Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutreporter.july05© City of Georgetown, 2005 Downtown Georgetown is humming with the sounds of new construction, including a retail building at the cor- ner of University and Austin Avenues, two-story homes at Fourth and Main Streets, and site prep work for the new library on Eighth Street. Several more projects are scheduled to begin in the coming months. The new projects add residential densi- ty and more retail choices, boosting the vitality of the downtown, but they also pose a tricky challenge to developers and the City. How can the downtown attract innova- tive designs for new buildings without detracting from the integrity of the nineteenth-century architecture on the Square? That challenge is at the heart of what the City’s Historic and Architectural Review Commission must consider each time it reviews a new application. Two projects on either side of Austin Avenue in the south 500 block show that designing a building that “fits” is not simple, yet a range of styles can work. On the west side of the street, a mixed use project, designed by Austin archi- tectural firm Cottam Hargrave, has recently been approved by HARC. The project will include a new location for Monument Cafe and an organic food market in the renovated and reused Draeger auto showroom and service bays. Two new buildings on the rede- veloped block will use steel oxidizing panels, glass, and water in combination with brick, stone, and concrete stucco. While the new Monument will look very similar to the existing building at 1953 S. Austin Avenue, Jay Hargrave says several potential features of the new or renovated buildings will pro- mote environmental and economic sus- tainability, including a planted roof, aquatic planting beds, cisterns for rain- water collection, electric co-generation, and low-energy cooling systems. Since it is an infill project in the down- town, HARC allowed for elements that do not conform to typical Georgetown design standards, such as reduced onsite parking. “We want to build a project that integrates sustainability and civility,” says Hargrave. “Even though VOL.3 • NO.7 A Publication of the City of Georgetown July 2005 the HARC review is an extra step in the process, I believe it is worth the effort. With its focus on maintaining and extending the human scale of the Square, HARC can be instrumental in the creation of a rich pedestrian district that is very different from convention- al suburban sprawl.” Across the street from the Monument Cafe project and occupying the city block on the east side of Austin Avenue, a second project by architect and developer Francisco Choi features a more classical architectural style. Choi recently got HARC approval for a facil- ity that will include a wellness center, medical offices, retail, and condomini- ums. The first phase of the project includes a three-story office and retail building on Austin Avenue. The building’s corner cupolas, cornice- work, and arched windows on the street level create a more classical facade. Choi says that, “My obligation as a developer as well as an architect is to design a building that reflects the proud, rich heritage of the area.” Karalei Nunn, the vice-chair for HARC and a local architect, says Choi worked hard to create a building that fits with the nearby architecture on the Square, and that the final design will be a nice addition to the downtown. Nunn says that it can be a challenge for developers to understand the HARC guidelines, which call for designs that tie in with “the sense of place” on the Square, but do not seek mimicry or duplication of existing buildings. “We want to step away from producing a Disneyland copy.” HARC’s job of preserving our historic district while also supporting new design ideas is fundamental to main- taining Georgetown’s identity. “The historic downtown is the part of town that distinguishes Georgetown from Pflugerville, Round Rock, or anywhere else,” says Rebecca Rowe, the City’s historic district planner. Rowe works with HARC to review all development and sign applications in the historic Downtown. Both projects in the 500 block of Austin Avenue are still in the process of getting the necessary approvals and permits, and plan to begin construction later this year. A new location for Monument Cafe and an organic food market will reuse and renovate the existing Draeger auto showroom and service bays. Across the street from the Monument Cafe project, a project by architect and developer Francisco Choi features a more classical architectural style for a three-story office and retail building on Austin Avenue. Control Tower Update The FAA has approved the site selected by the City of Georgetown and the design consultant for the control tower at the Georgetown Municipal Airport. The site is directly to the east of the Terminal building on Terminal Drive. Preliminary estimate for completion of the tower is September 2006. DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT Inviting Innovation & Preserving History Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of Georgetown Public Information Office located in City Hall, 113 E. Eighth Street, Georgetown, Texas, 78626. For questions or comments, contact Keith Hutchinson, Public Information Officer for the City of Georgetown at (512) 930-3690, or by email at khutchinson@georgetowntx.org. National Night Out, the annual summer event aimed at building neighborhood unity and taking a stance against crime, will be held on Tuesday, August 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. That night, people across the nation are encouraged to turn on their porch lights and go out and meet their neighbors. Last year, Georgetown Police Department personnel, from the Chief to patrol officers, attended more than 100 block parties through- out the community. National Night Out provides an opportunity for com- munity members to meet and talk with police officers in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. For information on how to register a party for National Night Out, contact Officer Jack Lacy at (512) 930-2519 or jlacy@georgetowntx.org. Manga Mania,an eight-week teen pro- gram held each Friday from 4 – 6 p.m. continues until July 22. Activities include a Japanese tea ceremony, games with an anime theme; an art contest; anime DVD showings; Japanese lan- guage lessons; and a collaborative novel including text and illustrations. All activ- ities are free and interested teens are invited to attend any or all of the sched- uled events. For details, go to the library web site at www.georgetowntex.org or call (512) 930-3551. Weekly craft programs for kids 7 and older, each Tuesday (July 5, 12, 19) at 10:30 a.m. Creative workshops for kids 10 and older at 2 p.m. on July 5, 7, 12, and 20. Sign up in advance by calling Rosa Garcia at (512) 930-3623. There will be a special late-night party at the library on Friday, July 15, from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. to celebrate the release of the new Harry Potter novel, The Half-Blood Prince. The fun, magic, and excitement will happen in conjunc- tion with Hill Country Bookstore’s Harry Potter event on the Square. National Night Out August 2 Jim Briggs Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations Started with the City in 1986 Education/ Background: Bachelors Degree Texas A&M University 1980. College of Agriculture Engineering/Mechanical Systems Most memorable moment on the job? Receiving the 1990 Region 6- Environmental Protection Agency Award for Environmental Excellence for Drinking Water Treatment and Operations. This was the product of years of infrastructure improvements and staff reorganizations in order to improve quality and service to the community. Years of dedication from elected officials and staff had been placed into action with the ultimate goal of improving an outdated and underperforming water system. We have accom- plished a great deal since, but this was the first regionally- and nationally-recognized award that we received as a utility that put us on track to establish ourselves as a “Superior Provider of Water Service.” What do you like best about working for the City? The people that I get to work with, inside and outside the organization, and their unselfish attitude of doing something positive that makes a Summer Events at the Library Employee Profile difference for Georgetown. Favorite things to do in your free time? I love to play golf, hunt and fish. Whatever it is I prefer to do it with family or friends. I really love to watch my kids excel in their endeavors of competitive sports or other activities they like. I gladly put aside a round of golf in order to support them. Sometimes they actually want to go out and golf, hunt or fish and I get to enjoy my interests while doing it with them. Watching them succeed in their interests is more gratifying than a successful hunt or fishing trip. For me, that is saying a lot. Summer fun at the library continues in July. Activities for elementary school-age kids include: Harms Marionettes, Wednesday, July 6 at 10:30 a.m. Joe McDermott, Thursday July 7 at 10:30 a.m. Tim Cole’s Reptile Show, Wednesday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m. Storytelling with Mary Beth Huba, Thursday, July 14 at 10:30 a.m. Mr. Puppet, Wednesday July 20 at 10:30 a.m. for kids 5 and younger, 11:00 a.m. for older kids Storytelling with Esther Malon, Thursday, July 21 at 10:30 a.m. Grand Finale, July 22 at 2 p.m., surprise entertainment to be announced July 1! To control mosquitoes and other insects in the warmer months, the City of Georgetown Street Department will be using an insecti- cide that is sprayed with a fogger machine along residential streets and in parks. The insect abatement spray- ing will be done weekly in the early morning hours between 1 and 5 a.m. No insect fogging will occur if it is raining or if there is a wind above 10 mph. Residents are asked to help with mosquito control by regularly emptying any potential reservoirs or taking them indoors. Mosquito larvae can breed in sources of standing water such as old tires, containers, uncovered trash containers, or flower pot trays. For details, go to the City web site at www.georgetown.org, or contact Georgetown Utility Systems at (512) 930-3555. Summer Mosquito Abatement