Riverside rezoning passes, developers to begin construction in 2023

Jack Myer

Student Government passed a resolution Tuesday requesting the council vote against the redevelopment. The group also organized a silent protest for SG members and individual students, which took place before and during the vote inside the council chamber. 

Student body president Camron Goodman was one of the 20 people who spoke to the council before they voted. 

“I wanted us to be in the room while they’re voting on it to show students are here this time,” finance senior Goodman said. “Students haven’t been a part of this. Its initial conversations were during the summer. Since (the council) couldn’t see us then, we’re going to make sure (they) see us now.” 

After Goodman spoke, Austin mayor Steve Adler said he wanted to work with UT President Gregory Fenves to increase student housing. 

“Not only (does Austin) have a housing crisis, the University has one too,” Adler said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s losing students who can’t come to school because they can’t get housing.”

The developers first introduced the project in March 2018, and it has received pushback from Defend Our Hoodz, an anti-gentrification community organization, since that time. Dozens of Defend Our Hoodz members protested outside of City Hall before and during the vote. 

Jessica Meza, a Defend Our Hoodz member, said the decision did not surprise her. 

“It just makes me more motivated to keep coming out here,” neuroscience senior Meza said. “Our fight is not going to stop at this vote, and knowing that we’ve passed one chapter in this fight, it’ll make me feel so much more motivated to get out in the streets.” 

Alex Meed, a public affairs graduate student, lives in Ballpark North and spoke during the meeting. 

“I’m glad it’s over,” Meed said. “I’m still concerned on how it will affect students, both existing tenants and those for later on. But I prefer this to the alternative, which would be a sparse new development without affordable housing. This consumed a lot of energy, and now it’s done.”