(more…)

Looking for a family-friendly Halloween event located in Downtown Austin?  DANA invites downtown residents to bring their children to The Shore Condos (map) for an old-fashioned trick-or-treating experience!

Kids – wear your scariest or cutest costume, and bring something to collect your goodies in! Parents – please bring valid photo ID for check in.

While DANA always encourages walking or taking public transportation, if you do drive, parking will be generously provided (for those who RSVP) by DANA business sponsor Austin Shadeworks. Attendees will be given details on parking and how to obtain their permit by email before the event.

Attendees are encouraged to stay for a special Halloween party from 7pm to 8pm sponsored by the little Austin Yoga House.

This event is tailored for children 9 and under.

RSVP by October 24th to matt@urbanspacerealtors.com.

Please note: space is limited to 30 children and their parents

(more…)

Let’s Go Vote!

One of the most critical acts of civic responsibility is voting and some of the greatest impact on our day to day lives is made by local elected officials.  Four out of seven city council members, including the mayor, are up for election and it’s important that Downtown gets out the vote.

Community Impact has prepared a quick fact sheet on each candidate here and each candidate has posted short videos on the city’s website introducing themselves to voters, here.

Saturday, May 12, 2012 | Election Day

Regular voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and a voter must vote in his or her assigned precinct.  To find out where you should go vote, click here:  http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterNameSearch.do

In May 2011, only 7.4% of registered voters came out to vote and downtown turnout was about that average.  For the neighborhood that includes city hall, and whose future is shaped significantly by decisions made by City Council, Downtown can do better than average. Go vote!

(more…)

When: Thursday, March 22, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Where: Rattle Inn @ 610 Nueces Street

The Austin Food & Wine Festival will be hosting DANA and OANA for a very special, super exclusive happy hour event at The Rattle Inn on Thursday, March 22nd from 6:30-8:30pm. Complimentary wine and beer will be served along with tasty bites from Ranch 616 will be available. DANA and OANA members who buy their festival passes at the happy hour will also received a special gift!  To RSVP, click here.

(more…)

DANA has consistently advocated for improved sidewalks and streetscapes as a quality of life amenity in our urban area.  On this week’s Council agenda, there is a project called a ‘Street Patio’ being considered that would help further those goals.

In 2010, DANA took part in a charrette specific to Congress Avenue where the lack of sidewalk cafes was repeatedly highlighted. The vision document that resulted from that community-driven effort made six recommendations, which included “a dynamic pedestrian experience” and “outdoor dining” as top priorities for revitalizing this critical street.

DANA believes that while the pilot program being considered by council is being funded by a private business, the benefit of activated public space for pedestrians constitutes a considerable non-monetary value to the public.  Numerous other cities nationwide have implemented similar programs for mini-patios and parklets.

We are pleased that our organization was invited into the conversation for the pilot and we look forward to giving further feedback during the evaluation period prior to a permanent program.  This site is particularly well suited to this proposal and the two parking spaces being used are being mitigated with two new ones along 7th Street.

We look forward to this exciting development for downtown and the contributions it will make towards the pedestrian environment we all hope to enjoy on Congress Avenue.

(more…)