AUSTIN, Texas — A city land proposal could allow 600-foot towers on “The Drag” near the University of Texas at Austin campus – nearly twice the size of the UT Tower.
The proposal is part of recommended land use updates that Austin City Council members may consider later this year.
According to KVUE’s news partners at the Austin American-Statesman, it’s an effort to promote more affordable housing on campus.
The change could transform West Campus, encourage high-density development and reshape the Austin skyline.
The proposal follows a city council resolution directing leaders to reconsider building height restrictions, among other things, to make the most of space on campus. Currently, the university neighborhood overlay sets height limits between 50 feet and 300 feet, depending on the location.
Under the proposal, buildings on The Drag, along and west of Guadalupe Street, would be allowed up to 600 feet, or about 50 stories. Inner West Campus, from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to West 28th Street, could have buildings up to 420 feet. Buildings stretching west to North Lamar Boulevard would be allowed up to 90 feet high.
If the restrictions are adjusted, developers would be required to provide a certain amount of housing to build higher, or pay a fee to the city’s Housing Trust fund.
The city last made code changes in 2019, allowing buildings as high as 300 feet. They were previously restricted to 150 feet.
The proposal is in the public feedback stage. Next, the city’s Planning Commission will review it and make a recommendation before sending it to the city council to consider. The final call on the matter could come as soon as May.
Boomtown is KVUE’s series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.