AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

https://www.designboom.com/architecture/...xas-sixth-blanco-mass-timber-09-28-2023/

Swedish Hill Bakery closing Jan 14th to make way for Sixth & Blanco.

https://austin.eater.com/2024/1/3/240243...sh-hill-outpost-west-sixth-flagship-2026

[migol24]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Swedish Hill Bakery closing Jan 14th to make way for Sixth & Blanco.

https://austin.eater.com/2024/1/3/240243...sh-hill-outpost-west-sixth-flagship-2026

Oh damn! I'm gonna go and buy a bunch of pastries before they close. I know they're reopening but there's no telling how long till they reopen. Lol

[drummer]

That woodwork is beautiful.

[clubtokyo]

That wood work is stunning, I know we will lose Swedish hill for a bit, but its worth it if this project turns out like this.

[Sigaven]

Wow. Will this be Austin's first Herzog & De Meuron project? (other than the cancelled Blanton project)

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

Wow. Will this be Austin's first Herzog & De Meuron project? (other than the cancelled Blanton project)

It’s their first TEXAS project. This is major.

[wwmiv]

Austin needs more terraced condominium housing. When done well, it happens to be a great way to integrate existing street-fronting fabric without having the often-awkward visual appearance of facadism. This one is obviously a particularly well done example, being by Herzog & De Meuron. There's the typical almost brutalist elements to the separation between the retail and residential floors, and the wood is beautiful. I love the cut-out for one historic building and the inset of the other. The Spanish elements are very nice as well. Two floors of retail will significantly expand the retail presence in the area and significant stretch the pedestrian-oriented experience of anything west of Lamar.

Thoughts on the immediate vicinity and what could really make the area come to life and integrate downtown better with the surrounding neighborhood:

The Whole Foods parking lot needs to be turned into a plaza. They could easily monetize the space with their own food vendors or sell spaces to foods trucks or partner with a variety of different companies or organizations. Downtown Austin's population density is enough to carry the store without surface parking (and there's still plenty in the below-surface garage to help keep the store afloat). Anyone who seriously drives to this store from one of the nearby residential areas (Clarksville, for instance), is not seriously going to be inconvenienced by having to choose to between waiting a bit longer for a garage spot versus driving to another Whole Foods. A nice American-style monetized quasi-civic space.

The Office Depot has outlived its lifespan for a downtown environment and needs to be town down and replaced with something that does not have parking. The parking lot is mostly unobstructed by CVC.

The Anthropologie, etc. block's parking should be filled in with new development. If needed, another parking garage on Henderson might make sense (there are already two). New retail along Lamar, and housing above it.

Treaty Oak Square needs to be reinvigorated and the parking surrounding it needs to go away and be replaced with park-focused retail. This is literally one of the most important plots of land in the entire state historically and it is currently surrounding on all sides by vehicular use and is treated as a throwaway.

Then, of course, there's the junkyard between the railyard and 5th. I personally believe this is the best opportunity for a legit skyscraper west of Lamar. I'd be thrilled.

[Jdawgboy]

I've never understood why they even have a surface lot to begin with. Not once, at least from my perspective (maybe someone else can chime in), have I seen the garage filled to capacity. I like to park near the downstairs garage entrance and there's always tons of space.

[drummer]

I have seen the WF garage *nearly* full, but have always been able to find a spot. The surface lot is unnecessary, in my opinion, especially now with the giant garage next door (across Bowie). I see the surface lot as a risk more than anything else - people often swing in very quickly off of 5th - and between that garage entrance and the shipping/receiving lane, it's horrifically awkward for pedestrians and vehicles alike. The entrance/exit on the Lamar side is poorly done as well - way too tight and folks seem to lose their brains when they try to use it. Also, another unnecessary vehicle/pedestrian point of interaction.

A plaza would be perfect - and perhaps a couple of pop-up coffee/cafe kiosks?


And yes, the Office Depot area across the way is just out of place. It could stand a redevelopment as well.

[Urbannizer]

502 W 15th

[Urbannizer]

East Austin Apartment Rezoning Might Mark Change for Cherrywood

A rezoning application now pending with the city for a 4.4-acre East Austin property could point to major new development in the Cherrywood neighborhood, which may eventually replace a number of popular local businesses along 38th 1/2 Street.

Based on public records, the rezoning request is being sought by local land use firm Drenner Group on behalf of the property owners for the contiguous tracts at 1230 East 38th ½ Street, 1400 East 38th ½ Street, 1402 East 38th ½ Street, and 1406 East 38th ½ Street. This includes the 75-unit Alma Cherrywood apartment complex, a warehouse belonging to Westbank Dry Cleaning, Cherrywood Coffeehouse, the Monarch Food Mart convenience store, and the GC Cleaners & Laundry. This change would remove a conditional overlay on the tract limiting the height of new construction to 40 feet, allowing potential development to rise 60 feet here instead.

That’s potential redevelopment, clearly in a very early stage — this rezoning effort appears to be the work of local firm Narrow Road Group, which now owns the Alma Cherrywood apartment property and is working on a redevelopment plan that could build approximately 250 new apartments at this land assembly.

[Urbannizer]

Ascension Women’s Tower

[gillynova]

^^ Where is that at

[calesce]

Originally Posted by gillynova

^^ Where is that at

34th and Medical Parkway, next to the Seton Main hospital.

[SproutingTowers]

The Sheraton at the Capitol rebranding to the Downright Austin Hotel
https://www.downrightaustin.com

[Urbannizer]

Sixth & Blanco



Duncan Park

[Airwave Dynamics]

Originally Posted by gillynova

^^ Where is that at

Fyi
• Video Link

[Urbannizer]

The Colorfield

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lakeflato...X?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Renovations underway:

[bobbywest87]

Updated for 2-21-24. Thanks to gillynova, Urbannizer, and everyone else who posts progress pictures for me to accurately update the diagram.

I think my interpretation of The Travis’ crown was incorrect now that it’s been built up to that point, which is the result of not having too many renderings to look at. I’ll eventually get around to resubmitting a revised drawing. Unfortunately, my new job has kept me busy, so I’ve been unable to add any new diagrams recently.