AUSTIN | Hotel Granduca | 9 FLOORS | Complete

[KevinFromTexas]

http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/lake-travis-westlake/hotel-granduca-austin-begins-construction-on-tuscan-style-ho/

Hotel Granduca Austin begins construction on Tuscan-style hotel

by Kyle Webb April 10, 2014

Construction began April 9 on Hotel Granduca Austin, a luxury Tuscan-style hotel located at the northwest corner of Bee Caves Road and Capital of Texas Hwy.

The 194-room hotel build is a joint venture of Houston-based Interfin Companies LP and Riverside Resources of Austin and is scheduled for a completion in late 2015.

The nine-story hotel will feature a 220 guest ballroom, private conference rooms, a library, massage rooms, a fitness center, a billiards and game room, and gardens. The hotel's in-house restaurant will feature northern Italian cuisine similar to the Houston Hotel Granduca's Ristorante Cavour—recently named one of the best Italian restaurants in Houston.


http://i.imgur.com/hh76sei.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/o4nFBzK.jpg

Also part of the development is a planned 7-story office building called Capital Ridge. This shows the hotel in the background.

http://i.imgur.com/RLxlgk5.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

I'm wondering, though, is this really under construction yet? It's located at Bee Caves Road and Capital of Texas Highway, and I haven't been able to find any files on it on the city's website so far.

[JoninATX]

They reported on the Statesman and Biz Journal that a formal groundbreaking will be held on April 14th. So I'm assuming they plan to go full steam afterwards. I wish I can get a picture of the site but since it's tucked away behind a hill and the 2 lane road is currently U/C they'll most likely tell me to leave. :(

[Jdawgboy]

It looks like its as large as the Renaissance.

[royiv]

Looks like an Embassy Suites worthy of Frisco, TX. Sad that thing will pockmark the Hill Country.

[MichaelB]

Looks like an Embassy Suites worthy of Frisco, TX. Sad that thing will pockmark the Hill Country.

OH damn…. I said the said the same thing about Embassy Suties then deleted it knowing the agnst that comment would cause.
Yeah…. cheap faux any-historical is always a disaster!

[GoldenBoot]

I'm wondering, though, is this really under construction yet? It's located at Bee Caves Road and Capital of Texas Highway, and I haven't been able to find any files on it on the city's website so far.

The site is in the City of West Lake Hills. Site prep began several months back. The property is located adjacent to (on the west side of) southbound 360...just before the Bee Caves Road exit.

Also, it seems that HFF has helped secure a $33MM construction loan for the hotel through IBC Bank and it's partners.

[JoninATX]

OH damn…. I said the said the same thing about Embassy Suties then deleted it knowing the agnst that comment would cause.
Yeah…. cheap faux any-historical is always a disaster!

I'm wondering will it be that cheap faux?

[hookem]

I'm wondering will it be that cheap faux?

Google the Grandluca Houston... it does look like the cheap faux stuff.

[JoninATX]

The interior looks nice though. To me the exterior doesn’t that bad, but at least it's not another Hyatt building. I still cannot get over that hideous back side. :no:

[KevinFromTexas]

The site is in the City of West Lake Hills. Site prep began several months back. The property is located adjacent to (on the west side of) southbound 360...just before the Bee Caves Road exit.

Also, it seems that HFF has helped secure a $33MM construction loan for the hotel through IBC Bank and it's partners.

Thanks. That being the case then, I'm wondering if we should be saying this is "Austin" at all. I know that Westlake Hills is very much an inner suburb and is for all purposes very much "Austin" - but this is a grey area with building stats I've always gone back and forth on. It's definitely not as much of a suburb as say Round Rock is, but it is technically not within Austin's city limits and will likely not change in that way in any time soon.

[KevinFromTexas]

Where is this thing?! :haha: I sent an email to Westlake's city website, and this is what I got.


As the saying goes, "All I know is what I read in the papers." My understanding is that this project is proposed for the west side of Loop 360, which is out of the city limits of the City of West Lake Hills.

Mr. Meisel is correct. The hotel that you are asking about will not be located in West Lake Hills. I believe it is in an unincorporated (not in a city) area of Travis County. I do not know any details about the project.

[hookem]

A lot of the land around 360 is still unincorporated Travis county. But as soon as an office building or other expensive improvement goes up, it's annexed by the CoA to add to their tax roll. They do need it to be adjacent to the CoA, though.

My neighborhood, Lost Creek, is being annexed at the end of 2015 -- but they've already annexed the office buildings on 360 surrounding us (which probably helps them with the adjacent requirement). From what we can tell in the neighborhood, CoA is building infrastructure in the area to support annexing more around 360 -- they are adding water pump stations, and because of the LC annexation will likely add a fire station around there as well. Despite the Westlake FD having a fire station right off 360 near Lost Creek Blvd. CoA offered to buy it, by Westlake FD refused...

All that to say -- this hotel will be annexed by Austin. But right now, it is probably just unincorporated Travis County. Which is great for them now -- fewer permit hurdles.

[SecretAgentMan]

A lot of the land around 360 is still unincorporated Travis county. But as soon as an office building or other expensive improvement goes up, it's annexed by the CoA to add to their tax roll. They do need it to be adjacent to the CoA, though.

My neighborhood, Lost Creek, is being annexed at the end of 2015 -- but they've already annexed the office buildings on 360 surrounding us (which probably helps them with the adjacent requirement). From what we can tell in the neighborhood, CoA is building infrastructure in the area to support annexing more around 360 -- they are adding water pump stations, and because of the LC annexation will likely add a fire station around there as well. Despite the Westlake FD having a fire station right off 360 near Lost Creek Blvd. CoA offered to buy it, by Westlake FD refused...

All that to say -- this hotel will be annexed by Austin. But right now, it is probably just unincorporated Travis County. Which is great for them now -- fewer permit hurdles.

The northwest corner of the intersection is City of Austin ETJ. The site plan is called Munson Park Commercial.

[hookem]

The northwest corner of the intersection is City of Austin ETJ. The site plan is called Munson Park Commercial.

Thanks for the name, wouldn't have guessed it. I did assume any remaining unincorporated land along 360 would fall in the 5-mile CoA ETJ (except for the West Lake Hills part). Just not in the city yet.

But Austin will annex it soon enough, I'm sure.

[KevinFromTexas]

The northwest corner of the intersection is City of Austin ETJ. The site plan is called Munson Park Commercial.

Thanks for that. The address is 320 South Capital of Texas Highway. I didn't see any elevations, though.

[PartyLine]

OH damn…. I said the said the same thing about Embassy Suties then deleted it knowing the agnst that comment would cause.
Yeah…. cheap faux any-historical is always a disaster!


It looks a little similar to eilan in NW San Antonio by La Cantera but without the Apartments and shops.

http://www.eilan.com/

[AusTxDevelopment]

Here's an animation fly-around video for the office building (Capital Ridge) which is adjacent to the Hotel Granduca and will share the garage with the hotel. Not much imagery of the hotel, but it is in the background in some of the animation.

http://capitalridgeaustin.com/video/video.html

[The ATX]

Here's a drone flyover of the construction site. That's quite a scar they ripped into the hills for this project:

http://vimeo.com/97712383

[the Genral]

Here's a drone flyover of the construction site. That's quite a scar they ripped into the hills for this project:

http://vimeo.com/97712383

Its good to see the destruction of so many ugly trees from our horrible hillsides to make way for yet another fabulous commericial building in the middle of basically nowhere near anything. I hate this and can only hope it doesn't lead to more destruction...I mean construction in that area:hell:

[The ATX]

Its good to see the destruction of so many ugly trees from our horrible hillsides to make way for yet another fabulous commericial building in the middle of basically nowhere near anything. I hate this and can only hope it doesn't lead to more destruction...I mean construction in that area:hell:

The music with the video is appropriately ominous for such destruction.

[the Genral]

The music with the video is appropriately ominous for such destruction.

Very appropriate music for this and other videos showing disaster areas. I don't like the total disregard for the beauty of the hills just west of dt. Used to be we were just minutes from the concrete of dt to the lushness of the hills to the west. The contrast was stunning. Once its chopped up, its gone forever. Here's where I say the developers are no friends to Austin and only see dollar signs ahead of the forest. Sooner than later, even their views from their lofty perches will be marred by even more construction and the reason they built there will be destroyed just like they are destroying one of the things WE hold dear about living here. I say ENOUGH!

[MichaelB]

ugh… and for that pile of architectural pooooo.

[KevinFromTexas]

I still haven't found out how tall it'll be. Like it or not, I'd still like to have the height for it. It's one of the few projects I'm missing a height for.

[The ATX]

This is what confuses me about Austin. So much effort goes into fighting high rises and density around Central Austin, and yet nobody seems to care about the destruction of the Hill Country.

[KevinFromTexas]

Being that it's a low density area where fewer people live, they simply don't care since they don't have to look at it. Like it or not, nimbys are quite selfish.

[The ATX]

I didn't realize this was going to be so "upscale" - at least in terms of room rates. I'm guessing this should be close to being finished by now. I don't get out to this area too often.

http://austin.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/04-10-14-austins-new-tuscan-style-luxury-hotel-to-be-one-of-the-most-expensive-hotels-in-texas/

http://media.culturemap.com/crop/dd/4e/800x600/Hotel-Granduca-Austin-rendering-2-April-2014_145811.jpg
http://media.culturemap.com/crop/dd/4e/800x600/Hotel-Granduca-Austin-rendering-2-April-2014_145811.jpg

[LoneStarMike]

I didn't realize this was going to be so "upscale" - at least in terms of room rates.

I can't find the exact article (I think it was in the Austin Business Journal) but it was when this hotel was first announced and the article mentioned that the four most successful hotels in Texas were the Hotel Granduca in Houston and The W, The Driskill, and The Four Seasons in Austin, so I figured it would be pretty pricey.

[The ATX]

I can't find the exact article (I think it was in the Austin Business Journal) but it was when this hotel was first announced and the article mentioned that the four most successful hotels in Texas were the Hotel Granduca in Houston and The W, The Driskill, and The Four Seasons in Austin, so I figured it would be pretty pricey.

The Austin Culture Map article I linked to quotes the developer as saying that as well. I find that very surprising. But I think he is using average room rates in making that claim which I guess is understandable given all the big events and general hotel room shortage downtown.

[KevinFromTexas]

Surely this can't be topped out yet? I would think it should be visible in the same way Palisades West is. I did catch the crane one day when I was taking photos from the South Austin Hospital garage.

[airwx]

It's surely not still in site prep as the thread title states :runaway:

[Jdawgboy]

This is what confuses me about Austin. So much effort goes into fighting high rises and density around Central Austin, and yet nobody seems to care about the destruction of the Hill Country.

I feel the same way. I get upset every time I pass by that ginormous suburban spawl of an office park being built just west of Mopac south of the river. Granted it's in Rollingwood but still. I guess their city leaders are quick to let the natural beauty get bulldozed when they see dollar signs.

[KevinFromTexas]

So in that video that AusTxDevelopment posted, it does show that at least the office building has started construction with the first columns up. I'd forgotten. The office building sits down the hill from the hotel and is the one with the blue crane. The hotel was still doing site prep, but that was 4 months go so I'm sure it's started by now. In the video there was a yellow crane. We rarely make it out, so I'm not sure how far along they are.

[LessThan3]

Surely this can't be topped out yet? I would think it should be visible in the same way Palisades West is. I did catch the crane one day when I was taking photos from the South Austin Hospital garage.

I drive by it all the time. It's pretty underwhelming so I barely pay attention. It is probably topped out but it is down the back side of the hill so you won't be able to see it from a distance.

[AusTxDevelopment]

I drive by it all the time. It's pretty underwhelming so I barely pay attention. It is probably topped out but it is down the back side of the hill so you won't be able to see it from a distance.

Not topped out but pretty close. The below drone video was posted on another thread. Link to the 11/1/2014 video (I'm not good with the embedding thing) and link to the original post on the other thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-ejdUETtAA

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=118809846&postcount=1857

[corvairkeith]

Today.

http://i.imgur.com/Fq2XLoD.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/vcfj3lA.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

Man, I hate not having the heights for those. I know they're "only" suburban projects, but still. They're not half bad designs, except for the parking garage. I get that digging there would be hard because of the limestone right under your feet, and I know putting them under those buildings wasn't doable because of height restrictions. At least there isn't a lot of surface parking.

[The ATX]

Here's a screen capture from a shaky drone video that was uploaded to Youtube two weeks ago showing the progress of Capitol Ridge and Hotel Granduca.

http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l511/ihatethisplacenothingworks/Capitol%20Ridge%20amp%20Hotel%20Granduca.png


The video:

DgJ6LkLvqi4

[The ATX]

Apple is leasing the entire office building in this development:

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/business/sources-apple-signs-lease-for-office-building-in-s/nk3Fd/#761b4dd5.3882137.735712

[JoninATX]

Apple is leasing the entire office building in this development:

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/business/sources-apple-signs-lease-for-office-building-in-s/nk3Fd/#761b4dd5.3882137.735712

Apple is just about to takeover this entire city. Great news nonetheless.

[drummer]

Just curious - why are they leasing so far away from their complex off of Parmer up north?

[The ATX]

Just curious - why are they leasing so far away from their complex off of Parmer up north?

I'll just throw this out there...

They need the space bad, and this project just came online, and Apple got a good deal on the rent.

The more important aspect of this is that the 7.1K workforce that they announced for their Austin campus build out seems to be a low ball total for their Austin workforce. In addition to this they bought an office building adjacent to their campus not too long ago.

[hookem]

Just curious - why are they leasing so far away from their complex off of Parmer up north?

They have one of their chip design units in a nearby building off 360. I'd imagine they are expanding that. It's a separate unit from the stuff up north, and it looks like they want to keep it that way. They might also be doing something like Dell did at their peak -- move some executive offices to closer where the executives live (Westlake).

BTW, 215000 square foot is enough for about 1000 employees.

[drummer]

Those are great points. I didn't realize they had another building off of 360. Makes sense that the executives wouldn't want to face the traffic going from the hills to Parmer - that'd be awful during rush hour. Working closer to home is good for everyone and smarter from a developmental standpoint for the metro area anyway.