Ideas on the Water

Transformation of Seaholm Waterfront for community use moves ahead

Austin's Seaholm Intake Facility has an interesting design but has been out of use for decades.

Photo courtesy of Austin Parks and Recreation

Austin's Seaholm Power Plant and Intake facility has been out of use since 1989, but its Art Deco look and great downtown location have kept it from completely fading away. Now The Trail Conservancy (TTC) and Austin Parks and Recreation are kicking off Phase 2 of the Seaholm Waterfont project to turn the facility "into a vibrant community hub," a press release says.

The Seaholm Intake Facility is located at 707 W. Cesar Chavez St., almost directly across from the Austin Central Library. It is right on Lady Bird Lake — literally perched on the water — and is accessible by the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. That's why a press release describes the public asset to come as "Austin’s civic waterfront, a gathering place where history, nature, culture, and community converge."

The first phase of the project rehabilitated the property so that people could visit it as-is and learn about the history. The second phase is about deciding and executing on what comes next. It's still early enough in the project that there current design is only conceptual; the new phase includes detailed design and construction.

TTC and Austin Parks and Recreation are working with and Austin and Corpus Christi-based architecture firm Levy Dykema and Chicago-based architecture firm Studio Gang.

Levy Dykema worked on the distinctive and modern Austin City Hall and the District Cooling Plant, among many other local, non-civic projects. It contributed to Phase 1 of the Seaholm Project.

“The Seaholm Intake Facility is one of Austin’s great architectural treasures, a building whose Art Deco lines express the optimism and civic pride of the city that built it,” said Levy Dykema president Stephen Levy in the release. “Our firm has a long connection to this landmark, and it’s a privilege to continue that work. We’re grateful to partner with The Trail Conservancy, Austin Parks and Recreation, and Studio Gang to carefully preserve the building’s character while opening it up for everyday public life on Lady Bird Lake.”

Studio Gang doesn't list any other Austin projects in its portfolio, but it's clear that the firm specializes in avant-garde shapes. The release points out the firm's work on reuse projects like the Beloit College Powerhouse, an athletics facility built in a former coal-burning power plant. Studio Gang directed the Seaholm Waterfront planning study in 2017 and 2018, and created the conceptual design.

Seaholm Waterfront conceptual design The Seaholm Waterfront will have space for community programming as well as casual daily visits.Rendering courtesy of Studio Gang

“The Seaholm Waterfront Project represents the chance to give a beloved landmark a new life as a place for everyone,” said Studio Gang founding partner Jeanne Gang. “We are grateful for the opportunity to realize the community’s vision captured in our planning study. We look forward to working with The Trail Conservancy, Austin Parks and Recreation, and LEVY DYKEMA to connect this historic building to the Trail, the lake, and the people who use them every day.”

While Studio Gang did its research in 2017, Austin residents participated in a community engagement project that helped decide design priorities. The resulting conceptual design includes free wifi, a snack and coffee bar, an amenity porch, a courtyard, water access, and landscaping.

Now community members are now called back to tell TTC what kind of programming they want to see at the Seaholm Waterfront. The organization already hosts music, wellness events, and volunteer opportunities around the Hike-and-Bike trail.

To give their thoughts, Austinies can attend an open house at the facility Saturday, November 7, from 9-11 am. There will also be family-friendly STEM activities by Girlstart and Austin Energy. Those who can't make it in person can fill out a survey online.

“The Trail is the heartbeat of Austin, and because the Seaholm Intake Facility sits right on it, our mission extends to caring for this site and the surrounding parkland,” said TTC CEO Julie Fisher. “We’re eager to hear from the community about how to make this space welcoming for all, and we’re thrilled to move into Phase 2 with Austin Parks and Recreation, Studio Gang and LEVY DYKEMA to turn this landmark into an everyday community-oriented resource.”

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2026 Election Results

Austin election results: More money for parks and libraries, no audit

Photo by Daydreamer Creative on Unsplash

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Austin voters weighed in on 10 city propositions this midterm election, but three really stood out: a bond proposal on park improvements, a bond proposal on library improvements, and a city charter amendment related to efficiency audits.

Here's a breakdown of Props A, B, and I and whether voters approved or denied each.

Props A and B

Propositions A and B were city bond proposals that would require tax rate increases. Voters approved both propositions.

The city expects to issue the bonds in installments beginning in 2027. With both props approved, the city anticipates raising the property tax rate by $0.011024, or 1.1024 cents, per $100 of taxable assessed value during the lifecycle of the bonds.

For an Austin homeowner with a taxable property value of $500,000, city staff estimates the bonds will add $55.12 per year to their tax bill, or $4.59 a month. You can see further impact breakdowns on Page 9 of the city’s bond election guide.

Proposition A

Proposition A is a $260 million bond for parks and recreation improvements.

Austin Prop A $260M in Bonds for Parks:

For: 60.92 percent, or 221,332 votes
Against: 39.08 percent, or 141,974 votes
Vote Total: 363,306

Here’s how the city will break up that $260 million:

$65.5 million for renovations, replacements, and improvements at existing Parks and Recreation Department facilities, recreation and senior centers
$29.5 million for improvements to playscapes, trails, roadways, parking lots, athletic fields and facilities, city cemeteries, and park “electrification infrastructure”
$65 million for improvements to neighborhood parks, metro parks, greenbelts and community gardens
$65 million for renovations or replacements of existing city pools
$35 million to purchase new parkland, with priority given to infill parks in “park-deficient” areas, greenbelts and greenways

Proposition B

Proposition B is a $35 million bond for library improvements.

Austin Prop B $35M in Bonds for Libraries

For: 59.89 percent, or 216,730 votes
Against: 40.11 percent, or 145,134 votes
Vote Total: 361,864

According to the city, $20 million will be used to renovate, rehabilitate, and expand the Hampton Branch of Oak Hill library. The other $15 million would go toward a future Colony Park Branch Library.

City staff said improvements may include additional library space, facility renovations, and other building upgrades.

Prop I

Proposition I was a citizen-led ballot measure created after Austin voters rejected a proposed property tax increase called Proposition Q last year. If approved, Prop I would have amended the city charter to require an independent affordability and efficiency initiative every five years and before any tax rate increase election.

Austin Prop I Independent Audit

Against: 54.93 percent, or 189,249 votes
For: 45 percent, or 155,293 votes
Vote Total: 344,542

Last August, the Austin City Council voted to conduct an independent, comprehensive efficiency review of all city departments. That review was created as a result of an ordinance passed by the council.

Supporters of Prop I said it would require more accountability from the city and provide stronger protections because an ordinance can be overturned more easily than charter provision.

Opponents of Prop I likened it to the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Because the ballot language said the independent contractor would be required to identify annual and multi-year savings that exceed the cost of the contractor’s services, opponents said that could create an incentive for the consultants to recommend deeper cuts. They also noted that if there is a pressing need for the city to increase the tax rate, an election to do that could not happen before an audit is performed.

Read the full story at our news partner KVUE.com. Vote counts were updated November 4 at 7:10:52 am.

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