Central Library
The Road Continues
RECEIVED Wed., May 11, 2022
Dear Editor
I appreciated Mike Clark Madison's valiant effort to capture 30 years of complex and contentious labor over the redevelopment of E. 11th & 12th Street. [“Austin at Large: The Road Goes on Forever …,” News, April 29] It was wise to omit the Austin Revitalization Authority, though missing a great opportunity for adding drama to the story. And what of some of the more colorful characters in all that wrangling like the pro-commercial Reverends Griffin & Dixon, Richard Ferris, Leonard & Minnie Mann, and Eric Mitchell, and the pro-residential Pokey Woodard, Scottie Ivory, and Portia Watson. But I suppose there's a book somewhere in all that. However, I have to object to Clark-Madison's total mischaracterization of "what all this activity was intended to restore" as being a "cultural heritage district" with music and art as the focus. He certainly knows this idea is a relatively recent turn in the road. And while music absolutely plays a vital role in the history of the area, and a cultural heritage district should be supported, that was never the intended result of any any of the overlapping plans. In fact, the overwhelming consensus during the scores of meetings, from pastors, property owners, residents and investors alike, was that the conversion of small grocery stores, the Travis County Extension Office, and numerous retail and service type uses into bars and clubs with an emphasis on liquor sales was probably the leading factor in the decline of E. 11th & 12th Streets. Long-time Black property owners like the Mann's spoke of having redevelopment bring things like a Pit Stop Gas Station or an NTB Tire store, Mr. Ferris wanted pure "commercial corridors" with as little housing as possible. Whereas there was agreement that the Victory Grill and the J & J Liquor should be able to carry on, in my memory, there was no interest at all in redeveloping with clubs and bars. In fact, that was anathema.
I appreciated Mike Clark Madison's valiant effort to capture 30 years of complex and contentious labor over the redevelopment of E. 11th & 12th Street. [“Austin at Large: The Road Goes on Forever …,” News, April 29] It was wise to omit the Austin Revitalization Authority, though missing a great opportunity for adding drama to the story. And what of some of the more colorful characters in all that wrangling like the pro-commercial Reverends Griffin & Dixon, Richard Ferris, Leonard & Minnie Mann, and Eric Mitchell, and the pro-residential Pokey Woodard, Scottie Ivory, and Portia Watson. But I suppose there's a book somewhere in all that. However, I have to object to Clark-Madison's total mischaracterization of "what all this activity was intended to restore" as being a "cultural heritage district" with music and art as the focus. He certainly knows this idea is a relatively recent turn in the road. And while music absolutely plays a vital role in the history of the area, and a cultural heritage district should be supported, that was never the intended result of any any of the overlapping plans. In fact, the overwhelming consensus during the scores of meetings, from pastors, property owners, residents and investors alike, was that the conversion of small grocery stores, the Travis County Extension Office, and numerous retail and service type uses into bars and clubs with an emphasis on liquor sales was probably the leading factor in the decline of E. 11th & 12th Streets. Long-time Black property owners like the Mann's spoke of having redevelopment bring things like a Pit Stop Gas Station or an NTB Tire store, Mr. Ferris wanted pure "commercial corridors" with as little housing as possible. Whereas there was agreement that the Victory Grill and the J & J Liquor should be able to carry on, in my memory, there was no interest at all in redeveloping with clubs and bars. In fact, that was anathema.
Mark C. Rogers
