Austin voters approve land swap proposition

Local Government
Austinf
Austin voters accept proposal to swap land. | Facebook

Austin voters approved of Proposition B on Election Day, allowing city officials to plan and conduct a land swap. The city is now soliciting bid proposals. 

The swap, which won 73% of total votes, will consist of nine acres of parkland on South Lakeshore Boulevard for 48 acres of waterfront land and a new maintenance facility.

The nine-acre establishment is located next to Oracle America at 2525 S. Lakeshore Blvd. and currently serves as the Central Maintenance Complex for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, now eligible for leasing through a public bidding process, the ballot reports. Oracle is projected to take a bid. 

Another proposal under consideration is Proposition A, which, if passed, will increase police staffing and training. The cost of the initiative is estimated to be between $54.3 million and $119.8 million over the course of the next five years.

City officials assure funding for the initiative will not impact other efforts currently in development.

"We know we need 300 to 350 more," said president of Save Austin Now, Matt Mackowiak. "We don't believe that will happen in one year, but we should try."