Sore Spot

Reader Erin writes:

What is up with the famed Intel Shell that is downtown? Is anything going to happen to that space? Do they own or lease the land? It is so ugly, I hope that that structure has some plans.

Well, first a little history. Austin offered Intel $15M in incentives in 2000 in an attempt to bring more of Intel's business to our fair city. Spirits were running high with the prospect of hundreds of new jobs in the heart of downtown at 5th and Nueces. However, they ran out of money before finishing. The unfinished “shell” has been collecting dust since February 2001.

In 2002, Intel put the site up for sale, and then in July of 2003 U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett announced the intention to build a new federal courthouse there. The effort to put this mess behind us seems to have been mired in budget negotiations ever since. [Source]

The last news we can find on the subject was in January, when Doggett pledged to fight for the $1m it will take to tear down the shell in this year’s federal budget. Since the news stops there, we’re guessing it just didn’t make the cut.

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By Kristina B in Other on June 9, 2005 1:13 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Julie

I think the incentives were more to lure Intel away from building over the Aquifer, not just to come to or expand in Austin.

And I think the reason the news has stopped is the long, drawn-out Federal budget process. The demolitions funds were in the President's recommended budget and were also recommended by our (now) three local(ish) Congressmen. But that would be for the next year's budget.