City of Austin Rethinks Building Height Restrictions
I had a friend in town this weekend who is from Switzerland. She moved from Austin back to her hometown of Bern, Switzerland about four years ago. She was amazed at how much we’ve changed and seemed very happy at the "more metropolitan" look of the new mixed-use commercial developments.
I was at a meeting a month ago where Mayor Will Wynn discussed the new direction for Austin. In the past, the city wanted to limit height restrictions in central areas to inhibit development. Decades later, city leaders understand and accept that Austin will grow despite any barriers they try to put in the way of development. Austin would now like to open it’s arms to developers of mixed-use commercial properties, especially in central neighborhoods.
Here is the email I received, which announced the city meeting that will take place on December 13th for Mueller Redevelopment areas:
Please participate in an informational meeting on Wednesday, December 13, 6-9 p.m., at the Region XIII Education Center, 5701 Springdale, on the Vertical Mixed Use Opt-in Opt-out process. The VMU option is part of the new City Council-approved Commercial Design Standards Ordinance. This ordinance was crafted by a citizen task force, City staff, and City consultants. A Vertical Mixed Use (VMU) overlay would allow property owners to develop non-residentially zoned property in a new way. A use on the first floor of a building could be commercial and above, you could see a residential use, such as condominiums.
Properties along certain streets in your neighborhood, called Core Transit Corridors, have been designated as potential areas where the VMU overlay may be appropriate. Other properties within your neighborhood may be appropriate for Vertical Mixed Use buildings as well. The City needs your help to determine which properties within your neighborhood are appropriate for this sort of development. All organized neighborhood groups have been asked to participate in the VMU Opt-in/ Opt-out process.
Unfortunately, I will be out of town in a commercial real estate analysis class. If you want to read the guidelines for yourself, download the updated commercial design guidelines (pdf).
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