Proposed development near Barton Creek Square would be first to use eased environmen

[KevinFromTexas]

Proposed development near Barton Creek Square would be first to used eased environmental rules
Company has requested rezoning to build condominiums and businesses at former site of Barton Creek Cinema.

By Barry Harrell and Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Published: 8:47 p.m. Friday, April 30, 2010

An Austin company has plans for a mixed-use project near Barton Creek Square mall that would be the city's first development to make use of revised environmental rules for redevelopment over the Edwards Aquifer.

Cypress Real Estate Advisors wants to build condominiums and townhomes — plus retail and office space — on the 16-acre property at Walsh Tarlton Lane and Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360). The site, which was home to a Cinemark theater that closed in 2008, is zoned for commercial use, and the company has filed a request that it be rezoned to allow residential properties.

Plans for the development, tentatively named Tarlton 360 Townhomes, call for 229 condos and townhomes, plus 75,800 square feet of office space and nearly 13,000 square feet of retail space, said John Burnham, vice president of investments for Cypress. The project is in the planning stages, and construction probably wouldn't begin until next year , Burnham said. The project will be designed by Dick Clark Architecture of Austin, Burnham said.

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http://www.statesman.com/business/re..._comments_list

[hookem]

I don't know if this project has been posted before, but it's unique in that it will be the first to utilize Austin's 2007 ordinance which exempts some properties from the SOS ordinance rules. Basically, it's supposed to encourage redevelopment of already-developed areas in the SOS zone. There are several nearby properties along 360 for which this might apply, this one was the old secondary movie theater at the Barton Creek Mall.

It kinda reminds me of a tiny Mueller a little bit, but without the big box, and the homes are not detached. Some of the attached condos seem to have tiny yards, or at least porches. And thankfully, no big surface parking lot. Surprisingly, this may be a nice urban alternative -- there are bus stops within walking distance (at the BC mall and on Walsh Tarleton), a decent bike route to downtown, and it will have 13,000 sq ft of retail.

Cypress Real Estate Advisors purchased the 16-acre property and plans to develop a mixed-use development in what was formerly a Cinemark theater. The project, known as Tarlton 360 Townhomes, includes 75,800 square feet of office space, 140 condos, 89 townhomes and an additional 13,000 square feet of retail and restaurant.

The former theater on Walsh Tarlton Lane, which closed in 2008, will be demolished and replaced with three separate buildings. Each of the buildings will face Walsh Tarlton and will be accessible from the street level. Wide sidewalks with trees are planned to encourage walking.

From:
http://impactnews.com/lake-travis-we...springs-zoning


pic from Community Impact news article linked above.

[M1EK]

Yes, please. But I'm sure some of the more idiotic elements in SOS will oppose it, even though it will reduce impervious cover.

[KevinFromTexas]

They'll assume more buildings there means more impervious cover. Really though, when you think about what is there now, a giant parking lot, compare that to the scene in the rendering above. I see a lot more greenery there. Plus, there is structured parking and *gasp* buildings that face a street! Down with the parking lot. I remember when I was little going to Barton Creek with my mom and grandma, and coming back to a horribly hot car. Parking lots suck.

[Samwill89]

This looks promising, especially with the transit component. I just hope there are actually sidewalks in this thing unlike the prelim rendering shows.

[Elizabethluciaphile]

Council will vote on this tomorrow (if they don't punt) and the immediate neighborhood, bizarrely, has mounted significant opposition.
It is a win-win all around, for the environment (the mitigation $$ combined with this fall's open space bond will conserve a sizeable and *undeveloped* piece of land in the springs' contributing zone); for the streetscape, and as a hedge against the eventual decay of the mall.
They way the site is now pretty much defines "lowest and worst" use of an already-despoiled property.
The council members' staff are keeping a tally pro and con.
I do live in the neighborhood and am eager to see this blight redressed. Any sort of central-Austin-style development will be fine with me. And there's no big box in the plans.
Too bad we can't put the top of the hill back on the mall parking lot....

[KevinFromTexas]

I just hope this doesn't block the view of the skyline for the general public from the viewing location.

Isn't there a capitol view corridor there?

One piece of advice, if anyone is planning to walk through the grass at that viewing site for photos, don't. I was there a month or so ago wearing flip flops, and stepped in the grass for just a second and it felt like fire. I had some allergic reaction to some kind of grass growing there. I had a huge welt on my foot about 30 minutes later and it was still slightly red the next day.

I like the idea of doing away with some of that parking lot. That same day I was up there for photos, I was there with my mom and sister when they went shopping. We got out of the mall around 9 pm. It was dark out and it was still insanely hot in the parking lot. It felt horrible. You know it acts like a heat island in the area.

[Cloud92]

i dont think there is a view there to the capital

[Elizabethluciaphile]

I believe you are thinking of the view from the north side of the mall. For anyone who has reason to be on the roof of the empty cinema, there is a good view over the greenbelt to the south.
Another cool, wasted view is available to anyone who can see through the tiltwalls of the Spec's liquor emporium at 290 and Brodie.
Then there is the sanctuary of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, where you could lift up thine eyes unto the hills, except the architect neglected to put in any windows.

[KevinFromTexas]

The City Council approved it.

http://www.statesman.com/business/so...f-1729809.html

Some neighbors still objecting to Austin approval of mixed-use project near Barton Square mall

By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Published: 8:56 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011

Last week, the Austin City Council approved a project with more than 200 residential units plus office and retail space just west of Barton Creek Square mall. But the leader of a neighborhood group with some members against the project said they still want some answers from City Hall addressing their concerns.

With the unanimous City Council vote, the Tarlton 360 mixed-use project became the first proposed development to be approved using a revised city ordinance about redeveloping properties over the sensitive Edwards Aquifer, the water source that feeds Barton Springs.