Nah, I'm not. The basketball training facility isn't white. The building I pointed out is. It's literally right next to it.

Also, I'm pretty damn sure that will be pretty close to the final design. And it's good, so it should be.

I'm also confused. The façade of the new basketball training facility is brick. However, its roof is white - to reflect the sun's heat. The only other buildings next to the new facility are the Swim Center, Student Rec Center and the new Moody Center.

If it's not one of those, what are you seeing that we are not?


CDC said it was not the final design. How close? Not sure. But, I would expect some tweaks.

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

I see what he's talking about - this is the only of the posted photos that seems to show it. You see the Moody Center and the basketball training facility immediately next to it (light brown with white roof). Immediately to the right of that is an angled roof on a white building that does not currently exist. If you look at the Longhorn logo on the roof, it's just above the right horn.

Ah. Great catch, Drummer - Great eye, Syndic.

It's a small parking lot immediately adjacent to that ugly water tank. Maybe it will be another athletic facility, maintenance facility, or something to do with the Dell Medical School. Or, simply a filler in the rendering.

^^ At least it seems somewhat architecturally interesting for a small infill project in the area - and it covers up said ugly water tank from one angle!

Looks like good infill!

Speaking of this area...UT will complete the demolition of The Drum (aka The Frank Erwin Center) by October 2024. This will clear the way for the medical school's expansion.

Redevelopment Planned for Six-Acre Site on South Congress

https://towers.wpenginepowered.com/w...e-1536x802.jpg

Rainey Street District :cool:

https://imgur.com/WUbRzES.jpg
https://app.truelook.cloud/dashboard...6jbnkrjjm9m9t0

^A lot of buildings under construction.

^ So much for old Rainey Street. The new district will be pretty cool too but I'll still miss what used to be.

^ Is the high rise boom hurting the street vibe ?

No. It’s the same vibe of bars and restaurants. Some people in Austin just think rainy was never going to turn into high rises and that is ludicrous.

If it weren’t for the city rezoning the area to the CBD back in the early 2000’s the bars and restaurants wouldn’t exist- it’d still be a single-family neighborhood. Some bars/restaurants have been lost but high-density building has always been visioned as the long term plan after rezoning.

I’d say the sheer amount of construction is currently hurting the street vibe as it’s not easy to get around. The main way into this area from Cesear Chavez is currently blocked off.

can't they put like bars and restaurants at the street levels of all these new towers?

I think the bars were just a money grab. None of that stuff was there 15 to 20 years ago. It was something neat and different, but it's not like this was some old historic Austin district of bars that suddenly went vertical. They were old houses falling down that the owners cashed in on and decided to move out, and bars were able to move in once the zoning rules changed for the neighborhood. This was a temporary phenomenon. It's also a nightmare to navigate, so I'm not sure why anyone would want it to continue the way it was.

They are, and there will be more bars/restaurants than there were when the street was just bungalows. I believe the U/C Paseo and Modern Austin towers permanently replaced three bars and will have around 10 between upon completion.

Thanks, but I meant Austin CBD overall.

Truth - I can't stand the layout of the streets in that area. The vibe of Rainey is/was/has been super cool with the bungalows and trees - I'll give it that. But it's not historic, as many have said. The beauty of this is that this pop-up scene can be recreated in other areas. Is it the same? No. But Rainey was also unlike anything else that came before it as well. What comes next may be equally unique in some other way.

Anyone know when the controlled demolition of the Frank Erwin center will be? I really want to be there for that.

A “construction notice to proceed” is expected this June. Demolition will be a phased process with completion expected by October 2024.

Hmm, if there's no big implosion/ceremony, a lot of lifelong Austinites are going to be upset. We need an event in order to get closure.

Agreed haha we need an implosion event for this one!

Residential high-rise plans advance at Irene's, Taquero Mucho site in west downtown Austin

https://towers.wpenginepowered.com/w...C1-18-copy.jpg

https://towers.wpenginepowered.com/w...-1536x1469.jpg

https://towers.wpenginepowered.com/w...9-1536x917.jpg

https://towers.wpenginepowered.com/w...1-1536x858.jpg
https://www.austintexas.gov/citycler...tings/22_1.htm

I like it. Do it.

I love it!

Build this one now!

Looks really nice!

The building overall is fine, but that entrance is spectacular

Really, really like this design.

The entrance design is ADA compliant, but still awful for anyone not fully physically capable.

If one’s not physically capable of going up one flight of stairs or the ramp equivalent then I think they have bigger problems to worry about. :shrug:

That area of downtown is in a flood zone, and main entrances are required to be above street level.

That’s heartless.

That’s fair, but the design could accommodate a ramp that doesn’t require that someone in a wheelchair be forced to enter alongside cars to a side entrance.

There is an ADA compliant elevator (not shown in renderings) to allow access to the retail level.

Not trying to be, but like 5th and West it’s in a flood plain and they did the best they could for ADA compliance. Also, most people in wheelchairs are actually in pretty good shape and would have no problem ascending ~12 feet. Or just use the elevator. :)

My son has physical disabilities and uses a walker. We acknowledge the fact that he can't do everything but he is able to do a lot more than some because he's in a walker and not a wheelchair. He physically can't lift his legs high enough for steps in most cases due to constraints with his hips. We often utilize ramps and/or elevators in suburban and urban settings. It takes some creativity, but that's life for our family - we know it and he knows it. While there are some legitimate concerns around accessibility, most parents of disabled kids and most disabled individuals are incredibly resilient and adaptable.

Just don't store stuff on or in front of a ramp and we're good. And for the love of all things good in the world, don't chain your bike to a pole on a ramp. It happens more often than you may think.

I think IluvATX was talking about overweight people not being able to get up some stairs. That's why it was a little harsher sounding. He certainly wasn't bagging on people in wheelchairs and stuff.

Y’all are taking this out of context. We’re all aware it’s ADA compliant, but I was joking about those who are not “fully physically capable” as wwmiv said. I guess it was a jab at lazy or overweight people, but not intended to disparage disabled people.

I'm not sure what the slope of that driveway adjacent to the retail is, but there should be a sidewalk along it. Also, I don't understand why there are separate curb cuts for the parking and fire lanes. They could both just use the fire lane and provide additional space for the lobby and / or retail.

The final version only has one curb cut. The back up file shows both the version with two curb cuts and the final version with one curb cut based on feedback from a DC working group meeting.

This is the version with two cuts:
https://i.imgur.com/fqvvnQL.png


This is the final version with one cut. The driveway on the right is the neighboring property.
https://i.imgur.com/nUXzlQW.jpg

$1.6B Austin Convention Center expansion plans move forward

https://cdn2.communityimpact.com/?ur...600&q=95&f=jpg

We desperately need a new convention center, glad to see it moving forward!

Thanks. I was basing my comment on the plan included in the DC back up. I guess they did not update that.

Looks good!

Anyone know if a general contractor has been selected for the 62 East Ave tower?

Not sure, hopefully someone will chime in!

Also, is Phase II of The Travis still happening? I haven't seen any updates.

No new updates on the Ritz.


**If you want to stay as up-to-date as possible on all Austin projects, I suggest you go here:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/for...hp?forumid=446