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I'm assuming "Office" and "Retail" are just placeholders for the business names.
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They need to open a Target downtown already.
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I'm Still hoping that HEB pulls out what they got with their own Urban HEB. A little Beh beh Heb. :tup:
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Would love to see an HEB and/or City Target downtown.
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I know some of you will remember a Target was originally planned where whole foods is. It was going to be one of their first "Urban" Targets.
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This is from the Real Estate Council of Austin's weekly eblast:
"PLANS FOR A DOWNTOWN OVERLAY MADE PUBLIC On Wednesday, January 15, 2014, City staff presented recommendations for a Downtown Overlay to the City of Austin's Downtown Commission. This followed a summary of implementation progress achieved toward the goals expressed in the Downtown Austin Plan, which was passed by City Council in December 2011. Click here to see the Downtown Overlay recommendations. These changes will also be the subject of the Wednesday, February 12, 2014 City of Austin Policy Issues Committee meeting. If you would like to attend and are not on the committee list, please contact RECA Director of Public Relations Annie Armbrust. " Here's the clicky to the report: http://origin.library.constantcontac...ay+1+15+13.pdf |
I made a trip downtown to go to Toy Joy around 6:30 PM today. It was impossible to find any on street parking, and all of the garages had switched to flat fee evening rates ranging from $10.00 to $15.00. The City Hall garage, which is $5.00 with validation from 2nd St. stores, was already full. The Toy Joy store was mostly empty unlike their old location at Guadalupe and 29th, which was always packed. I expressed dismay to the sales clerk at Toy Joy about the cost and inconvenience of parking. She was well trained in responding and made a valiant effort to put some lipstick on the pig that is the parking situation for local residents who might want to shop on 2nd St. Obviously she hears my lament on a regular basis from other Austin residents. Downtown Austin and 2nd St. will never become a real shopping destination unless there is an effort made to accommodate local residents with convenient and affordable parking options. It seems to me that 2nd St. is really just for tourists and the few local residents living in nearby highrises. Toy Joy was truly an iconic Austin business. Why on earth did they move downtown? The clerk claimed that rent at the 2nd St. location was 1/2 of what they would have paid to remain in the old location. I find that hard to believe unless the 2nd St. landlords were desperate to attract tenants and offered some really cheap lease to Toy Joy.
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Businesses shouldn't have to suffer while people are changing their commute habits. I wish something could be done for the parking situation.
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Downtown is for people, not cars. You should expect to travel by a method other than car when you get downtown. You can't expect to park nearby your destination. This isn't the suburbs.
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We are arguing different points. While we may agree that you should expect to use buses or walk downtown, that's not reality yet for Texans. Businesses like Toy Joy will continue to suffer .
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Many UT students would frequent the old location to buy gifts for friends. Also, it appealed to that "nerd demographic" (supports places like UFO Arcade, Game Republik, and Resurrected Games) that can be found around UT as well as families in Hyde Park. 2nd St. is primarily yuppie.. not many families with children |
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Austin has realized that and has been redeveloping hideous surface parking lots with great new buildings. Also added new bikes, bus lanes downtown for MetroRapid, and widened sidewalks. 2nd St. is such a pleasant place to walk now due to large sidewalks, slowed car traffic, and street life (cafes that spill onto the sidewalk) and retail storefront. |
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Talked to the owners of Toy Joy. They were dying on Guadalupe. Parking issues. Not enough foot traffic. Rent was indeed highter than that have on 2nd. Those are their statements not mine.
I am thrilled they took the chance on bringing the local brand to 2nd. A very brave choice that is great for downtown. I hope the succeed and can wait out the development to the west as that will draw more foot traffic. |
HEB has put up a "coming soon" sign at the lot bounded by South Congress, Slaughter, and I-35 South.
What a traffic boondoggle that will be... |
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