Austin, TX

Austin’s Air-Conditioned Village brought central A/C to U.S.

Published

1 year ago

August 27, 2023

Austin’s Air-Conditioned Village brought central A/C to U.S.

The press event announcing the opening of the Air-Conditioned Village brought out at least hundreds of spectators.

Courtesy Austin History Center, Dewey G. Mears, and The University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History

With panic-inducing ERCOT conservation requests coming in droves these days, it’s hard to remember a world that isn’t soundtracked by the hum of a struggling HVAC unit. Cool air is the only savior right now in Central Texas and beyond, but in the not-so-distant past, Texans did without it.

Back in the early 1950s, folks — even in Texas — made it through the hottest months with window units, if that. Central air at that time was reserved for commercial properties or for the richest residents.

Article continues below this ad

But a project by the National Association of Home Builders led to the construction of what was known as Austin’s Air-Conditioned Village in 1953. Located in Northwest Austin’s Allandale neighborhood, the one-story, mid-century ranch-style homes were to be constructed for sale the following summer. At that time, manufacturers like Chrysler and others would support the testing of central air conditioning in various forms across the sub-division to see what people liked and what was cost efficient enough to build to scale.

That included different forms of shading used on some of the homes, various types of insulation, attic fans, and more.

“They were innovative in the sense of the air conditioning systems, but they were explicitly trying to cover the range of designs and styles that were being built at the time,” Mid Tex Mod board member Jason John Paul Haskins told Community Impact in 2021. “So it really does highlight both the current trends in residential construction in Austin and in Texas, but also where that could go.”

Of the 22 homes, built between 1,145 and 1,468 square feet and priced in the $12,000 range, 20 sold and a largely attended press event announcing the opening of Air-Conditioned Village was held in June of 1954. Hundreds — or thousands, per some reports — of people, including reporters, builders, and those simply curious about these newfangled homes of the future turned out for the event.

Article continues below this ad

A row of completed homes in the Air-Conditioned Village neighborhood.
Advertisement

Courtesy Austin History Center, Dewey G. Mears, and The University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History

A drive through the neighborhood reveals that while some of the homes have changed — of the 22, 15 still stand — the neighborhood retains most of the mid-century charm of yesteryear. The area near Twin Oaks Drive is where most of the homes are located, and while some have had some exterior remodeling, many are still pretty similar to the original vision.

This wasn’t the first air-conditioning test program in the United States, as has been previously stated. It was the first one targeting the middle class by home builders, though, which came up in 2020, when a man named Barry Williamson wanted to demolish the “Air Temp” house on Park View Drive.

In the years preceding, local residents, bolstered by groups like Preservation Austin and Mid Tex Mod, applied for a National Register historic nomination. In the nomination packet, there was more information about the history of experimental subdivisions like this one, plus some unsettling racist housing practices. It turns out that — as in other areas in Austin at the time — only white people were allowed to purchase homes in Air-Conditioned Village, per the packet, because of, “restrictive housing laws, regulations and common practices.”

Article continues below this ad

One of the criteria listed for the historical designation of the Park View Drive home is for the “historical association” with which the house, and the village at large, has. While the owners of the home were not famous people, the “identity of the house as a demonstration project associated with the National Home Builders Association’s initiative to explore the feasibility of installing central air conditioning into homes for the middle class satisfies this criterion for significant historical associations,” reads the proposal filed with Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission.

Nevertheless, the Air-Conditioned Village made chill waves far and wide.

Article continues below this ad

Perhaps most surprising is that, while the Air-Conditioned Village wound up a success, it wasn’t a given that the test families would take a shine to the experiment. In fact, this new technology weirded some folks out at first.

“One of the things that really stood out to me that was kind of surprising was that people had to be convinced that air conditioning was a good idea,” Haskins told CI. “One of the [contemporary] quotes was that the sound of it starting up wasn’t worth having the cool air.”

As temperatures hit the triple digits once more in Central Texas, they could roar like 747s throughout the city and remain on, ERCOT warnings be damned.

Source link

Click to comment

Austin, TX

Texas’ Quinn Ewers competes against Simone Biles, others in DICK’S Sporting Goods competition

Published

8 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Texas’ Quinn Ewers competes against Simone Biles, others in DICK’S Sporting Goods competition

Simone Biles, Dak Prescott, Chris Paul and Quinn Ewers are decorating DICK’S store in their hometowns of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.

DICK’S Sporting Goods is joining in on the holiday cheer — along with a dose of competition among Texas cities, featuring some of the Lone Star State’s best athletes.

Simone Biles, Dak Prescott, Chris Paul and Quinn Ewers will be competing, just not on any athletic field. They are each responsible for decorating a DICK’S Sporting Goods store in their hometown, competing for the title of DICK’S Holiday Decorating Officer and a trophy.

The athletes have begun decorating at stores in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin. Videos by DICK’S Sporting Goods offer a sneak peek of each as the athletes add their own flair to spread holiday cheer.

The competition comes as part of DICK’S Sporting Goods and DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation’s program Sports Matter, which funds and maintains youth sports programs across the nation. The four athletes will each get a $100,000 Sports Matter grant, to be awarded to a local youth sports organization(s) of their choosing.

“We’ve had a blast getting ready for the holidays with Texas’ most inspiring and entertaining sports icons,” said Kari DeGori, VP Local Marketing and Marketing Capabilities at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “These in-store displays are interactive, fun, a great place for photos, and each has its own tie of sport into the holiday – whether it’s a gingerbread locker room, a chimney basketball game, or a vintage farm basketball hoop. We hope that these displays add some extra joy for our customers while they shop for everyone on their list. And we’re thrilled to be able to partner with our Foundation’s Sports Matter program to extend the holiday cheer to deserving local sports organizations.”

“I love competing, so taking part in this Texas holiday contest with some of the best athletes across sports was a lot of fun,” said Chris Paul. “We are all trying to win and become DICK’S Holiday Decorating Officer, but no matter what, we all win as we have the opportunity to give back to youth sports. Thank you to DICK’S for awarding a $100,000 Sports Matter grant to the Chris Paul Family Foundation.”

This campaign will run across DICKS.com, YouTube, streaming, and social media, as well as broadcast on local TV, radio, and other audio platforms in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.

Quinn Ewers decorates Austin DICK’S store

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers is responsible for decorating the Austin DICK’S store on 183A Toll Road. A promotion video captures Ewers placing a giant cowboy hat on a snowman and standing amid a Longhorn-themed tailgate scene while on a video call with actor Matthew McConaughey.

Chris ‘CP3’ Paul decorates San Antonio DICK’S store

Over in San Antonio, Spurs point guard Chris “CP3” Paul is busy decorating the DICK’S store on Northwest Loop 410. CP3 can be seen carefully placing basketballs into a Christmas tree and building a holiday barn-themed basketball court, casually making backward swishes throughout a promotional video.

Simone Biles decorates Houston DICK’S store

World-famous gymnast and gold Olympic medalist Simone Biles has been tasked with decorating the Houston DICK’S store on the Gulf Freeway. In a promotional video, Biles stands in front of goat decorations wearing Olympic medals and a “GO FOR GOLD” sign display. Other notable decorations include a balance beam decked with stockings, a medal podium, and a photo op featuring “five golden rings.”

Dak Prescott decorates Dallas DICK’S store

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is in charge of decorating the Dallas DICK’S store on University Drive. A promotional video depicts Prescott designing a gingerbread-themed locker room and a tunnel featuring holiday lights, speaking in front of snowmen decked in football gear.

MAP: Where are the DICK’S stores involved in the holiday decoration competition?

Locations of the DICK’S stores being decorated include the following:

Dallas: 2845 W University Dr., Denton, TX 76201
Houston: 18650 Gulf Freeway, Friendswood, TX 77546
San Antonio: 321 Northwest Loop 410, Suite 112, San Antonio, TX 78216
Austin: 5001 183A Toll Road, Suite N100, Cedar Park, TX 78613

Source link

Austin, TX

Texas I-35 high-speed rail proposal is put into motion by lawmakers

Published

16 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Texas I-35 high-speed rail proposal is put into motion by lawmakers

High speed rail proposal in Texas moves forward

Austin lawmakers are putting a proposal in motion that has been in the works for years; plans to build a high-speed rail on I-35.

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin lawmakers are putting a proposal in motion that has been in the works for years; plans to build a high-speed rail on I-35.

The goal of House Bill 483 is to connect Dallas, Austin, and San António, using high-speed rail.

“The excitement and enthusiasm around this bill has been kind of overwhelming. I am surprised how much everyone is paying attention to it. I’m excited and encouraged. I think Texas is a booming state, with a booming economy, but we are far behind infrastructure options for residents,” says State Representative House District 136 John Bucy.

House Bill 483 submitted by lawmakers in Austin spells out plans for a high-speed rail expected to reach speeds of 110 miles per hour, connecting Dallas to Austin to San Antonio along interstate 35.

Passenger rail service from Austin to Mexico

The Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee is considering expanding passenger rail services between Austin and Mexico.

“The interconnection of these major hubs that we are all traveling all the time would benefit our day-to-day lives. It is a way to a different mobility of travel then flying or driving in a car, it would be faster than driving in a car it would be safer. Many years ago, Rick Perry had plans to add more lanes and add a train up the I-35 corridor. We are not doing enough for infrastructure, and it needs to get done,” says Bucy.

Last year, Travis County Commissioner’s Court Judge Andy Brown met with officials in Bexar County to discuss the possibility of a passenger rail between Austin and San Antonio, pending an environmental study.

Mayor Watson also highlighted opportunities for developing an inner-city passenger rail to congress, in November 2023.

This year, The Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee discussed plans to add a high-speed passenger train along the corridor between Austin, San Antonio and Monterrey, Mexico.

Is a CTX passenger rail possible?

Travis County Judge Andy Brown is trying to get a passenger rail plan for Central Texas back on track.

This month, State Senator Sarah Eckhardt joined in efforts to get house bill 483 passed.

“This is going to be a long process. We are going to try to get this bill by first continuing to raise awareness, asking for a hearing in committee that won’t be until February or march at the earliest, so that process will be beginning, committee hearings and then hopefully we can continue to build support for it,” says Bucy.

According to the bill, high-speed rail would be constructed through state funds.

“What we are doing is directing the Texas Department of Transportation to enter into an agreement so they would have a bid process, people would make their bids for building and maintaining this line, so it would be like public private partnership,” says Bucy.

Rep. John Bucy says the goal is to get the bill to the governor’s desk.

“I know the governor loves to talk about Texas’s innovation and moving forward I would think a new high-speed mobility would be right up his alley,” says Bucy.

The bill would take effect in September 2025 if it is passed.

Source link

Austin, TX

Texas Supreme Court overturns ruling that state Attorney General Ken Paxton testify in lawsuit

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Texas Supreme Court overturns ruling that state Attorney General Ken Paxton testify in lawsuit

(AP) – The Texas Supreme Court on Friday overturned a lower court ruling that state Attorney General Ken Paxton testify in a whistleblower lawsuit at the heart of impeachment charges brought against him in 2023.

The court on Friday said Paxton’s office does not dispute any issue in the lawsuit by four former Paxton employees and agreed to any judgment in the case.

“In a major win for the State of Texas, the state Supreme Court has sided with Attorney General Paxton against former OAG employees whose effort to prolong costly, politically-motivated litigation against the agency has wasted public resources for years,” a statement from Paxton’s office said.

An attorney for one of the plaintiffs declined immediate comment, and a second attorney did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

The former employees allege they were improperly fired or forced out for bringing to the FBI allegations that Paxton was misusing his office to protect a friend and campaign donor, who in turn, they said, was helping the attorney general to conceal an extramarital affair.

The Supreme Court ruling noted that the Texas governor and Legislature have expressed a desire to hear testimony from the witnesses prior to agreeing to appropriate funds to settle the lawsuit.

The court said forcing Paxton, First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster, Chief of Staff Lesley French Henneke and senior advisor Michelle Smith to testify earlier could improperly be used for legislative purposes in deciding any appropriation.

Under the preliminary deal, Paxton agreed to apologize to the former employees for calling them “rogue” employees, settle the case for $3.3 million and ask the state to pay for it, prompting the state House to reject the request and begin its own investigation, leading to the vote to impeach him.

Paxton was ultimately acquitted after a Senate trial.

The Supreme Court termed its ruling conditional upon the lower trial court complying with the decision, while saying it is “confident the trial court will comply” with the order.

Source link