Transforming the Sprawl and Saving the Pink Gorilla at Anderson Square

An underutilized asphalt ocean in Austin’s heart

Anderson Square, a 16-acre colossal stretch of asphalt, is located at the southwest junction of the Highway 183, West Anderson Lane, and North Lamar Boulevard in central Austin. Home to a Hobby Lobby, Planet Fitness, and a massive yet underused parking lot, this enormous shopping center, more often than not, lies dormant, save for the bustle at Big Star Bingo during the evenings.

This vast parking lot hardly ever sees enough vehicles to fill up space, rendering it so vacant that local scooter and motorcycle dealers at Electric Avenue utilize the lot to conduct their Class M license courses.

Urbanization Plans for Anderson Square

The empty land at Anderson Square is expected to catch a breather finally, as its owners, including local giant, Jimmy Nassour, are seeking a rezoning clearance from the city’s Planning Commission. They have proposed a higher-density redevelopment of up to 120 feet for the site, hinting at over 2,000 new apartments. The ambitious plans also include mixed-use pockets, featuring office spaces, retail outlets, and hotels.

The concept embodies an urbanized redesign, aimed at replacing Austin’s legacy sprawling shopping centers. The focal points of these plans involve taller towers facing the highway, shorter buildings towards the neighborhoods, a newly integrated grid of internal streets and, enticing urban dwellers with pedestrian-friendly retail and green spaces.

The ambitious plan also includes an anchor grocery store at the project’s ‘front door’ facing West Anderson Lane. Also, being directly across North Lamar Transit Center, this redevelopment might become Project Connect’s northern rail terminal potentially, making Anderson Square a prime location for transit-accessible density.

The Pink Gorilla

All said, amidst this urbanization drive, there’s a piece of Austin’s legacy the designers are keen to preserve – the famed pink gorilla statue. Standing tall behind the Big Star Bingo hall at the south corner, this statue holds sentimental significance for the city.

The origin of this statue wraps in mystery – some believe it to be a relic from Austin’s long-lost business, Pinky’s Pagers, while others argue the famous Pinky’s gorilla was inflatable. Nevertheless, the importance of the pink gorilla for the city is unparalleled, and the designers have vowed to preserve it as a part of the new development.

The owners have commented on this, stating, they would either manage to keep the statute onsite or lend it to the City of Austin’s Parks Department for showcasing at the Wooten neighborhood park.

Conclusion

The renaissance of Anderson Square is a massive undertaking that aims to transform the underutilized spectacle into an integrated and urban space with mixed functionality, mirroring the city’s growing popularity. The plans, however, remain a subject of approval from the Planning Commission meeting scheduled on June 25, following discussions with property owners and adjacent Wooten neighborhood representatives.