The Austin City Council approved June 7 changes to the 2008 plan for the Seaholm redevelopment site in southwest downtown.
The original plan called for a 7.8-acre, mixed-use project featuring space for offices, local retail shops, condos, a luxury boutique hotel and an acre of outdoor event space.
However, according to John Rosato, managing partner for Seaholm Power LLC, the state of the economy and change in the retail market drove a need to repurpose the site toward offices and apartments.
He said the goal had been for a children's museum to occupy the former power plant building, but the main floor of the power plant building will now be used for office space, and a planned high-rise tower will now include 294 multifamily apartments in place of condos.
Also, a parking garage with 315 spaces planned for a location adjacent to the site will now be built under the plant.
"We hear and understand the voices within the community that want us to continue to seek for additional ways to make the power plant itself accessible to the public, and pledge to make that a continued priority—quite frankly because we agree with that sentiment," Rosato said.
Rosato said the alternative grocer Trader Joe's will still be part of the site, the architectural integrity of the Seaholm building will not be altered and that the changes result in additional green space.
In addition, Councilwoman Laura Morrison added amendments for a future independent market study to determine retail viability for the power plant and to reserve three areas of public access to the building among the office space.
Project construction is slated to begin this summer.