EDIE ZUVANICH Special to the Press
HUTTO — Construction of the city’s first parking garage is underway in the Hutto Co-op District. The structure is designed as a sixstory facility with 449 parking spaces. “That project is a private developer building the parking garage, it’s not a city project. However, the parking in there will be open to the public,” City Manager James Earp said. “It will also to a certain degree be for city hall staff while we’re here during the workday so (the developer) can reclaim the parking lot across Live Oak.”
The garage is being built with precast concrete produced in Cedar Park. The large pieces are transported to the construction site and maneuvered into position using huge cranes.
Crews are also currently working to build a four-story office building with retail on the ground floor, l t d dj t t th located adjacent to the new parking garage. The office building broke ground just a few weeks ago. The aesthetic for the Co-op is to have parking structures screened by other buildings to create a more welcoming effect.
“On the back side of the parking garage there will be an office building with the bottom floor having some opportunities for restaurant and retail space but the upper floors are all offices. I believe I was told the top two floors are leased out to a company from the Netherlands who will be here supporting efforts at (Samsung Austin Semiconductor),” Earp said.
This parking garage is part of the city’s May 4, 2023, amended agreement with developer MA Partners to construct several parking structures, the first of which is supposed to open at the same time as the Jack Allen’s Kitchen that will be built beside the garage. According to the city, the restaurant is expected to break ground within a month. Both the parking garage and Jack Allen’s are slated to open simultaneously by the end of 2024.
Parking is a key component for the vision of Hutto Co-Op District as a mixed-use development with retail shopping, services, restaurants, apartments, offices and community space. The agreement with the developer requires them to restrict tenants on the first floor of the commercial spaces to be mainly dining, retail or entertainment businesses for “community enjoyment”.
The Hutto Co-Op encompasses 35 acres on U.S. Highway 79 adjacent to downtown and includes the historic silos and Hutto City Hall. It is home to Southside Market, Top Notch Hamburgers, AT&T Cellular World and more.
