Austin's live music landmark Stubb's Bar-B-Q is hoping to get a face-lift.
The downtown venue has worked on renovation plans for the past several years, including a $5 million expansion.
The expansion will consist of remodeling the restaurant and performance areas, including the dining and kitchen sections, a new indoor concert hall and improvements to the amphitheater, said Margaret Vera, the restaurant's project coordinator. The indoor hall will then hold 1,500 people, and changes to the outdoor amphitheater will increase the capacity from 2,200 to 3,500.
"The goal is to create a venue that is spectacular for both the artists and the patrons, as well as efficient and functional for the staff," Vera said. "We plan on continuing operations as normal during construction."
Vera said Stubbs' decision to continue with operations while the restaurant undergoes renovation will lengthen the project's estimated time, potentially doubling it from one year to two.
In conjunction with the plans for enlargement, Stubb's has proposed new zoning classifications to city officials. Stubbs' antiquated zoning classifications do not allow the restaurant to function with the full benefits of other downtown venues.
Stubb's is requesting to be classified as a central urban redevelopment combining district, which would make it compatible with surrounding neighborhoods and encourage high-quality development with architectural design, according to the city of Austin Web site.
Stubb's is also asking the planning commission for permission to purchase a nearby alley and a 400-square-foot lot.
"In 1836 when the land was cut up and laid out in grid format, there was an alley that crossed Red River that never got built, but it still shows up on the city layout," said Jerry Rusthoven, manager of current planning for the neighborhood planning and zoning commission. "Even though the alley is pretty much nonexistent, they have to request official vacation of it."
Stubb's does not yet have a date scheduled to appear before the planning commission or Austin City Council, Vera said. The venue is in the process of presenting its project before the various boards and commissions to receive feedback.
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