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Austin City Hall
Category: Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
301 W 2nd StAustin, TX 78701
Neighborhoods: Warehouse District, Downtown
16 reviews for Austin City Hall
Review Highlights
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"Beautiful architecture, ample parking (validated), clean..." In 3 reviews -
"Come by to see the local art on the walls of the building." In 5 reviews -
"Parking in the garage is free on Thursdays." In 6 reviews
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16 reviews in English
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Review from Curt C.
11/22/2011
Came here to Occupy Austin!
The sleeping arrangements were actually quite nice! The amphitheater makes a great sleeping area. Cozier than Zuccotti Park looks to be, it has an overhanging that blocks out the sun. They've let one group set up a tent, when I was there. There was a healthy police presence, and I saw one guy get dragged away. Having the peaceful protester getting arrested knocked off a star or two.
The building is beautifully done. It looks rather small for such a big city! Dallas' city hall is like ten times that size!
It has nice works of art surrounding the building that was so pretty that I couldn't bring myself to chain my body to.
Four stars! -
Review from WillDav M.
Austin, TX
5/2/2012
The one star is for the incumbants up for reelection. Be sure to vote Pressley for Place 2 to outseat Evil Knevil Martinez, Clay Defoe for Mayor, John Rubine for Place 5, and Shaun Ireland for Place 6 to get some real leadership in City Hall. These flouride loving pests need to go. I try to attend many of these council meetings as possible, to get my take on where our tax dollars will be flushed down the toliet next.
As a fed up Taxpayer that is Taxed Enough Already, it is my civic duty to come down there, grab them by the balls and call them out on wasteful spending, on silly crap like the Plastic Bag Ban, and the proposed Budget Tax Hike! Yes Austin these liberals want to tax you 15 % more on your property taxes, and not only that want to raise rates on Austin Energy bills. If you are not a corporate developer they don't care about you. We need true Conservatism at Austin City Hall, and it starts by voting them ALL OUT!!! Go to the polls, It's time to restore our city!!!
They say you are in the wrong city when you tell them you are Conservative, and I tell them you be suprised about Austin's political makeup! If you open your eyes beyond Downtown and the Birkenstock Belt! -
Review from Troy H.
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not really sure how to rate it. Its a Government building, I don't prefer all of the politics and the people who hold office and work there.
The place is nicely designed and decorated.... seems they forgot that in the parking garage. The garage could truly use more lighting or other items to address possible safety concerns.
The Security screeners do their job, but seem to be bouncing between a sign in desk outside the security area and the Xray inside the security area at 5pm and later when you attend evening meetings.
Overall, its what you expect. A government building with functionality, good facilities, and not really in my opinion a need to rate it any higher. -
Review from Jessica S.
Austin, TX
4/16/2008
Huge bathrooms! No, really. Beautiful, huge bathrooms.
A friend and I happened to be sick on the same day. We had just had our brunch at the Galaxy and were heading downtown for who knows what. A bathroom emergency hit (see Galaxy review: French Press Coffee) and we had to go! She said something about City Hall. That they had to have something! And wouldn't that be fun to check out?!
The parking garage is odd, but there are tons of spots. First 30 minutes are free, so we went in to check out the bathrooms and to peruse the building, since neither of us had ever been there.
After finding the bathrooms and marveling at the hugeness of them, we meandered back out to check things out. It's really a cool building! There's lots of Austin-y things to look at, history of the city, people to watch.
Here's the key. You gotta go on a Thursday. That's when the council meets. And that's when the community gets to come out and share their piece--some of them through song! Things were a-bustle when we were there because many were there to talk about the homeless trailer park. And, AND, it means parking is free!
I've lived in Austin most of my life, and I've never been interested much in the goings on down there...at least not on TV. But actually being there? That was really cool. We walked around, almost giddy with excitement at the cool art, the beautiful architecture, the nice people.
What started out as a "quick bathroom trip" turned out to be a really cool learning experience for both of us. Go. Go now. On a Thursday.Listed in: When you gotta go, you gotta…
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Review from Kerry G.
Austin, TX
7/17/2007
I don't wanna brag, but...
Oh hell! I'm bragging!
I went to the mayor's office!!!! It was for a charity event, but I got to nose all around Will Wynn's digs. HE HAS GOT IT GOIN' ON!!! The art, the view, the colors, the lighting. It was on top of City Hall and it was beautiful!
If everyone worked in an environment like this, America would no longer be a third-world country. ;-) -
Review from Tara M.
10/26/2009 1 photo
I am so very proud to be a member of an organization that was personally praised by the Mayor this past week! I posted a Pic of the Proclamation that is so beautifully scripted but if you happen to have week eye sight I will rewrite it here.
"Proclamation
Be it known that
Whereas
Love-A-Bull is an organization committed to promoting responsible Pit Bull ownership through advocacy and education. They provide information to members and the public regarding spaying and neutering, adoption, training, and Pit Bull temperament and behaviour.
and
Whereas,
The 450 member group is passionate about serving as role models of responsible dog ownership and work to eliminate negative stereotypes, dog fighting, abuse, neglect and breed specific regulation;
and
Whereas,
This weekend, Love-A-Bull is hosting a Family Fun Day at Zilker Park with John Garcia, the rehabilitator of Michael Vicks dogs from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and a downtown Pet Parade on Sunday starting at City Hall.
Now, There Fore,
I Lee Leffingwell, Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas do there by proclaim
October 24 - 25, 2009
as
Love-A-Bull Weekend"
I am so very proud of our Mayor and his personal Proclomation to our group! -
Review from Mary V.
4/15/2010
Brilliant. My love affair with this place only started last week, and I went to my first public meeting yesterday. I was forced to do so for a paper I'm writing, but I digress....
Beautiful architecture, friendly staff, and a very relaxed atmosphere not expected from a city hall--with the exception of the metal detector and security guard up front. As for the public meeting, I attended one for the Solid Waste Services Department. Sound icky? Well, there was more talk about recycling programs and a new initiative to expose the people of Austin to composting starting next week on Earth Day. I got pretty excited listening to it, although it was a bit dull overall. Attendance was sparse, as expected, but I think more people could get a lot out of coming to these meetings.
Come by to see the local art on the walls of the building. If you submit a vote for your favorite, you're participating in a vote for the People's Choice where City Hall actually makes a purchase to keep it permanently. I think it's a way of just promoting cultural values or something. Very neat!
Every Friday out in front there's a free concert and (not-free) food. I haven't gone yet, but I want to sometime soon! Parking in the garage is free on Thursdays. Otherwise you can get it validated if you attend a meeting or go to any shops around the block, I think.Listed in: Love is in the Air, Perfectly Public
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Review from J N.
Austin, TX
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful architecture, ample parking (validated), clean restrooms and a public art gallery. Not at all like other gov't buildings I'm familiar with. Security screening is fast and friendly and folks are happy to show you were to go. I've been there for evening events (you can rent it out) and the space is really nice for gatherings. Waterfall uses recycled A/C water for a cool feature in the parking area.
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Review from Ardie S.
11/13/2008
Parking garage review only.
What happened, CoA? Six months ago when it was free, this place used to be a tremendous place to park. Brightly lit, lots of people coming and going.
Now that it costs $5, it has become a dimly lit dungeon, foreboding to enter, much less park, den of thieves atmosphere. This is a crime scene waiting to happen. As my friend said, with the flickering light special effects, they could really make a horror movie here.
I swear I already seen the chalk outlines rising up from the concrete. Fix it before something bad happens here! -
Review from Karen S.
Austin, TX
6/17/2008
I love the architecture at city hall! They hosted the Tibetan Monks who created a healing sand mandala for Austin. I went down there everyday to film the monks for our movie "Saving Aime"! The colors they used were awesome!
After they gave us the sand from the mandala, they said prayers for Lady Bird Lake and blessed it.
How cool is Austin?!?!? -
Review from Larry M.
Austin, TX
4/19/2007
The PARKING is key, while it's challenged by our new development off 2nd street. Have ALWAYS found a place to park, it's free and for us to utilize.
Can't bring myself to go into the gift shop or Austin Java's newest post...just not ready for all of this newness, and have only been here three years, but CAN bring myself to dig the architecture...extreme and well-grounded at the same time. A success.
Lots of activity in the front with free music in the evening and protests by our bevy of politically active citizens. Worth checking out and making noise in front of.... -
Review from Chris B.
Austin, TX
8/21/2009
Great place to park, but agree with Ardie S. that the parking garage is a crime scene waiting to happen. Back yo' Mace!
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Review from Edwyn E.
Austin, TX
11/27/2006
Pretty cool city hall - they have an outdoor plaza with live acts - made out of lots of recycled / green content. its a pretty green building. solar panels provide shade. secret - parking is free for two hours beats the 7$+ parking garages nearby or trying to find street parking.
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Review from Charlotte S.
Austin, TX
12/23/2009
Wow. If anyone is going to be raped and murdered in a parking garage in this town, this will be the one. The lighting is so poor in there that at 2 in the afternoon I felt like the female victim in a slasher movie, being stalked through the parking garage after working late at the office. Please do something about the abundance of dark, shadowy corners and lack of safety before you get sued when someone is attacked and chopped to pieces on the way to their car.
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Review from Nicolette O.
Cypress, TX
6/8/2007
Really cool building. I suggest you go on the tour they offer and on a Sunday because it's less crowded. I think some of the highlights are the rotunda, all the governer portraits, the offices, and the solar panals. Looks impressive from the outside and even more impressive from the inside. I spend about four hours there just exploring. You'll never run out of things to look at.
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Review from Angel Q.
Houston, TX
1/22/2007
This place is interesting. They hava alot of boring meetings here and enjoy really nice architecture and views of the TownLake. Much to walk to in the area. Just visiting the landmark is worthwhile, they boast the largest gallery space in town, they call it the "People's Gallery" it's a juried show.
