A city mall is being converted into a shopping destination with an interactive movie theater and live music venue.
It’s the city’s first public outdoor entertainment center, The Mall, and it’s opening for business on June 20.
A city councilman, Paul Ray, is calling it “a celebration of the city of Austin” and a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our community.”
It will be open to the public, including the public transit system, until May 25, 2019.
The City Council voted unanimously last week to allow the city to open the city parkland to the general public.
Austin Parks and Recreation Director Jason Lott told The Associated Press that the project would allow for “enhanced recreation, such as walking, biking and the like.”
Included in the parkland will be a new, elevated pedestrian mall that will be about four acres in size.
Lott said it will be able to accommodate more than 1,000 people.
“We’re going to have a lot of seating,” he said.
“The public can sit in the plaza, in the theater, in some seating in the mall.”
The parkland is expected to be the largest park in the world when it opens in 2018.
It will feature a two-story park that includes a shopping plaza and the indoor portion of the park.
The mall will also include a public skating rink, fitness center and outdoor dining area.
The retail center will include more than 150 retail stores.
The city has invested $150 million in the project.
The developers will pay for the park and parking.