Image Credit: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Creating Strong Connections to Austin’s New Waterfront
Austin South-Central Waterfront will guide $2 billion redevelopment of new public realm and private properties. For most of Austin’s history the area along the south bank of the Colorado River, directly across from downtown, was river bottom and contaminated flood plains. CMG is participating in the vision implementation and goals for this waterfront development site including enhancing connections to and along the waterfront, expanding open space, creating great public places for all, and establishing a lively and attractive pedestrian environment. The community’s desire for green infrastructure and a balance of public amenities, private investment, and cultural connectivity, shaped the design options. By no longer turning its back on the water, the concept design for 305 South Congress, the previous site of the Austin American Statesman, brings the city of Austin and the design for waterfront framework plan to life. CMG’s role on the team included acting as consultant to help frame the future development plan, facilitating community outreach involvement, and generating the final framework plan alongside the City of Austin Planning + Zoning Department and Urban Design Group.
Image Credit: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
The emerging development will be a lively and attractive pedestrian environment with safer bikeways, great public spaces, better connections to and along the waterfront, and a development of a significant amount of affordable housing. Austin South-Central Waterfront creates a premier open space for the city of Austin and shifts downtown development toward a new town center.
