Austin | The Republic | 710 Feet | 47 Floors | U/C
http://www.590klbj.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=1327514
Quote:
|
|
I can't imagine the County would build a significantly tall building for these purposes? Now this is an entire city block, so perhaps the county complex will take up only a portion, and reserve the remainder for future development...perhaps leasing it out to a developer?
|
So, I guess we will never get anymore class a space downtown?
|
"The courthouse will be close to 500,000 square feet and will house civil and family court functions, county officials said."
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...ntown_lot.html For comparison purposes, the new federal courthouse will be 211,590 square feet. |
Quote:
Urban rail in its own lane would help, a little at first and a lot later on. Buses won't (unless you can convince people to ride them, which you can't). Commuter rail won't (because buses are involved). Car sharing won't. Bikes won't (much). |
A 500,000 square foot building would pretty much mean it would have to be tall. Probably 300 feet or more. 300 West Sixth which is nearby, and sits on a block the same size, is 445,000 square feet and is 325 feet tall.
By the way, the tallest county courthouse in the US is in Columbus, Ohio. It's 464 feet tall. I doubt the building would share the block with any other use. Every government building now is so intensely secure that I doubt they'd allow any other use so close to it. |
Also, if the building took up the entire block and put the parking below grade, it would probably be around 10 floors tall. The Omni Hotel downtown is 990,000 square feet in 16 floors. It takes up the whole block. The block size of both buildings is about the same. I would imagine this building will be at least 15 to 20 floors tall. Courthouse buildings tend to have high ceilings and lots of space between floors. I've read the standard height is 20 feet from slab to slab. The building could end up being 400 feet tall.
|
I am very wary of this building. I really hope we do not get stuck with a "big generic turd" in the middle of this area. Please tell me the city will require the county to comply with Great streets or Street retail/restaurant space.
Anyone have info on AMOA's plans? |
I also hope it doesn't lead to an influx in bums hanging around it, particularly in Republic Square Park in the way they do at Woolridge Square Park. If that happened, we could kiss goodbye the idea of a lively neighborhood there, and it would probably have negative affects on 2nd Street as well.
|
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/..._comments_list
Quote:
|
I don't think putting this space along Airport would do it either. A 500,000 square foot building would have at least double the footprint of a Wal-mart Supercenter. If Central Austin neighborhoods already complained over the Wal-mart at Northcross, I really doubt they'd be cool with a building twice that size, plus a multi-level parking garage. There would most certainly have to be a parking garage just to save space on land. And I doubt any of those neighborhoods would be in favor of a skyscraper as big as the Frost Bank Tower along Airport or Lamar.
My only two concerns/gripes with this is, I'm concerned about the livelihood of the neighborhood around Republic Square Park with the possibility of bums hanging out in the park. And it turning the area into a dead zone over a lack of street level retail. If this monster occupies the entire block, it'll have at least 1,000 linear feet of sidewalk facing space. Roughly 1/5 of a mile. The other downside is taking a prime block off the property tax rolls. |
I share the same concerns as most as to the design of the building because Bexar County has a track record for going for generic. Also, there will be taxpayer pressures to keep the cost (quality) of this thing low.
I also worry about this hulking city block staying virtually dead at night and not adding anything to that area's nightlife. But I do see a lot of positives. First of all, it's a CIVIL courthouse so only lawsuits and divorces, no criminals. The fears that some have that this will "ghettoize" the block are not valid. Second, I work at the courthouse(s) in downtown San Antonio. That area around Main Plaza/San Fernando Cathedral is bustling during the day. There's the potential for this new Austin courthouse to feed the (sometimes) struggling new restaurants along 2nd Street and the Warehouse District with plenty of new daytime business they don't currently have. Third, a true downtown should have a good mix of uses throughout. You can't just have a bunch of condos next to more condos next to more condos. There has to be something for those people in the condos to "do". I'm sure that plenty of civil attorneys would consider buying condos at the W just so they could stumble across the street in the mornings to court and stumble home after drinking at bars downtown without having to drive their cars or even hail cabs. All in all, I see this project as a plus. Just make it tall and make it pretty. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
1) They are willing to shell out an obnoxiously large amount for prime location and are the willing to continue their spending spree to make the building blend architecturally. 2) After breaking the bank by purchasing the block at more than its value, the county makes the building as cheap as possible. This will not be starchitecture, but it does have the potential to not be horrible. |
Quote:
I wish that the building's design could draw from historical Austin architecture. Maybe take a cue from the Capitol or something. I'm not suggesting copying it, I wouldn't like that, but maybe make a few design hints towards the Capitol. By the way, this is the Harris County Civil Justice Center in Houston. It has 679,994 gross square feet. It is 378 feet tall with 18 floors. It occupies a full block. http://www.emporis.com/application/?...houston-tx-usa And this is Houston's criminal justice center. It's the largest county courthouse in the United States with 787,993 square feet. It is 325 feet tall with 21 floors. It also occupies a full block, caddy corner to the civil justice center. http://www.emporis.com/application/?...houston-tx-usa |
Kevin,
I may be wrong but I believe the bums are in wooldridge park because the jail is located nearby... not necessarily the courthouse. HOPEFULLY that is the case. Most county buildings look communist block architecturally... dissapointing. Looks like this thing is gonna be 8 stories. Probably between 160 and 200 feet tall. http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...ntown-lot.html |
All times are GMT. The time now is 6:10 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.