An expanded Austin Convention Center will be coming as part of a resolution approved yesterday by City Council.
The expansion is part of the Palm District Master Plan which includes historic preservation and the Rainey District Tourism Fund which will be reinvested into areas that have been not funded well. Councilmember Greg Casar says “I for one, am really supportive and think it’s really important for us to right the wrongs of the past and recognize the history of the communities of color in this city.”
The plan that would re-invest in downtown area communities of color in southeast Downtown and provide for a $1.2 billion dollar expansion of the convention center westward across 2nd and 3rd Streets. Councilmember Ann Kitchen says “We generate quite a bit of tax revenues from the downtown area, but we have needs throughout the city.”
The plan unanimously passed creates the Palm District Master Plan including operating that school, creates the Rainey Street District Fund and a Tourism Public Improvement District to battle homelessness. Councilmember Kathie Tovo says the Rainey Street District Fund part of the plan to reinvest in those communities isn’t about using taxpayer money. “It is specifically the right-of-way fees, license agreements, things that were generated. The idea was that the fees that the people are paying to re-develop that area would be re-invested into infrastructure but also to protect the historic integrity.”
Photo Shutterstock/By Brandon Seidel
