For one East Austin street, fairy tales do come true.
A few years ago, the cultural, racial and musical utopia of East 11th Street was almost lost to neglect, but due to recent development efforts funded by the Austin Revitalization Authority, it seems that the neighborhood may someday return to its glory days.
To celebrate the street's new arch, clock tower, mosaic mural and the restoration of a few historic buildings, a two-day blues-and-arts festival was held over the weekend.
The stretch of road popularly dubbed "Eleven East" was once a happening place in the late 1940s and '50s home to a restaurant that once hosted music legends B.B. King, Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin. Called The Victory Grill, the popular restaurant was founded in 1945 as a place for black soldiers to celebrate the end of World War II.
"The Victory Grill has always had a special place in my heart," said Phillip Wrobel, an Austin resident. "It reminds me of the past. There's a lot of history here."
But by the end of the 1970s, the neighborhood had fallen into disrepute. Instead of music, dancing and laughter, Eleven East was overrun with prostitutes, drug dealers and muggers, according to area residents.
"It was not a place you would want to be at night," Wrobel said. "It was dirty, and it was dangerous."
Byron Marshall, founder of ARA, said he has noticed several other communities with histories like that of East 11th Street - places that were once a part of Austin's rich cultural and racial heritage but had fallen into ruin.
As a result, he started the ARA, a nonprofit community development corporation that has, in recent years, focused mainly on the rescue of East 11th and 12th streets.
"This is just the beginning," Marshall said. "We hope to fix up this whole area and maybe spur further development that will make the East End a safe, fun, popular place to be again."
The festival, called Soulfest, has been going on for 16 years as the Clarksville Jazz Festival in West Austin, but organizers moved it this year to celebrate the new developments and drum up positive publicity for the area, said Harold McMillan, founder and producer of Soulfest.
"This is a very historic African-American neighborhood," McMillan said. "This strip is the heart of Austin's live music scene. It's very important that through the developments, the neighborhood maintains its connection to the past."
Those who flocked to the festival over the weekend said the improvements made a big difference.
"They should continue to better the neighborhood for the community's sake," said Tinia Collins, an Austin resident. "This is a very positive thing, bringing all different cultures and races together as one."
Others said positive results will take more time.
"We won't know until a few years from now, but I'm hoping they've revitalized the area," said Lisa Bryson, a festival volunteer. "It has a beautiful history. It's a shame that people are afraid of it."
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