AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by JGFrisco

I might point out that there's really no viable mass transit to downtown Houston, and there's certainly no more parking there.

Houston's light rail is the most successful starter system yet - and they have severals times more bus and auto capacity into downtown than we do.

[ATXboom]

The Evolving Riverside Condo District
November 25, 2007 20:38 Filed in: Condo Projects
The shores of Riverside drive on the south side of Ladybird lake are about to undergo a dramatic transformation. Starting next year, four separate developers will begin construction on as many as 3,000 luxury condo and apartment units. With close access to downtown, the South Congress entertainment district, the lake, and the hike and bike trails, the location is highly desirable yet less expensive than the city core.

As we have reported, some of these projects have requested zoning variances to allow them to build closer to the lake than the 200 feet that the current rules allow. As a result of the zoning opposition, one developer has decided to redevelop the existing structures, some as close as 20-feet to the lake, as opposed to building new structures with a 150 foot set back. As part of the development, an extension of the hike and bike trails between Congress and I-35 and beyond is likely on the south shore of the lake.

The scope of the combined Riverside-area development is incredible: 3,000 units are now planned - more units than currently exist in all of downtown. While it will take many years for the projects to reach fruition, construction of the first projects will begin next spring.

Here is a summary from the Statesman:


The transformation of East Riverside Drive from a sprawling, well-worn, affordable enclave into a dense and upscale urban village will begin in earnest in the spring, when the first planned condo project is expected to break ground.Australian developer Constellation Property Group plans to begin work in March on its 225-unit project at the northeast corner of Interstate 35 and Riverside Drive. The Star Riverside condos, which will sell for between $400,000 and $1.2 million, will be broken into four buildings ranging from 60 to 110 feet high.The first owners are expected to move in in April 2009.Constellation faces competition from numerous condo projects planned in the vicinity.AMLI Residential hopes to break ground by the middle of next year on 375 luxury apartments on 11 acres at the northwest corner of East Riverside Drive and South Lakeshore Boulevard. In addition, Sutton Co. will build at least 45 condos. Construction could take up to two years.Cypress Real Estate Advisors also hopes to break ground next summer on a mixed-use development that will replace 800 aging apartments with as many as 2,500 apartments, condominiums and townhomes, as well as commercial, retail and live-work space on a 50-acre site on South Lakeshore Boulevard.

[jgouger]

Originally Posted by M1EK

Houston's light rail is the most successful starter system yet - and they have severals times more bus and auto capacity into downtown than we do.

Oh yes that is an undisputed fact . Despite everything Tom Delay and Co. tried to do stop the line from being built, they pulled it off and have one of the most successful light rail systems in the country. It may even have a higher ridership than the DART system per capita, but I'm not sure about that.

One of the main reasons why I dislike grade-level rail is because of the mess that it creates. I lived in Houston while the MetroRail was under construction and main street was a mess for almost 3 years! Businesses were displaced, driving through that corridor was a nightmare and traffic that was supposed to go on Main or Fannin streets was diverted to lesser-capacity side streets.

[ATXboom]

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - 1:23 PM CST

Austin among world leaders in office rent growth Austin Business Journal

When it comes to its high-demand office market, Austin is finding itself in a league with Singapore and Abu Dhabi--well sort of.

The capital city is among the top 50 office markets in the world with the fastest growing rents, according to research from CB Richard Ellis.

With a 15.9 percent increase in office rental rates in the last year, Austin ranks 40th on the list. The top three cities with the most rent growth are Singapore (82.6 percent) Moscow (65.4 percent) and Mumbai (55 percent). The only U.S. market among the top 10 is suburban Los Angeles, which experienced a 45 percent increase in rents since November 2006.

The CBRE report also looked at the overall most expensive worldwide markets. London's West End, where average rents are $328 a square foot, leads that list, followed by Mumbai ($189.51) and London proper ($180.80). Midtown Manhattan ranks 12th on that list with rents of $100.79 a square foot. Suburban Los Angeles ($64.78) and downtown New York ($53.47) were the only other U.S. markets to make the top 50 most expensive.

[priller]

A few photos from walking around this morning:

Austonian:






Altavida:









Soon we'll see it rising up:




360:





Tonight after work I took a few "drive-by" photos from the car. Not recommended!

[austin242]

Great pics priller

Does anyone know when altavida is suposed to be finished because the consruction is really slow?

[Strayone]

Thanks for the photos, the one from Mopac is really nice especially considering you were driving at the time, you framed Frost perfectly! Altavida looks to be 6 floors high on the north end of the lot, from what I can tell the tower floors with the residence's may begin before the south part of the base is worked on...the area with the pool on the upper floor. This has some of the parking garage so it won't take as long to finish when works starts. The Austonian looks very similar to when I walked the area 2 wks ago, those pilings are taking some time to progress from down below. As someone suggested on the thread a webcam should be used to show this one go up. 360 will have one available soon.

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by austin242

Great pics priller

Does anyone know when altavida is suposed to be finished because the consruction is really slow?

Now that the tower is above grade, the upward rise should speed up dramatically. Looks like its gone up about 2-3 floors since my last visit to the area (early Nov).

[JGFrisco]

Remember, Altavida had several levels of underground parking. That takes a while to construct. I'd wager that since they're now out of the ground, they'll go up about a floor a week. That would top them out in June or so.

[austin242]

I think that when altavida is finished you will start to see some of the most change because spring, austionian, and the w project will start going upwards hopefully. Can't wail till june

[austin242]

If Austin is so green why do we use commuter Rail instead of light rail?

[andrew.A..T..X]

Does anyone know when they are going to put the rest of the spire on the 360? Im guessing after they put the glass on it.

[JGFrisco]

Using the same projections for Austonian, I'll make some guesses...

Guestimate as to when they get out of the ground...Feb 1
When they start going up...March 15

5 floors a month...10th floor May 15
20th floor...July 15
30th floor/400' level...Sept. 15

Crane goes up above level of other buildings around 1st and Congress...Sept 1

40th floor/500'...Nov 15
Tallest building in town...Dec 1
50th floor...Jan 15
Top out...Feb 15, 2009

That schedule seems a little slow to me, though.

[priller]

The Spring is making some progress. Hopefully in another month or two we should see some levels poking up. Also -- and I don't know if this means anything -- but the Spring site seems quite neat and organized to me.

[LoneStarMike]

Here's some random shots from various locations around downtown of the Monarch I took on November 27.

Peeking through the trees from the Bremond Block



From 300 W Sixth Garage



From the second floor patio at Whole Foods



From the West End



From the Bank One Garage



From 404 Rio Grande apartments





From the railroad tracks south of Lady Bird Lake

[JGFrisco]

The RR track shot of the Monarch is really cool! Great pix.

[Complex01]

Those are nice pics. Thank you for posting...

[priller]

Originally Posted by JGFrisco

The RR track shot of the Monarch is really cool! Great pix.

Yes it is. I liked that one, too.

[JGFrisco]

By the way, I sent an email to the guy listed on the 21c site as contact for construction. I asked about the schedule, and the actual building height.

No response.

[Jdawgboy]

I really like the way the Monarch tower looks. Its a very sleek design with an interesting roof top. The RR pic is really neat it almost looks like the trains would go right through the building.