The infamous 1928 city plan that racially divided Austin at I-35 persisted into the 21st century even within the nightlife and entertainment spectrum. Bars catering to Hispanic populations were the norm on the East Side as recent as the 2000s.
The East Caesar Chavez Plan attempted to provide existing residents with protection from impending gentrification in the future bar-smattered area. It divided the neighborhood into three segments: residential, conditional use, and arts/culture. Protection of the existing population is to occur within the residential segment where, hopefully, housing will remain affordable.
It may appear that gentrification has been pushed upon East Austin, but the bar owner of Rio Rita (an East Side bar) says that because of the 2008 recession, many existing bars and houses were being abandoned because the local residents were having the most trouble finding work during this period. According to him, the current East Side Bar scene moved into these areas of weakness and helped revitalize it instead of the common misconception that they forced the lower class out.
Regardless, this recent moving across I-35 by middle class whites and students does present a slew of problems that Austin will need to address in the next few years, even with plans such as The East Caesar Chavez Neighborhood plan in place.
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Let go get drinks Friday. You know, for research purposes.
smh.