Those "Spring Haters" don't know what they're talking about. I'm not wholey against opposition to stuff, they have the right afterall. But trying to bring it down with incorrect information or misleading facts is dirty pool. I understand their concerns but they're unfounded and their case against the tower was horribly weak.
Great pics Mopacs.
^ Great find with that ABC Bank Building rendering. It's design is simple, sort of reminds me of the One American Center's facade colors.
By the way, check this out. AMLI plans to breakground on their 2nd building in February! 18 floors with 231 units. This is the one that will rise directly northwest to the city hall, just north of the western CSC building. No renderings yet, the American-Statesman had estimated it's height at 198+ feet tall. At 18 floors though I'm thinking it may be taller than that.
From the Austin American-Statesman
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/12/1secondstreet.html
Second Street comes to life
New downtown Austin district is filling up with shops.
By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Austin's effort to bring retailing back to downtown is coming to life, with a dozen new stores now open or about to in the fledgling Second Street district and more to come.
Many of the shop owners took a considerable risk to open their doors in a new and untested area. But many say they're optimistic about their first holiday shopping season and say they're satisfied so far with the sales they're ringing up, just a few months after opening their doors.
"It's the best business decision I've ever made," said Jane Vanisko McCan whose women's clothing store, Shiki, christened the district when it opened in June. McCan said sales already are matching those at her original location on Guadalupe Street, thanks largely to a base of loyal customers who are spending generously to support her new venture.
McCan is one of 24 retailers who have signed leases in the district, with eight more being negotiated.
Cami Cobb and Stephanie Coultress had some retail experience but had never run their own store until they opened Estilo in midsummer on the ground floor of the AMLI Downtown apartment building. The store sells men's and women's apparel, including some designers new to Austin.
Fifteen-percent discounts for AMLI residents have helped rev up sales after a somewhat slow start, Cobb said.
"I think we're just at the beginning," she said. The district "definitely has a ways to go, but the area has a lot of momentum."
The district eventually will have 200,000 square feet of space to shop, wine and dine along Second between Colorado and San Antonio streets. The first restaurant, Taverna Pizzeria & Risotteria, opens Monday at the northeast corner of Second and Lavaca streets.
A wood-burning pizza oven, Italian mosaic tiles and an open kitchen will evoke the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, the childhood home of owner Alberto Lombardi.
"You're always taking a chance in the restaurant business, but Austin is a great city," said Lombardi, whose company owns nine restaurants in several cities, including Dallas and Miami. "We'll do fantastic."
Several more places to dine and imbibe will follow in the next few months, including Crú, a wine bar; III Forks, a steakhouse and a Mexican restaurant, Cantina Laredo.
The area in downtown's western edge is destined for much more development, including a mixed-use project planned for a now-empty block north of City Hall.
At the northwest corner of Second and Guadalupe, AMLI plans to break ground in February on another 18-story building with 231 apartments, bringing more customers for Second Streets. The building also will have 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
Merchants say nearby hotels have been great about sending shoppers their way. They're also seeing what they say is a healthy mix of tourists and locals, including the growing number of downtown residents.
Although the retailers realize they were taking a risk to come downtown, "I don't think anyone moved here thinking they were going to do anything but succeed," said Elizabeth Serrato, who moved her jewelry and accessories boutique, called Eliza Page, from South Lamar Boulevard to the new district. The store sells everything from $10 charms to a $7,800 Tahitian pearl necklace.
"We know that it's going to take a while until everything is complete," Serrato said. "And there's always a risk involved in starting anything new. But the response has been wonderful."
Customers say they love the vibe of the area.
"It has a little bit of a European feeling," said Jessica Marshall of San Diego, as she strolled through Mercury Design Studio on Monday with her 21-month-old daughter, Emma, after being referred by a concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Steve Shuck moved to Austin last spring from San Francisco, where he had run worldwide operations for 1,600 Gap stores. He and his partner, Bobby Johns, opened Mercury Design the day after Thanksgiving.
The store sells vintage and modern furniture and accessories, with prices ranging from less than $35 for gift items to several thousand dollars for some of the furniture.
Shuck said he liked the "urban and urbane feel" and neighborhood atmosphere of the district, as well as the mix of tourist and local customers.
"It's a very relaxed, fun shopping experience that isn't the mall," Shuck said.
True to its word, Urban Partners, the consultant that the city and AMLI hired to recruit retailers, is keeping an Austin flavor. So far, 17 of the leases are with locally owned businesses. The focus is clothing and home furnishings stores, but the mix will include places as diverse as a day spa and a scooter store.
Local retailers were offered leases with rents that increase over time and allowances to finish the interior of their stores.
One of the merchants' biggest challenges has been spreading the word about the new district. The shop owners are contributing a portion of their sales to a marketing fund. Three radio spots will air soon, and the effort will include print advertising and special event promotions for the holiday season and the upcoming year.
"Once the restaurants open, the coffee shops, the wine bar, and people can start experiencing the street, it's going to boom," McCan said. "I think we're on the verge of something huge."
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