Nash Hernandez Building Project

Background

The Nash Hernandez building located at 1621 Nash Hernandez Senior Road is an approximately 9,000-square-foot building built in 1966 for the Austin Fire Department (AFD) as the Arson Division and Museum. The building has been vacant since 2009 when AFD moved locations. In 2012 the Nash Hernandez building was transferred from Austin Fire Department to the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) for the purpose of establishing administrative offices for PARD. In 2012 a building assessment was conducted, followed by extensive asbestos and lead abatement in 2013 that left the building unoccupiable and in a state of disrepair. Between 2012 and 2019, several assessments, building remediations, and design scopes were initiated and partially developed, but ultimately never completed due to various factors. A previous design version of the Nash Hernandez building included use as a PARD administrative office with no community spaces. Later, Austin Police Department (APD) and PARD collaborated to utilize the building as a joint-use facility until APD pulled out of the project.  On May 19, 2022, City Council authorized the negotiation and execution of a professional services agreement for design services to renovate the Nash Hernandez building to house PARD administrative spaces with community-serving spaces. (Agenda Item 14). However, on June 16, 2022, Council also approved Resolution 20220616-089, directing the Department to complete a feasibility study and fiscal impact of housing an Intergenerational Resource Activity Center pilot program in the Nash Hernandez Building.

Council Resolutions and Timeline

June 2022: Council Resolution 20220616-089 to Perform a Feasibility Study

Council Resolution 20220616-089 directed the City Manager to study the feasibility and fiscal impact of housing an Intergenerational Resource and Activity Center (IRAC) pilot program in the Nash Hernandez Building, including the renovation of space in the building for that purpose, and to work in conjunction with the LBJ School team to identify the design, spatial needs, and operational requirements ofthe prospective IRAC facility and pilot program.

On October 17, 2022, staff issued a response to Council Resolution 20220616-089, which included a memo from PARD’s director and a feasibility report.

• Memo and 2022 Feasibility Study: Intergenerational Resource and Activity Center Pilot Program at the Nash Hernandez Building (PDF, 6.5 MB)

December 2022: Resolution 20221208-059 to Work Towards Implementation

On December 8, 2022, Council Resolution 20221208-059, directed PARD to partner with other City Departments, Austin Public Health, and the IDC Advisory Group to work towards the implementation of an IRAC, which includes identifying licenses, certifications, and funding resources and return to Council with proposals. The resolution also directed staff to conduct community stakeholder engagement meetings to gather input on initiating a pilot IRAC partnership program at Nash Hernandez and other locations recommended by the Parks and Recreation Department.

On April 24, 2023, the Intergenerational Resource and Activity Center Advisory Group presented to the Parks and Recreation Board

• IRAC Presentation: Establishing an Intergenerational  Resource and Activity Center at the Nash Hernandez, Sr. Building (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• Video of the April 2023 Parks Board Meeting

On April 8, 2024, staff issued a response to Council Resolution 20221208-059, which included a memo from Austin Public Health's Director and report.

• Memo and 2024 Resolution Response Report (PDF, 270 KB)

20221208-059 is the most recent resolution issued by Council on the future of the Nash Hernandez building.

Funding & Resources

Partial funding was provided by Certificates of Obligation.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact Alyssa Tharrett, PARD Project Management Supervisor, by email or by phone at 512.974.9508