I just hope developers build character with their projects. It's more than just popping up a skyscraper with some yuppie couple in an ad doing yoga with "LIVE! WORK! PLAY!" streaming across the banner. We need permanence in each project and in these developing neighborhoods...something that encourages people to want to stay downtown instead of having some faux urban life before they buy a McMansion somewhere.

We really need more shopping in downtown Austin. Affordable but trendy clothing stores like H&M and Forever 21 are great destination retailers and would bring a lot more people downtown. A City Target store would be great as well. These types of stores would draw large amounts of people walking around downtown on the weekend and strolling around for some shopping. It really promotes street-life and the "window-shopping" atmosphere. It would give suburbanites/people who don't live downtown a reason to go there during the daytime hours.

San Antonio... a city that has much less people living in its downtown has the Rivercenter Mall with all the typical suburban shopping mall type stores. People go downtown to shop there.

Instead of an enclosed mall though I'd like to see retailers locate at street-level. That or some open air shopping arcades/pedestrian streets. Downtown still really feels like a restaurant/bar dominated place. The shopping that is available is mostly specialty stores and boutiques that the majority of the population don't do the bulk of their shopping at. Whole Foods is great but I'm really looking forward to the more affordable Trader Joe's coming to the Seaholm. I'm a big supporter of all of the local shopping options available downtown right now but I personally think that the introduction of national retailers would only be a boon for everyone. It would draw more a more diverse group of people downtown.

It would be amazing to see the pedestrian traffic SOCO gets on the weekends in the downtown area

http://rotterdamholland.ca/images/shoppingrotterdam.jpg

http://www.socketsite.com/San%20Fran...y%20Target.jpg

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/119/30...6b36dc6e_o.jpg

We always mention a downtown market that would be open 7 days a week. That would liven up the place. It's just a matter of figuring out where to put it. Browsing Google Maps, and remembering a question I had about how to utilize these 2 lots, made me think a market on 4th Street between Congress and Colorado could work. It's the large surface parking lot next to Frank.

They could dig down and give just 1 or 2 levels of parking/docks, then have a combination of indoor and outdoor areas, with the indoors going up a couple of floors.

I think it'd be cooler in the SW part of downtown with all the residents closeby, but what lot would be used? Convert Sand Beach Park by Gables?

I'm on the fence with that one. I would never in a million years want Austin to strive to be like downtown San Antonio and their semi-urban touristy giant corporation stores/restaurants. It is the 3rd ring of hell (I can say that as a native san antonian). At the same time I agree that we need more practical and well known retailers. A large well known anchor tenant somewhere would be great.
Honestly, I can't shop on 2nd street or congress for almost anything... and those are supposed to be the main retail destinations. They're not. Over the years we've seen shops come and go almost over night on 2nd because they are NOT realistic stores for people who live downtown. I think downtown ATX needs to take note from Portland, OR http://downtownportland.org/

Per AusTxDeleopment's post below, there's already plans for a building on that 4th and Colorado lot:


I disagree about putting the market in the SW part of downtown, or even the western part of downtown. I think a public market is a place that needs to unite the two halves of downtown. It needs to be a central part of Austin downtown life. So, in other words, somewhere near the current heart of downtown; Congress Ave. The lot you suggested is good, but it's taken. I still like the lot just north of the Austonian, across from Colorado Tower.

I think it will be a great idea if we can put a public market where the future Federal court house will be, between Republic Park and the Amli. Also who owns that hideous parking garage by the 360? It needs a good makeover or build sometime else in it's place.

I believe there are already plans for a pedestrian underpass at the railroad, adjacent to the two Gables?

Or the goddamn Contemporary Austin needs to reclaim that block. Since we're on the subject of how we can make downtown better, let's talk about our museums (or lack of). We seriously NEED a large museum downtown. I recently went to the Contemporary on Congress and asked them if there were any plans to open a new larger facility and they reacted as if the Congress space was just enough for Austin. It makes me cringe when I think about how we have almost nothing besides the Blanton. Laguna Gloria is just an events space with almost zero art. BARF.

^^Sorry about the rant

That could work for a small market. But I was thinking about something big and able to be used year-round (indoor/outdoor).

Of course, they'll probably just stick it east of 35.

Yep. I think construction is supposed to start this year.

I'm baffled by the lack of museums in and around downtown as well. I could care less if the Planetarium tower isn't built but the museum itself should have.

What about the convention center garage ground floor?

Yeah. It's very embarrassing for Austin. I am always praying and hoping some billionaire opens some private Hammeresque museums here.

Actually, last I heard, there was a conflict with the railroad and they didn't know how to sort it out. They have to either stop the railroad for a short period of time or reroute it, somehow.

The lot south of Colorado Tower wouldn't be a small public market. It would just be long and narrow (and hopefully crowded), which is the way a public market should be. For example, Seattle's:

http://i.imgur.com/5LNmuDd.jpg

Ah. Thought you meant the small lot beside the Colorado tower.

I hear you. I mostly meant being an active part mostly during the day. The skyline in that part looks very vibrant but when you walk through there, zilch is going on. Maybe a few local coffee shops, or bookstores would make it very nice and quiet with a few things to get lost into. But I think once the Seaholm is built and all that is planned might bring in some of that. I agree with mostly everyone about bringing in more retail where people can shop and not just go around and get drunk. That's kinda annoying and enough of it to go around in and outside of downtown. But I'm really not worried about that part of downtown necessarily... I mostly feel that there could be more activity throughout the day in downtown.

Maybe I'm a bit spoiled after being in San Francisco, having active both day and night neighborhoods. That part of downtown can remind me a bit of the same crowd you'd find in Hayes Valley in SF, with a mix of hip and shiekh retail stores and restaurants. Something to that effect is ideal to me. It's still a laid back atmosphere but very active.

It is going through the city's development process:

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11056288

The address is 718 West 5th Street on the lot that is east of the Austin City Lofts. The project is being called 5th & West.

I'm really glad they are finally filling in those lots on Colorado between 4th and 5th. Now all that's left is to get a highrise built on that parking lot on the northwest corner of Congress and 4th.:yes:

Are you talking about TWELVE Domain? The only height I ever heard for it was 320 feet, and we've assumed for a while now that it was dead.

We had two threads watching it, but like I said, this project was from 2007, and we haven't heard a thing about it in at least 5 years.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=131432

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=131080

Okay Ahealy, I know your not supposed to say anything about the ECC project but it's really getting to me not knowing anything. Can you at least hint one of two things?
Could you either hint if we should be excited about its height or is it pretty much compatible to what we have seen?

If not that could you hint of a possible time frame that we can expect an official announcement? :shuffle:

Thanks:worship:

The project location is on Lavaca Street between downtown and UT. Right across from the William P. Clements state office building. I seen a rendering of it, but wasn't exactly sure which architect design it. I can say it has the same colors as the WPC state building but is rectangle looking

Would be interested in hearing more about this. Is this on state land? I thought all projects on state property were squashed a year or so ago?

Sweet sassy mollassy!
 

Soooooooo awesome

New Austin- centric Starbucks at The W.

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/l...TINGtable2.JPG

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/l...ERIORvert2.JPG

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/l...rner3rdLAV.JPG

http://www.statesman.com/gallery/bus...-021214/gCHbj/

I'm not sure who owns the land. I'll see if I can find more information about the project.

That's a damn nice Starbucks. Cannot wait to see it in person!

I don't go to bars and I don't go shopping for clothes. I will reluctantly shop for clothes once or twice a year. Museums would bring me downtown, but not on a consistent basis. I'd check them out once, and maybe when they have an interesting exhibit, but it's not like it will bring me back day after day.

I do like some of the food options, and I'd have to say that's the main attraction to downtown for me. But even then, many of the places are out of my price range. Other than that, I just like walking around and seeing the old buildings and the new highrises side by side. I love the Capitol and its history. I like the city's reflection off the river.

I guess I'm more of a ambiance kind of guy than an activity guy.


I think there are tons of people like me (minus caring about highrises) not only around this city, but all over Texas. Figure out how to attract us to downtown, and there would be a lot more activity down there.

THINK:
boxy

60 stories? 821 feet?

One or two towers?

I'm thinking they could get that high if they only did 1 tower. That would be amazing.

OMG! I've always wanted Austin to have one of that kind of design!

:)

When you say think of 56 Leonard, do you mean its height or its style?

:)

Dang, and here I got excited for an 800-footer. ;)

Outstanding design. I'd be ecstatic if a building like 56 Leonard would come to fruition in Austin. However, it would need to have ample height. And, as mush as I would like to believe different in 2014...I have a difficult time seeing any local (or domestic) developer having the foresight (and money) to construct such a "Global" tower in Austin. Maybe in the latter part of the coming decades; but, not now. :( Even the University of Texas didn't have enough back in the design phase of the Blanton. Herzog was a finalist and proposed an exceptional, world-class design for the Blanton.

Do you know who is designing the ECC campus? I'd be very excited if it were Herzog & De Meuron!!!

Man, wouldn't it be great if someone finally went "tall" in Austin (i.e., 800' to 1000')?!?

Constructive Ventures is developing this site, correct? If so, I wouldn't be surprised if they used Rafii Architects again (CVI developed Spring). And, if this is the case, it would be a completely new design concept for them. None of their current (or "in-development") projects are similar to 56 Leonard.

"...iconic..."

"...56 Leonard..."

Ugh, I don't like where this is headed.

People swing and miss more than hit when they try to design "iconic" buildings and then cities end up with very prominent white elephants. I'm also not a fan of 56 Leonard. I like cities to have visual harmony, not a bunch of individual "look at me!" buildings that don't look good together.

Most of our buildings are nice and stately. I want one or two interesting buildings to bring in some contrast.

We really need a couple of towers to break the 700 to 900 foot range. As has been mentioned in the Austin section, our skyline is getting pretty flat. Developers really need to start getting some nice 700 to 800 foot towers in development like now!!!:superwhip

Hey guys, in Austin for a few days and decided to walk around and take some pics. :)

2/15

JW Marriott

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3769/...423814b1_b.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/...eb00b6ed_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/...c7e4361d_b.jpg

Colorado Tower

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2885/...274c0216_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5478/...939a1456_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/...5f8c1e50_b.jpg

IBC Bank Plaza

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/...4046c918_b.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/...d637bdbc_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/...ea257077_b.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/...2c97f510_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/...5640d358_b.jpg

7th and Rio

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/...d0869e69_b.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/...c550068a_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/...963ae881_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/...01f815ab_b.jpg

The Catherine

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/...0b3f541d_b.jpg

GreenWater Block 1 Residential

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/...f99dfd3d_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/...be2b6da7_b.jpg

18th & Guadalupe

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/...d6ba0f1e_b.jpg

Any word on fairmont? I noticed a fence around the site but wasn't sure how long that'd been there

Haven't seen this posted. Does anyone know about this?

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...ps243fc64c.jpg

Edit: or this

Aspen Lake

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7c535190.jpg

Looks like maybe they are planning something big...

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...ps81098019.jpg

The only one we haven't seen is the second image (Aspen Lake). The first is a proposed office building downtown and the last are conceptual massings for the new court block under a public-private partnership development.

Ok thanks for clearing that up. :)

That 2nd one is from 2007 or so, I believe it has changed plans. Instead of building 3 tall towers, they are going to built another 6 story building close to the other one that was built back during pre recession.

The Fairmont just bought the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco, one of the most famous hotels, anywhere, and the favorite of Tony Bennett's and Peggy Lee's. For anybody who thinks that the Fairmont is having financing problems in Austin should take note and realize that such a silly idea that the Fairmont does not have more than enough ways to finance ANYTHING they want to build is "nothing but a fart in the wind".
It will be breaking ground as soon as they want it to, and as soon as Austin will let them!

HISTORIC SAN FRANCISCO LUXURY HOTEL ON THE CREST OF NOB HILL

As splendid as when it opened in 1926, Mark Hopkins is one of the city’s finest historic San Francisco luxury hotels. It’s ideally located at the crossing of three cable car lines, just minutes from Union Square. Each suite is furnished in a unique, stately style. Breathtaking views of San Francisco combine with fine dining and a signature 100 Martini menu at Top of the Mark restaurant. Described when it opened as ‘architecturally perfect’, this San Francisco luxury hotel remains so today.

love it !
 

Syndic, embrace your inner child who yearns for jaw dropping, perplexing and fascinating iconic structures! I know it is within you, after all, you are a skyscraper page member of the highest order !!

I can't read the rest of the Article so what does it say about seaholm and entertainment? http://www.mystatesman.com/news/busi...atesman_launch

They're probably reporting the same thing as this: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bl...&ed=2014-02-19

Also, not sure if y'all noticed but the glass has begun to go up on the base of the J.W. Marriott.

austin is awesome, as evidenced by all the austinites hating on new comers for love of the good old days!
development means give and take , things are awesome here is austin, lots of need for improvement and some stuff is sad to see go... but there are many instances of cool stuff happening too .... good scene and music are still thriving

I find it interesting how people are afraid of the outsiders ruining the good old days, reminds me of madmen....
I will say we need another Leslie and kinky