AUSTIN (KXAN) — A group opposed to the redevelopment of the $1.6 billion Austin Convention Center says it has enough signatures to file a petition with the city clerk and potentially force an election in May.
“Way over 20k of you signed for the right to vote on the boondoggle of a Convention Center and to ask for $ to spend on things we care about, and actually attract visitors,” the Austin United PAC wrote on social media.
That PAC is working to force a ballot measure that would stop the project — either until it is approved by voters or for seven years. The petition also calls for the city to prioritize funding for music, arts, cultural and outdoor tourism rather than spending on conventions, the Austin Business Journal previously reported.
On the same day, KXAN watched as the final standing elements of the current Convention Center were demolished.
KXAN has reached out to the city of Austin to better understand what may happen if the petition makes it to a ballot, and is successful.
What will the Convention Center redevelopment look like?
The project to redevelop and expand the Austin Convention Center began following South By Southwest this year, and the building is expected to reopen in 2029.
The project, which the city calls Unconventional ATX, is funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax and Convention Center revenues, according to the city of Austin.
The city described the new Convention Center as a “cutting-edge facility” that will “seamlessly integrate innovative architecture, sustainability, and public art to create a world-class event space in the heart of Austin.”
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Rendering of the New Austin Convention Center: Southeast view from Cesar Chavez Street. (Photo provided by the Austin Convention Center Department and LMN/Page) -
Rendering of the New Austin Convention Center: East view across Red River Street, 2nd Street and the Waterloo Greenway. (Photo provided by the Austin Convention Center Department and LMN/Page.) -
Rendering of the New Austin Convention Center: West view from 2nd Street and Trinity Street. (Photo provided by the Austin Convention Center Department and LMN/Page.) -
Rendering of the New Austin Convention Center: North façade looking across 3rd Street and the north event plaza. (Photo provided by the Austin Convention Center Department and LMN/Page.) -
Rendering of the New Austin Convention Center: Outdoor event space in front of the ballroom and lobby. (Photo provided by the Austin Convention Center Department and LMN/Page.)
The redeveloped Convention Center will nearly double the rentable square footage of the old facility — from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet of rentable space — according to the City of Austin.
“The redevelopment of the Convention Center will create a vital downtown amenity and urban connector,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. “With a design that emphasizes street-level openness and accessibility, vibrant public plazas, and pedestrian-friendly pathways, this transformation will enhance connectivity and inclusivity, creating a more accessible and engaging downtown experience for residents and visitors.”
Read more about that project here.
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