Transportation

ATP wouldn't say which businesses would be pushed out by light-rail. So we found out.

KUT 90.5 | By Nathan Bernier

Published February 13, 2025 at 5:03 AM CST

An aerial view of the intersection of Guadalupe and 29th Streets. A cluster of businesses in this area would be displaced, although not 99-year-old Dirty Martin's Place hamburger restaurant, which would have been forced to relocate under earlier plans. — An aerial view of the intersection of Guadalupe and 29th Streets. A cluster of businesses in this area would be displaced, including Salsa Limon, Patagonia Empanadas & Café, Out of the Closet, Sip Pho, Kabobzi Mediterranean Grill & Phoenician Resto Cafe, Abu Omar Halal and Exxon. The 99-year-old burger joint Dirty Martin's Place would not be razed, despite earlier plans requiring the building's removal.

Austin's light-rail project is moving forward, and with it, dozens of businesses could be demolished. But exactly which ones?

Despite releasing a 16,000-page environmental report, the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) has not published a list of affected businesses and homes like the Texas Department of Transportation did for the I-35 expansion.

Instead, ATP included more than 200 pages of maps (split between this PDF and that PDF) showing the light-rail route with buildings marked for possible demolition. ATP says up to 64 businesses and four single-family homes could be expropriated.

Some property owners have been notified, but not all. Businesses that lease their spaces are left to find out through their landlords — or they learned about it when we reached out for comment.

KUT News analyzed the maps block-by-block to determine which properties are in the path of Austin's 10-mile, high-frequency rail system. We were able to identify 60 of the 64 businesses and three of the single family homes. ATP says the potential property impacts were identified in Spring 2024 and businesses may have changed or moved out since then.

An artistic rendering showing an aerial view of light-rail coming down Riverside Drive at Pleasant Valley Road. The Austin skyline is in the distance. — An artistic rendering showing what light-rail could look like on Riverside Drive near Pleasant Valley Road. Creating space for the rail line would require expropriating about 85 acres of property, ATP says.

Trains in the system would run as frequently as every five minutes and have their own dedicated lanes, allowing them to move faster than traffic during rush hour. Creating the dedicated guideway requires widening the road in some places.

Other land will be used for park-and-rides at the end of each line, a 62-acre operations and maintenance facility or light-rail infrastructure like so-called traction substations that convert electricity to power the trains. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and end in 2033.

Some properties could be seized through eminent domain in 2026, after Austin gets a final green light to move forward from the Federal Transit Administration.

We've highlighted a few locations below. A complete list is at the bottom of this story.

A thrift store and HIV clinic at risk

Photo of a brightly-colored building. On one side is a sign for a thrift store, and on the other is a sign for a clinic and pharmacy. — The AHF Healthcare Center in Austin offers primary care, STI testing, pharmacy services and a thrift store all under one roof.

Out of the Closet is a thrift store that opened last May on Guadalupe Street just north of 29th Street. But it's more than a place to shop for vintage clothes. It also houses a health care center geared toward people living with HIV.

"We are the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, so everything that we do for the store benefits our medical side and our HIV care for those living in Austin," said store manager Audrey Talbot.

The AHF Healthcare Center is already expanding into another building next door.

"We have plans to turn that into a clinic and care facility and our donations processing center," Talbot said.

Under the current rail plan, both buildings would be torn down. So would neighboring restaurants Sip Pho, Kabobzi Mediterranean Grill & Phoenician Resto Cafe, Little Patagonia Empanadas & Cafe and Salsa Limon. An Exxon at Guadalupe and 29th Streets would be displaced along with the Abu Omar Halal restaurant on the corner of the property.

Dirty Martin's Place, a 99-year-old hamburger restaurant that had been slated for displacement in earlier plans, will be spared by the new design.

A technical schematic map showing the alignment of the light-rail line going through four properties on Guadalupe Street near 29th. — The light-rail line would curve through four properties on Guadalupe Street near 29th: Out of the Closet, Sip Pho, Phoenician Resto Cafe and an Exxon gas station.

"We continue to monitor the situation while keeping our primary focus on our first priority, ensuring the quality of (care of) our clients," AIDS Healthcare Foundation spokesperson Imara Canady said in a text message.

Austin's first women's sports bar faces uncertain future

An animated gif of a drone shot showing properties in the path of a Dean Keeton Street extension. — Extending Dean Keeton Street to San Antonio Street would require tearing down 1972 Women's Sports Club, Snog and Jenn's Copies.

A few blocks away, at Guadalupe and Dean Keeton streets, another business is at risk and it hasn't even opened yet: 1972 Women's Sports Pub — Austin's first-ever bar dedicated to women's athletics.

Debra Hallum and her wife Marlene du Plessis are preparing to open the bar in March, just in time for the NCAA Women's March Madness tournament.

ATP's plan would extend Dean Keeton Street straight through the property to connect to San Antonio Street, because most cars and trucks would be restricted from the Drag to create space for the large number of walking students.

An aerial schematic view showing Dean Keeton Street continuing east through properties including 1972 Women's Sports Pub and Jenn's Copies. — Dean Keeton Street would continue east through the properties to connect with San Antonio Street, providing drivers with a way to connect with a new two-way Nueces Street after Guadalupe Street is closed to most cars and trucks.

Hallum and du Plessis knew about the potential displacement before signing the lease. They moved forward anyway.

Their fresh entry into the hospitality business meant the couple struggled to convince landlords and insurance companies to give them a shot. But the Moody's Bar and Grill owners reached out and offered a space with a kitchen, bar, beer taps and even furniture.

A woman with her hair pulled back is speaking while seated in a bar with chairs upturned on the tables for cleaning. — Debra Hellum is a co-owner of 1972 Women's Sports Club, a new bar focused exclusively on women's athletics. It's slated to open in March.

"We came into this with our eyes wide open," Hallum said. "It was either go to a shell or a different location and spend a ton of money, or take this opportunity that was financially better and start building this community now."

For now, they plan to stay open as long as they can.

A 16-year-old dry cleaning business in limbo

A woman in a green shirt and glasses sits at a sewing machine in an alternations business. She is working. Through the window, you can you see cars in the parking lot. — 75-year-old Mai Fouse, co-owner of My Cleaners & Alterations, said she received no notice that her business could be forced to move.

Further up Guadalupe, Mai Fause, owner of My Cleaners and Alterations didn't know her store was marked for possible demolition.

The dry cleaning business at Guadalupe and 31st Streets has been operating there for 16 years.

"We're leasing the building," Fause said. "Probably need to talk to my landlord."

Fause, 75, said she supports the transit expansion but doesn't know what she'll do next.

A schematic showing the displacement of My Cleaners & Alterations at Guadalupe and 31st streets. — My Cleaners & Alterations is shown with red thatching on top, indicating a possible displacement for the ATP project.

"I like the city to build big and do well and all that stuff," she said. "Of course, I want to do that. But then, I'm also 75 years old. I'm going to retire in the next couple of years. So I don't know. Something we need to think about, huh?"

ATP is only notifying property owners, not business tenants, leaving many unaware — for now — that they could have to move.

"A number of the property owners have asked us to allow them to be the communicator with their tenants. And so we've honored that," said Jennifer Pyne, ATP executive vice president of planning.

Groovy Lube and Oribello's Bar

Even some property owners don't know they're on the list.

At 37th and Guadalupe streets, the property housing Groovy Lube, an auto repair shop, and Oribello's Bar and Kitchen, is set to be demolished to make room for an electrical substation that will power the rail system.

The property owner, Bobby Delmonico, was unaware of this until KUT News reached out. When asked for comment, he declined to speak on the record.

Airport Commerce Park: the largest cluster of displacements

A schematic map showing displacements around Airport Commerce Park, an office park with warehousing space that is home to at least 19 businesses. Two more displacements are shown on Bastrop Highway. — The shaded areas surrounded by the red line and LOC (short for "limits of construction") show the possible displacements at Airport Commerce Park, an office park with warehousing space that is home to at least 19 businesses. Two businesses, shaded in blue on Old Bastrop Highway, would be forced to relocate.

The single largest concentration of displaced business is at Airport Commerce Park, an office park near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The site has been chosen for a 62-acre maintenance facility, where the city's new trains will be stored and serviced overnight.

According to ATP, about a third of all commercial displacements — 24 businesses — will be required to make space for the facility. KUT News was able to count 21 businesses at the location. The change might be because ATP conducted its survey in Spring 2024.

Homes and a gas station on Riverside Drive

A residential street. It has just rained. Homes are visible on the left. Riverside Drive is on the right. Traffic lights are in the distance. — ATP says four homes on Riverside Drive east of Montopolis would be displaced if the agency builds a pedestrian and bicycle trail. KUT News visited the location and identified two single-family homes and one empty lot. The discrepancy might be because ATP's count was conducted in Spring 2024.

Beyond businesses, a handful of homes are at risk.

ATP is recommending construction of tree-lined pedestrian and bike paths down the middle of Riverside Drive, providing a shaded alternative route with easier train access.

An artistic rendering showing tree-lined pedestrian and bike paths down the middle of Riverside Drive next to the light-rail line. ATP says this optional pathway would displace four homes and a Shell station. — An artistic rendering showing tree-lined pedestrian and bike paths down the middle of Riverside Drive next to the light-rail line.

But to build the optional pathways, ATP says it may need to demolish up to four single-family homes, a business specializing in international money transfers and a Shell gas station, which is also home to La Sabroza taco truck.

Shell gas station Bhimprakash Ola cleans the counter in-between serving customers. The gas station would be torn down if ATP builds a pedestrian and bicycle pathway down Riverside Drive. — Shell gas station attendant Bhimprakash Ola cleans the counter in-between serving customers. The gas station would be torn down if ATP builds a pedestrian and bicycle pathway down Riverside Drive.

KUT News visited the site and identified two homes and an empty lot. ATP officials confirmed this was the area where they had previously found four single-family homes that could be displaced.

What happens next?

An artistic rendering of a child looking out the window of a light-rail train crossing the planned bridge over Lady Bird Lake.

ATP can't start acquiring properties until it receives federal approval. The agency hopes that will come later this year or early 2026.

"We may start some acquisitions following that record of decision, but really, we're eyeing the majority of our acquisitions happening in 2027," Gale said.

ATP estimates it will spend about $1 billion acquiring 84 acres of land for the project. Most of the 308 parcels to be expropriated would be smaller slices of properties that wouldn't affect the structures.

While property owners will receive compensation, eminent domain payouts often fail to cover the full cost of relocating and re-building a customer base. Those leasing may be entitled to relocation benefits.

For now, ATP says it will meet with any affected property owners and tenants who reach out. The environmental report is open to public feedback through March 11.

Full list of possible displacements identified by KUT News

Jiffy Lube	3809 Guadalupe St.
University Car Wash & Vehicle Inspections	3825 Guadalupe St.
Bohls Bearing	1125 Bastrop Hwy.
TRP Infrastructure Services	1127 Old Bastrop Hwy.
Jiffy Lube	1806 E Riverside Dr.
JD's Supermarket	6214 E Riverside Dr.
Airport Commerce Multifamily Apartments	1501 Airport Commerce Dr.
16.45 acre vacant lot	1300 Airport Commerce Dr.
El Tacorrido	1701 E Riverside Dr.
Tacos de Trompo and ACE Cash Express (Strip mall tract)	2237 E Riverside Dr.
Lumpy Clay LLC	500 W 38 St,
LD & BD Partners LLC	504 W 38 St,
Jen's Copy and Binding	2518 Guadalupe St,
Snag	2532 Guadalupe St,
Exxon	2819 Guadalupe St.
Kabobzi Mediterranean Grill and Phoenician Resto Cafe	2909 Guadalupe St.
Sip Pho	512 W 29 St.
Little Patagonia Empanadas & Café	2915 Guadalupe St.
Taco Shack	2825 Guadalupe St.
Out of the Closet	2927 Guadalupe St.
Salsa Limon	3001 Guadalupe St.
Groovy Lube	509 W 37 St.
Oribello's Bar and Kitchen	509 W 37 St.
My Cleaners and Alterations?	3106 Guadalupe St.
BCL of Texas	2212 S Congress Ave.
Toasty Badger	2206 S Congress Ave.
Teal House Coffee & Bakery	2304 S Congress Ave.
Soco Service Center	2300 S Congress Ave.
Thom's Market Riverside	150 E Riverside Dr.
Thundercloud Subs	201 E Riverside Dr.
Chase Bank	1811 S Congress Ave.
PNC Bank	2401 S Congress Ave.
Austin Smoke And Vape Shop	111 E Oltorf St,.
Waller Creek Boathouse	74 Trinity St.
7-Eleven	408 W 15 St.
Downtown Austin Motor Bank	306 W 9 St.
7-Eleven	411 West Mlk Jr. Blvd.
Shell	6301 E Riverside Dr,.
Discoteca 2000	6305 E Riverside Dr.
Residence	6307 E Riverside Dr,.
Residence	6309 E Riverside Dr.
Residence	6407 E Riverside Dr.
Cosentino	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 100.
CSC Service Works	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 125.
DH Pace	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 150.
Trillium	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 175.
Alterman	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite #425.
Texas Parks and Wildlife	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 600A.
National Heating and Mobility	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 575.
Willbanks Teal	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 550.
Department of Family and Protective Services	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 525.
AMD	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 500.
Alterman	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 425.
ACMI Federal	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 450.
Climatec	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 480.
IAA	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 490.
FedEx Office	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 375.
Interior Logic Group	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 360.
PharMerica	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 350.
Kyle Bunting	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 300.
Zoox	1340 Airport Commerce Dr., Suite 200.
Abu Omar	2819 Guadalupe St.