Austin | Block 32 (3rd & San Jacinto) | 604 FT, 54 FLRS | 472 FT, 41 FLRS | Proposed

[The ATX]

This is either an unknown project or CC expansion. It would be across the alley from the ATX West tower. I almost started a thread for it. But it seems like it could be for CC expansion just as much as a new tower proposal.

The half block made up of Vince Young's Steak House and another building with a 310 W. 3rd St. address are on the 10/25 HLC agenda for total demolition.


http://austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boa...tings/31_1.htm

From Streetview:

[We vs us]

I asked around my offices and 1) it's definitely not related to the CC and 2) my boss says he's heard its a "tall skinny tower, with, like, 17 levels of parking." The landowners were supporters of the CC expansion, but when it fell through they took on additional investors and now supposedly have a tower in the works.

It's bizarre that they've decided to demo a functioning restaurant first, though . . . prior to doing everything else . . . ?

[Echostatic]

Originally Posted by We vs us

I asked around my offices and 1) it's definitely not related to the CC and 2) my boss says he's heard its a "tall skinny tower, with, like, 17 levels of parking."

Sounds to me like they mixed this site up with the site for Block 16. Or they actually know something about a new, similar form factor tower, but I find the former more likely.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by We vs us

It's bizarre that they've decided to demo a functioning restaurant first, though . . . prior to doing everything else . . . ?

That's what I thought. They are ~1 to 1.5 years away from starting based on typical large scale projects in Austin once a site plan is filed. That's a lot of revenue loss in the meantime.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by Echostatic

Sounds to me like they mixed this site up with the site for Block 16. Or they actually know something about a new, similar form factor tower, but I find the former more likely.

Interestingly, I mentioned Block 16 and he agreed this isn't that one. He's as well versed in this stuff as any of us (which is rare!) and so we talk a lot about what's in the pipeline . . . especially in the area around the CC, which has such a major impact to our business.

[The ATX]

There should be some mention of the proposed project during the 10/25 HLC meeting. I suspect the site plan will be filed shortly after they get Demo approval from the HLC. They may want to get approval for the VY building Demo before investing too much time or money. They don't have to Demo the buildings anytime soon after approval. So they will probably keep collecting rent until the site plan is close to approval.

[The ATX]

I went ahead and moved the posts to a new thread because this seems like a legit tower in the works.

[The ATX]

The backup files for the 10/25 HLC meeting were posted online. No hint of what the post-demo plans are. Staff recommends demo for east half the block. The west half with Vince Young's Steak House looks like it might be a struggle to get demo approved.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=369889

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=369891

[JAM]

Originally Posted by We vs us

It's bizarre that they've decided to demo a functioning restaurant first, though . . . prior to doing everything else . . . ?

Not entirely, when the city shut downtown for covid and continued to put pressures on small biz in the downtown area a lot of things went wrong for small biz. have you been to some of the restaurants downtown lately? they still cant get employees to come back to work. pile all that on, and your biz is no longer functioning. I blame some of it on the city, and some on the feds. the city got covid grants from the feds and decided to dole them out to area there were not even shutdown - but that's another story. meanwhile down on Rainey you wouldnt know covid even was a thing. the other thing is I don't recall this ever being a great location for a restaurant to begin with. seems to get bypassed. if their revenues are not even paying the taxes, may as well knock it down, and knock down some of those property taxes. that's another thing, the city actually raised biz property tax, even after al the covid lock downs. they have not been small biz friendly. not really. and dont forget all the homeless camped outside of all these biz's. no one wants to step around them to go inside. it was all a recipe for disaster.

[The ATX]

Demo was approved on consent for the building on the eastern half of the site despite the objection of someone living on the 27 floor of the Hilton whose view would probably be affected. But the HLC voted to begin historical zoning for the Vince Young Steak House. This one will take a while to resolve. There were no details on what the planned project is.

[We vs us]

A little more detail about the Historic Preservation Committee's decision:

https://www.austinmonitor.com/storie...nto-warehouse/

[kingkirbythe....]

Is Downtown’s Vince Young Steakhouse Building Historic, or Just Really Old?

https://austin.towers.net/is-downtow...st-really-old/

An application to demolish the 109-year-old former warehouse building currently occupied by the Vince Young Steakhouse in the Vegas-lite heart of downtown’s Convention Center District has run afoul of the city’s Historic Landmark Commission, and the situation presents a philosophical quandry — if a building survives for a century, how do you distinguish its long presence in history from actual historic merit?

The plan to demolish the steakhouse/warehouse at 301 San Jacinto Boulevard, along with a concurrent application to remove the 1938 warehouse currently home to event venue the Sunset Room next door at 310 East Third Street, would clear the half-block north of East Third Street between San Jacinto and Trinity Streets — almost certainly the vision of unknown tower developers hoping to raise something much taller here. The Sunset Room demolition passed the HLC without controversy, as the building has been modified too extensively over the years to retain sufficient historic character — but commissioners believe the steakhouse still has merit, and moved to initiate the landmark designation process for the site, to continue at its meeting later this month.

[StoOgE]

That's the historic real world Austin house. How can we possibly let that cultural touchstone go?

[drummer]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

That's the historic real world Austin house. How can we possibly let that cultural touchstone go?

You know, that's a good point. We should call the historical commission.

[The ATX]

No surprises at the HLC meeting yesterday. The owner is strongly against preservation of 301 San Jacinto, and the HLC is strongly in favor of it and voted to begin the historic preservation process.

[We vs us]

Does preservation mean that it can't be touched at all? or could it still be incorporated into a tower?

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Does preservation mean that it can't be touched at all? or could it still be incorporated into a tower?

It means it needs to be left intact. One of the commissioners leading the charge for preservation stated that he would also support a tall building on the site if the warehouse was used as the entrance to a building stepped up from the warehouse.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by The ATX

It means it needs to be left intact. One of the commissioners leading the charge for preservation stated that he would also support a tall building on the site if the warehouse was used as the entrance to a building stepped up from the warehouse.

Well that's something, at least. I still don't agree with the choice but at least it doesn't completely close off development.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Well that's something, at least. I still don't agree with the choice but at least it doesn't completely close off development.

The same family has owned the building for 100 years going back to the original use as a groceries warehouse which is being cited as a main reason for the preservation. The Rep for the family stated that they are being penalized for maintaining the building for 100 years. Had they let it go to ruin or made significant architectural changes, they would be able to develop the site as they wanted.

[The ATX]

The Planning Commission takes up the zoning change at the 12/14 meeting. Staff recommends that the Vince Young restaurant be rezoned as historical.

https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/do....cfm?id=373142