A petition seeking to pause Austin’s $1.6 billion convention center redevelopment has been submitted to the city clerk, potentially putting the future of one of the city’s largest civic projects in question.
The Austin United PAC, a citizen-led group, reported submitting more than 20,000 signatures on Monday. The petition aims to force a public referendum on the project or delay it for seven years while redirecting tourism-related funds toward music, arts, and outdoor attractions instead of convention business.
City officials have confirmed receipt of the petition and said they are verifying signatures—a process expected to take about a month. If enough signatures are validated, voters could see the measure on the May ballot.
The move comes six months after demolition and construction began on the new downtown convention center. City officials say demolition is complete and excavation is proceeding as scheduled. The planned expansion would increase rentable space by 70 percent with an anticipated reopening in spring 2029. City leaders argue this will help Austin attract major events and boost tourism revenue.
Bill Bunch, environmental attorney and head of Save Our Springs Alliance, leads opposition efforts. He stated that Austin United PAC is confident in meeting signature requirements because entries were pre-screened for eligibility. “We’re confident we’ll clear the threshold,” Bunch said.
Opponents claim that factoring in debt service brings the true cost closer to $5.6 billion—much higher than the city’s estimate of $1.6 billion including inflation and contingency costs.
If successful, the ballot measure could create uncertainty around a project seen as central to downtown development and local real estate planning. Developers and hotel owners have anticipated that expanding the convention center would drive future growth in hospitality, retail, and mixed-use sectors.
