Downtown Austin Space Activation program brings in more visitors
AUSTIN (KXAN) — More people are visiting downtown Austin. According to the Downtown Austin Alliance, foot traffic is up thanks to a program it launched a year ago.
The Downtown Austin Space Activation program transforms vacant storefronts and underutilized spaces into affordable options for local creatives and small businesses to host pop-up shops and events.
'We set it up in an Airbnb style sort of format, where you could activate a space at a daily rate, because we understood that people wanted space temporarily. They wanted to do events,' said DAA Chief Impact Officer Jenell Moffett.
The DAA started this last summer. Since then, it has been activated more than 500 times.
'Nonprofits that have had this space to have panel discussions and community conversations,' Moffett said. 'We've also had events where there's been kids and, you know, sort of creative spaces where youth can come.'
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Downtown Austin program fills empty storefronts with pop-ups, events
Moffett called their first year pop-up focused, as they tried to get more visitors into downtown.
'We have seen foot traffic increase year over year about 10% in these activated spaces.'
Jenell Moffett, Downtown Austin Alliance Chief Impact Officer
The DAA said half of participating businesses have been minority-owned and more than a quarter are women-owned businesses.
She said moving forward, they have goals to expand into more long-term leases.
'We had several requests for longer time,' Moffett said. 'We didn't have enough spaces to actually support that demand.'
The plan is to now find additional spaces.
'Additional partners, additional coaching, additional business development tools, so that these businesses can actually have the option to stay,' Moffett said.
The DAA plans to release its first ever impact report for the program during an open house on July 10. People interested in participating in the program can apply online.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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