AUSTIN | Projects & Construction III

[NYC_Longhorn]

I tried to tell y'all that Kathy Tovo isn't a Nimby.... She didn't vote for F1 because of the way it was funded... I disagree with that decision, but she is not a NIMBY. Her husband is a really good architect... Tom Hurt. He has designed several good projects around town. She got that anti-development reputation because she opposed Guerro's building a 6 story parking garage one block in from Congress... in Bouldin Creek. Also, I heard recently that the Seaholm real estate agent bristled at her when she walked through the space with him... apparently, she said... don't you think this magnificent space would be better as a public use rather than offices? The agent apparently got all snippy "what do you have against comercial use?"

When I heard that story, it made me seriously angry that the Seaholm people lack the vision to see what a colossal mistake by not utilizing that space for a market. If people really want to see density and urban rail and taller buildings downtown, then they need to stop Seaholm people from signing these easy leases to companies with deep pockets that can sign a million year lease. Think about it... they are going to put administrative offices in the most unique building on the waterfront. It could have been like New York's Chelsea Market, or San Fran's Ferry building, or Seattle's downtown waterfront pier marketplace.... What we are getting instead is the equivalent of a large Bank putting an ATM building in a building that really could use a pub, theater or restaurant. Sooooo crappy.