesday night with neighbors, downtown business owners, employees and the curious. All of them showed up to learn more about the latest redevelopment plans for Waller Creek.
It’s kind of been left alone to fester on its own and I just wonder what they have in store,” said Marvin Chaney an Austinite who showed up to hear and see the final Master Plan for Waller Creek.
“Tonight’s vision is to get in front of the public and let these folks discuss what kind of ideas they have, what can happen along the surface once the tunnel gets rid of the flooding threat,” said Stan Evans with city of Austin’s Watershed Protection.
Evans and other city staffers told KVUE that city engineers had to first come up with plans on controlling the flooding of Waller Creek before developers could even begin talking about redevelopment.
“Then the idea is to use this project to really help reconnect with east Austin with the Lady Bird Lake trail system, with the University of Texas, with the Capitol,” said Jana McCann with McCann Adams Studio, the Austin firm working with the San Francisco development company ROMA.
The city had tables full of artists renderings of hike and bike trails, promenades, restaurants and shops along Waller Creek for citizens to study and submit ideas.
A rough estimate of the improvements to Waller Creek from 12th street to Lady Bird Lake could cost 34 million dollars. It’s unclear at this point where the money will come from.
The Austin City Council has the final say in June. If approved construction on the Waller Creek tunnel could begin in 2011 with a completion date scheduled for early 2014.
http://www.kvue.com/news/Waller-Creek-improvements-90165617.html