Proposed Dougherty Art Center Relocation

The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is proposing to relocate the Dougherty Art Center (DAC) from its current location on Barton Springs Road to a site in Butler Shores Park. In 2019, the City Council approved Butler Shores Park as the new location for the DAC. In the early part of 2021, PARD put forward several design options and recommended Option 1B. The project will increase traffic along Toomey Road. The ZNA Executive Committee voted to oppose Option 1B and recommended that other sites besides Butler Shores Park be considered for the relocation. The City did not reconsider the proposed relocation to Butler Shores Park. There is a City webpage on the Proposed DAC Relocation with related information.

Site Plan

Site Plan Permitting Status (AB+C link)

Documents

Staff Presentation and Final Design Option [25 Apr 2022] (8.9 MB PDF; 37 pages)
Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Apr 2021] (9.4 MB PDF; 23 pages)
Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Mar 2021] (9.4 MB PDF; 23 pages)
Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Feb 2021] (5.2 MB PDF; 16 pages)
Councilmember Kitchen Motion Sheet [09 May 2019] (<1 MB PDF)
PARD DAC Plannning and Community Engagement Presentation [29 Mar 2019] (12.9 MB PDF; 14 pages)
ZNA Position Statement on Dougherty Arts Center [22 Oct 2018] (<1 MB PDF)
PARD DAC Plan and Conceptual Design [18 Sep 2018] (9.0 MB PDF; 22 pages)
PARD DAC Plan and Conceptual Design [15 Jun 2018] (3.0 MB PDF; 15 pages)
PARD DAC Site Assessment Study [14 Dec 2017] (3.4 MB PDF; 32 pages)

Previous Public Hearings and Meetings

DAC Replacement Design Update Meeting - Monday, 25 Apr 2022
- Video of Meeting [25 Apr 2022] (link)
- Staff Presentation [25 Apr 2022] (<1 MB PDF)

City Council Hearing - scheduled for Thursday, 06 May 2021, 10:00 am, Item 11

The City Council will be voting to approve the preferred redevelopment scenario for design and construction of the Dougherty Arts Center's replacement at Butler Shores Park.

Hearing Backup - Staff Recommendation [23 Apr 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Design Narrative Summary [Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Apr, 2021] (9.1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Draft Preliminary TIA [01 Apr 2021] (1.7 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Draft Preliminary TIA Appendix [01 Apr 2021] (19.7 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Friends of DAC letter [29 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Preservation Austin letter [23 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - The Trail Foundation letter [09 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Environmental Commission Motion [03 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Design Commission Recommendation [01 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - City Council minutes [09 May 2019] (<1 MB PDF)

Related City Council Resolution - scheduled for Thursday, 06 May 2021, 10:00 am, Item 42

The City Council will be voting on a resolution directing the City Manager to designate Butler Shores Park as a Cultural Park and to initiate an analysis of the Butler Shores area and surrounding South Austin cultural assets for designation as a Cultural District and/or other area planning processes. Sponsors: Council Member Ann Kitchen, Council Member Leslie Pool, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, Council Member Kathie Tovo, Council Member Paige Ellis. At this time, the ZNA Executive Committe is not completely clear on what the implication of this resolution will be.

Hearing Backup - Recommendation for Action [23 Apr 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Proposed Resolution [23 Apr 2021] (<1 MB PDF)

Parks and Recreation Board (PARB) Hearing - Tuesday, 23 Mar 2021, Item B.2 & Item B.3

Item B.2. - A motion to rescind the recommendation made February 23, 2021 regarding the preferred design scenario for the DAC passed on a vote of 7-0 with 1 abstention and 3 members absent.

Item B.3. - A motion to recommend to the City Council Option 1A for the DAC project with direction to investigate underground parking under the facility passed on an 8-0 vote with 3 members absent. A motion to move or design around the heritage tree passed on a vote of 8-0 with 3 members absent.

Video of PARB Hearing [click on Item B.2 and Item B.3] (link)
Minutes of Items B.2 and B.3 [23 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Mar 2021] (9.4 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Design Narrative Summary [Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - City Council minutes [09 May 2019] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - The Trail Foundation letter [09 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)

Urban Transportation Commission Hearing - Tuesday, 30 Mar 2021, Item 3D

A motion to support Option 1B was approved unanimously even though the item was not posted for action.

Video of Urban Transportation Commission Briefing [click on Item 3.D; TIA discussion begins at 55:25] (link)

Historic Landmark Commission Hearing - Monday, 22 Mar 2021, Item 2.C (no action was taken)

Video of Arts Commission Briefing [click on Item 2.C] (link)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Feb 2021] (5.2 MB PDF)

Downtown Commission Hearing - Wednesday, 17 Mar 2021, Item 2.b (no action was taken)

Video of Arts Commission Briefing [click on Item 2b] (link)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Mar 2021] (9.4 MB PDF)

Arts Commission Hearing - Monday, 15 Mar 2021, Item B.3 (no action was taken)

Video of Arts Commission Briefing [27m38s; click on Item B.3] (link)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Mar 2021] (9.4 MB PDF)

Planning Commission Hearing - Tuesday, 09 Mar 2021, Item C1

A motion to recommend option 1B, with the request to revisit the design of traffic circles, was approved on a vote of 10-0 with Vice Chair Hempel absent and two vacancies on the Commission.

Video of Planning Commission Hearing [click on Item C1] (link)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Mar 2021] (9.4 MB PDF)

Environmental Commission Hearing - Wednesday, 03 Mar 2021, Item 3c

A motion to recommend against Option 1B and support Option 1A with conditions was approved on a 7-0 vote with Commissioners Coyne and Maceo absent.

Video of Environmental Commission Hearing [click on Item 3c] (link)
Environmental Commission Motion [03 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Feb 2021] (5.2 MB PDF)

Parks and Recreation Board (PARB) Hearing - Tuesday, 23 Feb 2021, Item B.3

A motion to recommend to PARD's preferred design scenario (Option 1B) passed on a 6-1 vote with Board Member Faust voting nay and Vice Chair Farasat and Board Members DePalma, DiCarlo and Rinaldi absent.

Video of PARB Hearing [click on Item B.3] (link)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Feb 2021] (5.2 MB PDF)

Design Commission Hearing - Monday, 22 Feb 2021, Item 1b

A motion to emphasize Option 1A failed on a vote of 4 ayes, 2 nays, 2 abstentions, and 3 members absent. A motion to support the DAC project without recommending a specific option passed on a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nayes, 1 abstention, and 3 members absent. See the meeting minutes and recommendation below for details.

Video of Design Commission Hearing [click on Item 1b] (link)
Minutes for Item 1b [22 Feb 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Design Commission Recommendation [01 Mar 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
Hearing Backup - Staff Presentation and Preliminary Design Options [Feb 2021] (5.2 MB PDF)
Project Review Application (<1 MB PDF)

City Council Hearing - Monday, 09 May 2019, Item 8

A motion to approve the proposed Dougherty Arts Center redevelopment site at Butler Shores Park passed 8-2 with 1 member absent (Councilmembers Flannigan and Renteria voted nay and Councilmember Casar was off the dais).