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Work will address bump out curb for ADA requirements

The City Council, by a vote of 3-2 with two council members not in attendance, moved out of its work session a request by Austin Area Arts to help pay for a proposed rework on the sidewalk as part of its renovation project of the Paramount Theatre.

Austin Area Arts Executive Director Thomas Robbins pitched the request to the council Monday night to help pay for a $93,000 rework of a proposed Americans with Disabilities Act modification to the front entry that would feature a bump-out curb.

The request was for the city to pay half, or $46,500.

According to plans submitted in the council’s work session packet, the bump out would reach across the length of the main entrance of the Paramount with a pair of ramps leading up to the sidewalk at new painted cross walk locations.

However, while council members in general supported the extra work, which wouldn’t be charged to the main body of the renovation project, there was some question as to how much the city would chip in.

“I don’t feel too comfortable putting a number out there,” said First Ward’s Laura Helle, who ultimately voted for moving the question out of the work session.

Second Ward’s Mike Postma voiced concern over the amount requested by Austin Area Arts.

“I’m really struggling on that half number right now,” Postma said in voting against moving it out of the work session along with At-Large Council Member Jeff Austin, who questioned why this need was coming up now rather than during the planning process.

The council will vote on whether or not to approve helping with the project at its next meeting, though regardless of the outcome, Robbins said that this is needed work. It likely would require extra fundraising if the council votes against Austin Area Arts’ request.

“This is required of ourselves for accessibility,” Robbins said. “One way or another … we need to get it done.”

Work on the renovation began in January and the hope is that work can be done for a soft opening during the Austin ArtWorks Festival in August.