AUSTIN | Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown Austin | 184 FEET | 17 FLOORS | Complete

[the Genral]

I wonder how many people are going to pull in looking for the emergency room entrance?

[The ATX]

Maybe they'll build something in between the access road and the expressway lanes to cover it up. We can hope, right?

Capping I-35 would help.

[drummer]

Capping I-35 would help.

Agreed, I had that thought as well. Maybe we can put this in the "benefits" column:

"Drivers don't have to see the ugly backside of Homewood Suites, which has been proven to cause viewers to close their eyes in disgust. Such reactions are undeniably dangerous to themselves and other drivers at highway speeds."

[corvairkeith]

I've been meaning to do an update on this for a while, but I keep nodding out while uploading pics of it.

https://i.imgur.com/2KKU5tM.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/p1XK0DR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CUIvo2M.jpg?1

[the Genral]

ewwwwwww

[austlar1]

It's a freeway fronting mid market highrise motor hotel. It's not the kind of location that will produce amazing architecture.

[Geckos_Rule]

Logo is up:

https://i.imgur.com/rYTPudIh.jpg

[the Genral]

The sign looks nice, the rest of the building....

[drummer]

....so is that the finished product?:runaway:

(not gonna get much better, so might as well be...)

[JoninATX]

I'm digging the dark colors. Not sure if it's just wall installation or not but it looks a million times better than the yellow they had.

[drummer]

I'm digging the dark colors. Not sure if it's just wall installation or not but it looks a million times better than the yellow they had.

Can't argue with you there.

[Jdawgboy]

Logo is up:

https://i.imgur.com/rYTPudIh.jpg

Yes this building is finished, word is opening date is on Christmas Eve and they will light the scaffolding on the roof coral and taupe. :crazy:

:eeekk:

[Geckos_Rule]

The sign looks nice, the rest of the building....

Honestly the sign looks like the same font as the Law & Order "Executive Producer Dick Wolf" logo

[The ATX]

I kind of hope they stick with that clown school orange look in the last rendering. We have plenty of ugly earth tone budget hotels, but no orange ones.

[Sigaven]

I kind of hope they stick with that clown school orange look in the last rendering. We have plenty of ugly earth tone budget hotels, but no orange ones.

Did you forget about the big giant orange Hilton a few blocks up?

I'm liking the colors. The original rendering had tan and orange, just about the most outdated and ugly colors you could have. I appreciate they're at least smart about the colors on this building.

[MichaelB]

The "orange" Hilton is no more...... ! Being painted as we "speak". Dark gray and cream.

[Max Tower]

Honestly the sign looks like the same font as the Law & Order "Executive Producer Dick Wolf" logo

You beat me to it.

https://i.imgur.com/QJInTZ2.jpg (http://austin.towers.net/spotted-homewood-suites-gets-its-name-tag-in-the-rainey-street-district/)

[drummer]

Haha!

[Mikey711MN]

:multibow:

[We vs us]

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a0/b1/f0/a0b1f0a146ab9f4df920019273639b03--jerry-orbach-man-crush.jpg

Welcome to Rainey Street, counselor.

[The ATX]

This turd seems to be following the lead of its neighbor Hotel Van Zandt by going dark instead of clowny orange and earth tones. That's the best option IMO. The north facing windows are trimmed with bright barn red on a black wall, and it looks nice - or at least better than awful.

[corvairkeith]

Yeah I definitely like the dark colors on this better than terracotta earth-tones that that I figured we were gonna get. The red accents look nice too, as long as they are used sparingly. I'm still curious about how the "Eddie Van Halen guitar" patterns are going to be handled. These photos are from last weekend.

https://i.imgur.com/VFuQSRo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/59Vx5vi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qZdKQLO.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/0cCI1hd.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/vHlR2Nw.jpg?1

[The ATX]

I'm glad you could follow up my post with photo evidence. But geez, what a the mess below the black and red section.

https://i.imgur.com/vHlR2Nw.jpg?1

[KevinFromTexas]

1/29

https://i.imgur.com/soVAvYK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/aMKumlX.jpg

[drummer]

Yeah, it definitely seems like they're not quite done with the color - or at least I hope so. It is looking better for now, which is good. Thanks for the photos, guys!

[KevinFromTexas]

2/16

https://i.imgur.com/chBBDOr.jpg

[trilliondollarted]

I noticed yesterday on the west wall that was white now had a pretty nice red and white design running the entire height of the building.

[ahealy]

Def one of the ugliest POS buildings I've ever seen in Austin

[_Matt]

So this is done, or are people just judging the appearance before it is done?

[We vs us]

So this is done, or are people just judging the appearance before it is done?

It's about 95% finished.

[The ATX]

So this is done, or are people just judging the appearance before it is done?

This thing was judged before it even broke ground.

[The ATX]

Here's an interesting view showing how the Rainey St. side is shaping up. This is a zoomed in view of one of TOWERS' photos.

https://i.imgur.com/GIiZrif.png
https://austin.towers.net/inside-the-70-rainey-condo-tower-underway-on-downtowns-eastern-edge/

[SMC]

Here's an interesting view showing how the Rainey St. side is shaping up. This is a zoomed in view of one of TOWERS' photos.

https://i.imgur.com/GIiZrif.png
https://austin.towers.net/inside-the-70-rainey-condo-tower-underway-on-downtowns-eastern-edge/

https://davedevine.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/eddie_vanhalen.jpg?w=535&h=597

[KevinFromTexas]

I don't hate it, at least the attempt at making it look like something, but I still think it looks like a hovel for commies.

The interesting thing is those painted lines appear to be painted onto raised designs on the face of the concrete.

[_Matt]

I don't hate it, at least the attempt at making it look like something, but I still think it looks like a hovel for commies.

The interesting thing is those painted lines appear to be painted onto raised designs on the face of the concrete.

Yeah, so they can't just repaint. Now if they were fully committed then they'd outline in neon lights so we can experience it after dark.

[The ATX]

Here's a photo from a TOWERS update posted today. I'll give them credit for not going with "Cheap Hotel Beige".

https://i.imgur.com/erWmJgX.png
TOWERS: https://austin.towers.net/central-austin-development-roundup-folks-here-are-some-buildings/

[sammyk]

The EVH comparison is spot on. Wonder if he got any royalties.

[clubtokyo]

Honestly I’m not a huge fan, but it is kinda weird and quirky? Maybe it works for our city?

[wwmiv]

I don’t like it, but I don’t dislike it either. The pop of color and the interesting metal and color patterns are a nice touch that does elevate it from trash to... not quite trash.

[ahealy]

lolll. y'all are crazy. This is the ugliest/tackiest thing I've EVER seen

[corvairkeith]

lolll. y'all are crazy. This is the ugliest/tackiest thing I've EVER seen

I assume you haven't been inside the Fairmont yet.

[GoldenBoot]

I assume you haven't been inside the Fairmont yet.

I'm still in shock. I cannot believe The Fairmont "okay'd" that crap. Yes, they are just managing the property...but, thery do have something to say about the interior décor. It is their name on the marquee.

[Urbannizer]

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/947/41998412992_ea57649616_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/26ZfQYQ)
Homewood Suites (https://flic.kr/p/26ZfQYQ) by Darius Fontenette (https://www.flickr.com/photos/128036658@N05/), on Flickr

[The ATX]

Progress on this project has slowed to crawl over the past few months. Maybe it just takes a while to craft something so ugly.

[the Genral]

Progress on this project has slowed to crawl over the past few months. Maybe it just takes a while to craft something so ugly.

:haha: But I do like the EVH vibe. That horrific parking podium is what make this look...half bad. Parking podiums just flat out suck.

[The ATX]

I never thought I'd ever say this, but Millennium Rainey is only the second worse project to ever happen in the Rainey St. District.

[H2O]

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/947/41998412992_ea57649616_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/26ZfQYQ)
Homewood Suites (https://flic.kr/p/26ZfQYQ) by Darius Fontenette (https://www.flickr.com/photos/128036658@N05/), on Flickr

I like how Hotel Van Zandt and Hotel Van Halen have a similar color scheme to 70 Rainey.

[We vs us]

That hotel will never not be known as Hotel Van Halen in my mind. Excellent nomenclature.

[the Genral]

That hotel will never not be known as Hotel Van Halen in my mind. Excellent nomenclature.

I am so word deficient. I had to look up nomenclature. Good use of the word We vs us. I bet you don't get to use it in a sentence often. This forum is both entertaining and educational:yes:

[We vs us]

I am so word deficient. I had to look up nomenclature. Good use of the word We vs us. I bet you don't get to use it in a sentence often. This forum is both entertaining and educational:yes:

Ha! My long discarded English major occasionally pokes its head up and gives a bark to let me know I still can use $.50 words. Thanks for letting me inflict them on you ;)

[The ATX]

This hot mess has a website now with reservations being accepted for December 1st. I like how they show no photos or renderings. They have a new name now. They didn't keep Rainey or East Ave in the name.

The progress on this one is unusually slow even though there are a lot of workers on site every day.

http://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/texas/homewood-suites-by-hilton-austin-downtown-AUSDOHW/index.html

[We vs us]

Van Halen Hotel really doesn't give a shit about websites, or high quality images, or your personal naming preferences. Van Halen Hotel wants to rock.

EDIT:

https://youtu.be/5EqWN4fT79s

MIGHT AS WELL JUMP (jump!)

[Geckos_Rule]

This hot mess has a website now with reservations being accepted for December 1st. I like how they show no photos or renderings. They have a new name now. They didn't keep Rainey or East Ave in the name.

The progress on this one is unusually slow even though there are a lot of workers on site every day.

http://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/texas/homewood-suites-by-hilton-austin-downtown-AUSDOHW/index.html

I agree on the speed of construction. It's almost the opposite of 70 rainey. It shot up within a few months, but it feels like it's been 2 months since we've seen any visible changes with it.

[corvairkeith]

They must be using the same workers that have been repainting the Hilton for over a year now and are just now half way done.

[the Genral]

Come on guys!! Its bold, its imaginative, its unique, its modern, its exciting, its eye candy, its...oh heck...who am I kidding???:shrug::yuck:

[_Matt]

I really like it! If nothing else, it's a conversation starter when you're stuck in traffic on the interstate.

[LoneStarMike]

Van Halen Hotel really doesn't give a shit about websites, or high quality images, or your personal naming preferences. Van Halen Hotel wants to rock.

It's Van Halen Suites

https://i.imgur.com/2CYYPz3.jpg

[the Genral]

It's Van Halen Suites

https://i.imgur.com/2CYYPz3.jpg

Well done sir!!!! I'd stay there for sure:tup:

[The ATX]

Two years late, but we finally have renderings - color elevations really.

https://i.imgur.com/l4zKFoi.png
https://i.imgur.com/xvBjHad.png


And my favorite...

https://i.imgur.com/4K7QfFd.png
http://eastavenue.com/portfolio/homewood-suites-by-hilton-austin-texas/

[Sigaven]

Two years late, but we finally have renderings - color elevations really.

https://i.imgur.com/l4zKFoi.png
https://i.imgur.com/xvBjHad.png


And my favorite...

https://i.imgur.com/4K7QfFd.png
http://eastavenue.com/portfolio/homewood-suites-by-hilton-austin-texas/

I hope they get some artists to paint some really big cool murals on those huge blank walls on the north and south sides. The one on Hotel Indigo could be a good precedent. I think something like that would slightly redeem this building for me. Hell, put two big LED screens on those walls ala Times Square and play ads and such for drivers on I-35 - would be a heck of a lot more interesting than seeing a big blank wall driving into DT.

[drummer]

In lieu of screens or murals, I'd like something built to the north and south that would at least cover up the garage portions...

[Geckos_Rule]

https://i.imgur.com/RIud63Ah.jpg

As of 09/28/18 -- I haven't seen much visible progress on this lately, but perhaps they're working on the inside of it. Even still, it's been about 2 months since I've seen anything noticeable change about this.

It's definitely topped out though, so the thread title can be changed.

[the Genral]

I want to not like this building, but I really don't mind it except for the red box with the four windows, what the heck is that???, looks like it belongs on a crane barge, oh and the parking garage, oh and the paint scheme, oh and the stubby boxy shape of it. Actually, I don't think I like it at all, except the Van Halen red with white zig zags. This just seems like another one of those "It seemed like a good idea at the time" after thought. If they aren't standing back looking at it and saying "My God...what have we done"...they should be.

[myBrain]

Do we know if this one is going to have any street interaction, or a bar/restaurant attached? Wondering if it's going to extend the Rainey action back onto that street at all.

Actually, is it even accessible from Rainey on foot? My memory of the area is a bit hazy... Craft Pride's doing....

[Geckos_Rule]

Do we know if this one is going to have any street interaction, or a bar/restaurant attached? Wondering if it's going to extend the Rainey action back onto that street at all.

Actually, is it even accessible from Rainey on foot? My memory of the area is a bit hazy... Craft Pride's doing....

I don't believe it is, no.

[Sigaven]

I thought The G at Guadalupe and 18th was the worst building I'd ever seen, I think this one might take the top spot.

[clubtokyo]

It looks like a weird birthday cake

[drummer]

Is there a demo permit filed for this one yet?

[We vs us]

Do we know if this one is going to have any street interaction, or a bar/restaurant attached? Wondering if it's going to extend the Rainey action back onto that street at all.

Actually, is it even accessible from Rainey on foot? My memory of the area is a bit hazy... Craft Pride's doing....

Just cased the joint today on a lunch hour walk. There doesn't seem to be a straight shot from the hotel to Rainey, though it wouldn't seem to be hard -- the first floor garage seems to have a passthrough from its entrance on the I-35 service road to the alley behind Rainey itself. Just needs a connecting path between Bangers and whatever's next to it at this point.

The whole design is pretty unfortunate, though. The lobby is on the ground floor and faces an onramp to I-35. The traffic noise is all encompassing. At some point it won't feel so lonely, but it's surrounded by traffic, empty lots, and the Phoenician, which certainly won't win the "Most Welcoming" design award.

It's worth noting exactly how barren the parts of Rainey that aren't actually on Rainey can feel. East Ave. especially seems kind of abandoned. And we all know that's not how it will be for long, but even the fact that the next thing to break ground over there is the electrical substation . . . it's a bit of a bummer.

Unrelated to the Homewood Suites; Nate Paul's 56 East building is newly reno'd. Looks like they kicked out the halfway house altogether, remodeled, and have rented it out to a company called Zengistics. No human bodies inside yet, but they were putting in cubicles and wiring when I walked past.

[The ATX]

Unrelated to the Homewood Suites; Nate Paul's 56 East building is newly reno'd. Looks like they kicked out the halfway house altogether, remodeled, and have rented it out to a company called Zengistics. No human bodies inside yet, but they were putting in cubicles and wiring when I walked past.

WCC was advertising the existing 56 East building as available for a one year lease. They still have the site on the market for their fantasy 56 East 700K sq ft office project.

The Homewood Suites opening has been pushed back to 12/20. Progress is just crawling along.

[Urbannizer]

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4865/44515710900_43adcba59d_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2aPGDWU)
Homewood Suites (https://flic.kr/p/2aPGDWU) by Darius Fontenette (https://www.flickr.com/photos/128036658@N05/), on Flickr

[the Genral]

Is that the back door? Surely that's not the grande entrance. I know...and don't call you Shirley.

[austlar1]

Just a guess, but I suspect the "grande" entrance is a set of double doors opening to the parking garage at ground level.

[We vs us]

That address tho.

[KevinFromTexas]

That address is going to be fun to look up on cell phones.

Just a guess, but I suspect the "grande" entrance is a set of double doors opening to the parking garage at ground level.

I know that you're probably joking, but there's an equal chance that you're not, and even if you are, you're probably still right. The Hilton Garden Inn's grand entrance opens to the garage on both street corners. It's kind of odd.

[The ATX]

The grand opening has been pushed back again. They are now taking reservations beginning 01/31.

https://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/texas/homewood-suites-by-hilton-austin-downtown-AUSDOHW/index.html

[the Genral]

The grand opening has been pushed back again. They are now taking reservations beginning 01/31.

https://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/texas/homewood-suites-by-hilton-austin-downtown-AUSDOHW/index.html

Still plenty of time to capture the SXSW crowd that can't find anywhere else to stay.

[The ATX]

It's officially completed. Austinites now have another option for a staycation.Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

https://www.prweb.com/releases/baywood_hotels_opens_up_150_room_homewood_suites_by_hilton_in_downtown_austin/prweb16053716.htm

[clubtokyo]

The lighting on this building at night is absolute trash! They put one spotlight in the middle where the weird red and white lines are. It looks cheap and shining directly on hotel windows.... I would be pissed if that was my room. (noticed being stuck in traffic last night)

[Sigaven]

The lighting on this building at night is absolute trash!

Just like the rest of the building lol

[The ATX]

And to think this might be better looking than the Fairfield Inn and Cambria hotels that will line up next to this one. Sad.