Over the last decade, the Austin Museum of Art has attempted to build a new downtown museum on the south side of Republic park multiple times. With a prime lot (now a parking lot) between 3rd and 4th street off Guadalupe, the museum aimed to be a cultural anchor for the second street and warehouse districts.
Today, Travis County announced that they have entered into an agreement to purchase the lot for $21.75 million to build a county courthouse. For downtown Austin, this is a disaster.
First, it raises the question of why the county would use tax payer . . .