Posting Language
Title
Authorize execution of all documents and instruments necessary or desirable to amend the use and development restrictions and requirements imposed in the Correction Special Warranty Deed from the City to Perry Lorenz conveying the 11,376-square-foot property located at the northeast corner of West Third Street and North Lamar Boulevard, commonly known as 301 ½ North Lamar Boulevard. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.
De
Lead Department
Austin Financial Services.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
June 7, 2007 - City Council approved Ordinance No. 20070607-072 authorizing the City Manager to accept the sealed bid offer of $1,301,000 from Perry Lorenz for the sale of an 11,376-square-foot tract of land located at the northeast corner of West Third Street and North Lamar Boulevard, commonly known as 301 ½ North Lamar.
For More Information:
Brandon Williamson, Austin Financial Services, 512-974-5666; Michael Gates, Austin Financial Services, 512-974-5639.
Additional Backup Information:
In 2007, Council authorized the sale of the property located at the northeast corner of West Third Street and North Lamar Boulevard, commonly known as 301 ½ North Lamar, to Perry Lorenz, the highest bidder, for $1,301,000. The request for proposals required any buyer to accept deed restrictions governing certain aspects of the property's use and development.
In 2015, a Correction Special Warranty Deed was recorded for the property, amending the deed restrictions to attach site-specific streetscape requirements and to extend the time the property owner had to construct his project. The restrictions are set forth in the deed recorded in Document No. 2015170720 of the Official Public Records of Travis County, Texas. These restrictions remain applicable to the property and are the subject of the proposed amendment.
The proposed amendment would revise the existing deed restrictions by deleting Items (5), (6), and (8) from Subsection A and deleting Subsections B and C in their entirety. Item A(5) requires a pedestrian-oriented use listed in Subsection B. Item A(6) prohibits the automotive uses listed in Subsection C. Item A(8) requires the property owner to commence construction by December 31, 2020. Additionally, Item A(9) would be amended to require only buildings with a floor area greater than 1,000 square feet to comply with the City’s Green Building Ordinance. Items A(2) and A(3), which require the property owner to comply with the City’s Great Streets standards and to construct wider sidewalks, respectively, would also be amended to only apply to projects that include a building with a floor area greater than 1,000 square feet. Finally, the site-specific streetscape requirements of Exhibit B-1 would be deleted in their entirety.
If approved, these changes would allow the property owner to develop the property for electric vehicle charging, which is consistent with Ordinance No. 20260528-082, which rezoned the property. The modified requirements would still apply to certain other types of development. Electric vehicle charging plays a crucial role in Austin’s transportation infrastructure as the City transitions towards cleaner and more sustainable modes of transportation. This site provides the opportunity for charging stations and contributes to a more comprehensive and interconnected urban mobility network. There is currently a lack of fast chargers downtown available for public use. Austin Energy data has shown that the usage of the eight DC Fast Charges installed on Electric Drive near the subject property has grown annually from 2023 to 2025. This area has both a high concentration of multifamily housing and Transportation Network Company usage (e.g., Uber, Lyft).