Reimagining Central Austin
A ULI Hines Proposal: Master Plan Framework & Urban Data Analysis
Design team: Kristen James, Alex Schust, Leah Ballou, Ellie New, Erik Darden
Environmental graphic in collaboration with the design team.
Rewrite the Script & Green the Gray
This phase prioritized social and environmental sustainability. By identifying that 40% of local residents face significant housing cost burdens, we focused on generational wealth through ownership. We proposed converting the site’s “gray” paved parking into flexible public green spaces to mitigate urban heat island effects.
Informing Design Through Data
Using 2019-2023 ACS data, we performed a multivariate clustering analysis to group census tracts by socio-demographic traits. This informed our design choices by highlighting specific community strengths and needs.
Network concept by design team; graphic by Ellie New. Trip generator analysis by me.
Plugging into the Network
We mapped the site’s proximity to Austin’s transit infrastructure, including the Red Line and the planned “Cap & Stitch” project. This analysis allowed us to bridge the connectivity gap between high-density “trip generators” and the project site.
Final synthesis and masterplan design. I contributed to the drafts, initial sketches, and northeastern quadrant design. Final graphic was created by Kristen James.
The Final Synthesis
The resulting masterplan integrates high-density affordable housing, a decentralized transit loop, and a 15% increase in native tree canopy. This framework serves as a scalable model for equitable urban infill in rapidly growing metropolitan areas.