^^ I was talking to someone else about this recently. The density is certainly increasing in a lot of areas. If you were to draw a box from Mopac to 183, and the Domain area down to Ben White, it has an increasingly more urban feel, even in some of the lower density areas and many of the neighborhoods.

I need to get back down to the city and check it out as well as maybe take some pictures.

Extension of downtown Austin skyline to continue south of Lady Bird Lake

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

I like that.

[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7249fd99_b.jpgEastAustin-1 by Jason Luebbe, on Flickr[/IMG]

Loving this pic!

Cross posting these gems. :)

New high-rise height limit for Austin.
https://communityimpact.com/austin/s...wntown-austin/

Well that sucks, I wonder if this will be temporary and whoever is trying to top Waterline can still get permission to build a ~1200 footer.

I also wonder if other higher proposals with secured zoning will be unaffected.

It's not an actual height limit. It's the point at which the density bonus program kicks in for developers to build taller. The density bonus program used to be based on FAR.
This is in response to a new State law that allows developers to build residential projects in areas zoned commercial without residential zoning approval from cities. The State law is part of an effort to increase residential supply. Plus, the 350' trigger height is temporary while the density bonus program is being updated.

The interim changes are meaningless as well. No developer is going to propose anything given the short time frame they’ll be in use—they’ll stall and propose their projects once the updated final rules are in place.

I.E. pay these rules no mind and wait for the forthcoming updated revisions.

I hope they move the needle down to 250’ or even 200’ — keeping the threshold as low as possible will give the city more leverage and bolster our ability to incentivize affordable housing components even more.

The old convention center is no more. Austin won't have a convention center until the new bigger and better one opens in 2029.

This picture got me thinking, will the new convention center intergrate so much better with the rail line?

Hey, that would make a great surface parking lot! Super convenient to the rest of downtown.

It would also make a great park and ride lot for those catching the Red Line train downtown on their way to spending the day in Leander.

:d

I guess I'm showing my age, but the "old" convention center doesn't seem old to me. I have a lot of memories of giving talks at conventions there.

In this context, "old" is more like "previous" rather than an ancient structure.

[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...67c1757d_b.jpgWestCampus-3 by Jason Luebbe, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6e62e0f0_b.jpgWestCampus-7 by Jason Luebbe, on Flickr[/IMG]

I'm missing Austin so much. I lived there for almost 50 years before moving to be closer to family. It's where I raised my cat families over the years, mostly in the same house. Still hoping some circumstances will change such that I can move back, even if at one of those independent living places where you can move to assisted living someday in the future.

So far, my best friends have been visiting me here when they can. Due to some health issues, I can't drive to Austin myself but might get the all clear after some tests in January.