AUSTIN, Texas — Fans of a beloved skate shop near Downtown Austin fought to save it from demolition. Now, the Austin Community College District is extending the No Comply skate shop's lease temporarily.
Austin's Historic Landmark Commission talked about demolishing the site of the No-Comply Skate Shop on West 12th Street. The City of Austin's Historical Commission set Monday, Aug. 23, as the date for the discussion of No Comply's future.
“I am excited to announce that ACC has committed to extending our lease here until we find a new space,” says Elias Bingham, owner of No-Comply Skate Shop. “ACC is not only giving us time to find a new home, but they are also committed to helping us find the right place, and working with us on collaborative efforts moving forward. I look forward to our continued work to see what we can accomplish together for our community."
According to a press release from ACC, the lease extension is intended to give both sides more time to work toward a long-term solution.
“As a community college, we are committed to doing what is best for the community. We have learned a lot about No-Comply and the skateboarding community, and we’re hopeful that this is an opportunity for a lasting partnership,” says Neil Vickers, ACC executive vice president of finance and administration. “Our goal is to help No-Comply, and there are a lot of options we can look into. Extending the lease for No-Comply gives us all the time we need to do things right.”
ACC asked for a postponement of the discussion on Aug. 19, saying the postponement was necessary to achieve a "win-win solution" with the owner of the No-Comply Skate Shop. In a press release, ACC said they are trying to reach a "mutually beneficial resolution" and assist the owners in finding a new storefront. The Historical Commission has not responded to ACC's postponement request yet.
"ACC remains focused on taking steps to provide more time and support needed to help the owners find a new storefront for No-Comply, including the possibility of relocating to another ACC property in the area," said Sydney Pruitt, a spokesperson for ACC.
“We are working with the owners right now, and the momentum is very positive,” said Vickers. “The owners have asked us to give them more time to find new, quality space. We’re confident that’s something we can give them. Together, we’re working to identify long-term solutions that are a win for everyone. By postponing the application process with the City, we all have more time to come to a shared, thoughtful resolution.”
Austin Community College bought the land the building is on in 2009, so it wants to demolish it to expand the ACC campus nearby.
According to ACC, the timeline for the site's plans are "flexible."
The commission got more than 4,000 emails from people who oppose the demolition. Many of them said the building should be declared a historic landmark to save it.
The owner says if that doesn't happen, he needs more time to find a new place for his business.
On the night of July 26, commissioners recommended that ACC go back and consider peoples' comments about the demolition.
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