East Austin is resurrecting

Austin (KXAN) - For approximately 6-8 months, cars on East 7th Street between Navasota Street to Pleasant Valley, will begin to look more like ants marching—dragging along at a one lane pace—than the normal flow of traffic. Today, The East 7th Street Improvement Project began when local East Austin resident Congressman Lloyd Dogget tossed aside dirt at the site.

“Big changes are underway for East 7th in ways that will help everyone in the area” declared Dogget Friday. The changes are aimed to help small businesses, cyclists, and residents who use the street as a gateway to the airport. According to Dogget, city leaders are seeking to “transform the street” into a “tree-lined boulevard with sidewalks and curbcuts for those with disabilities and cyclists.”

The project will improve conditions from Navasota Street to Ramos—pavement conditions improving between Navasota and Chicon while streetscape and landscape conditions will be improved between Chicon and Ramos. The project team hopes to keep open commercial traffic during construction.

The process began in October 2002 in an effort to stimulate economic growth and revitalize the area of town. The Goodman Corporation Consulting Team, the City of Austin, and local stakeholders outlined the goals of the project, which place a heavy emphasis on safety and neighborhood beautification.

Stakeholders grew concerned about the general safety along the corridor; namely, the lack of pedestrian traffic due to general conditions and crimes. Common crimes in the area include drug related offenses, burglary, public intoxication, and driving while intoxicated.

In an effort to create a healthier community, The City of Austin has begun construction repairing old cracked sidewalks, creating curbs, and improving the lighting of the dimly lit street. Traffic calming devices named “jiggle bumps” and medians will be used to remind drivers that pedestrians are present.

The plan seeks to combine aesthetics and functionality with added design features and landscape improvements. Along with drainage system improvements, construction will be done to bury overhead electrical lines, and native Texan flora will be planted atop and around in additional efforts to increase pedestrian traffic. Instead of ordinary street lights, lights more similar to turn of the century gas lamps will be taking root in the area, along with supplementary artistic “way-finding” signs.

Part of the Self Improvement Project includes the Art in Public Places program, the program responsible for the Holly Street Power Plant Mural and other art located on city building and parks. The city allows for 2% of the construction budget to be used for art, and put Jennifer Chenoweth in charge of creating and outlining the seven 15-foot signs that are to be strategically placed at intersections.

The tall concrete and aluminum structures are called obeliscos. They are shaped like whirlybirds, with a “reflector wing” on top and a large concrete base at the bottom. The middle of the structure is incased by four art panels with maps below. The mosaic panels vary, highlighting a different aspect of East Austin’s character.

Chenoweth hired seven local artists (Aly Winningham, Maggie DeSanto, Susan Wallace, Naliah Sankofa, Alonso Rey-Sanchez, Claudia Reese, and Martin Garcia) to compose thematic artwork on each different Obelisco . In order to develop a coherent theme, Chenoweth allowed only eye catching colors and patterns, referencing Spanish-style tiles and scrolling lattice work seen on fences in the area. She hopes to “let the individual artist’s voices tell the story of diversity” or the “stories of the neighborhood” in the same way the Moneyland Mural on East 7th does.

Winningham’s obelisco focuses on the “Hispanic culture of her neighborhood” while Sankofa’s illustrates the different African American cultures that have continued to endure after relocations. Other artists stress the strong degree of family life present in the community, or the strong community leaders.

To look at the artists design work and read the descriptions, go to City of Austin’s website .