NoLo (North Loop in Austin)

“North Loop” is the area along North Loop Boulevard in North Austin. The City of Austin established a plan in 2002 to redevelop the neighborhood. North Loop is now so trendy that it has a nickname—NoLo.
   
       
Austin City Connection
North Loop Neighborhood Planning Area
The North Loop Neighborhood Planning Area is located in the north-central part of Austin’s Urban Core. The boundaries for the planning area are Koenig Lane on the north, Interstate Highway 35 (IH-35) on the east, 45th Street to Red River to 51st Street on the south and Lamar on the west.
 
The Austin City Council adopted the North Loop Neighborhood Plan on May 23, 2002. The City Council approved the Neighborhood Plan Combining District on the same day. 
 
I LOVE NORTH LOOP
Thoughts on how to make a great ‘hood even better
     
Daily Texan (April 10, 2002)
North Loop area attracts diversity
Neighborhood reborn after airport closure
By By Rachel Stone (Daily Texan Staff)
 
Back when Mopac sounded like a visitor from Mars, North Loop Boulevard was the far edge of North Austin. In 1953, a barber shop, grocery store, pharmacy and mechanic’s garage lined the street to serve their neighbors.
 
“There were no shopping centers in Austin,” said Terrell Timmermann, who has owned buildings on North Loop since the 1950s. “Congress Avenue and the Drag were the only places to shop, so it developed on an as-needed basis.”
 
North Loop hosts a mix of post-World War II homes, and businesses ranging from funky to practical. Proprietors who have filled the store fronts in the last few years say they were drawn to the neighborhood by a community feel that has survived in some form since mid-century.
 
Monkey Wrench Books, a nonprofit, collectively run bookstore at 110 E. North Loop, opened a few weeks ago. Last weekend, the all-volunteer staff held a grand opening in block party fashion, complete with beer, food and neighbors.
 
“We really liked this location because all the [nearby] businesses are locally owned businesses,” said Bob Libal, a communication studies junior and collective member. “It’s a nice community and it’s not so close to campus that it’s all students. It’s more in the community, so it’s a nice balance.”
 
The Monkey Wrench collective seeks to serve as a forum and meeting place for Austin activists, and the store’s location helps foster the sense of unity they were looking for, he added.
 
Austin City Council approved the first reading of a neighborhood plan Thursday for the North Loop neighborhood, which is bordered by 51st Street and Koenig Lane on the south and north, and Lamar and Airport boulevards to the west and east, respectively. The plan lays out neighborhood objectives for the next 20 years, including traffic easement, sidewalks and bicycle lanes. The council also approved a zoning change that would allow residential density increases and mixed-use developments on commercial properties.  (...)
 
oztin
Monday, August 25, 2003
things that i will miss about austin
(...)
saying “I live in the shoebox numbered 100F in the Ho Don’t Tell Motel on MoFoNoLo.”
 
AustinHigh.org
Lary L. Warner, Jr.
Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 7:13 pm   Subject: Hurlbut ranch
I actually saw that album a few years ago at a sidewalk sale here in NoLo (=“NOrth LOop” for y’all outta’ towners, that’s what the pretentious Californicators have taken to callin’ my ‘Hood). I espyed ...
 
Metroblogging Austin 
MoFoNoLo
posted by Stephanie at 12:26 PM on July 11, 2005
While South Congress (SoCo) may have a larger number of shops, the 100 block of North Loop (MoFoNoLo) is my neighborhood hub of interesting retail experiences.
 
Austin Chronicle: Best of Austin (October 12, 2007)
Best Antiques/Collectibles/Vintage: Room Service
Seven times now the keen-eyed vintage dealers at Room Service have been recognized by our readers, emphasizing their great taste and range of midcentury to post-century pop-culty artifacts. The NoLo store already has legions of fans, and with the recently added SoLa location, all of Austin can enjoy the treasures within. Yes. We said, “NoLo.”
1701 S. Lamar, 383-9898; 107 E. North Loop, 451-1057 http://www.roomservicevintage.com
   
Austin Chronicle (October 18, 2007)
At the Intersection of BuRo and KoLa
Dear Chronicle,
I see from your Room Service write-up that you have christened North Loop Boulevard as “NoLo” [“Best of Austin,” Oct. 12]. I noticed this while reading your fine paper and having coffee at the Frisco Shop, near the intersection of BuRo and KoLa. Since I’m in the market for a new sofa, I then went up to the Lack’s on AnLa to check out their current sale. Later, I got hungry, so I drove over to the Tamale House on AirBo and had a great lunch. I wanted to do a little socializing, so I then went over to JuLa and had a martini at LaLa’s. Feeling a little frisky after that, I then drove up to RuLa, picked up a streetwalker, and got myself a BloJo. When does it end? Stop it; stop it right now, you freakin’ dorks (yes, I said, “dorks”). Good God.
Stephen Mills