The existing Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe St., was constructed in the 1930s.[/caption]
UPDATED 7:11 p.m. CST 9/8/15
Austin and Travis County residents are slated to vote this November on a $287 million bond for a new Travis County civil and family courts complex to be located in downtown Austin, but Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman has other plans in mind.
Zimmerman, of District 6, and District 1 Council Member Ora Houston proposed a resolution Sept. 8 that would have city staff seek out land in East Austin for the courthouse to be developed on, such as near Walter E. Long Park. In a post to the council's message board Sept. 8, Zimmerman asked his fellow council members to "oppose" the $287 million bond measure that would fund the complex's development in a post to the council's message board.
The courthouse is currently planned for a downtown block bound by West Third Street, Guadalupe Street, West Fourth Street and San Antonio Street.
The proposed site of Travis County's new civil and family courts complex.[/caption]
“Putting the proposed courthouse downtown doesn’t make sense," Zimmerman said in a statement. "Downtown is already very congested and expensive. East Austin would be much more affordable and would spur economic development in the ‘Eastern Crescent’ of the city.”
Houston said the idea originated in 2014 from District 1 residents voicing concern that parking was difficult to find and costly in the downtown area.
"A variety of office uses and amenities will develop in proximity to the courthouse, and neighbors will take advantage of them. As a city we have to think outside of the box, everything does not have to be in the central city," Houston said in a statement. "Imagine Austin recognizes the need to create ‘job centers’ throughout the city. This is an opportunity to create such a center in a part of town that needs equity, economic development and employment."
The resolution specifically asks that city-owned land be identified as possible sites for the courthouse. Such a trade of land to Travis County from the city would require voter approval.
Zimmerman has asked the Audit and Finance Committee to consider the resolution at its upcoming Sept. 23 meeting.
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said during the Travis County Commissioners Court meeting Sept. 8 that the cost to construct the proposed type of building, no matter where it is in the metropolitan statistical area, would be the same with the exception of the parking garage cost. Eckhardt has also said that locating the complex downtown would result in benefits such as improved access for residents and an increased likelihood of gaining revenue from parking to help offset the tax burden.
The existing Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe St., was constructed in the 1930s.[/caption]
UPDATED 7:11 p.m. CST 9/8/15
Austin and Travis County residents are slated to vote this November on a $287 million bond for a new Travis County civil and family courts complex to be located in downtown Austin, but Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman has other plans in mind.
Zimmerman, of District 6, and District 1 Council Member Ora Houston proposed a resolution Sept. 8 that would have city staff seek out land in East Austin for the courthouse to be developed on, such as near Walter E. Long Park. In a post to the council's message board Sept. 8, Zimmerman asked his fellow council members to "oppose" the $287 million bond measure that would fund the complex's development in a post to the council's message board.
The courthouse is currently planned for a downtown block bound by West Third Street, Guadalupe Street, West Fourth Street and San Antonio Street.
The proposed site of Travis County's new civil and family courts complex.[/caption]
“Putting the proposed courthouse downtown doesn’t make sense," Zimmerman said in a statement. "Downtown is already very congested and expensive. East Austin would be much more affordable and would spur economic development in the ‘Eastern Crescent’ of the city.”
Houston said the idea originated in 2014 from District 1 residents voicing concern that parking was difficult to find and costly in the downtown area.
"A variety of office uses and amenities will develop in proximity to the courthouse, and neighbors will take advantage of them. As a city we have to think outside of the box, everything does not have to be in the central city," Houston said in a statement. "Imagine Austin recognizes the need to create ‘job centers’ throughout the city. This is an opportunity to create such a center in a part of town that needs equity, economic development and employment."
The resolution specifically asks that city-owned land be identified as possible sites for the courthouse. Such a trade of land to Travis County from the city would require voter approval.
Zimmerman has asked the Audit and Finance Committee to consider the resolution at its upcoming Sept. 23 meeting.
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said during the Travis County Commissioners Court meeting Sept. 8 that the cost to construct the proposed type of building, no matter where it is in the metropolitan statistical area, would be the same with the exception of the parking garage cost. Eckhardt has also said that locating the complex downtown would result in benefits such as improved access for residents and an increased likelihood of gaining revenue from parking to help offset the tax burden.
