AUSTIN | Projects & Construction III

[oberthewhat]

Any word on fairmont? I noticed a fence around the site but wasn't sure how long that'd been there

[TowerSpotter]

Haven't seen this posted. Does anyone know about this?



Edit: or this

Aspen Lake



Looks like maybe they are planning something big...

[wwmiv]

The only one we haven't seen is the second image (Aspen Lake). The first is a proposed office building downtown and the last are conceptual massings for the new court block under a public-private partnership development.

[TowerSpotter]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

The only one we haven't seen is the second image (Aspen Lake). The first is a proposed office building downtown and the last are conceptual massings for the new court block under a public-private partnership development.

Ok thanks for clearing that up.

[JoninATX]

That 2nd one is from 2007 or so, I believe it has changed plans. Instead of building 3 tall towers, they are going to built another 6 story building close to the other one that was built back during pre recession.

[pscajunguy]

The Fairmont just bought the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco, one of the most famous hotels, anywhere, and the favorite of Tony Bennett's and Peggy Lee's. For anybody who thinks that the Fairmont is having financing problems in Austin should take note and realize that such a silly idea that the Fairmont does not have more than enough ways to finance ANYTHING they want to build is "nothing but a fart in the wind".
It will be breaking ground as soon as they want it to, and as soon as Austin will let them!

HISTORIC SAN FRANCISCO LUXURY HOTEL ON THE CREST OF NOB HILL

As splendid as when it opened in 1926, Mark Hopkins is one of the city’s finest historic San Francisco luxury hotels. It’s ideally located at the crossing of three cable car lines, just minutes from Union Square. Each suite is furnished in a unique, stately style. Breathtaking views of San Francisco combine with fine dining and a signature 100 Martini menu at Top of the Mark restaurant. Described when it opened as ‘architecturally perfect’, this San Francisco luxury hotel remains so today.

[NYC_Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Syndic

"...iconic..."

"...56 Leonard..."

Ugh, I don't like where this is headed.

People swing and miss more than hit when they try to design "iconic" buildings and then cities end up with very prominent white elephants. I'm also not a fan of 56 Leonard. I like cities to have visual harmony, not a bunch of individual "look at me!" buildings that don't look good together.

Syndic, embrace your inner child who yearns for jaw dropping, perplexing and fascinating iconic structures! I know it is within you, after all, you are a skyscraper page member of the highest order !!

[austin242]

I can't read the rest of the Article so what does it say about seaholm and entertainment? http://www.mystatesman.com/news/busi...atesman_launch

[Syndic]

Originally Posted by austin242

I can't read the rest of the Article so what does it say about seaholm and entertainment? http://www.mystatesman.com/news/busi...atesman_launch

They're probably reporting the same thing as this: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bl...&ed=2014-02-19

Also, not sure if y'all noticed but the glass has begun to go up on the base of the J.W. Marriott.

[NYC_Longhorn]

austin is awesome, as evidenced by all the austinites hating on new comers for love of the good old days!
development means give and take , things are awesome here is austin, lots of need for improvement and some stuff is sad to see go... but there are many instances of cool stuff happening too .... good scene and music are still thriving

I find it interesting how people are afraid of the outsiders ruining the good old days, reminds me of madmen....
I will say we need another Leslie and kinky

Originally Posted by austin242

I can't read the rest of the Article so what does it say about seaholm and entertainment? http://www.mystatesman.com/news/busi...atesman_launch

[lzppjb]

I could definitely do without another Leslie.

As for the restaurant announced for Seaholm, it says it's going to be 4 stories (w/ a rooftop deck) and you can ascend stairs through the old boiler. Sounds like it'll be inside the actual power plant. Maybe it'll have some public access after all.

[Syndic]

Actually, they said all along that it would have public access. They even said, initially, that it would contain "some modest exhibits" (not an exact quote).

Also, I should note that Colorado Tower is now just visible from I-35 now.

[OtherKevin]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

As for the restaurant announced for Seaholm, it says it's going to be 4 stories (w/ a rooftop deck) and you can ascend stairs through the old boiler. Sounds like it'll be inside the actual power plant. Maybe it'll have some public access after all.

Actually the boilers are outside the main building, located between it and the smokestacks. They are dismantling four of the five boilers, but they are turning the largest, westernmost one into Boiler Nine Bar + Grill. I have circled, poorly, the approximate area bellow.



The concept sounds amazing, and I can't wait to go see what they do with it!

Edit - Also, you can check out concept pictures on the last two pages of this pdf: www.seaholm.info/interactive/images/powerplant.pdf

[lzppjb]

Oh, very cool. Thanks for pointing that out.

[migol24]

I'm just thinking how awesome the inside of seaholm would be for an action flick... kinda like a car chase barreling through the lobby, a la True Lies, when Schwarzenneger chases the dude in motorcycle with a horse. Then they finally meet to the roof top or the bad guy climbs one of those boilers and jumps off, but somehow escapes.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by migol24

I'm just thinking how awesome the inside of seaholm would be for an action flick... kinda like a car chase barreling through the lobby, a la True Lies, when Schwarzenneger chases the dude in motorcycle with a horse. Then they finally meet to the roof top or the bad guy climbs one of those boilers and jumps off, but somehow escapes.

lolllll

[AusTex]

Originally Posted by NYC_Longhorn

austin is awesome, as evidenced by all the austinites hating on new comers for love of the good old days!
development means give and take , things are awesome here is austin, lots of need for improvement and some stuff is sad to see go... but there are many instances of cool stuff happening too .... good scene and music are still thriving

I find it interesting how people are afraid of the outsiders ruining the good old days, reminds me of madmen....
I will say we need another Leslie and kinky

Songwriter CARLY SIMON Anticipation lyrics say a lot about Austin and its residents;

"We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway
And I wonder if I'm really with you now
Or just chasing after some finer day....

And stay right here, 'cause these are the good old days."

I moved to So Cal for high school and went to college there and thought about those lyrics every time I traveled down a Los Angeles street and saw something familiar changed or gone. I moved to Austin in 1993 and said to myself "Take pictures of every corner and every place that is 'Old Austin' because it too will change. And How fast it is changing. I wish I had taken those photos.

[priller]

So the old drive-thru bank at 5th and San Jacinto is gone (quickly replace by surface parking) and now the parking garage at 5th and Brazos looks like it's being torn down.

[East7thStreet]

I could see the developers having an agreement to tear down the drive thru bank to create temporary parking while the parking garage is torn down and rebuilt with ground floor retail. Once the new garage is completed then Magellan could start their 47 floor project.

[NYC2ATX]

Perhaps this is just all the Austin landowners very cleverly making the most use (read: money) out of their property. Their long-term intention is to develop in the white-hot market, but first, after waiting out the winter real estate doldrums, they tear down everything just in time to lease the lots to SXSW events (read: money), and then as soon as that wraps, they throw out plans and stick shovels in the ground right as the spring buying/selling season takes off.

It's so devious that it's brilliant.