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The price of urban growth in Austin
Hotel development to displace local businesses
By Scott Armand
Land development on the 200 block of Congress Avenue threatens to displace three local businesses: Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, Escuelita del Alma Learning Center and the retail arm of Tesoros Trading Company. A $185 million deal announced a few weeks ago between the landowner Finley Co. and White Lodging Services Corp. would tear down the businesses to make way for three Marriott International Inc. hotels. "I'm so disgusted. It's more density," said Dina Flores, owner and director of Escuelita del Alma, a Spanish immersion day-care center. As the pace of development in the downtown area increases, many residents decry what they see as the loss of Austin's unique culture. Las Manitas has served as a meeting place for local artists and politicians for the last 25 years. "I think [Las Manitas] is a cultural institution," said Raul Salinas, a local poet, activist and long-time Las Manitas customer. "This place has made Congress Avenue. We're not just losing a building. … This is an Austin family." City Councilman Mike Martinez said it's important to preserve Austin culture. The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Jeb
posted 10/04/06 @ 8:40 AM CST
I don't understand why the landlord did not just wait until these businesses leases expired and then not renew them.
Had he just let the building go vacant, the Wise & Benevolent Empiral Central Planners of Austin (aka City Council) have had no right to tell him how to use his private property. (Continued…)
othello
posted 10/04/06 @ 10:37 AM CST
yeah, Jeb, maybe the land owners should have kept their mouth shut, but they also should not have been telling the tenets that they would be exchanging rent payments for a long time, then a week later they went public in the Austin American Stateman about selling the block. (Continued…)
Bill Warner
posted 10/04/06 @ 8:14 PM CST
This is just more of creating another Seattle or Portland or (insert trendy city of your choice)instead of letting Austin be Austin.Things like this coupled with huge tax breaks for big business,which in turn put more tax burden on the people of Austin least able to afford it are making Austin an elitist city,even though the people being hurt have lived here their whole lives. (Continued…)
Jeb
posted 10/05/06 @ 8:34 AM CST
Othello: if escuelita is so great, they will do fine at a different location. This isn't a question of whether these businesses will be permitted to operate, just where. (Continued…)
Barbara Rosenthal
posted 10/18/06 @ 3:18 PM CST
I have had only one opportunity to visit Austin, and the place that I found most charming was Las Manitas. Please help stop this treasure from disappearing and allowing the forces of corporate conformity to creep into your unique downtown. (Continued…)
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