While we're on the subject of the Whole Foods building, I still have hope that someday they can do something better with that parking lot. Given that there's a parking garage directly under it, they'd have to reinforce it significantly to do anything vertical, but a park/plaza would be cool. Even a spot for food trucks or permanent food stalls would be cool. I know this wouldn't happen any time soon, but I can dream.

Back to Shoal Creek...I do think that stairs aren't necessarily the natural enemy to an urban environment if done well (the problem is that they're so often not done well). I think this one has turned out better than my previous impression on it.

You're absolutely right. Whole Foods is an abomination.

And floodplain issues (or non-issues) aside, I really don't get how divorcing a building from the surrounding sidewalk makes it even remotely more interesting. In reality, it will probably make it somewhere that nobody ever goes (unless they have to).

I think we all agree to some degree, but their approach really doesn't look bad and they have a good reason to elevate. At least we're not getting this: :runaway:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLBNf-gQCV...0/101_4441.JPG

Right? It's open space and has very few obstructive walls and tries its hardest to work within its context.

^ Now that's a fortress. I can almost picture soldiers manning their posts there.

The crane is going up today.

Webcam:
http://webcampub.multivista.com/inde...9-44C58C659B7B

There was also a crawler crane on the Homewood Suites hotel site yesterday. There are no underground levels, so that crane may be going up as well. But I can't confirm that yet.

A new sibling in Crane City!
 

The crane was installed yesterday. I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting a little concerned about the underlying water issues at this site. It looks like it's getting worse, and I wonder how much of a delay this will cause. Maybe the city will just get a brand new public municipal pool instead of an office building.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1628/...804b7abf_k.jpg

It's certainly deep enough for a pool...

I'm sure they've got a solution for it, but it'll be interesting to see how it's resolved.

I'm trying to think of any other buildings that have had a similar problem DT but I can't think of any.

The water table must poke up in that area cause it's like they hit a spring or something. Its not like there haven't been any other buildings built along Shoal in fact it's the opposite. Several buildings have gone up but I don't remember if they had anything similar. They didn't have a problem with the Fairmont dig and it's next to Waller.

That's a good point about the Fairmont and Waller. Maybe the Waller tunnel made a difference?

I think I remember that Ashton had water problems since they had to dig down about 60 feet for the parking garage.

The library had extensive dewatering going on until the foundation was completed. Same with City Hall. The last three examples are due to their proximity to the lake, but the same conditions can occur further upstream.

3/1/16

Tower crane up in the background to the left.

http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...psrgqjd9du.jpg

It looks like they solved their water problem. From their webcam:

http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/...No%20Water.png

^ Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Via webcam:

http://webcampub.multivista.com/inde...=1464615222927

^ That webcam has a great view of the corner of the neighboring building. :)

This one is above ground:

http://i.imgur.com/5MKQRLJh.jpg

9/24/16

Mmm...tower cranes.

5 tower cranes working on three new buildings.

You can see all or part of 8 buildings in that photo.

Only one of those buildings existed more than 10 years ago (Austin City Lofts 2004).