Walter E. Long Park $800m Master Plan (Looks Amazing) - City Council on the 17th

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Part 1: http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Parks/Planning_and_Development/WaterELong/WEL_Master_Plan_Digital_Draft-part1-2019-09-13.pdf

Part 2: http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Parks/Planning_and_Development/WaterELong/WEL_Master_Plan_Digital_Draft-part2-2019-09-13.pdf

Refresher: https://www.kut.org/post/800-million-makeover-plan-walter-e-long-park-includes-planetarium-ferris-wheel

Quote

The master plan calls for investing more than $800 million to completely transform the 3,700-acre park in East Austin. A few of the dozens of amenities laid out in the plan include a marina, an event lawn, a planetarium and a Ferris wheel.

If approved by the city, the first phase would cover about 300 acres at the southern end of the park. Development during this phase is estimated to cost $144 million, with $26 million from private funders, and includes plans for a rowing course and a “floating water sports zone.” 

There's things in there (a fucking Ferris wheel?) that are ridiculous, but the planetarium, camping space, boardwalks along the shore, etc. would definitely be nice upgrades/additions.

[Pasken 1309]

To be clear, this approves the plan.  Not funding.

[Paper_jam 831]

They'll probably fuck up the fishing and natural-use purposes.

When I go to a lake, I'm not looking for the got dang Santa Cruz Boardwalk. 

 

 

 

[Neonmoon 38129]

It’s going to be interesting to see that neighborhood change over the years because of that park, and train if they connect it to downtown 

[old white guy 11]

Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!

I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."

 

[Girdwood 118]

1 hour ago, old white guy said:

Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!

I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."

 

[gsoda3 3245]

I like it. Turns it into a destination. But am I going to lose my gun club?

[Updawg 2266]

Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!
I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."
 

Bluebonnet? That sucks if it's closing. I need to go play

[HornsOverIthaca 2333]

Camping space you say?

[chitwood 155]

44 minutes ago, Updawg said:

3 hours ago, old white guy said:

Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!
I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."
 

Bluebonnet? That sucks if it's closing. I need to go play

Yep. Contract for water with the city expires in January and not getting renewed. 

[TwiceHorn 31438]

Austin better hope they're better at funding and executing fanciful plans for park space than Dallas (Trinity Corridor boondoggle).

[crash_davis 23096]

that area does not have the road infrastructure to support any large facility there.  only 2 ways in and out and each only has one lane each way.  

[clapclapclap 9000]

Make it $900 million:

[3adays 454]

1 hour ago, Updawg said:

4 hours ago, old white guy said:

Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!
I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."
 

Bluebonnet? That sucks if it's closing. I need to go play

Yep! I have some great memories playing that course. I hope they find a way to keep it open. 

[futureman 22441]

3 hours ago, HornsOverIthaca said:

Camping space you say?

$800MM is a lot to spend on vagrants.

[utee94 15805]

1 hour ago, clapclapclap said:

Make it $900 million:

Yes, but then make it a cool billion!

[Paper_jam 831]

3 hours ago, crash_davis said:

that area does not have the road infrastructure to support any large facility there.  only 2 ways in and out and each only has one lane each way.  

Austin isn't known for proactively developing infrastructure (especially transportation) to prepare for growth. We like to build splashy big projects and then act surprised when it's a clusterfuck.

 

 

[ImissWallyPryor 9046]

Is this going to magically transform Walter E.Long Lake from shitty lake to a nice lake?

[Dbeasy 15040]

Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!
I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."
 

What course? Bluebonnet?

[DigglerontheHoof 21175]

I tell ya, golf courses and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate

[bolverk 29651]

23 minutes ago, DigglerontheHoof said:

I tell ya, golf courses and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate

Fun fact: In the early 1800s before parks became a thing after Olmstead, Americans used cemeteries in much the same way we use parks today, but that's neither here nor there in this discussion.

[DigglerontheHoof 21175]

12 minutes ago, bolverk said:

Fun fact: In the early 1800s before parks became a thing after Olmstead, Americans used cemeteries in much the same way we use parks today, but that's neither here nor there in this discussion.

I didn't know that; interesting.  One of my favorite things to do when I'm riding my motorcycles out in BFE, is to stop at old, historical cemeteries, though. 

[Armybrat 40821]

8 hours ago, futureman said:

$800MM is a lot to spend on vagrants.

Probably cheaper than Adler’s long range plans.

[Armybrat 40821]

7 hours ago, Paper_jam said:

Austin isn't known for proactively developing infrastructure (especially transportation) to prepare for growth. We like to build splashy big projects and then act surprised when it's a clusterfuck.

 

 

Like the ongoing highway access construction to ABIA, which opened 21 years ago. 
Progressive Austin ftl.

[TwiceHorn 31438]

Also needs a Calatrava bridge

[bolverk 29651]

54 minutes ago, Armybrat said:

Like the ongoing highway access construction to ABIA, which opened 21 years ago. 
Progressive Austin ftl.

You do realize those are all aggy-run TxDoT highways leading out to the airport, correct?

[Iceman 2690]

12 hours ago, HornsOverIthaca said:

Camping space you say?

That's all Austin is...

[bolverk 29651]

30 minutes ago, Iceman said:

That's all Austin is...

Yes. Austin is nothing but a giant tent city now, filled with the street-shitting homeless living in Hoover camps. A city that somehow has cash on hand to turn a mud-filled "lake" into a respectable regional destination.

Amarillo, on the other hand, is a virtual paradise for folks like Chad Briscoe who come from Pampa to spend his $5 at United. Sure, their knock-off Market Street version of Central Market/Whole Foods is decent shopping, but it still doesn't compare to the overcrowded HEB I have down the street.

Don't get me wrong -- I love West Texas. But I don't have to make up bullshit to justify where I don't want to live.

[Iceman 2690]

"Austin... it's better that Amarillo?"

 

Lolz.  At least Amarillo doesn't have to insist upon itself.

Edited October 5, 2019 by Iceman

[bolverk 29651]

2 hours ago, Iceman said:

"Austin... it's better that Amarillo?"

 

Lolz.  At least Amarillo doesn't have to insist upon itself.

No one's insisting upon anything. A muddy pond east of town is going to get fixed up. That's all.

Let us know when Lake Meredith is full again.

[Iceman 2690]

Meredith is Ok.  This past week helped push it to 42% capacity.

[Al Czervik 1229]

6 hours ago, DigglerontheHoof said:

I tell ya, golf courses and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate

Stop stealing my lines.

[Fuck Tim Beck 3815]

11 hours ago, ImissWallyPryor said:

Is this going to magically transform Walter E.Long Lake from shitty lake to a nice lake?

It'll be shittier once its full of homeless feces. 

[Updawg 2266]

Yep. Contract for water with the city expires in January and not getting renewed. 

Why aren't they renewing it? That's too bad. I need to get out there and play it soon

[old white guy 11]

4 hours ago, Updawg said:

23 hours ago, chitwood said:

Yep. Contract for water with the city expires in January and not getting renewed. 

Why aren't they renewing it? That's too bad. I need to get out there and play it soon

Well, it's not clear that Bluebonnet Hill ownership/management has lifted a finger to even try to renew it. 

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On 10/4/2019 at 7:00 PM, gsoda3 said:

I like it. Turns it into a destination. But am I going to lose my gun club?

Is Austin capable of creating such a destination?  That’s what bugs me.  Most of the “destinations” in Austin, and I use that term loosely, were already around or attached to something else, and grew into what they are organically.    This is on a scale they haven’t tried before.  

[atomheartbevo 89623]

Hell, this thing will require dozens of interpretive artists alone.   

[Wiler77 1566]

On 10/5/2019 at 7:53 AM, Armybrat said:

Like the ongoing highway access construction to ABIA, which opened 21 years ago. 
Progressive Austin ftl.

Was my first thought

[chitwood 155]

On 10/5/2019 at 8:50 PM, old white guy said:

Well, it's not clear that Bluebonnet Hill ownership/management has lifted a finger to even try to renew it. 

Yeah, I'm unclear on the circumstances.  Sucks regardless.