Although, this image doesn't show what kind of streetscape or redevelopment might take place in the current Statesman lot.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/Image5-2.jpg

After demolition of the building, hopefully they would apply a street grid to the lot and build a bridge crossing Lady Bird Lake to Brazos. They can't connect it to San Jacinto because the Four Seasons Hotel is blocking it.

Yeah, they'd have to either build the bridge at Brazos or Trinity. I don't know why I said San Jacinto. Brazos would be the more convenient route for pedestrians who otherwise would have walked across the Congress bridge. But having it at Trinity might be less unslightly since it would be farther from the Congress bridge. A pedestrian bridge near there could also have the use of allowing hotel guests from the Marriott and Fairmont hotels, and other convention center guests, venture across the river to explore a little.

If you look at the PDF link, it shows what they might do at the Statesman site. One idea they had was to have a sort of terraced hill for outdoor events where people could sit maybe for festivals/music. That would be nearest to the water. Closer to the street there would likely be retail with other uses above. I have to wonder, though, would live music at that location disturb the bats? We really should consider preserving their roost. They do bring about a million visitors a year to Austin, and that's good for the economy. With that many people there already, the City should take advantage of that and do something there that brings those tourists to whatever development happens here and let them spend money. Besides, having another outdoor seating festival type area seems redundant since we already have Auditorium Shores.

How about a bridge into Bierce St to connect soco and Rainey? That would seem to be a perfect match.

that is an awesome, awesome idea! hope it comes to fruition!

Since the bridge would carry buses and lightrail it would need a fairly wide street. The streets in that area around Rainey Street are way too narrow for that. Rainey Street doesn't even have sidewalks, and there's only parallel street parking. Adding buses and lightrail to the mix would only make it worse.

And check it out, my 30,000th post!

I like the concept (besides rigid height maximums) as well as the focus on walk scores. However, I question the need to put a median into the roads. Wider roads always hinder walkability; Michigan Ave is somewhat of a red herring and IMO it's width actually reduces walkability.

At least the parking minimums seem sane though I still wish they were lower...(this, more than anything, would drive walkability by driving actual walkers who would then create demand for sidewalk retail and food).

^agreed, now tie it in to the east riversdie via things such as rail and make sure it has great connectivity to the river (which this original conceptual plan has) and we are talking about a huge bump to our central core.

If there's going to be another bridge it's likely going to be on Trinity Street, and most likely as part of urban rail. This would make the most sense in terms of coordinating South Shore development and mobility.

http://downtownaustinblog.org/wordpr...ity-street.jpg

Wish we'd land a MLB team and raze the Statesman or Hyatt sites for a purty little stadium.

Wouldn't fit there. There are also much better spots for a major league stadium. Out on 7th near 183 where we can raze a bunch of that industrial land is a good place.

Half the stadiums in MLB are built on a handful of downtown blocks. The Statesmen site would be excessive if anything.

I always thought the South Shore would be a great place for a baseball stadium. Auditorium Shores used to have a baseball stadium actually.

Another good spot would be to piece together a few blocks around 9th and Trinity. You would have good proximity to the 6th Street/Entertainment District and the all the parking around the Capitol.

Admittedly, I was thinking more football stadium than baseball.

Yeah, that's a decent spot. You could have good flow from 183 and even 130. I wouldn't want to imagine what the traffic would be like if there was a sports stadium at the Statesman site.

Yeah, the Austin Senators I believe. It wasn't exactly at Auditorium Shores. It occupied the land where Butler Park is now, formerly where the City Coliseum was.

Wonder what Jeff Jack would have to say about a MLB stadium in 78704. Personally I am happy not having any pro-sports in Austin, but just to see him flip out would be worth it.

really.... really.... staduim chatter again?
No thank you. or rather.... Oh Hell no!
Just what we need is a big lump in the middle of downtown. That shit is built to save empty downtowns.
THe last time this came up the best suggestion was to build all that crap in San Marcos and draw from two metro areas....

UT is enough really.
Please go to more UT games.

If there was a stadium for a professional sports team in Austin, I'd say build it by the race track. It's a moot topic anyways. There won't be a pro sports team in Austin for a very long time. All major sports leagues in the US (except soccer) need some contraction. Especially baseball and hockey.

Funny you should mention that because there are rumors floating around about what might be built in the future by the track and a soccer stadium is one.

http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...ject-at/nSg9j/

Do y'all think the city purchasing the Joe's Crab Shack site could have anything to do with this? That area isn't included in the drawing of the proposed redesigned streets, but it's only a block or so east of there.

The city ended up not purchasing the site.

City of Austin deal to buy Joe's Crab Shack site is dead
By Shonda Novak
Austin - American Statesman
August 24, 2012

Joe's Crab Shack site back on market
By Shonda Novak
Austin American-Statesman
September 14, 2012

Re: Broadstone on the Lake (The apartment complex on the old RunTex site)

I inadvertently posted about this on the Austin update thread, but probably better to post in this one.

I found the site plans on the city's website here