Those are really difficult statistics to accurately come by. I wouldn't expect much...

IMO the biggest difference between the cores is mixed vs single use. Austin just has a much higher proportion of mixed use distributed across the core. This is what drives more lively street life. That includes the park system in the core which activates thousands daily. Also significant is that Austin’s core is not surrounded by grid stopping freeways. The bones are better for true urbanity.

YesX1,000!! The lack of urbanity-killing interstates crisscrossing is the secret ingredient. We're so lucky to have missed that bullet though motor-heads may disagree. The walkability is magnificent and should only get better as we allow more housing and commercial development.

Build up not out!

It's ok to have an interstate, but it's needed to be upgraded for a long time. It's basically the same as when it was built more than 60 years ago. Imagine if we didn't make upgrades to other pieces of our infrastructure such as the airport, mass transit or even our utilities. It's crazy that we could neglect such an important piece of our infrastructure. Like it or not, there will always be a need for highways. I don't like them either, but they are essential. The interstate system was originally planned as a way for the military to move around the country for national security. Of course, after the war and the deescalation of conflict, it became suburbanized as the country boomed after the war. There will always be a need for an interstate, even if we only have one.

Ok. I know that the corona virus has cancelled SXSW in Austin as well as events across the country but has it made developers hesitant to build as far as any of you can tell?

I think it is far too early to tell. Developing real estate is a long term play. Nobody is going to reverse course in a couple weeks. If the situation takes a while to get under control, and the economy continues to take a hit from it and the oil war, we probably will see a slow down and moth balling of some projects, but I think we are several months away from knowing for sure how it plays out.

That makes sense. I've always loved the fact that it's not encircled by freeways like Dallas or Houston - or San Antonio, for that matter. Fort Worth is interesting in that is has freeways on three sides, and while the Trinity River creates a fourth boundary, it's crossing over with proposed/planned developments. It'll be interesting to see how that develops.

Back to Austin - I agree also on the mixed-use aspect. It'll be fun to see more of that pop up. When my wife and I were downtown recently for a date, we were surprised to see how much has gone in at street level in the past 10+ years. While I've come back for work a few times, it was her first time down there in years.

Austin construction seems to be trucking along during the crisis. Let’s see how things progress over the next few weeks.

It will continue to move right along for a couple years based on what's financed and already started. But there will not be any more large hotels or speculative office towers starting any time soon anywhere.

Yup I agree! I think Austin is in a good place and did pretty good during 2008 also in comparison to other cities, right?

Yup. But the 2008 recession was different, and Austin along with the other major Texas metros weathered the storm quite well. The storm knows no boundaries this time.

I'm guessing The Republic among those put on indefinite hold? We can be thankful for the Roaring 10's at least.

Yeah I feel like tech cities are in a pretty good place right now. Austin is still gonna need office space after all this is over. We should do alright. Until then thank you guys for my contact with the outside world.

Assuming lending doesn’t completely collapse, which it shouldn’t, why would these projects go on hold? Now will be delivered for years. No reason to stop.

Agree!

With the elevations being released for 3rd & Brazos yesterday, we got our 18th 500' + tower in the pipeline. It's really the 21st 500'+ tower with the two ATX towers and Block 190 include. Now we must kill the virus.

If those buildings actually get built, we'll pass Dallas for the number of 500+ foot tall buildings. They have 20 at the moment, including AMLI Fountain Place.

How can we do this? Can we eradicate all of them?

Wow!

Despite the Pandemic, Ryan Companies said today that they are moving forward on both of their biggest Austin projects and plan to start construction on both in January 2021.

658' Tower 5C:
https://i.imgur.com/cYSPki4.png
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n..._news_headline


773' BBVA Bank Tower which is mostly residential despite the name:
https://i.imgur.com/DQPKKHE.png
https://pagethink.com/v/project-deta...6th-Street/fc/

That's good to hear. I was looking at my Google Earth model yesterday, and both of those, along with The Republic and 6 X Guadalupe will be visible from my neighborhood. Tower 5C will be visible from a few blocks from our house.

The Frost Bank Tower was labeled the nose hair trimmer, so I guess this one is the clipper/razor.

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

I'm a little worried about the Republic tower. That's a lot of speculative office space, and Lincoln is focused on building our new tallest and tied up with that massive WeWork towers project mess in the Rainey District.

I honestly could care less about the Waller Park Place/We Work project. I think that whole project needs a re-tooling anyway. I was never a fan of it. I also think the We Work site should be divided up with an extension to Rainey Street through the block to connect to Cesar Chavez.

I would seriously be bummed out, though, if The Republic didn't happen. It would be one of the most attractive skyscrapers in Texas and a huge plus for our skyline because of the design, height, and location.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I was never a fan of the Republic tower. It looked at best unfinished and at worst unoriginal. The Block 185 sail-shaped tower is far and away the building with more potential for iconic landmark status. The Republic site, like the post office site across Republic Square, are too prominent, and deserve something staggeringly impressive. I feel that we are making off with the best proposals from this boom and the next round will yet likely outdo this one.

I don't know, I would put The Republic right up there with the very best skyscrapers in Texas. I've even thought of it, in the same way, I do Fountain Place in that it will stand out on the skyline and take the skyline to the next level. 6 X Guadalupe and BBVA Tower, by comparison, despite being taller, are more average architecture. It's been fun watching the boom in Austin, but there are few new buildings I would place in the highest tiers of quality and style and prominence, and The Republic is one of them along with Block 185 and the Frost Bank Tower. So many others have contributed to the skyline in a big way, but few are standouts in the way I anticipate The Republic will, and not just because of its location either.

I also don't think it's necessary to have more height on The Republic block that what is proposed for The Republic. I'd rather have a stepped look north from the river having the taller buildings in the interior of downtown.

Tower 5C is my new fav, love the look!!

GREAT looking tower.........the quicker the "Big Clipper" goes up, the sooner we won't be able to see the ugly "Big Molar" from the north!!!

Lol

Another 800+ footer...


4th & Brazos
823' / 65 stories

https://i.imgur.com/rJwvGzb.png
https://i.imgur.com/O9bYjTq.png

**Site plan is currently under review

Cool!

WOW!!!!

Gosh, if I'm not mistaken, there are at least 27 projects under development in Austin's central core over 400' tall (10 are over 600'). About 24 of those have at least submitted site plans for review. I think nine of them have either already been approved or are under construction. And another 9-10 are close to being approved by the city.

Outstanding, Austin! Love it!

meanwhile, in the larger city 80 miles south - **crickets**. :shrug:

Project list compiled by forum userThe ATX in the Austin subforum, which gets much more attention than the main forum, so y'all should head over there.


This is a list of all underway projects and proposals, including some that are unlikely to ever get built.

https://i.imgur.com/AATxYWs.png
https://i.imgur.com/6pg0oOL.png
https://i.imgur.com/Bhftf0l.png
https://i.imgur.com/aTNt3Ph.png
https://i.imgur.com/TUH8rk8.png


This is a list of all projects underway over 300'

https://i.imgur.com/1KgFpcl.png


This is a list of everything completed or topped out above 300'

https://i.imgur.com/HBoLEhb.png
https://i.imgur.com/XBil2Tz.png

^^Absolutely fabulous job, The ATX. Thank you for keeping this up-to-date for everyone.

If I may make a suggestion...

When I see the word "proposed" (in development terms), I think of a project which is more of a vision/idea than a project moving forward through the entitlement process. The list above includes a few of those.

However, the majority of the "proposed" projects listed above are actually beyond a simple vision. Their respective developers have taken the time and money to submit a site plan to the city for review or have already secured their site plan approval.

In an effort to have a clearer view of where a project is in the development process, may I suggest changing the Status some of the "proposed" to "under review" (for those projects which have submitted site plans) and "approved" (for those who have received their site plan approval from the city)?

I have done this on my own list and it is really interesting to see how far along some of these projects are.

My definition of "proposed" is rather broad. I use the comment line to state whether it is approved or awaiting city approval. On my next update I can update the status types.

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I hate it when people comment on their own comment!

comment on comment
 

Me too!

^Lol!! Seriously, I'm so impressed with how this city and it's skyline has grown. When all of these proposed projects are built, the skyline will be even more stunning!

It’s so crazy!

This is the Hilton Garden Inn 17th Street, which doesn't have a thread on the main forum. 230' and 18 floors, very close to topping out.

Photo by user Urbannizer

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...257d2646_b.jpg
Hilton Garden Inn by Darius Fontenette, on Flickr

Page cooked up this massing of some upcoming towers in the Austin skyline. 6 X Guadalupe and Hanover Republic Square are already U/C, BBVA Tower (321 West) will likely start by yearend, and The Republic has been floating around for a few years, but is still likely to get funding eventually.

https://i.imgur.com/7AiF70Q.jpg

Incredible amount of development going on there! You guys need to find some artists to add all of these towers to the Austin skyscraper diagram.

Yeah that would be awesome!

Hanover Brazos Street 45 floors - 513' feet

New renderings: https://austin.towers.net/[email protected]

https://i.imgur.com/ot75am2.jpg

Beautiful addition! Build now!

1601 Congress
https://i.imgur.com/rE3Ei3M.png

1801 Congress
https://i.imgur.com/PcHV2PL.png

Texas Mall
https://i.imgur.com/mv8moVD.png

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fd9500a4_k.jpg
COVID_19 + Murder Hornets + Riots + Protests + Blood Monkeys + Sahara Desert Dust Storm = 2020. by Jac Malloy, on Flickr

I’ve always admired the amount of growth in Austin from afar since I’m originally from metro Detroit. Now I’m in Pflugerville and used to daily drive downtown full-time for Uber before the pandemic. Just loving what I’m seeing. Can’t wait for the next five years. Rainey St. is gonna be impressive and maybe even south of congress will finally get some high rises with the Statesman property ������

Progress on VillaRio, formerly 22Rio, from forumer Urbannizer

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9d387243_b.jpg

I agree! I love seeing the growth/metamorphosis of the city. Can't wait to see how it will look in the coming years.

Looking good! Can’t wait for 2021!