11-30-2007
Re-designing Riverside Drive

One of Austin's busiest corridors will soon get a multi-million dollar overhaul. The Austin City Council Thursday hired an architect, A. Nelessen & Associates out of New Jersey, to redesign East Riverside Drive from I-35 to Ben White. City leaders say in 5 years, you won't even be able to recognize it. Part of the plan includes widening the street, adding an "ultra light" rail line that will run from the airport to downtown and pushing new condo and retail developments along that corridor right next to the street instead of being set back. "It's just a complete new, urbanist design of the way cities are growing, and Riverside is no different," says Austin City Council member Mike Martinez. "The market is dictating a lot of change on Riverside."
"I think what Austinites can expect to see is East Riverside become more like second street with buildings from 4 to 7 stories high," added Austin City Council member Brewster McCracken.
The design process will take several months. City leaders say the East Riverside project could easily costs tens of millions of dollars to overhaul.
One question being raised is how will this change affect the cost of housing. There are a number of students and immigrant workers who live in the area. While prices will go up, city leaders say the public will get a chance to give feedback during the design process.