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Old Water Treatment Plant to be Site of Affordable Downtown Housing
By Kathryn | June 1, 2008
Anyone who is familiar with downtown Austin probably knows about the Green Water Treatment Plant. For years, this sewage treatment site served the city from its downtown location. However, it was relocated in 2005 and that left a big chunk of land right in downtown Austin that was open for use. The City of Austin is in the process of accepting proposals from developers interested in placing mixed-use construction on this site. The first proposals that have come through reveal that this site is ultimately going to be used to create affordable housing in the growing downtown area.
The Green Water Treatment Plant site is a massive site which takes up four city blocks downtown bordering both the trendy second street district and the lake. This makes it an ideal place for residents who are seeking to be close to all of the action, have a view of the lake and to create a home in the increasingly popular downtown area. The site currently interrupts the street grid system of downtown but will likely be altered in such a way as to allow currently closed-off streets to have thru access to the downtown area. This will allow traffic to flow more freely through downtown Austin and should further enhance the growth of the neighborhood.
The various proposals for development of this building site are each different in their design but maintain many of the same features. For example, the proposals all suggest a mixed-use site which includes residences, retail and entertainment venues. This is in keeping with the current downtown trend to incorporate all of these types of spaces into one building or area in order to make life more convenient for everyone moving in to downtown Austin. Because of the location of these buildings, it is expected that this will extend the trendy 2nd Street district into a larger area encompassing more of downtown.
More importantly, it is believed that these buildings are going to offer affordable housing in what is an increasingly expensive part of the city to live in. At least ten percent of the units that are expected to go up should be priced within an affordable price range for a family earning a median income of $57,000. This is particularly important because of the timing of the construction; these buildings are set to start going up in 2010 at a time when many of the much more expensive condo units that are currently underway are set to start opening up to residents. People who are drawn to the area because of these more expensive units may find that the new site offers them an affordable option for moving downtown.
Topics: Upcoming Projects |
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
[…] Old Water Treatment Plant to be Site of Affordable Downtown Housing […]
July 19th, 2008 at 6:56 am
I am opening a business in downtown, and would like to hear any development that in going on now and in the future.
Thank you,
Cynthia Gans