The Re-envisioning of Rainey Street from a single-family neighborhood to a bar district
Oriana Lopez
Introduction to the changes
In 2004, The City of Austin's Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department filed to rezone Rainey Street from family residences (SF-3) to Central Business District, the densest form of zoning. The ordinance rezone and change in the zoning map went into effect on May 18th, 2005 after a year long fight with the Historic Preservation, various neighborhood associations, and the public. Though the fight of Rainey Street resident's right to remain in their homes against Austin's sustainability-first agenda began in the 1960's.
Zoning Exhibit A displays the 6.525 acres of land proposed for change.
History of redevelopment
1928: The City of Austin enforced segregation through deeds restrictions, moving minority public facilities to the East, and rezoning
1968: Austin's Planning Department conducted an Urban Renewal Study that recommended that 110/166 low-income, minority families relocate to make room for high density housing
1978: (1) Strategies for the Economic Revitalization of Central Austin (2) Urban renewal plan for the Central Business District from the American Cities Corporation (3) The Comic Book "What Are You Going To Do When They Run You Out". These two urban renewal plans were calling for Rainey Streets transition to high density, mixed-use development, but the residents created a comic book (displayed above) that delayed the plans.
"Graffiti in the Rainey Street barrio in protest of the urban renewal plan"
1980: "Development Alternatives for the Rainey Street Area" was released which gave three future land use scenarios for the neighborhood, including one that protected the current low-income residents. City Council did not adopt these principles
1981: The Towers of Town Lake, a high-rise condominium, began construction in the neighborhood in hopes to reduce urban sprawl. Many people spoke out against the development in fear of displacing the surrounding families, but the developers environmental Growth Management argument was more valuable to the City of Austin. Soon after opening, the Towers went bankrupt
1985: Rainey Street is approved to be a listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
1989: Land that was promised to East Austin Chicano Economic Development Corporation (EACEDC) for affordable housing was turned into parkland instead. It seems like no coincidence that shortly after the Mexican American Cultural Center was approved for construction at the base of the neighborhood
2003: The Downtown Commission envisions a new future for Rainey Street with the conversion of the 32 historical homes into retail
2005: The conversion of Rainey Street begins, bringing New Urbanist and Smart Growth principles into a new downtown Austin that turns a blind eye to equity
2007: The Mexican American Cultural Center opens
Revitalization of East Austin by Carlos Lowry
Losing more than just a neighborhood
"Los Elementos" by Raul Valdez & The Juarez- Lincoln University
The Chicano Higher Education Institution, Juarez-Lincoln University
Founded in 1971, The Juarez-Lincoln University was dedicated to teaching Chicano history, language, and arts both in the classroom and the community. It's "university without walls" approach focused on celebrating the bicultural community of Rainey Street and to reinvest their learning back into their community. Unfortunately, the school did not have enough funding to continue and after 1979-- the land was sold to a Canadian developer and announced to be demolished in 1983.
Los Elementos (1997)
In 1977, David Valdez painted "Los Elementos" on the side of the Juarez-Lincoln University to represent the Mexican-American population in the area. He wanted to create a movement, so he talked with the people in the neighborhood to understand their values and beliefs and then created this for them. He then created a piece inspired by Aztec tradition, with the God of Intelligence and Self-reflection, Quetzalcoatl, giving life to the farm workers. The woman is giving light, and passion to you, the viewer, through fire. This was a mural by us, for us, and belonged to us.
Protesting the Demolition of Los Elementos Mural (1983)
The day of the demolition people took the day off work to stand outside and protest. They thought they were protesting the demolition of the mural, but they were truly protesting what that demolition represented; they were protesting the demolition and erasure of their culture. At this point the Chicano community had been fighting redevelopment pressures for over 20 year, and this was the first realization that they were going to lose the fight. They were making it clear that they were absolutely not going to allow the city to take away their barrio without a fight. Texas was Mexican land. Mexican-American people deserve to occupy space in Austin through neighborhoods that display their history, art, and culture. Taking away their mural was cruel, but it made a point. The City of Austin does not respect a history that they do not claim, indigenous history. Economic development, and environmental agendas have continuously overshadowed equity in public decision-making. The land that used to inspire and represent Chicanos in Austin is now an IHOP.
* you can see the original story map Oriana created on :https://arcg.is/09XqKm
References
City of Austin Zoning Ordinance, 20050407-054Â http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=78660
"Transforming Rainey Street: The Decoupling of Equity from Environment in Austin's Smart Growth Agenda", Eliot Treter and Elizabeth Mueller https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328416270_Transforming_Rainey_Street_The_decoupling_of_equity_from_environment_in_austin's_smart_growth_agenda
"What Are You Going to do When They Run You Out", East Town Lake Citizens, Austin History Center https://austin.bibliocommons.com/item/show/7840067?active_tab=bib_info
ATX_Bario_Archives Instagram page https://bigsta.net/account/atx_barrio_archive/?hl=ja
"Abriendo Brecha (Making Our Way)" A documentary about Austin's Mexican American History, Austin History Center https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDmHE7XneNU&fbclid=IwAR1XrQQhRnWEzzlCSbP7qetmsjwCIwuafp620a0YUih0pAJ0kA5SBDlp-fg
"Juarez- Lincoln University", Amanda Jasso, Austin Public Library https://library.austintexas.gov/blog-entry/juarez-lincoln-university-367278
"Our Murals, Ourselves", Sam Martin The Austin Chronicle https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/1998-09-04/520177/
"Naked City: A New, Old Rainey Street", Kimberly Reeves, The Austin Chronicle https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2004-08-06/223127/
City of Austin full Zoning and Recommendation Change for the Rainey District http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=77221
Austin's Smart Growth Matrix https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-02/documents/austin_matrix.pdf
"The Ghost of Developers Past: 128 years of Rainey Street", Rachael Feit, The Austin Chronicle https://www.austinchronicle.com/food/2012-05-25/the-ghost-of-developers-past/
Austin Property Profile https://www.austintexas.gov/GIS/PropertyProfile/
Historical Residence Records https://clustrmaps.com/a/1hn4rg/
"Juarez Lincoln University" The Portal of Texas History https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth124110/m1/1/