JP, I’d just assume not rehash this argument any further – you’re not only beating a dead horse, but one that’s halfway dessicated into dust at this point – but this isn’t something you can realistically pin on either NIMBYism or intra-Zilker issues. There was widespread opposition to the Butler Shores site throughout Central Austin – including many, if not most, urbanists I know.
You’re also inaccurately assuming Precourt could’ve magically come up with some sort of too-good-to-resist offer that would’ve swayed public opinion in their favor. I think there’s zero chance that would’ve happened, under any scenario, and also that Precourt had ample opportunity to present one before the idea was shot down. They did not: instead, they simply released renderings of the site that merely worsened their case.
Finally, instead of a charm offensive, they decided to be assholes about it from the get-go by strongly suggesting that Butler Shores was the only site they’d consider, and that they’d pack up their toys and go home if they didn’t get it. THAT is what I mean by failing to understand Austin’s cultural dynamics, which for the most part are broadly anti-corporate – and this has been the case for over 30 years now, ever since the days Gary Bradley tried to build a massive subdivision on top of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, in an area that would’ve put Barton Springs at legitimate environmental risk. That’s also entirely Precourt’s own fault, from failing to perform any sort of due diligence on the market they want to enter.
Anyway, since I hope you still support an MLS franchise moving here even if it’s in a location not within walking distance – though it’s certainly within biking distance, assuming the city further improves the hike-and-bike trail east of the interstate – I’d suggest focusing your efforts on preventing overly zealous locals from smothering the Guerrero Park site as a potentiality. Ironically, this is not only not an example of NIMBYism; the residents of the surrounding area broadly support the idea! Instead, this is proving to be a great example of (predominantly Anglo) Central & West Austin activists trying, yet again, to impose their will on Austin’s Hispanic community.
P.S. If you’d like to talk about bona fide instances of NIMBYs allowing blind fear and emotion to rule the roost, we could start with the most recent draft of CodeNEXT, which AFAIK has zero support among Austin’s old-line NAs (including the ZNA) despite it giving them nearly all of the changes they requested. Community Not Commodity declared it “unsalvageable” even before they had time to read the thing! Fortunately they, too, appear to have overplayed their hand with their “CodeNEXT wrecks Austin” antics, and are apparently scrambling to collect enough signatures in opposition to it prior to the deadline for getting it onto the November ballot. (Rumor has it that a certain well-known Zilker mainstay with whom I share a first name has been repeatedly thrown off the premises of various governmental facilities for attempting to collect signatures in violation of city regulations prohibiting such activities. But I’m not one to gossip!)