Austin | 318 Colorado | ~450 Feet | 40 Floors | Proposed

[The ATX]

This won't be popular. Total Demo of everything you see here on 4th St. is up for discussion on Monday's HLC agenda:

[chinchaaa]

Come on! They can go anywhere else! This would destroy a whole block of queer culture.

[MichaelB]

Welp..... Time to get out my NIMBY base bat and raise some hell. It's not just about the gay bars. It's the last vestige of the warehouse district. The razing of Austin has to stop somewhere.

[ahealy]

Yeaaaaaah. Fuck that noise. Truly would kill the last culture downtown and lead to complete dead zones after 7pm.

[clubtokyo]

Ummm this is a terrible idea! leave the lgbt block alone!!

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Ummm this is a terrible idea! leave the lgbt block alone!!

I have trouble remembering all the letters too.

[migol24]

I wanna say how much this would really suck for Austin but I don't want to piss people off again.

[kingkirbythe....]

This whole block deserves protection.

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by migol24

I wanna say how much this would really suck for Austin but I don't want to piss people off again.

OCH is probably the only one that will really piss people off and would definitely be a loss if they can't find a comparable location nearby. It's been steady for quite a long time while the others have definitely not been.

[Austinite101]

It would be a devastating blow to lose that block. I can’t imagine what the developers would want to put there given how enormous the pushback on this will be.

Density and development for the sake of it is detrimental if we’re letting it happen on top of the places that give Austin it’s soul.

[The ATX]

If this block is ever going to be saved, it's going to take a major Demo proposal like this to make that happen. The piecemeal Demo that has been happening like with the Iron Bear isn't likely to result in anything but the Demo.
I am very interested in who the developer is and what they are planning. They know the resistance will be strong, and this will be a long uphill battle. Does anyone know if any of the the bars own their building?

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by The ATX

If this block is ever going to be saved, it's going to take a major Demo proposal like this to make that happen. The piecemeal Demo that has been happening like with the Iron Bear isn't likely to result in anything but the Demo.
I am very interested in who the developer is and what they are planning. They know the resistance will be strong, and this will be a long uphill battle. Does anyone know if any of the the bars own their building?

I was once told that the owner of the OCH and Rain buildings was some retired guy in Arizona that wanted the bars preserved and had no intention of selling the buildings. I can't say for certain how accurate that statement was. Rain doesn't appear to be included here. It's possible he passed away?

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by paul78701

The impression I've gotten from my gay friends is that gay bars were essential to their coming out process. It was where they could go to be themselves and meet others like them. Decades ago, being gay was a lot harder than it is now. So yes, I'd say that they are cultural cornerstones. I can't even imagine how difficult it was back then to be gay and not knowing anyone else who was. From the sound of it, you can't either. You're being an insensitive dick.

It still is hard today. I’m in my 20s, born and raised in Austin, and the first time I ever felt comfortable dancing with another guy without having to look over my shoulder was on 4th. It’s 2022 and a lot has changed, but to say “it’s just a bar” is crazy to me. And even crazier for someone to say “I’m not gay but I have gay friends” and proceed to dictate what is and isn’t important to gay people (and to be clear this isn’t directed at you btw)

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Iron Bear will be pushing hard for historical designation. The developer is also trying to purchase The Belmont. Apparently the owner will only sell for an “absurd” amount- Iron Bear is hoping a deal isn’t reached.

Rumor also floating around that in the next ~5 years West 4th nightclubs will be in jeopardy..

Much sooner than expected.. in light of this there’s a lot of opposition brewing. I and quite a few others will be attending the meeting on Monday.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by hookem

So you’d be OK tearing down all the bars on east 6th and replacing them with towers as well? Don’t be ridiculous.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by migol24

I wanna say how much this would really suck for Austin but I don't want to piss people off again.

eh. Piss people off. Heartless folks deserve it.

[migol24]

I was just telling a friend how having a neighborhood that welcomes the gay or counter culture community is always good for a city's cultural well-being.

I'm not surprised that it's coming to this. I have so many thoughts on it, but I am just not in the mood for stirring things up again.

I'm just hoping for the best. Maybe once I get filthy rich can I become a major contributor into the development of this city and support the creative class and other minority groups. This is lame.

[Jdawgboy]

I will not accept any stretch of 4th between Colorado and Lavaca to be razed for highrises. We have enough and more on the way, we don't need every square foot of DT covered in skyscrapers. I will personally make this my red line and will go to City Hall to fight to make that stretch historical.

[AusTex]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I will not accept any stretch of 4th between Colorado and Lavaca to be razed for highrises. We have enough and more on the way, we don't need every square foot of DT covered in skyscrapers. I will personally make this my red line and will go to City Hall to fight to make that stretch historical.

Agreed. Both sides of the street need to be preserved, period! This block IS quintessential Austin. Loose it and we loose Austin's history.

As far as the gibberish lonewolf is saying, enough.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by AusTex

Agreed. Both sides of the street need to be preserved, period! This block IS quintessential Austin. Loose it and we loose Austin's history.

As far as the gibberish lonewolf is saying, enough.