While Hanover has no control over the rainbow crosswalks and light-pole rainbow flags in the Warehouse District, Ott says that “we’re happy for them to be there and have no intention of removing them.” It’s anticipated that Oilcan Harry’s will fly a rainbow flag outdoors at its new location, according to Ott. Hanover intends to dismantle several Fourth Street masonry façades, store them offsite during the construction, and then incorporate them into the new building. When Coconut Grove and Grotto occupied that space under month-to-month leases, they were aware that the apartment high-rise was on the drawing board and that they might need to relocate, Girard told KXAN.Ī Fourth Street space that was home to another gay bar, the now-closed Sellers Underground, also would be demolished. Rain, a neighboring LGBTQ fixture in the Warehouse District, would not be affected by the project.Ī nearby Colorado Street space that houses two other gay bars, Coconut Grove and Grotto, would be razed. We know Austin is inevitably changing, but we are determined to find a way to ensure our community on 4th street is not pushed out,” the statement says. In a statement, the owners of Oilcan Harry’s say the type of compromise being worked out with Hanover “is the only way to guarantee 4th street is maintained as one of the city’s vital community centers.”
The deal would include below-market rental rates under a 25-year lease. Hanover is negotiating with the bar’s landlord, Michael Girard, to make sure Oilcan Harry’s has a new home in about 10,000 square feet on the ground floor of the apartment tower. The Fourth Street building that houses Oilcan Harry’s would be demolished to make way for the high-rise. During construction, the bar would occupy a temporary location.
“Ultimately, we want to see the Fourth Street District remain a queer district right where it is, with all of the amenities that are in play, and the ability to keep it all kind of tight-knit like a family.”Įxecutives at Hanover want to assure people like Duhon that the company intends to keep the district’s LGBTQ soul as alive as possible.ĭavid Ott, development partner at Hanover, says a new location for Oilcan Harry’s, the oldest gay bar in Austin, will be incorporated into the apartment project. “When we won the right to marry, I can remember, I went right down to Fourth Street and celebrated with our community,” Duhon said. Fourth St., and at 310 and 318 Colorado St.Īustin resident Kolby Duhon told KXAN his initial reaction to learning about the project was “outrage.” The structures that are set to be demolished are at 201 to 213 W. When plans for the project recently surfaced on social media, some members of the LGBTQ community worried it would mean the disappearance of several gay bars and a huge loss for their community. wants to build a roughly 43-story tower with 400 apartments on West Fourth Street. But the project’s developer says it plans to maintain the spirit of the city’s LGBTQ hub. That was a bit offputting so I recommend asking about the duration of your reservation when you call/book.An apartment high-rise proposed for downtown Austin’s Warehouse District has raised concerns about the future for the heart of the city’s LGBTQ community. I booked via open table and we were informed while finishing our second drinks that 'another reservation' was due in 30 minutes for our table. It's pricey but the drinks are clearly created with skill and that shows in the complex tastes they deliver. Partner went the citrus path with a lime concoction called a Shish Shoo or something like that and then a mocktail of coconut water and lime juice. Followed that with a Tipperary (Irish whiskey, Vermouth, $16) which was another very satisfying and savory drink. I had an Old Fashioned ($16) which was a great smooth and smokey drink, done very well. Drinks which may have been developed and or common during certain eras are highlighted. The mixed drinks menu is organized in a very interesting order of historical "eras" from hundreds of years ago up to today. The property is an eclectically furnished room with a definite party vibe on a Saturday night.