AUSTIN | Hotel ZaZa & Apartments | 305 FEET | 24 FLOORS | T.O.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...wnbouti/nSpgr/

Posted: 4:40 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, 2012
Hotel ZaZa, luxury apartments planned downtown
Boutique hotel brand set to check in to Austin

By Shonda Novak
American-Statesman Staff

Plans are in the works for a 24-story tower in downtown Austin that would have 215 luxury apartments atop a 160-room Hotel ZaZa, which would mark the upscale boutique hotel’s Central Texas debut.

Executives with Gables Residential and Hotel ZaZa told the American-Statesman that their project would be built on West Fourth Street between Guadalupe and Lavaca streets. Pending a requested zoning change, they hope to start construction in mid- to late-2013, with the project expected to debut in early to mid-2015. Developers did not release information on an estimated pricetag for the project or financing details.

The half-block site, which is just under an acre, is now used for parking. It once housed the Ginger Man pub, which has since relocated, and the Fox & Hound tavern.

Chas Schreiber & Ziegler Cooper

[KevinFromTexas]

Previously Gables had planned a 17-story apartment tower for that lot, but it didn't materialize. I think this is sort of a reincarnation of that project. The original project looked to be around 250 feet from the renderings and model. This building will probably be close to 300 feet.

[KevinFromTexas]

They could go higher. That block is not affected by a CVC.

http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...lanned-/nWM24/

Posted: 5:51 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013
Downtown residents, developer at odds over planned tower

By Gary Dinges

Residents of a downtown Austin high-rise say a 24-story tower slated to be built immediately adjacent to their homes is too close for comfort.

Plans call for the tower to be 16 feet from balconies on the south side of the Plaza Lofts, at 311 W. Fifth St., homeowners say.

Taylor and her neighbors are asking for 25 additional feet of space between the tower and the Plaza Lofts building. That, she says, will give residents some room to breathe and allow more light to enter their homes.

“We don’t care if they make the building 100 stories tall,” she said. “All we’re asking for is 25 extra feet.”

[StoOgE]

That is very good news for something to finally happen on this site. Maybe this development will increase property value and spur the state to sell the monstrosity just to the South and locate elsewhere. Wouldn't mind something covering the blank wall to it's North either.

I was a fan of the Gingerman, but that is a fight lost long ago, so I'd rather something than a few food trucks take up such prime real estate in downtown.

Is it known if this is full block building, or just half a block?

[Crawford]

Hotel ZaZa sounds like the worst name ever for a hotel. At least the design tops the name!

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Is it known if this is full block building, or just half a block?

It will occupy the southern half of the block. Only the alley will separate it from The Plaza.

Even at this height without making the tower skinnier, the building should be about 300 feet tall.

Originally Posted by Crawford

Hotel ZaZa sounds like the worst name ever for a hotel. At least the design tops the name!

Yeah, it does sound silly. It's a Dallas hotel chain.

[KevinFromTexas]

City council approved it. This says the developers are planning a ground breaking late this year with a 2015 opening.

http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...-to-apa/nWPwD/

Posted: 8:19 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013
After deal struck, council gives initial nod to apartment-hotel project
Developers, neighbors reach 11th-hour agreement

By Gary Dinges and Shonda Novak

Heading into Thursday’s Austin City Council meeting, it appeared developers of a planned 24-story downtown tower that includes a luxury hotel would be squaring off with residents of a nearby condo tower who opposed some aspects of the project.

The council’s 7-0 vote came after Richard Suttle Jr., attorney for developer Gables Residential, and John Joseph, attorney for the residents, reached an 11th-hour agreement on several items outside the Council chambers.

“Now we’re back to talking as neighbors,” said Joe Cain, a resident of the Plaza Lofts condo building next to the project, which Gables plans to break ground on late this year on West Fourth Street between Lavaca and Guadalupe streets. Gables anticipates a late 2015 opening for the project.

[LoneStarMike]

I know the rendering on the right we've seen, but I'm not sure about the one on the left. (It's not in this thread, but it may be in one of the others.) It's the side that faces east, I think.



This came from a document from one of the Planning Commission meetings back in January.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=181870

The document also has some floor plans. The pool and a restaurant would be on the 7th floor.

[KevinFromTexas]

No, I haven't seen that. That diagram above the rendering lists the height as 295 feet 1 inch. I had estimated the height was around 300 feet, so that seems about right. Also that diagram is showing a pool deck on the roof of the building above the 23rd floor. I guess it'll have two pool decks, one for the hotel and one for the residential.

[KevinFromTexas]

New plans have been filed with the city that show the building elevations. Bottom of this link:

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...ullPlanSet.pdf

The building elevations also do a good job of showing what the building will look like. They're planning to have 4 flagpoles on the mechanical roof facing Lavaca Street that will become the highest flying flags in Austin.

The first height we saw came from a conceptual plan that only showed the number of floors and not the design. That height was 295 feet to the mechanical roof.

This one is much more detailed and most recent.

The heights are:

329 feet 11 inches to the top of the 4 flagpoles.
305 feet 2 inches to the mechanical roof. (the official architectural height).
284 feet 11 inches to the main roof.
269 feet 7 inches to 24th floor (top floor).
269 feet 7 inches to 24th floor setback.
88 feet 10 3/8 inches to podium roof/hotel amenity deck.

Since this building will have a hotel and residential, there will be two pools. The hotel pool is on the 7th floor while the residence pool is on the 24th floor setback.

The south elevations also show that they are planning to incorporate the Gingerman/Ghost Room facade in the design. I think this will turn out to be a nice building. It looks like they're planning to pay attention to detail. If this building was completed today it would be the 25th tallest building in Austin.

[KevinFromTexas]

[LMich]

What is with all of the terrible renderings of this building? It's like they don't want anyone to see what this will realistically look like.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by LMich

What is with all of the terrible renderings of this building? It's like they don't want anyone to see what this will realistically look like.

The overuse of the color red makes it even worse. Those neighboring buildings are not red.

[Urbannizer]

Here's the previous, 17-Story version:


http://issuu.com/sdeita/docs/urban_c...625349/2118785

[wwmiv]

I'm fine with it because of the street level interaction. It isn't the most amazing design, but it doesn't suck either.

[LMich]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Here's the previous, 17-Story version:]

THANK YOU. Finally, something with some true-to-life coloring and not blurred. I've been feeling like I was looking through very badly smuged glasses until now.

[KevinFromTexas]

That's nice. It doesn't show the four flagpoles, though. In the image on the right they would be facing the camera.

[NYC2ATX]

OMGOMGOMG ABsolutely SO sexy. I'm obsessed.

[chris08876]

Texas is getting some high quality residentials. Happy for them .

[Busy Bee]

Sexy? Are you seeing a different rendering than I am?