Urban Land Institute Chicago (ULI Chicago), with support from Austin Coming Together and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), is convening a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) to help develop recommendations to revitalize Central Avenue and establish it as a strong north-south connector for the Austin community. Central Avenue is a focal project originally identified in Austin’s Quality-of-Life plan called ‘Austin Forward Together’ (AFT).

Our TAP will meet April 18-19, 2023, and is comprised of a 12-member Panel of diverse and experienced industry professionals, that volunteer their time. On the first day the Panel will focus on fact-finding and information gathering by reviewing background briefing materials, touring the study area, and interviewing neighborhood stakeholders including business owners, residents, community leaders, and City officials. On the second day the Panel will focus on preparing implementable recommendations including near-term and longer-term strategies for reimagining Central Avenue as Austin’s “Main Street”.

A community meeting will be held in Austin in the coming weeks where the Panel will share their findings and recommendations.  You can contact ULI Chicago if you are interested in receiving information about this future meeting.

Review the Panel’s Scope of Work

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Thank you to our Austin TAP Panelists:

• PANEL CHAIR: Kemena Brooks | The Community Builders, Inc.
• Andre Brumfield | Gensler
• David Feinberg | CCLF
• Manny Flores | SomerCor
• Mejay Gula | Site Design Group, Ltd.
• Larry Kearns | Wheeler Kearns Architects
• Peter Lemmon | Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
• Lauren Lewis | LISC Chicago
• Deon Lucas | E.G. Woode
• Zeb McLaurin | McLaurin Development Partners
• Fran Lefor Rood | SB Friedman Development Advisors, LLC
• Avlen Pacheco | Beehyve