Quote:
Originally Posted by drummer
I can't recall the exact boundaries of the innovation zone off the top of my head, but it'd be about 5-6 blocks to the north. If that indeed takes off the way that folks are hoping, it could definitely have an impact on this area as well - that coupled with the eventual redevelopment of areas along Waller Creek.
|
There aren't exact boundaries. My understanding has always been that it is instead an informal designation given to those areas that border the new medical school backed by government largesse to help redevelop those immediately adjacent parcels.
For instance, Merck's announcement to locate a cooperative hub in Austin in the vicinity of the medical school was done with the anticipation of government subsidies for that hub. As time progresses and immediately adjacent parcels to the medical school are redeveloped, the "innovation zone" will expand to include blocks further and further away.
Currently, I'd consider the map from the BuildingATX link below to be a rough guideline of the area. The zone depicted here is bounded by 11th, MLK, I-35, and San Jacinto/Trinity:
http://buildingatx.com/2014/02/ut-me...uction-update/
In the future, however, the area could expand to include some blocks and parcels located south of that, in the area bounded by 6th/7th, 11th, I-35, and San Jacinto/Trinity. Apart from that, I don't see much opportunity for expansion. To the immediate west is the state owned Capitol Complex, which is redeveloping as a civic district in its own right with the Capitol Mall concept, as well as the historic CBD along Congress Avenue; to the south lay three distinct districts: 6th Street, the Convention Center, and Rainey Street; to the north is the University; and to the east is single family residential with the occasional mixed-use multi-family infill project on one of the major corridors. Furthermore, an impediment to "innovation zone" infill in the area bounded by 6th/7th, 11th, I-35, and San Jacinto/Trinity is the Red River Cultural District, as noted by Michael:
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB
I hope you are all so very wrong. The Red River Music district is the last stand for Music ( not cover bands on 6th) in Downtown. Hopefully all parties will wise up and see the benefit.
|
Thus, innovation related development in this area is likely only going to be haphazard and sporadic rather than wholesale as in the area immediately adjacent to the new medical school.