DANA 2008 Downtown Living Tour to Take Place in October

The Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA) is holding its 5th Annual Downtown Living Tour Sunday, October 19th, from noon to 5 pm. The event showcases homes and the benefits of living in downtown Austin.

The Downtown Living Tour attracts hundreds of attendees each year and funds DANA-sponsored activities and charities. Participants take walking tours of downtown residences and retail and entertainment spots.

This year's tour will feature the 360 Condominiums, Gables West, Austonian, and other residences. Second Street retailers will also be catering to the tour’s attendees, and a happy hour (5 - 7 pm) with complimentary food and beverages will follow the tour at the Belmont. On the eve of the event, VIP ticket holders will enjoy music, food, and drinks poolside at the 360 Condominiums.

Rob McDaniel is on DANA's board and is coordinating the tour. “On a typical day, a downtown resident can go to work, shop, relax in the park, and go out to dinner, all without getting in a car,” McDaniel says. “The tour enables those interested in downtown to experience urban living for a day.”

Tickets are available through DANA's web site at www.downtownaustin.org/DLT.html. Prices range from $15 for the Tour and $30 for the Tour and VIP party. The Austin Parks Foundation will receive a portion of the proceeds from this year’s tour.

The tour's title sponsor this year is Urbanspace Realtors. “Over the last 10 years, downtown Austin has experienced intelligent, thoughtful development, fostered by the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association,” says Urbanspace’s Kevin Burns.

“With parks and Lady Bird Lake, shopping, entertainment, food, and arts, downtown Austin has developed into one of the most vibrant urban cores in our nation. Since 2000, Urbanspace has been an ambassador of urban living, and has grown with Austin’s downtown neighborhood,” says Burns.

DANA's mission is to improve the quality of life for those who live, work and play downtown. DANA influences decisions that affect downtown, educates and listens to residents and stakeholders about downtown and issues that affect them, and fosters a downtown community through social events.