I was born and raised in Austin, brainwashed by Longhorn culture throughout my upbringing. I remember when Darryl K. Royal-Memorial Stadium had an open field on the South End Zone and a small horseshoe enclosing the North End Zone. I remember Austin’s skyline before the Frost Bank Tower was completed in 2003, forever altering the city’s small-town look.
The growing up (as well as the growing out) of Austin is evidence of our ever-changing and progressing persona. Austin’s population grew from 693,185 in April 2000 to 765,957 nine years later. As time progresses, along with the extension of my upbringing and education in Austin, I am excited to see Austin further its growth both demographically and aesthetically.
However, the push for new high-rise apartments and retail complexes is facing some intense opposition.
Earlier this month, Austin City Council adopted a rule that limits the heights of buildings along Lady Bird Lake to less than 96 feet in some areas, and even less than 60 feet in others.
But the new high-rise apartments that are reshaping the Austin skyline are crucial to the city’s future. With the Austin area growing at its current rate and a scarcity of available development space downtown, having apartment buildings that meet the growing demand of those wanting to live downtown will be important not only to continue the physical growth of the city, but also to foster the growth of our local economy.
While seemingly small, the height-restriction rule may also effect the development of the University’s Brackenridge Tract, which is located along Lake Austin Boulevard. The tract is home to a biology field laboratory used by the University.
With regard to the Tract, I understand the concerns of some faculty members — especially considering the prime location of their research facility. But in the long run, it would be in the best interest of both the University and the city to choose one of the plans proposed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners, the firm hired to propose development options for the land. The development of this area would involve either the downsizing or complete removal of the 82-acre biological field laboratory, depending on the plan selected.
Obviously, faculty members and students aren’t going to want the lab they’ve come to value be tampered with, and certainly not removed altogether.
But I am in favor of the proposal to downsize the research facility. The proposal will still keep the location while allowing most of the land to be developed. With research so important to the success of UT, downsizing one of our premier research facilities could be problematic. But finding a way to rebuild elsewhere or to improve on existing facilities should be the central question when the regents decide on a future for the land.
I also understand the concern of the graduate students who currently reside at the Brackenridge apartment complexes and pay an affordable price to do so. Not only would developing the land drive them out while construction occurs, but future grad students would probably not be able to afford the cost of living there. But there is plenty of affordable student housing in other areas of Austin that allow for easy access to UT shuttle routes.
Looking forward, getting rid of 515 old student apartments and expanding to 6,600 housing units, according to one plan, provides more living space for current UT students and future residents of a booming Austin.
I don’t completely disagree with keeping things the way they are, both in terms of preserving Lady Bird Lake and not making changes to the Brackenridge Tract. However, it is more important to look toward the future and plan to accommodate the expansion of Austin in the hopes of making one of the best cities in the U.S. even better.
Winn is a plan II sophomore.
