AUSTIN — After a stall in the planning process, the renovation of the Seaholm Intake Facility on Cesar Chavez Street Downtown is getting a new boost.
Architectural firm Studio Gang released a report, funded by the Austin Parks Foundation and Trail Foundation, that shows what the Seaholm Intake Facility Downtown could look like.
The firm recommends a space with a large yard, coffee shop, food trucks and kayaking in the back. People would also be able to hold meetings, events, and small concerts.
"The amount of people that are moving through this space just continues to grow," said Beth Carroll, project and creative director for the Trail Foundation. "This is going to provide another amenity along this important trail that serves the entire city."
She said it could be a destination for families and visitors.
In 2013, Austin leaders announced plans to renovate the property to compliment the construction at the Seaholm Power Plant across the street.
The intake facility is considered one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in Austin because it's the only building that sits on the lake. Because of city code, no other buildings can be built on the lake.
Here's what the renovated Seaholm Intake Facility could look like in Austin
The facility was built in the 1950s and was used to funnel water to the power plant, generating electricity until the plant closed in 1989.
The City of Austin previously let residents vote on what should be done with the building, but those plans stalled in 2016 after concerns that the winning design would alter the building too much.
The city's parks and historic boards will review the design plans in the summer of 2018.
City council will ultimately have to approve the recommendations for the project to move forward.