AUSTIN: Update on the Seaholm Power redevelopment

[GoldenBoot]

http://www.seaholm.info/graphics/aerialnew.jpg

Austin nearer to transforming Seaholm

City to get look at plans for $100 million redevelopment while negotiating final public-private deal.


By Shonda Novak
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Thursday, February 01, 2007

Developers are expected to roll out today their vision for a mixed-use project that would transform the former Seaholm Power Plant into shops, offices, a hotel and condominiums by 2009.

The Austin City Council will get its first look at a new rendering of the project, which features a modern design while retaining the distinctive Art Deco building and its five signature smokestacks.

The decommissioned 1940s plant sits on about 8 acres along West Cesar Chavez Street overlooking Town Lake.

An adjacent 22-story residential/hotel tower and two-story office building also would have a modern design but with an Art Deco flavor.

The project is a joint venture between the City of Austin and Seaholm Power LLC, which the city in 2005 tapped as its partner to oversee redevelopment of the landmark site.

Construction, which would cost more than $100 million, is expected to begin this fall. The first parts of the project are expected to open in mid-2009.

The rendering illustrates just how dramatic the transformation of the iconic plant and surrounding land would be.

The 136,000-square-foot building that housed the power plant would have 99,000 square feet of rentable retail space, with a mix of local, regional and national tenants plus restaurants and cafes.

The residential/hotel tower would loom over the original Seaholm structure, featuring 60 condo units on the top seven floors of a 160-room boutique hotel. The condo owners would have concierge and valet services and other amenities of the hotel.

The project also would include a two-story office building with 62,000 square feet. Two terraces will be used by residents of the hotel and condos, as well as the public.

More than 3 acres of the site would be preserved as as green space. Seaholm also would be a transportation hub, with future commercial rail connections, including a line between Austin and San Antonio.

Southwest Strategies Group, an Austin-based commercial real estate company, is leading the redevelopment team. Seaholm Power LLC is in the final stages of negotiating a development agreement with the City of Austin for the project.

"This is an historic event and an opportunity for saving a slice of Austin's history," said John Rosato, managing partner of Seaholm Power LLC. "It's the first time that the city has entered into a public-private venture for the sole purpose of saving an iconic building in Austin."

Assistant City Manager Laura Huffman said, "We view this as a pivotal opportunity for revitalizing downtown" and realizing a longtime goal for a transit hub at Seaholm.

Huffman said the city will make "significant investments in the project," although details are still being worked out.

Huffman said increased property and sales taxes generated from the development would be used to fund the city's portion of the project, which will be spelled out in the development agreement.

Once those investments are paid off, the city would devote 40 percent of the incremental property taxes to affordable housing, Huffman said.

Rosato said other community benefits of the redevelopment include the planned extension of West Second Street to Seaholm.

Two other Austin-based companies, Centro Partners and La Corsha Hospitality Group, round out the redevelopment team.

Centro would develop the condos. Units could cost from about $450,000 for about 1,200 square feet to more than $1 million for the largest 3,000-square-foot units, Rosato said.

Jeff Trigger, former managing director of the historic Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin, would oversee the construction, management and operations of the Seaholm Plaza Hotel, to be built just north of the former power plant, through La Corsha, his newly formed hotel management and consulting company.

snovak@statesman.com; 445-3856


*CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE RENDERINGS... (http://www.seaholm.info/html/renderings.html)*

[Mopacs]

Great to see this development finally coming together. The condo/hotel keeps getting taller with every successive rendering released. The cluster of high-rises under construction and proposed for the SW quadrant of downtown is going to be impressive.

[TDoss]

Does anybody know what tenants they are going after?

I really hope that there are some phenomenal tenants in this property---

[JAM]

Does anybody know what tenants they are going after?

I really hope that there are some phenomenal tenants in this property---

What type of businesses would you like to see?

[TDoss]

http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/

http://www.traderjoes.com/

http://www.hm.com/

http://www.nikkibeach.com/

[Mopacs]

http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/

http://www.traderjoes.com/

http://www.hm.com/

http://www.nikkibeach.com/ (http://www.nikkibeach.com/)

Man I would love to see Trader Joes expand into Austin, whether at Seaholm or anywhere for that matter. Nice, cheaper alternative to Whole Foods. The California transplants will especially appreciate it.

[rad707]

Trader Joes isn't coming. Guero's lobbied them for the new space on South Congress, and they indicated they don't want to expand into WF's back yard.

but even if they did, they wouldn't move in three blocks away from WF's headquarters.

on the other hand, a bowling alley would be sweet. there isn't one for miles from downtown.

[MichaelB]

H&m, H&m, H&m!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mopacs]

on the other hand, a bowling alley would be sweet. there isn't one for miles from downtown.

Man I second that! Lucky Strike would be a great fit in the downtown area. Many moons ago, there was a bowling alley at the corner of Barton Springs and Lamar, behind McDonalds and Peter Pan Mini Golf (later became an Office depot and a music store). As a kid, I had a birthday party there.

[78705]

Actually, East Avenue Investment Group (the guys redeveloping the Concordia property) have been talking to Trader Joes about coming to that location. I don't know if they are making any progress, but they were still talking to them a month or two ago. Of course, that wouldn't open up until probably at least late 2009...

[78705]

What's up with the transportation hub description on the Seaholm site? They are either really really overmarketing, or they know something the rest of us don't. They state:

...will provide direct access to the Austin’s renowned Hike and Bike Trail, as well as to the rest of the City via the planned streetcar and commuter rail lines, both of which will have stops at Seaholm along 3rd St.

This would be excellently excellent, if true. I think it's probably much more likely that they're taking immense liberty with the term "planned," though...

M1Ek - have you heard anything about new plans for rail & streetcar to this site?

http://www.seaholm.info/html/leasing.html

[TDoss]

What type of businesses would you like to see?

I am such a dummy! :dunce:

I cannot believe I forgot to add this tenant to my Seaholm wishlist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XbCWmY0eqY

[M1EK]

M1Ek - have you heard anything about new plans for rail & streetcar to this site?

http://www.seaholm.info/html/leasing.html

No, I'm out of the loop on this one. All I've heard is that Council is highly dubious about paying for streetcar (which is what Cap Metro expects them to do); and that there were some meetings about trying to preserve the existing rail alignments at Seaholm.

[tildahat]

No, I'm out of the loop on this one. All I've heard is that Council is highly dubious about paying for streetcar (which is what Cap Metro expects them to do); and that there were some meetings about trying to preserve the existing rail alignments at Seaholm.

A friend of mine just got appointed to the UTC, I'll see if I can get any inside info. Though maybe the UTC doesn't really get any inside info?

[M1EK]

A friend of mine just got appointed to the UTC, I'll see if I can get any inside info. Though maybe the UTC doesn't really get any inside info?

I have plenty of friends still on the UTC... but most of the time we were in the dark too.

[tildahat]

I have plenty of friends still on the UTC... but most of the time we were in the dark too.

Not surprising I guess...

[Gallup]

That is wownerful!

[JAM]

BY AMY SMITH

The on-again, off-again dream of turning the Seaholm Power Plant into a cultural facility reappeared on the City Council's radar last week, setting into motion (again) a plan to try and realize that goal. Council Member Betty Dunkerley is taking the lead this time, and is asking city staff to issue a request for proposals to solicit bids for the Art Deco structure's afterlife. City Manager Toby Futrell tells us that such an RFP should be ready to go within 60 days.
Dunkerley said it made sense to get the Seaholm RFP in circulation while the city is also seeking a suitor for Block 21 – currently Downtown's most eligible vacant property, because of its key location across from the new City Hall. Like Seaholm, Block 21 is being touted as a prospective home for a showcase mixed-use development that includes cultural attractions; together, the two city-owned sites are seen as potential anchors for a cultural destination district on Downtown's west side. "A lot of different groups are looking at space in the Downtown area, so it made sense to me to get [the RFPs] out at the same time," Dunkerley said. "I thought it would be a better way to bring this to the table."

Most of the high-profile civic institutions looking for potential Downtown homes – including a new central library, the Austin Museum of Art, KLRU-TV and Austin City Limits, and the new Texas Music Hall of Fame – have been discussed as potential Seaholm users. However, the Austin Children's Museum, once considered a favorite to occupy the structure, likely won't submit an RFP, said museum director Gwen Crider. "From my reading of it, the development cost would be more than what we can afford," she said. The museum is, however, continuing its search for a larger site in the Downtown area, she added.

Dunkerley says a major interest now is to find a suitable home for a new central library – which will almost certainly not be on Block 21, its onetime designated site, and not necessarily at the power plant. "My personal feeling is that I am not sure if [Seaholm] would be a perfect fit for the library, but I know there are a lot of people who believe it is." Perhaps most vocal among them is the mayor's wife, Anne Elizabeth Wynn, though her colleagues on the Austin Public Library Foundation board are also looking at other options. Seaholm is smaller than the 350,000-square-feet-plus library supporters feel a new central library should contain, though Wynn has touted the possibility of using Seaholm as Phase 1 of a multibuilding library campus.

In addition to a cultural facility, Seaholm – site of Downtown's existing rail hub – would likely also include a transportation center, an idea strongly supported by Dunkerley's colleagues Daryl Slusher (a Capital Metro board member) and Brewster McCracken. "Seaholm is just crying out to be the classic central city rail station," McCracken told the Chronicle. "It's necessary to make commuter rail, and rail-based mass transit, succeed in the Downtown area."

Once the city has settled on a suitor for Seaholm, then it's all over but the waiting. The power plant has been in varying stages of environmental remediation over the last few years, with completion scheduled in 2006.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A205080

[Saddle Man]

Why is there a new post about Seaholm from 2004? LOL!

[JAM]

Why is there a new post about Seaholm from 2004? LOL!

Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't check the date on the news. Was just so excited to see some!

[Vulcain]

haha ;)

[pato79]

http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/

http://www.traderjoes.com/

http://www.hm.com/

http://www.nikkibeach.com/

haha, Nikkibeach in Austin? that would be awesome. I have been to the Miami and Cabo locations both are great.

[GoldenBoot]

FYI: Seaholm and the Marriott complex developments go before the Design Commission on June 25, 2007...

[AustinGuy]

I read recently that they are considering locating the downtown library next to Seaholm where the current electrical substation is. The thought is that it would allow them to build more tall buildings with capitol views on the old water treatment plant site.

Anyone have more details about this?

[ATXboom]

Groundwork being laid for Seaholm project
Austin Business Journal - 2:10 PM CDT Monday, August 13, 2007
Print this Article Email this Article Reprints RSS Feeds Most Viewed Most Emailed
Construction began today in the Seaholm District -- offering many the first tangible evidence of the five-year transformation of the old power plant's site into a vibrant mixed-use development.

Improvements started today include the realignment of Sandra Muraida Way and the addition of a roundabout, water and wastewater lines and a water quality biofiltration meadow.


The construction at the intersection of Sandra Muraida Way and Cesar Chavez Street east of Lamar Boulevard will close the northbound lane of Sandra Muraida Way through mid-November. Traffic will be detoured north on San Antonio Street and west on Sixth Street, and a temporary road is being constructed to allow northbound traffic to resume in mid-November. Southbound traffic on Sandra Muraida Way will not be affected.

[Lincoln]

I don't know a whole lot about this project.

But whatever happens will be cool, as long as they keep the badass "City of Austin Power Plant" sign on the west side of the power plant.

Does anyone know if they will keep that? The red backlighting on it looks like something from Gotham City or something. It's really damn cool.

[JAM]

Excellent. What have they been doing down there all along? Lots of drainage pipe or something was put in over the course of the winter and spring near the railroad tracks. What was that for?

[Lincoln]

I checked urbanaustin.org and the rendering of the project has the sign still in tact. Awesome...

http://www.urbanaustin.org/images/5/57/SeaholmAustin.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/100658882_ecac6fb436.jpg

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/C/00/71/74/image_1374710.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

Well, this isn't the start of the construction of the actual building itself. This is just getting the streets built and utilities up to par.

Goldenboot, do you know when the building itself is supposed to start?

[SecretAgentMan]

More information on the City website. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/seaholm/

[ATXboom]

Seaholm Construction Begins
August 13, 2007 16:20 Filed in: Condo Projects
Construction has officially commenced on a five-year project to transform the Seaholm power plant and surrounding site near Cesar Chavez Street and Lamar into a large mixed-use project. The initial phase of construction, as expected, include mostly infrastructure enhancements and site preparation.



Seaholm is a 7.8 acre site, the main feature of which is the 136,000 historic art deco decommissioned power plant. The redevelopment project will add a 22-story hotel and condo project featuring 80 condo units atop a 160 room hotel. While the initial phase of the project will open in 2008, the Seaholm Plaza Hotel is not expected to open until 2010.

The project will also include offices, extensive retail, and more than 3 acres of open space. However, the most exciting part of the project is the redevelopment of the Seaholm facility itself. When complete, the art deco structure will include nearly 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurants.

More than anything else, Seaholm will further shift the heart of downtown to the west. While downtown life used to center around 6th street between Congress and red river, the warehouse district, 2nd street district, and Whole Foods have shifted the balance. With Seaholm, the downtown action will increasingly be centered between Congress, Lamar, 5th, and Town Lake.

[GoldenBoot]

Seaholm Construction Begins
August 13, 2007 16:20 Filed in: Condo Projects
Construction has officially commenced on a five-year project to transform the Seaholm power plant and surrounding site near Cesar Chavez Street and Lamar into a large mixed-use project. The initial phase of construction, as expected, include mostly infrastructure enhancements and site preparation.



Seaholm is a 7.8 acre site, the main feature of which is the 136,000 historic art deco decommissioned power plant. The redevelopment project will add a 22-story hotel and condo project featuring 80 condo units atop a 160 room hotel. While the initial phase of the project will open in 2008, the Seaholm Plaza Hotel is not expected to open until 2010.

The project will also include offices, extensive retail, and more than 3 acres of open space. However, the most exciting part of the project is the redevelopment of the Seaholm facility itself. When complete, the art deco structure will include nearly 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurants.

More than anything else, Seaholm will further shift the heart of downtown to the west. While downtown life used to center around 6th street between Congress and red river, the warehouse district, 2nd street district, and Whole Foods have shifted the balance. With Seaholm, the downtown action will increasingly be centered between Congress, Lamar, 5th, and Town Lake.

:previous: Yes, construction on the power plant redevelopment, and the new hotel/condo tower, are expected to commence this coming spring (2008). Delivery of the entire project is slated for winter 2009/2010.


...While the initial phase of the project will open in 2008...

I'm not sure what the article is referring to here, however, I do not believe any part of the power plant redevelopment project is included in this "opening." My assumption is that this is in reference to road/infrastructure projects.

[ATXboom]

"The initial phase of construction, as expected, include mostly infrastructure enhancements and site preparation."

[H2O]

More information on the City website. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/seaholm/

Hey did anyone check out the link that SecretAgentMan posted? There is a lot of really cool historical information about the area!

[mars-man]

Back to Seaholm... I see now at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/seaholm/default.htm that the Cesar Chavez two-way conversion project is going through a re-bidding process, with an approximate start now pushed back to "early 2008." Sigh.

[paulsjv]

Back to Seaholm... I see now at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/seaholm/default.htm that the Cesar Chavez two-way conversion project is going through a re-bidding process, with an approximate start now pushed back to "early 2008." Sigh.

Oh.. the Lance Armstrong bikeway has started. I was wondering what all that new bike lane paint etc was over by town lake and mopac was. Now I know! Cool!

[Jdawgboy]

:whip: I think we are getting off topic about the seaholm project... I for one want to know more in detail about what they plan to do to renovate the main building. Its supposed to be retail but is it going to be like a multi-lvl mall inside or how are they going to do that???

[paulsjv]

:whip: I think we are getting off topic about the seaholm project... I for one want to know more in detail about what they plan to do to renovate the main building. Its supposed to be retail but is it going to be like a multi-lvl mall inside or how are they going to do that???

Along with this... I live right across the street from the power plant and I haven't seen anything going on there. Am I blind or are others not seeing anything either?

[MichaelB]

I walk past there several times a week and have not spotted anything. But I will admit I was more interested in the Spring activities!

[KevinFromTexas]

As you might have noticed I've moved out some posts from this thread and merged it with an older one about Seaholm. Please only post updates about the Seaholm project in this thread. The discussion and updates should be dealing with the hotel/condo tower and the uses of it, such as retail and office space along with the hotel and condo uses. You can post updated information about the future rail stop here, but PLEASE, DO NOT GET OFF TOPIC. If there's any talk of rail transportation it should be talking specifically about this project, as in a rail stop HERE at Seaholm, not somewhere way up north along side a mall 10 miles away.

As for where the posts went. I created a thread for Austin's transportation issues at the link below and moved them there.

Austin Transportation Thread
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=137150&page=2