A proposed revitalization plan in East Austin would create a new artist colony, but the idea has some neighbors and business owners upset.
In an effort to revitalize the Plaza Saltillo District in East Austin, the city is proposing to create a new artist colony.
“Where you revitalize communities using cultural and artistic and music resources of a community, generally a low income community, and try and jump start some of the basic revitalization and create jobs,” said Kevin Johns Economic Growth and Re-development Director.
Johns says he plans to apply for a federal grant for about $4 million to $6 million to pay for the project. He hopes to create about 300 jobs that would stimulate community development in an area that has been overlooked for years.
“If you can imagine a community where you could walk three to four blocks to the coffee shop, you just figured out how to own or walk to work at an art gallery; that’s what we envision,” he said.
Johns is reaching out to the commercial property owners to see what kind of family owned and local businesses would like to participate.
“Our focus is economic growth,” said Johns. “The focus is strictly to create jobs for low and moderate income people.
The Plaza Saltillo District runs from I-35 on the west, North Alley of East 7th Street, a block east of Chicon and along and between East 3rd And 4th Streets. The artist colony targets I-35- on the west, North Alley of East 7th Street, Waller Street and East 3rd Street.
In a letter to City Council, Mark Rogers, of the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation, reminds them that citizens worked for five years to create the Saltillo District Master Plan. Nowhere in the plan did it mention an artist colony. He is concerned it will add to the problem of continued gentrification.
He states in his letter he "cannot help but wonder with "suspicion and distrust, 'Where did this idea originate?'"
Johns says he will be applying for the grant in the next few months.
