Creating a Task Force to Save Red River

[Max Lars]

Council Members--

For decades, the City of Austin has been committed to sustaining and improving the Red River community. Even with commitment, we aren't where we want to be or should be. Now, more than ever, we need to double down on our commitment to support our venues, our musicians, and to preserve the culture that makes the "Music Mile" the epicenter of the Live Music Capital of the World.

We should start with candor. The challenges we’re facing in the Red River district are complex. We’ve lost several long-standing and beloved music venues and local businesses. We don’t want to lose venues, and I hope we can stop the bleed. But at the same time, we must address the times we’re in. We’ll need to have 21st Century solutions. The easiness of old Austin isn’t the reality of new Austin, and we must avoid doing a disservice to the Red River district by holding on to “the good old days” as tight as we can.

To meet our goals, several people requested that I create a task force to save Red River. Working with Councilmember Qadri, I’ve created a task force to do just that. It will be led by Jonathan Stone, the City’s new Downtown Strategy Officer, and comprised of the following organizations and community leaders:

-Councilmember Zo Qadri
-Austin Economic Development
-Austin Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (ACME)
-Austin Planning Department
-Red River Cultural District
-Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA)
-Music Venue Alliance
-Rally Austin
-Pecan Street Owners Association
-Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA)
-Waterloo Greenway

This task force will methodically evaluate how to preserve a quality cultural district and encourage economic vitality in the area. We will explore the possibilities, practicalities, barriers and challenges that impact the Red River area, and we will emerge from this task force with real actionable items.

Red River is a special place, and we have an opportunity to create the future we want.

Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson