AUSTIN Metro Update Thread

[BevoLJ]

I read somewhere they have over a half billion in construction going on right now.

[Myomi]

Originally Posted by nixcity

Yeah, it really needs to just keep growing. UT cant really take in too many more students and with the area continually growing we need to have places for our populace to continue with their education.

The University of Texas freshman enrollment was up 13% this year from last year (http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/a...ollment-for-ut)

You should also maybe check all the new construction on the UT campus, and more importantly, all the new shell space (meaning space that they haven't finished out or allocated, which is primed for a further influx of students and faculty) before you say UT is full.

But I am glad to see Texas State growing too.

[KevinFromTexas]

Boo! I don't want no poo in Barton Springs.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...pment-a/nSTdk/

Posted: 6:22 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012
ENVIRONMENT
City weighs settlement over proposed development above Barton Springs zone of aquifer

By Asher Price
American-Statesman Staff

Trying to navigate between the costs of a likely protracted legal fight and the pursuit of stiffer environmental protection, the Austin City Council will decide next week whether to drop opposition to a plan for a subdivision and small sewage treatment plant just outside city limits.

The proposed Jeremiah Ventures L.P. project, a roughly 1,300 home subdivision, would sit on 600 acres in northern Hays County, atop the environmentally sensitive Barton Springs recharge zone. Rain in that area can seep directly into the portion of the Edwards Aquifer that resurfaces in the Barton Springs pool.

Environmentalists with Save Our Springs Alliance fret that the irrigated sewage water could end up in Barton Springs. They’re trying to pressure the City Council into continuing to fight the project.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/pr...e-planned.html

Investors commit millions to resurrect industrial park project in Pflugerville
167-acre park near SH 130 targeted for spec industrial building
Austin Business Journal by Jan Buchholz, Staff Writer
Date: Friday, October 19, 2012, 5:00am CDT - Last Modified: Thursday, October 18, 2012, 3:05pm CDT

Jan Buchholz
Staff Writer- Austin Business Journal

Three East Coast investors are plunking down about $8 million to build a speculative industrial building in Pflugerville — with plans to invest at least another $18 million in five more buildings.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/pr...e-planned.html

When they built 130 through Pflugerville, they expected this type of growth. This parcel is close to the Executive Airport, major shopping centers, restaurants, services, ect...so it has a good chance to fill up with tenants fairly quick once built. I like how Pflugerville is exploiting and capitalizing on 130. Now they need to get with TXDot to lower the tolls so more people will drive on it.

[JoninATX]

Austin-based manufacturer EIEIO to relocate to Pflugerville

By Rebecca Rose
October 26, 2012

Austin-based coffee and creamer manufacturer EIEIO Inc. plans to relocate to Pflugerville in 2013, a result of a deal struck between the company and the Pflugerville Community Development Corp. EIEIO plans to build a 40,000-square-foot facility for its corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant on 5 acres along Toll 130, which was purchased from the PCDC. The parcel of land is situated in the 130 Commerce Center in Pflugerville, a 160-acre master-planned commercial development parcel owned by the PCDC, which revealed details of the deal Oct. 24. EIEIO President Cecil Andrews said he plans to invest more than $3.5 million to construct a new building. EIEIO currently operates out of 16,000-square-foot facility at 1615 Rutherford Lane in Austin, where rising production demands warranted the need for expansion, Andrews said. Andrews said need the expand also afforded the company an opportunity to relocate outside of Austin. After 12 years of being in Austin, Andrews said he wanted to relocate to a more business-friendly city, citing challenges with city permits, zoning and compliance. “[Austin] is not like Pflugerville,” Andrews said. “They’re not hungry for companies like ours to come in.” On Oct. 18, the PCDC board of directors approved an incentive agreement with EIEIO, which includes reimbursements to the company for certain development-related expenses for no more than $243,500, including fees to extend sewer lines. Pflugerville City Council approved the incentive package Oct. 23. According to a statement from the PCDC released after the proposal was approved, the City of Pflugerville will also receive approximately $26,500 in real and personal property taxes generated by the facility. Andrews said access to Toll 130 and the relative lack of traffic congestion on the roadway was also a major deciding factor, as was the site’s close proximity to Austin Executive Airport.

http://impactnews.com/articles/austi...o-pflugerville

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...heritag/nSxLp/

Posted: 6:12 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012
San Marcos’ Spring Lake could warrant World Heritage Site designation

By Jordan Gass-Pooré

SAN MARCOS — Spring Lake, the iconic pool fed by more than 200 springs, may meet the criteria to be eligible for a World Heritage Site designation, Texas State University officials and residents say.

The lake is believed to be one of the longest continually inhabited sites in North America. Andrew Sansom, executive director of the Texas State River Systems Institute, said spear points provide archaeological evidence that humans have lived in the area surrounding Spring Lake for more than 12,000 years.

That history, along with the lake’s spiritual importance to American Indians and early Spanish settlers, is among the reasons why it could deserve the World Heritage designation from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Sansom and other proponents said.

[JoninATX]

P&Z vote could give rise to 13-floor building near campus

By Brad Rollins October 24, 2012

The planning and zoning commission unanimously approved a measure Tuesday evening that allows developer Darren Casey to add eight additional floors to his anticipated Concho Commons development between Texas State University and downtown San Marcos.

Standing at 128 feet from street level, the resulting 13-floor mid-rise would be among San Marcos’ tallest buildings. The building site lies in the transition area between campus and downtown where city planners want to see denser, urban-style development as an antidote to congested streets and suburban sprawl.

Casey’s plans include 17,000 square feet of retail space on the bottom two floors and 584 beds between 310 apartment units on the upper 10 floors. (A basement would bring the total number of floors to 13.) He would build 588 parking spaces, more than the 480 required under city codes.

“I look at this as a wonderful entrance way into that part of the university,” planning commissioner Bucky Couch said.

http://smmercury.com/2012/10/24/pz-v...building-near/

[KevinFromTexas]

^That's cool news. That'll make it San Marcos' 4th tallest, 5th if you count the outlet mall campanile.

J.C. Kellum Building - 150 feet - 11 floors
Jackson Hall - 140 feet - 12 floors
Prime Outlet Mall Campanile - 137 feet
Embassy Suites Hotel - 135 feet - 10 floors
Concho Commons - 128 feet - 13 floors
The Tower - 115 feet - 9 floors
Texas State University Main Building - 112 feet - 3 floors
Alkek Library - 106 feet - 7 floors
College Inn - 102 feet - 9 floors

[JoninATX]

San Marcos is moving on up, and at this rate San Marcos might see a tall skyscraper someday.

[KevinFromTexas]

Development website:
http://www.thesummitatriverypark.com/


http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...rgetown/nS6n3/

Posted: 6:16 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012
Sheraton Hotel coming to Georgetown

By Claire Osborn
American-Statesman Staff

The city of Georgetown will be getting a seven-story Sheraton hotel as part of the Summit at Rivery Park development, said Jeff Novak, one of the site's developers.

Novak announced the name of the 225-room hotel at a city meeting today. The hotel and the conference center are estimated to cost $60 million. They will be located on 23.6 undeveloped acres west of Interstate 35 between Williams Drive and Texas 29.

Novak, who is partnering with another development company named Hines on the project, said construction on the hotel and conference center should start sometime this summer and be finished by September 2015.

[KevinFromTexas]

It's actually 7 floors counting from the lowest spot.

Google Street View of the construction:
http://goo.gl/maps/rQ60W



http://impactnews.com/articles/lakew...-officials-say

Lakeway Regional Medical Center exceeds original expectations, benefits local economy, officials say

by Kyle Webb
November 8, 2012

After more than eight months of operation, Lakeway Regional Medical Center has performed better than officials expected.

Since opening, the medical staff at the 274,500-square-foot facility has treated more than 5,500 people, with another 3,000 going through the emergency room as of Oct. 30, something LRMC CEO David Kreye attributes to a growing need

he hospital, located at 100 Medical Parkway in Lakeway, has exceeded expectations in the number of patients treated in both outpatient and emergency room visits, and data show it has received patient satisfaction past the 70th percentile, Kreye said.

Photo courtesy Lakeway Regiona

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...th-beyond.html

North of Austin, Williamson County's growth is 'beyond exponential'
Austin Business Journal by Colin Pope, Editor
Date: Friday, November 30, 2012, 12:49pm CST - Last Modified: Friday, November 30, 2012, 1:39pm CST

Colin Pope
Editor- Austin Business Journal

North Austin suburbs in Williamson County will continue to be among the fastest-growing in the country during the coming years, and the onslaught of people doesn't thrill residents already living in cities such as Round Rock, Cedar Park and Leander.

A quick hand-raising survey of the 400 or so attendees of Thursday's 15th annual Williamson County Growth Summit revealed that almost no one wants the area to grow that fast, but it likely will. Around 2040, more people could live in Williamson County than Travis County.

But the eye-opening, jaw-dropping information shared at the event came from city of Austin Demographer Ryan Robinson.

PDF file of slide presentation:
http://assets.bizjournals.com/austin...h%20Summit.pdf

Graph images:
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...=image_gallery

[JoninATX]

Impressive indeed, though it won't be long until Williamson County reaches the 1/2 million mark. Current estimates put the county at 450,000.

[nixcity]

I don't think I've ever really understood why the suburbs have always gone more to the north rather than towards s.a. where we could have connected the 2 by now.

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by nixcity

I don't think I've ever really understood why the suburbs have always gone more to the north rather than towards s.a. where we could have connected the 2 by now.

From Austin to San Antonio is getting decent infill and it's about to take off give it another 10 to 15 yrs all those cities Buda, Kyle, San Marcos will be about as large if not larger than Round Rock.

[Austin_Expert]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

From Austin to San Antonio is getting decent infill and it's about to take off give it another 10 to 15 yrs all those cities Buda, Kyle, San Marcos will be about as large if not larger than Round Rock.

Doubt it. One of them may possibly be as large as Round Rock is currently in a few decades, but of course by then Round Rock will be even larger.

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by Austin_Expert

Doubt it. One of them may possibly be as large as Round Rock is currently in a few decades, but of course by then Round Rock will be even larger.

I may have exaggerated on the part about Buda but I have no doubt that San Marcos & Kyle will double in size in the next 10 to 20 yrs. if current growth continues of course.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

I may have exaggerated on the part about Buda but I have no doubt that San Marcos & Kyle will double in size in the next 10 to 20 yrs. if current growth continues of course.

As true as that may be, the Round Rock area will double as well. San Marcos area will simply never be as large.

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

As true as that may be, the Round Rock area will double as well. San Marcos area will simply never be as large.

Of course...