Airport Boulevard 鈥� or at least the bustling but non-scenic stretch of it from to its terminus at North Lamar 鈥� may look and function a whole lot differently in the future.
For the past several months, the City of Austin, designers and planners have worked on a plan to beautify the urban thoroughfare, making it more multimodal and pedestrian friendly. Tonight, at a , we鈥檒l see the result of that work, as the commission discusses and may take action on recommendations in the .
So why this stretch of asphalt? Its location has several things going for it: The ongoing infill development at the former Mueller airport speaks to the area鈥檚 redevelopment potential; so does ailing Highland Mall, the retail destination center that . Then there鈥檚 the new development at North Lamar, located on the .
The push to reconsider Airport Blvd. came from City Council member Chris Riley, the council鈥檚 resident design wonk. A 2010 bond election provided funds for a mobility study of the corridor. As can be seen in the image above, a mix of car lanes, bike lanes, and widened sidewalks sheltered from traffic by trees are some of the improvements being considered.
Working along with the corridor proposals is another proposal from Riley, to establish a 鈥溾�� pilot project in the Airport region. Essentially, form-based code by focusing on a structure鈥檚 form and design, rather than its use (commercial, industrial, residential, etc.). The Design Commission will also receive a briefing on this effort tonight.
All that said, the lack of attention (and low rent) Airport Blvd.'s held over the years has also allowed several popular businesses to establish there: , , , the and more. Concern over effects from the changes on surrounding businesses has been voiced; the Austin Chronicle , but found Quality Seafood owner Carol Huntsberger receptive to the proposals.
The meeting of the design commission is at the Waller Creek Center, 625 E. 10th st. , at 6:30 p.m. You can view and much .
