Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 (Agenda)
Item 3
>> item number 3, approve resolution supporting the fifth street mexican american heritage corridor in Austin, Texas Commissioner Gomez.
>> thank you, judge, I think there are folks here with
>> [indiscernible] and the street corridor, if you come up, I will read the resolution and give it to you to take with you.
whereas the city of Austin in partnership with mache carte museum is planning to development the mexican american cultural heritage corridor.
while this is ideal project that will have a major impact on Austin and Travis County, to enhance quality of life, enhance creativity, enhance a sense of place and stimulate local economy, whereas the fifth street mexican american cultural heritage corridor will interconnect and enhance downtown public parks and streets, celebrate history and culture and identity of the place, introduce public art and reinforce and authentic sense of place.
whereas the corridor will run from republic park on west fifth to saltillo plaza on east fifth with machecarte museum as a central anchor of the two points and people of mexican consent have been part of the building of Austin and Texas since inc founding in 1836, such as san antonio navarro, an jose de zavala and whereas past study provide evidence that the first mexican and mexican american community settled in what today is known as downtown Austin, along the fifth street corridor an adjacent space is contributing to the city's development starting around 1870, where the area of fifth street to the north, colorado river to the south shoal creek to the west and congress avenue to the east it became very important sites for the mexican american communities including republic square, guadalupe catholic church in 1907, first public mexican school in 1916 and the parochial school of of lady of guadalupe in 1819 and other important sites for the mexican american community include the phillips building dance hall, which hosted famous mexican musicians.
another original part brush scare on fifth street houses three museums related to events of importance in mexican american history, the o.
henry museum, joseph and suzanna dickenson, the mechecarte museum which moved to fifth and congress.
and the medina pocket park pays tribute to musicians 1940s, saltioo on comal and fifth was inaugurated in 1999 by visiting delegation from our sister city of saltillo mexico and whereas the development of the fifth street corridor will bring the street to life through history and community engagement and whereas the original Travis County courthouse was located across republic plaza on fourth street and is the future site of the Travis County courthouse slated for the same block south of republic square park and whereas early as 1886, cinco de mayo celebrations were held in republic square and Travis County has held cinco de mayo celebrations in downtown Austin at wooldridge park since 1986 and a joint city county celebration since 1995, recognizing the contributions of the mexican american people in Austin.
therefore it be resolved we the county customer's court support the fifth street mexican american heritage corridor and the museum and the city of Austin in the effort to plan and realize this project in all aspects that will recognize past contributions of the mexican american community, enhance the presence and build a better future for our city and I move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> any comments?
>> mayor.
>> good morning, judge and customers, I am gus garcia.
I am board member of the fiesta foundation, the foundation that recognizes the mexican american revolution, and we think it is a healthy fingfor our community, the corridor and we are here to show the support.
>> good morning, I am gloria and I chair the committee for the fiesta independence and I am also the person who is in charge of the celebration at noon at republic square on the 15th of September.
I want to thank Commissioner Gomez for bringing forth this resolution and I ask for your support of the resolution.
it is going to be a wonderful way to document the history and the contributions of the mexican americans to this community.
it's going to be a good start and we are asking for your support.
thank you.
>> thank you.
>> good morning I am frank rodriquez, former chair of mexico at the museum working with its initiative.
it has gotten a lot of support from the downtown folks including downtown autosomal lines and got included in the downtown development plan for downtown, and we are really pleased that you support this initiative.
I am also appoint upped to the Travis County health district also known as central health.
that is for another day.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, my name is michael and last time I was here was judge in your first term, approving the interlocal agreement for rural map program.
I used to be on public health.
I now sit as a board member.
I want the give you a story.
gloria expressed it well and mary garcia, the corner where republic square sits now was one of the first food factories, called walker food plant I believe.
who here is familiar with aus-tex chilli.
it lives the today, it's not there but it's part of the mexican american community in downtown Austin.
many maces like those, a oral and visual history will be created on fifth street that I think everyone will be impressed with and as you build your new building maybe there is some opportunity for investment in there in recognizing the culture as well, but we will be back to you with that.
thank you so much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
anymore?
>> no.
all those in favor?
passes by unanimous vote.
thank you.
>> congratulations.
if we can help let us know.
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