Value Sky Park

The transformation of the former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport into the Mueller neighborhood is one of Austin's most notable redevelopment stories. This development did not just reshape the airport site--it bolstered surrounding communities. Neighborhoods like Windsor Park and Cherrywood, once burdened with constant air traffic, now enjoy an expanded network of parks, local shops, restaurants, and modern amenities. As airport services disappeared, additional opportunities for housing and mixed-use development emerged.

Before the airport closed, Value Sky Park on Manor Road provided secure, covered parking with shuttle service to the terminal. By the time Timothy and I moved into our home in 2008--part of the first wave of residential construction in Mueller--the lot sat vacant, though its iconic neon sign remained. Today, the site is home to Elan East apartments, with the Sky Market corner store offering a subtle nod to its past.

I am drawn to old signs within the urban landscape, a passion instilled by my parents' collection of vintage advertising signs. The Value Sky Park arrow inspired my original painting that now hangs above the sofa in our garage apartment.

Its bold colors and dynamic shapes complement Patricia Chapa's silkscreen of the Mueller control tower on the opposite wall. Her painting celebrates a landmark that still defines the neighborhood, while mine points to what has come and gone.