March 14, 2008
Villa Muse Now Looking at Other Texas Cities
Update: While Villa Muse isn't completely giving up on Austin as the location for its development, it certainly appears to be on the way out of town. Project leaders have repeatedly asserted that, without the City's vote in favor of the jurisdictional release, the project was a no-go for Austin. Well, apparently they weren't just bluffing; Villa Muse is now looking at several other cities throughout the state as a location for the development, though the names of those cities remain private. While the city denied their request for jurisdictional release last week, city officials have made offers to continue negotiations and "work out some sort of deal," but it looks like Villa Muse is playing hardball and refusing to go a step further with Austin unless the release issue is revisited by a new City Council vote. Which is something the City has stated it will not do.
Is this the end for Villa Muse's love affair with Austin? Or will City Council do a re-vote? Is the city better off without this project, or has City Council dealt our economy a major blow by scaring Villa Muse off?
Care to sound off, Austinites?
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where else will the project go? it'll just be another "Domain" anywhere else. the only place it can be a creative neighborhood would be austin.
Oh, so now that they say they've got "two cities that they can't name" they're no longer bluffing? Sounds like a bluff to me.
I'll say it again. We have the Studios in Las Colinas outside Dallas. It's a great place if you want to work on Barney. They want our creative community. Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso don't have that.
They're bluffing. Or morons.
Are you kidding?! This is just a negotiating tactic.
I've got to say that I didn't see the downside of letting them out of the ETJ - they were at the far reach of the ETJ, so they weren't going to end up as some weird enclave within Austin, and they were going to be annexed anyway in 40-some years. For some reference, the city is just now getting to annexing the Lost Creek MUD on the west side of town, which was started in 1972, and appears to be built out.
I've got to say that I didn't see the downside of letting them out of the ETJ - they were at the far reach of the ETJ, so they weren't going to end up as some weird enclave within Austin, and they were going to be annexed anyway in 40-some years. For some reference, the city is just now getting to annexing the Lost Creek MUD on the west side of town, which was started in 1972, and appears to be built out.
This is a DAWG!!
And an obvious dog at that.
Anyone who voted for it should reconsider
this very bad choice. Giving away land for
hopes that a dreamy playscape of film and video
and sales tax dollars that would...oh yeah, not go to us because we GAVE AWAY THE LAND!
This is the biggest, worst, giveaway ever.
Thankfully there were four councilmen who had the forsight to vote against this dog.
Even listening to the developers you could see these are hacks who are hoping for a big pay day, but not quite sure one is coming.
I think the Chronicle said it best; this is like a salesman who says, there are special benefits I can't tell you about, but pay me today and you'll havea big payoff tomorrow.
At that point, buyer beware; get up and walk away. Thank you to the four councilmen.
figment, maybe you weren't here when all the other subdivisions that promised to be annexed by us used the state to prevent Austin from annexing them for quite a while at quite a bit of expense (to Austin). It happens.
no new points here, i am just glad council didn't sell out on this one. they made the right decision. if the developer wants to profit off of austin's coolness, they will come back and play ball like everyone else has to.
Why should the city council be the guardians of profiteers of cool?
Random,
There was never any profit (or cool) on the table. The terms of their offer were ridiculous, and while the venture was only barely conceivable in Austin, it's all but guaranteed to fail anywhere else in Texas.
Where are they going to go? Ogdenville? North Haverbrook? Brockway?
...It's not a bluff, it's a death rattle.
The council was right...I just wish it would have been a unanimous decision.
The reputation of this city as a creative capital was not built on the backs of real estate developments. And for the Villa Muse developers to imply that the future success and productivity of this town somehow rests on the realization of VM is just retarded.
Austin and it's residents have absolutely nothing to gain from Villa Muse.
I was actually looking forward to having a nice outdoors music venue in Austin - now that Southpark Meadows is submerged under a sprawly wasteland of unneeded retail and the Backyard has a charming view of the ass end of an Old Navy.
If you were going to complain about development in Austin, why this one? It's in the desired development zone away from environmentally sensitive Western Travis county with the aquifer, recharge zone, etc. Other than the developer's "OMG this is the coolest development ever and now you can't have it" temper tantrum, I think its probably the best development we'll see proposed for a while.
I personally don't see the appeal to living way out FM 969 myself, but I'd rather see mixed-use type development like this one than single-purpose residential development of the type that is likely to fill the SH 130 corridor.
As one of the most creative people in Austin, I am pleased to see our DIY council reject this proposal. We're large and in charge. These developers need to step the fuck back and let a playa play.
Seth
This development would do so much in terms of bringing a desirable industry to Austin.
I sincerely hope that this is just a negotiating technique and that our city council has not blown it. This would be a real dream for our city. We cant be the creative capital of Texas without catering to creative industries. They are proposing development in an area that is absolutely dead.
figment, the development itself is fine - them wanting to be outside Austin's taxing and regulatory authority isn't; since we'd still bear a lot of costs anyways. And the "we promise we'll let you annex us down the road" card has been played before around here - such people rarely live up to their end of the bargain.
Not only are there good points about why this is bad, but moreover, the stakeholders are some old hacks who have no funding. They spent their dough putting together an artistic rendering.
Even their lawyer - former state rep Ron Wilson - is a Craddick-hack and pawn of all around bad stuff.
There's no way this would work anywhere other than Austin (not saying it'd necessarily work here, either). This is definitely a bluff.
There Is still Hope Check out this link
http://www.spiderwoodstudios.com/index.php
Reason 1 as to why we should not trust Spiderwood Studios... "Spiderwood Entertainment and Productions were born in California,".
Where do you think most of the Distributers, Producers, and seasoned Film makers that make Film making facilities and the rest of the creative beds a profitable Business are located.
Its the place a lot of films begin development and could potentially bring their Projects and Budgets with them to the Area. This can feed the creative community In many ways. Fueling more facilities and all of the Industries connected to this industry.
Not to mention this is not a Housing Development there are plenty of those around.
This is the real Deal A Facility Dedicated to film making and supporting and nurturing the entertainment and creative base here in Austin and the surrounding areas.
Why are you so Untrusting of California
I mistrust California because Californians aren't Texans and they don't know how to be everyday Texas people.
Well you will be happy to Know the Principles of this organization are from Texas and are as genuine as it gets.
with the Know how and the legitimate credentials that for now can only be gained in the Los Angeles System. With the goal in mind of bringing a positive impact on the film industry in Austin, Texas, and the rest of the World.
I understand your skepticism but if you work in the local industry I Believe you as well will benefit from the impact That Spiderwood will have. Without getting lost in the mayhem of Housing Developments, Malls, and everything but the Industry they are claiming to be boosting.
May I ask what experience you have or how this might affect you?
Im not being facetious I would truly like to know what kind of things you think would benefit This Area.
Do we really need another studio when we have the centrally located brand spanking new Mueller Studios?
Really?
Have you ever thought about using some of that funding to actually help people by creating low and middle income housing or schools with high standards and arts programs? Maybe a soup kitchen? Maybe a local workshop for geniuses to share and explore ideas for improving the world?
The last thing Americans need is more mindless distraction. As far as I see it, you're creating problems.
Okay Okay Obviously you like to put down the things you don't understand or you just dont even care to research what you are talking about.
"Maybe a local workshop for geniuses to share and explore ideas for improving the world?"(LoudMouth)
first off if anything can change the world its Art.
You are talking about is a Privately funded facility dedicated to the Arts not a Housing complex or a retail Center.
nothing has been asked for from any government entity for a break or insentives.
and it is exactly what you discribe "a local workshop for geniuses to share and explore ideas for improving the world"
I feel sorry for anyone who thinks Art is a "Mindless distraction"
so it seems to me you are very near sited in your views.
and i hope you will look into this a little further before you criticize its potential to improve The Community in a positive way.
and I would like to know why you seem so passionatly against any thing but Soup kitchens and low income housing. How bout creating Jobs spending money and paying taxes in the area. These are only some of the benefits of a facility like this one. Its also a clean Industry if you know what that means, not to mention the charity events and sponcerships that have already taken place. I hope you will check into these things before you slam it.
Think of the medium we are talking about Broadcast media is probably one of the biggest influences on Your daily life like it or not. Hmmmm even this blog is a form of the same type of Medium. Well I think a place where exploring "ways to improve the world is the daily norm is a pretty damn good thing! just think of all the Writers, Musicians, Actors, Composers, Graphic Artists, Carpenters, Electricians, Caterers, Film students, and just about any one who wants to be a part of this industry that would love a place like this to change their World.
"You Can change The World"
Very few movies are artistic and the ones that are generally don't make much money.
If you REALLY wanted to help artists, you would provide something like what they have going on in the Fifth Ward http://fifthwardcrc.fifthwardhouston.org/ right here in Austin but obviously you're just out to make money #1 and entertain #2.
I have no trust in you. I see no need for you. You're selfish and I think Austin is full-up in with enough selfish people already.
$2.6 billion, really?
If Villa Muse is planning a $2.6 billion enterprise (the economy of some third-world nations), why do they need a tax break? I remember when I first read about this venture maybe two or three years ago, Villa Muse folks said it would cost $500 million. Why the explosion in cost? Why does the project have to be so bizarrely huge? I QUESTION THE BUSINESS PLAN IF THEY CANNOT MAKE THIS WORK WITHOUT PAYING THEIR TAXES FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS AND THEY PLAN TO SPEND $2.6 BILLION TO GET THIS UP AND RUNNING. The residential developers are going to get a HUGE piece of that pie. That's why this project has exploded in this out-of-control manner. Greed, pure and simple. Why not just build a flippin film studio? THAT would actually be better for the city of Austin. Post-production work, etc., could be done inside the city limits and promote the health of Austin's actual economy. What Villa Muse is proposing is building their own gated community. $2.6 billion. Friends in the industry and I had dinner last night and talked about that figure. One of them is a producer in LA. He cannot fathom that amount.
Re: Spiderwood's comment on 3/20/08
"nothing has been asked for from any government entity for a break or insentives. "
what? are you even paying attention? Villa Muse has asked to be excluded from Austin's ETJ—INDEFINITELY— to AVOID PAYING CITY TAXES, and to sidestep environmental regualtions...seems to me they're asking for a helluva lot.
H