AUSTIN | 333 Guadalupe (Hobby Building Site) | FT | FLOORS | Proposed
 

Sale plan could make ‘terrible’ Hobby state office building a hot property

"The 35-year-old William P. Hobby state office building in downtown Austin needs a whopping $50 million in repairs to shore up decrepit plumbing, overhaul electrical systems and patch or replace various other dilapidated components — and that might not even address what some workers there contend is a serious rat infestation.

But it soon could be among the most-sought-after commercial real estate properties in the city....is in terrible shape but the city block it sits on is extremely valuable...The 1.75-acre full city block, which the state owns in addition to the building, is outside Capitol view corridors that restrict the heights of some downtown developments, making it potentially a prime location for an office skyscraper, high-rise apartment complex or towering mixed-use project if the building eventually is torn down."

https://www.statesman.com/news/20190...g-hot-property


Ok...this could get interesting maybe the location of our first 1,000 foot tower!

Why is it most government buildings from that era are designed so poorly, with faulty utilities and cold architecture? It is just the 'low bidder' thing?

Actually, this building was originally developed as a commercial office building before the state purchased it after the real estate bust of the late 80s. The original name was Republic Plaza.

Plenty of buildings built in that era have held up well - One American Center and the brown buildings of the 80s boom. I suspect it's the State's lack of upkeep due to tight budgets. I'm all for tight budgets and saving tax payer money, but this is what happens.

The Bank of America Center from the 70s has held up very well. I think this is just a funding issue.

In this case, aren't we glad it did? Gives them a reason to unload this monstrosity. :cheers:

That's not a government building. Hines, or whoever owns & operates it has a vested interest in keeping things up to date and fresh. Gotta woo and keep tenants.

1000%

As I got more familiar with downtown a while back, I remember looking at that thing thinking... oh crap, a not-quite-old-enough State building sitting on a prime block in the middle of downtown with hideous 1980's post-Brutalist architecture, that won't be going anywhere anytime soon...

...and then I saw this post!

Their latest move to fill in the fountain with concrete was a good thought. It looks cheap and hideous though. The building is 80's 'stay way from downtown after 5'ish.

https://austin.towers.net/[email protected]

The black & red glass tower part isn't all that bad to look at.

But that other part looks like the illegitimate 1980's love child of Brutalist & Adobe architects.

I think the worst part of the Hobby building is the complete lack of pedestrian engagement on all four sides of the building. I'm looking forward to a much better use of that block.

I kinda like the way the Hobby Building in all its 80s glory contrasts with all the blue glass of its neighbors and the faux historic look of Zaza and the Plaza Lofts. I would be sad if it ends up getting replaced with another generic blue glass box.

https://i.imgur.com/ehoaYoF.jpg

I see skater engagement there pretty regularly. Does that count?

I had the chance to speak with employees from the Texas Dept. of Insurance about this building. I don't know if its common knowledge or anything, but they told me they're slated to move out of Hobby into the new buildings being constructed over at the capitol complex.

I suspect that gives a rough idea as to when this block would hit the market (2021-2023?), and it would conveniently line up with the 87th Texas Legislative Session if the legislature needs to sign off on something.

I think this is pretty public information. The redevelopment of the Capital Complex is designed to bring more density to that part of downtown (12th to 15th st area) where land is less valuable and then sell or lease out the States more valuable holdings.

I think it'll be a boon for downtown proper, and hopefully we can get some pedestrian engagement in the new Capital complex, but I'm not holding my breath there. It'll probably keep the "run away at 5" vibe.

Fencing going up around Hobby this morning. I guess that means it's completely empty now?

I bet they are doing abatement before putting it on the market.

The state really timed this one to maximize sales price.

Those look like serious fences.

Would we have seen a demo permit come through? I feel like there'd be a hue and cry from the preservationist crowd, as crappy as the building is.

Towers:

https://austin.towers.net/pay-your-f...obby-building/

No new info, but some worthwhile history.

Ha! I remember when we were working on Block 21 (W Hotel), former Mayor Will Wynn said "I don't really care what the development looks like, as long as it is big enough to block the view of that horrible Hobby Building from the S 1st Bridge".

building has no history of public interaction. it's not formerly a burger joint/cafe/records store

aesthetic has no reference to local culture whatsoever

only 41 years old

also it's smack dab center of downtown

don't see anyone carrying the torch for this one. i kinda like the building though. but demo it

If it weren't for the horrid street interaction, it's interesting (albeit ugly). I walked by it on Saturday for the first time in a while and saw the fences on the opposite side. Definitely ready to see it go.

Sorry...just found this thread.


Looks like CBRE is hawking the potential of a 96-story (phase 1) tower plus a 79-story (phase 2) tower on the Hobby Building site...

https://austin.towers.net/[email protected]

I just saw that article.

Wow!

Nevertheless, if there is truly going to be a substantial "affordable housing" component in this redevelopment (especially without subsidies or incentives), I have a difficult time seeing this amount of height AND something aesthetically pleasing to most. I really, really hope I am wrong, however.

^^ If it's two towers, potentially, I could see one focused on affordable housing and another on more profitable aims. That said, a lot of dual tower options don't make it past the first.

That’s a lot of pie in the sky. :haha:

And a whole lot of parking -- those drawings are showing the two towers essentially atop an Austin-largest 16 floor parking garage spanning an entire city block. Put another way, a parking cube 4 floors taller than 6xGuad's....

Ground lease inked for Hobby Building redevelopment

Texas General Land Office says the transformation of an entire downtown block is moving forward

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...und-lease.html

Though no visible work has happened over the last two years, the state of Texas confirmed it has picked a developer to redevelop this downtown Austin property near Third and Guadalupe streets. At the end of this report, check out a list of commercial developers in the metro.

The ABJ filed a a Public Records Request for more info. Let's see if that provides some details.

I heard it was either gonna be a Buc-ee's or Dollar General.

This could be tall

https://images1.showcase.com/d2/03d8...E/document.pdf

https://i.imgur.com/v6k6iMul.jpeg

Very interesting update! I actually noticed some activity yesterday at the corner of 4th & Guadalupe in front of the Hobby building, but I assumed it was related to the crews working on new traffic signals and street lights for The Republic. I asked ChatGPT and eventually convinced it that the truck could possibly be drill rig taking soil samples? Who knows. Full res photo here.

The tallest section of the massing in the prospectus is 96 stories tall!

No need to convince ChatGPT— the truck is indeed taking soil samples for development.

This would be such a great opportunity to build a museum for Texas Music History and a Hall of Fame and incorporate it into the development. This is the perfect location right behind the ACL Moody Theatre. It would be such a missed opportunity if the city doesn't take advantage of it.

Nope, I think this block needs something tall. We have a potential for a museum district to form around the Congress and MLK intersection if we can get another museum or two to join the Blanton, Bullock, and Ransom Center.

This museum could be incorporated into the block, so you can still go as tall as you want. Having it right behind the ACL theatre would make so much more since in that it would be such an attraction and part of the heart of downtown and close to where more foot traffic and music is. Although it doesn't matter in the end because I'm sure it won't happen, and it will be a lost opportunity.

Hines is the developer :)

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...es-austin.html

Here's the entire article (not behind a paywall.)

Company ID'd for redevelopment of prime Hobby Building site downtown

I would have been happy with either Hines or The Related Cos. Both have extensive experience in developing large commercial projects.

This will be exciting. I'm eager to see what Hines has planned.

I think it works out perfect
Related co has their hands full atm

Do they still own the property just north of The Austonian - where a 90+ story tower was envisioned? Or was that Tishman Speyer?

This is so weird. I drove by Hobby a few days ago and thought "it's about time this becomes the site of a new super-tall"

:yes::yes::yes::yes:

You know I retract my comment about Ryan Co. I can’t recall a single project of theirs I like. Sadly. DHA owns the tract u speak of unless I missed a more recent sale of it? They do smaller but classy towers so this would be a huge step up for them. Hopefully not another Wilson cap mess

I think Ryan Cos. first foray into Austin was Oracle's HQ campus which is decent for a corporate campus. But the god awful ugly bottom half of the ATX Tower with the falling glass from the top half significantly subtracts from any good architectural contributions to Austin they may have.

Where did Ryan Co come into the conversation? Related Co was a bidder - not Ryan.

I see it now. The three parcels surrounding The Austonian are owned by Wildcat Capital Management in a deal where DHA Capital is their development partner. It was reported in 2022 that the site had a potential for a 90+ story mixed-use tower.