Newsroom

Welcome to the Downtown Austin Alliance's Newsroom.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Communications Director
(512) 381-6267

Transit Working Group

Mayor Lee Leffingwell has launched a subcommittee of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization called the Transit Working Group. The subcommittee will evaluate and provide input on future high-capacity transit systems for Central Texas. This regional system of transit can include bus rapid transit, rail, high-occupancy road lanes and more. To watch recordings of these meetings by Channel 6, please see links below:

Transit Working Group Meeting: December 16, 2011

  • Topics Covered: Meeting Goals and Upcoming Topics, Transportation Corridors Recap, How High-Capacity Transit fits in the CAMPO 2035 Regional Transportation Plan, High-Capacity Transit Projects (Urban Rail), Community Outreach

Transit Working Group Meeting: December 2, 2011

  • Topics Covered: Regional Challenges and Opportunities Recap, Meeting Goals, Transportation Corridors Overview, High-Capacity Transit Projects

Transit Working Group Meeting: November 18, 2011

  • Topics Covered: Meeting Goals and Process, Project Connect, Regional Needs and Opportunities, How High-Capacity Transit fits in the CAMPO 2035 Regional Transportation Plan

Transit Working Group Meeting: November 4, 2011

  • Topics Covered: Working Group Charge, Process and Schedule, CAMPO 2035 Regional Public Transportation Plan, Planning Topics/Needs: System. Organization & Funding

 

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DAA Annual Membership Breakfast

Date: Friday, October 28
Location: Hilton Austin

Annual Election Meeting (Members Only)
Check-in: 7:30 a.m.
Election Meeting: 8:00 a.m.

Annual Membership Breakfast
Check-in and Networking: 8:00 a.m.
Membership Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.

Price: $25/person or $250 for a reserved table of 10

RSVP by Tuesday, October 25 by 5:00 p.m.: rsvp@downtownaustin.com or 512.381.6270

Featured Presentation:
Carol Coletta: President of ArtPlace, former CEO of CEO's for Cities, Urban Expert

As we begin implementation the Downtown Austin Plan, many are wondering, what the next steps are for us as a community and why does this all matter?
Join the Downtown Austin Alliance for our Annual Membership Breakfast featuring Carol Coletta, former president and CEO of CEOs for Cities, a specialist in developing cities and creative communities, and the current president of ArtPlace, a collaboration of top national foundations, the National Endowment for the Arts and various federal agencies to accelerate creative placemaking across the U.S. She has been named one of the world’s 50 most important urban experts and has devoted her life to answering the question: What makes cities succeed? Come see what it will take to make downtown Austin part of the next generation of great American cities.

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February 25: Mayor Leffingwell's State of the City Address

Mayor Leffingwell delivered his 2011 "State of the City" remarks on Feb. 25 at City Hall. To read the full text of his speech, click here.

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Campaign Launches To Promote Donations To Local Social Service Agencies
Coalition Seeks to Encourage Responsible Giving and Curb Panhandling

A coalition of local social service agencies, businesses and residents have announced a campaign to encourage donations to social service agencies and decrease the prevalence of panhandling in the downtown area. The Know Before You Give campaign asks the public to know that it is ok to say no to panhandling and yes to responsible giving. “Austinites with good intentions and big hearts naturally want to help those who are asking for help,” said Helen Varty, Executive Director of ARCH/Front Steps. “However, the most effective way to help is to support local organizations with the mission and expertise to truly make a longterm
difference in the lives of Austin’s neediest.”

Know Before You Give aims to persuade Austinites to give responsibly, which means donating money to an organization that will use the funds more effectively rather than giving directly to an
individual on the street. Such social service organizations are able to address specific needs and provide an effective, long-term alternative to panhandling. Through recognizing Austinites’
passion to help those in need, Know Before You Give encourages residents to ask themselves: “What is the best way I can truly help?”

“Most of us have experienced panhandling downtown,” said Tim League, owner of the Alamo Drafthouse and chairman of campaign partner 6ixth Street Austin Association. “It’s distressing
to those who work, live and visit downtown. That negative perception of safety could threaten our neighborhood and businesses if people choose not to come downtown because of it. We
know there are effective ways to help those in need and curb panhandling at the same time.”

Know Before You Give aspires to unite the downtown community to aid those in need by attempting to shift donations from people who panhandle to social service organizations, which
provide essential services. The campaign educates the Austin public on the root causes – such as mental illness, disabilities, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, poverty and major life
transitions -- that lead many to resort to panhandling. By addressing the root causes, Austin’s social service agencies can help more people off the streets, into homes and out of poverty.

Panhandling often continues the cycle of dependency, whereas responsible giving empowers both those in need and the Austin community as a whole. By donating to social service agencies, Austin residents can help more people immediately, and provide the funding to expand basic care, programs and housing for the community’s neediest. Social service agencies in Austin provide numerous services including: prepared meals, grocery
pantries, shelters, medical care, mental health, dental and eye care, legal aid/advocacy, veterans services and other helpful services.

About Know Before You Give
Know Before You Give is made up of many different members of the community including the following organizations: ARCH/Front Steps, Caritas of Austin, Downtown Cluster of
Congregation and Social Services, Salvation Army, Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, Austin Hotel and Lodging Association, Building Owners and Managers Association, Downtown Austin Alliance, Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association, Old Pecan Street Association, Texas Association of Realtors, and 6ixth Street Austin Association.

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Downtown Austin Condo Myths Debunked

  • Myth #1: They're building too many condos in downtown Austin.
  • Myth #2: No one is really going to live downtown; the condos are all being purchased by investors.
  • Myth #3: All the people moving downtown are from California.

    You've all heard the chatter. You've seen the construction cranes. You've wondered if anyone is really going to buy these downtown condos, and if so, who are these people? The Downtown Austin Alliance and Capitol Market Research bring you a report that provides an accurate snapshot of downtown condo buyer demographic and sales data. Click here to get the facts that will dispel these myths.

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DOWNTOWN

Watch one of the EMMY ® Award-winning 30-minute television shows co-produced by the Downtown Austin Alliance and Action Figure for KLRU-TV, Austin PBS. This new and exciting series captures the essence of Downtown Austin. Each episode highlights the many unique and fascinating qualities that make Downtown "As Austin as it Gets.™"

Downtown Headlines

There's lots of news happening in and around Downtown Austin. Here are links to some of the most recent Downtown news stories.

This Week in Downtown

Get on the list to get all the latest news in Downtown. This Week in Downtown is the weekly electronic newsletter of the Downtown Austin Alliance featuring news about Downtown arts and cultural events, street closings and other important news.

Annual Report

Click here to download the Alliance's most recent Annual Report. Included in the report are the highlights of the past year's activities and the Alliance's latest Financial Statements.