haha the space odyssey monolith is the first thing that came to mind.
still though... i like this design slightly better than that greenwater one.

This was my favorite design for the project out of all of them, massive and dense, very chic looking...but lest we forget that given that Trammell Crow must preserve the heritage trees on the lot (something I respect...after all Austin's natural setting and tree cover are one of my favorite things about the city), there is really no way this design can be executed as rendered here. The buildings are all built right up to the corner of the lot.

The more I look at the latest design, I'm not thrilled about the change either. It's always tough to be baited with an amazing design and then get hit with a dismal last-minute change. In New York, we're all too familiar with that. :koko: However, this is not a fantastic, shiny, computer-perfected rendering (i.e. the ones we're most used to), and it would look less impressive anyway if even the previous design were maintained but only one tower was shown. The most impressive thing about the project thus far was its scope, at least for me.

I think we should stop decrying this single first phase as a total letdown and see what comes of it. The finished product may wind up wowing us all. Not to mention that we've already been extremely spoiled by the sheer amount of development that is happening citywide. Many cities across the country would kill for the problems y'all have right now. :P

I actually love the Coast in Chicago. Yes the base is so-so, but that's just what Lake Shore East is about...it has all the earmarks of a 21st-Century redevelopment project, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The tower portion though is soooo sexy if you really look at it. Easily one of LSE's best. Considering all that, the new 5th and Brazos proposal has that same sleek sexiness, breaks the imaginary 500-ft ceiling that many recent proposals have deferred to, and has a slick, gorgeous base with awesome street interaction. How could you complain? Austin blows my mind. :worship:

Thinking about Green Water...this Block 1 tower was changed because of the trees, pretty much. I'm hoping that perhaps the next tower won't be a twin because they won't have the same obstacles to overcome. Maybe that will change it enough so they're different.

You're right about that for sure. I'm also wondering if they might include that 70,000 square feet that they had to nix from this tower and put it into the next tower. It could mean a taller tower.

Very good point. These guys don't want to give up that money-making space.

The updated version of 5th & Brazos is definitely better. I'm not excited about it, but at least it doesn't make me sad as the first one did.

Which was the first one again?

I feel like I'm actually starting to lose track of all the buildings in development right now. We need a new emerging projects poster.

New rendering of central library on the lake flato site. :tup:

http://www.lakeflato.com/projects/au...the-boards.asp

People can argue about whether it was a wise use of money, but the new public library looks amazing.

A nice looking waste of money is better than an ugly waste of money.

I love it, looks modern and unique.

It's very similar to city hall, which is a plus.

x2

This West Campus Apartment building is listing as under construction on the first page. But there seemed to be some confusion as to whether or not it started construction at one point. Does anyone have an update?

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/307/image9lr.jpg

This is what is now Callaway House. Move-ins are this weekend.

Yeah, that was found before Callaway House had been proposed. The two are both at West 22nd & San Antonio.

8/20
 

From Zilker Clubhouse

Gables Park Tower

http://i.imgur.com/oCvAk8T.jpg

The Bowie and IBC Bank Plaza crane (left)

http://i.imgur.com/t9PfwGf.jpg

7th & Rio Grande

http://i.imgur.com/9zjkXAL.jpg

Austin Skyhouse and The Catherine crane (right).

http://i.imgur.com/7TpEJh1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/V4zmCCh.jpg

More info from The Austin Business Journal:

Old building downtown to get new, bigger life
August 23, 2013

Plans call for a new basement with parking, office and storage space, restaurant on ground floor, 6,000 sf events center on a mezzanine overlooking the restaurant, three-suite apartment/green room available for daily rental on the next level and a patio with retractable roof on the top.

How do you put in a parking basement under an existing building?