Beware Big Business, Big City

Remember when Intel was coming to downtown Austin? How about the other large employers drawn to Austin with tax incentives such as AMD? Well some of them made it, and others… well others left us with concrete scaffolds perfect for Lapis Light (http://www.bluelapislight.org) show.

What about Computer Sciences Corporation? Well, take a look at our beloved “green” City Hall. Built partly with money from CSC, it is now flanked by two buildings that CSC never fully took over. But fear not, recently, Silicon Labs took up residency in one of the buildings. This, after Microsoft pulled the plug on another CSC building tenant, Digital Anvil. Ever wonder how all the small shops along the new 2nd street district can make it? That’s an easy one: Tax incentives. But at least there is something there, and the City leadership realized it needed to act.

Sometimes Big Business can leave a city with an eyesore that only creative minds like Lapis can do anything with. Thankfully the City has decided to erect a new building on this city block, the new Federal Courthouse. But on the other hand, sometimes Big Business can leave us with improved infrastructure like CSC did. I think a lot of this has to do with the leadership of the City, and how well they interact and negotiate with large businesses.

I wonder, now that Google has secured space in the Scarborough building at 6^th and Congress, what did the City get out of this deal? Probably nothing since they are leasing existing space. My point is… the city should be leveraging these businesses towards responsible growth for Austin. Consider, what objectives can the city achieve with the W, or with The Austonian? Large footprint developments like this can really shape a city the size of Austin.