Plans for a $1.6 billion redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center have changed, as the proposed construction of a hotel or residential tower has been cancelled. The city will instead focus on reconstructing and expanding the downtown exhibition hall, which is set to begin in April 2022.
According to Community Impact, initial plans included partnering with a private entity to build a tower on two blocks of the property that could have housed either a hotel or new housing. However, after further consideration and evaluation by staff in late September, it was determined that this option would not be feasible financially.
While this aspect of the project will no longer move forward, it does allow for an expansion of the convention center itself. The new convention center is expected to open before spring festival season in 2029 and will feature over 700 square feet of exhibition space below street level as well as additional above-ground levels.
Overall,the revised plans for Austin’s Convention Center redevelopment focus solely on improving and expanding its facilities rather than incorporating outside development projects into its design.
