SAVE THE DOUGHERTY!
On March 19, 2024 at a City Council Work Session, a presentation (Item B2) by a Parks official recommended delivering the new DAC facility with existing funds and a phased construction of the building requiring the closure of the theater and the galleries for an undetermined amount of time.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The final design for the new building would be eliminated.
The Parks Department would have to begin all over again with community engagement and design of a new building.
Millions of dollars invested in planning and design would be scrapped.
All of the design work and community engagement would be null.
The Dougherty Arts
Center would be reduced to just the art school,
eliminating the theater and the gallery until more funds were raised through bonds.
The project would continue to be vulnerable
to spiraling inflation.
Continued delays would only leave the project open to continuing inflation.
WHY?
Delays in planning and a Council-mandated underground parking garage left the project vulnerable to spiraling inflation. The parking garage was not a part of the original 2018 bond. While PARD, City Council, and Austin voters have consistently supported the project with two bonds and years of dedicated planning, a late-stage budget shortfall is threatening the future of the Dougherty building project.
AUSTIN DESERVES
A complete arts center with theater, gallery, and art school.
For City Council to keep their promise made in the December 2022 resolution to complete the building as designed.
The funds needed to complete the replacement of the Dougherty Arts Center in the 2026 bond.
NOT to have to endure another costly community engagement process. The last one cost $1M +
GET INVOLVED!
We have several ways to show your support.