Downtown Austin thrives with incredible growth and opportunity. With the growth and development there comes constant conflict. The downtown historical locations are being lost by all of the development. At this time, not one building in downtown Austin has been submitted for historical protection or landmark status. Also perplexing, none of the local or national historic registers has listed the area, in whole or in part, as a place of value. One example of a future development that should concern local Austin historians is the recent permit obtained by what will become the Gables Republic Park, a 16 story apartment community. The demolition permit is intended to partially tear down the 1913 Nabisco warehouse. For the last fifteen years the location housed the Ginger Man company. The local Preserve District Council has put forward some ideas and proposals to save at least part of Downtown Austin. The tools of the proposal made by the ROMA Design Group and HR & A advisers have created a significant and active debate among property owners and local groups like the Heritage Society of Austin and the Downtown Austin New Alliance. Also chiming in actively is the Central Texas Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism, the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association and the city of Austin’s design and planning commissions. ROMA’s recommendations were then presented in public on July 23. Until now, this issue is in hot debate, as many of the supporters of the concept do not support the specific idea’s laid out here: www.cityofaustin.org/downtown It will be debated and discussed in council again on the 24th. Members will provide policy direction and a vote may occur to direct a draft of the density bonus and applicable ordinances with specific warehouse district rules. There will be much debate on how to balance historic preservation while still allowing for development to progress as needed. Before the council votes on the measure, and before they determine exactly what tools will be used, the community will need to voice their opinion. The public meeting will be held Sept 24th