This map shows the projects under construction or proposed in the Rainey neighborhood.[/caption]
In 1999, when the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center was in its planning stages, only two Rainey neighborhood condominiums—neither of them considered high-rise developments—existed around the MACC, as the locals call it.
Back then, the 10-1 council system we have today didn't exist, Austin's population stood at 629,769 and, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, Hispanics or Latinos made up almost 31 percent of the Austin population.
As of 2015, that figure has increased to almost 35 percent. Meanwhile, the number of condominiums in the neighborhood has more than doubled, with several more planned or proposed thanks to a change in zoning 13 years ago that allowed more development. The neighborhood's main thoroughfare, Rainey Street, has become a site for bar-hopping tourists and locals alike—something staff and visitors to the MACC have noticed.
"When the first [MACC] master plan was designed, this was an enormous civic space that was towering over this [National Register] historic Rainey Street District and in the intervening years, we have residential high rises, we have a totally different context," said Kim McKnight, project coordinator and cultural resource specialist for the city of Austin Parks and Recreation Department.
Now, MACC officials say the center, which preserves and promotes Mexican-American culture and art through educational classes, showcases and events, is at capacity.
Programming has evolved and expanded, new organizations such as the Waller Creek Conservancy have a stake in the area, and the facility has acquired more land, sparking the need for a new master plan to replace the one created back in 1999.
Community feedback sought
On Saturday morning, the new master plan project kicks off with a public meeting to gauge what Austin citizens want the new MACC to look and feel like. Jaime Beaman, an architect with CasaBella Architects, helped develop the original master plan and is back for round two."One of the goals of the master plan is to simultaneously reach the sort of broader Mexican American community and Latino community generally throughout the city, but also not lose sight of the original community that really gave this place its original life." —Kim McKnight, project coordinator for Austin Parks and Recreation Department"What was really important to the community was not only that they have the spaces that they needed for the cultural arts, but the image of the space was critical to the community," he said of the original master plan. The first phase—completed in 2007—included gallery and exhibit space, office and administrative space, a small theater and classroom space. Beaman said phases 2 and 3 are being tossed out, and CasaBella Architects will develop a brand new master plan based on this round of community feedback, which should last a year. The first meeting will take place Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the MACC, located at 600 River St. Citizens can also share their input in an online survey.
Game changers
McKnight said a lot has changed in the area during the past 10 years, including the number of stakeholders who are interested in what happens to the MACC property. She said when the MACC was completed in 2007, The Waller Creek Conservancy didn't exist, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail that runs in the MACC's backyard wasn't complete, and there wasn't an entire Rainey neighborhood business district to consider. Now, as part of the master plan process, MACC officials and CasaBella Architects will be meeting with stakeholder groups separately, similar to how the Austin Convention Center has gathered feedback on its possible expansion. The Rainey Neighbors Association also did not exist 10 years ago. Today, the group has taken the issue of area growth into its own hands by commissioning a neighborhood traffic study, something residents say the city of Austin failed to do in the past. The traffic study, published in early July, looks at potential solutions to the future congestion problem the area faces. One of the solutions from engineering firm Big Red Dog is to extend Red River Street through the MACC property to connect it to River Street.'La Gran Entrada'
The great entrance, or "La Gran Entrada," is one of the areas MACC officials want to focus on improving. The area used to belong to Austin Energy. "The entry is critical to the success [of the MACC]," Beaman said. In exchange for the land, the The city of Austin agreed to allow the developer of the new 70 Rainey condominiums to stage on two city-owned lots next to 70 Rainey St. during construction. Once construction is complete, the land will become dedicated parkland that is part of MACC campus, and the community will have a say in what it is used for. About $276,000 of the $400,000 in revenue from the lease of the city-owned lots is being used to fund the master plan, according to McKnight.East Austin roots
McKnight said another thing that has changed is the presence of Mexican-Americans in East Austin, which is a stone's throw away from the MACC. "I think that people traditionally think about the [Mexican-American] community being sort of rooted in East Austin, which is certainly true," she said. But, she pointed out, Mexican-Americans aren't just in East Austin anymore.
This map by the city of Austin shows the change in Hispanic-Latino population between 2000 and 2010.[/caption]
"One of the goals of the master plan is to simultaneously reach the sort of broader Mexican-American community and Latino community generally throughout the city but also not lose sight of the original community that really gave this place its original life," she said. "I think we have an opportunity to tell the story of the past but also it’ll be a very forward-looking process."
Tourists also visit the MACC, although McKnight said programming isn't necessarily geared toward that audience.
"Good programming that is geared toward the community is authentic, and tourists want an authentic experience," she said.
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for the MACC, and in the past, the department has received some funding through hotel occupancy taxes—revenue collected from people who stay in Austin's hotel rooms—that have been dedicated to historic preservation through the city's heritage grant program.
McKnight said funding has not been identified for execution of the future master plan.
"No funding could be off the table," she said. "I think of all the facilities that we have at the parks department, this facility is in a unique position to have some out-of-the-box thinking."
Correction: This story has been updated to show that the master plan is being funded through revenue from the lease of the city-owned lots to 70 Rainey, not by the developer.
