Community Input 

There are a number of ways to participate:

The information gathered from the community input process will be shared with the City Council to help inform their decision and next steps.

Background  

The City Council requested the City begin this process in response to recent news concerning César Chávez and a history of sexual abuse. City staff provided a memo and presented the general process, costs, and timeline during the May 26, 2026 City Council Work Session.  

a group of cyclists in front of Selena mural on E. César Chávez Street

This is a photo of a group of cyclists in front of the Selena mural on E. César Chávez Street.

History of César Chávez Street 

The roadway along the north side of the Colorado River was first identified as Water Avenue in Austin’s original 1839 city plan. In 1887, it became First Street and was widely known by East Austin residents as La Primera, serving as a cultural and commercial center of neighborhood businesses, churches, homes, gathering places, and community organizing for generations of Mexican American, Chicano, and Latino Austinites. 

The corridor had a direct connection to farmworker organizing. César Chávez led a Labor Day march down East First Street on September 5, 1966 and supported South Texas farmworkers who marched to Austin seeking better wages and working conditions. In 1971, Chávez returned to Austin to support the predominantly Mexican American workers involved in the Economy Furniture strike, spoke at the Montopolis Community Center, and walked the picket line with local labor leader Lencho Hernandez. The Austin Chicano Huelga also maintained its boycott headquarters on East First Street, making the corridor part of the movement’s local organizing network.  

In 1993, following Chávez’s death, the City of Austin renamed First Street as César Chávez Street. The renaming represented public recognition of Chávez while also honoring Austin’s Mexican American, Chicano, and broader Latino communities and their connections to the farmworker movement, organized labor, civil rights, and civic life. 

Location

street map of César Chávez Street with the length from N. Lamar to IH35 marked with green for TXDoT jurisdiction and from N. Lamar to MoPac and IH35 to Hwy 183 in red for City of Austin jurisdiction

César Chávez Street runs along the north side of the Colorado River, between MOPAC and Highway 183. This map shows the route from N. Lamar to IH35 marked in green for Texas Department of Transportation jurisdiction and from N. Lamar to MoPac and IH35 marked in red for City of Austin jurisdiction. 

Cost Analysis 

The following estimated costs are anticipated if the City moves forward with the name change.  

Item 

Estimated Cost to City 

Change City Street Signs 

$11,200 

Change TxDOT and CTRMA-owned Highway Signs  

$400,000 - $1,200,000 

Change Economic District Custom Street Signs  

$10,000 

Notification mailings to impacted businesses/residents 

$2,500 

Total Estimated Costs 

$413,700 - $1,223,700 

 

The above estimates do not include the costs for current community engagement efforts or costs to businesses on the roadway if the street name changes. 

Accessibility & Language Services

The City of Austin is committed to accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Reasonable modifications, language access, and communication support are available upon request.

Relay Texas 7-1-1 For ADA assistance, translation or interpretation services, call Austin 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000

For questions or additional information, please contact: Doron.Silberstein@austintexas.gov 

Community Survey

To start the survey, please click the Participate button below. 

César Chávez Street Renaming Survey

The City of Austin is considering renaming César Chávez Street, a roadway located along the north side of the Colorado River that runs between MOPAC and Hwy 183.

Participate