AUSTIN | Fairmont Hotel | 595 FEET SPIRE/456 FT ROOF | 37 FLRS | Complete - Page 34

The ATX · #**661** Posted **Jun 3, 2014, 10:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaceman

"I'm bad, I'm nation wide".....LMAO

Congratulations on your nationally recognized cynicism (and the ZZ Top reference.)

KevinFromTexas · #**662** Posted **Jun 4, 2014, 12:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austlar1

Yeah, Spaceman's newsworthiness is pretty suspect, but it gave them something to hang a story on from a local angle. I'm surprised they did not examine the merits of "the fence" from a feng shui perspective. Could it be that the expensive fence was built to persuade Chinese investors?

If their goal is to lure Chinese investors then they should redesign it and increase the number of floors to 88, per Chinese superstition.

LoneStarMike · #**663** Posted **Jun 4, 2014, 1:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austlar1

It seems newsworthy that the Manchester group may be pitching the project as an investment opportunity to Chinese nationals interested in participating in the visa program (EB-5??) that requires the investment of a substantial amount of money in the US as a prerequisite for obtaining green cards and resident permits.

The City of Austin was considering doing the same thing last year.

Chinese investors warm up to Austin as city mulls EB-5
Austin Business Journal
May 13, 2013

Quote:

Eleven members of a Chinese delegation met with Texas and city of Austin officials last week to discuss investment pitches and the possibility of trading investments of $500,000 to $1 million in exchange for an immigration visa, known as the the federal EB-5 visa program, the Austin American-Statesman reports.

Here's the link to the American-Statesman story which ran last May. It's more in-depth than the ABJ article.

Urbannizer · #**664** Posted **Jun 14, 2014, 8:29 PM**

I've never seen these before. Sorry if they were already posted.

From Gensler's Austin page:

Syndic · #**665** Posted **Jun 14, 2014, 11:13 PM**

I had seen the bottom one (which weirdly features Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner in the bottom left corner) but not the top one.

Austin1971 · #**666** Posted **Jun 23, 2014, 4:53 PM**

Any news? Third quarter start?

SkyPie · #**667** Posted **Jun 23, 2014, 5:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Any news? Third quarter start?

I heard from what I consider to be a fairly reliable source that they are trying to squeeze money out of the budget and that the final version of this building will likely be shorter and fatter. The hotel will still energize that area of downtown in a way it isn't today, but it doesn't sound like it'll end up being much to look at when compared to the fancy renderings we've seen up to this point.

Austin1971 · #**668** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 3:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin1971

Any news? Third quarter start?

Safe to say it won't be a second quarter start.......Hopefully I'm not posting the same thing about the third quarter in three months!

LoneStarMike · #**669** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 5:19 PM**

^^^The last article (which you posted, btw) said it was expected to break ground in September.

I think if it breaks ground at all, it won't be until Q1 2015 at the earliest, based on a 32-month completion and the fact that it's not expected to open until Fall 2017.

Jdawgboy · #**670** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 8:16 PM**

I think September is the best bet to know one way or another if this project will happen. It would be a big embarrassment if the design changes especially since they put all that effort in setting up those huge billboard renderings. At this point hearsay should be taken with a grain of salt as there are all sorts of rumors floating around. Remember back when the Austonian was just starting to be built and all of a sudden rumors were flying about supposedly they were only going to build the garage portion and hold off on the tower portion. Well we know how that turned out.

KevinFromTexas · #**671** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 9:15 PM**

^And that it would be half as tall. Still, it does bug me that my contact with Gensler hasn't responded. I know she's still with Gensler because her email is still listed with the Austin office on their website.

texboy · #**672** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 9:53 PM**

I remember this. Oddly enough I was interning with Balfour Beatty (The GC) on this project and I repeatedly told people that was not happening. Hah!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I think September is the best bet to know one way or another if this project will happen. It would be a big embarrassment if the design changes especially since they put all that effort in setting up those huge billboard renderings. At this point hearsay should be taken with a grain of salt as there are all sorts of rumors floating around. Remember back when the Austonian was just starting to be built and all of a sudden rumors were flying about supposedly they were only going to build the garage portion and hold off on the tower portion. Well we know how that turned out.

austlar1 · #**673** Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 11:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

^And that it would be half as tall. Still, it does bug me that my contact with Gensler hasn't responded. I know she's still with Gensler because her email is still listed with the Austin office on their website.

Maybe Gensler has been told to refrain from comments on the project without approval from San Diego.

brando · #**674** Posted **Jul 2, 2014, 12:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

They wouldn't spend the effort or money on the signs if they were not close to breaking ground. If it wasn't a big deal about signs, then they would have put them up when the first announced the project.

Must find told you so meme. Again, it's not an effort. They had an in house designer whip that up in 30 minutes and had an intern send it to a printer. They shipped it to a local austin company to actually erect the sign which anyone could have done. That's really really easy.

Jdawgboy · #**675** Posted **Jul 2, 2014, 4:27 AM**

It's an effort in that it makes a statement and a big one at that. It's not just the signs themselves, its the fact that they have been advertising to everyone who drives by there that what is displayed is what will be built. That's putting the credibility of the company at stake. Woopdeedoo about the stupid signs, it's what's advertised that is the effort.

Also despite what you think, it does cost money to build a wall around the site and erect 4 large billboards. Compared to building a high rise, it's chump change but the materials and the labor to erect all that probably cost over 1,000 bucks.

The ATX · #**676** Posted **Jul 2, 2014, 8:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

It's an effort in that it makes a statement and a big one at that. It's not just the signs themselves, its the fact that they have been advertising to everyone who drives by there that what is displayed is what will be built. That's putting the credibility of the company at stake. Woopdeedoo about the stupid signs, it's what's advertised that is the effort.

Also despite what you think, it does cost money to build a wall around the site and erect 4 large billboards. Compared to building a high rise, it's chump change but the materials and the labor to erect all that probably cost over 1,000 bucks.

A $1000 is nothing, and it's pretty cheap advertising of their project.

GoldenBoot · #**677** Posted **Jul 2, 2014, 4:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

It's an effort in that it makes a statement and a big one at that. It's not just the signs themselves, its the fact that they have been advertising to everyone who drives by there that what is displayed is what will be built. That's putting the credibility of the company at stake. Woopdeedoo about the stupid signs, it's what's advertised that is the effort.

Also despite what you think, it does cost money to build a wall around the site and erect 4 large billboards. Compared to building a high rise, it's chump change but the materials and the labor to erect all that probably cost over 1,000 bucks.

$1,000 to erect a 10' tall (maybe taller) wooded fence around roughly one-half square block plus artistic design and printing of the four large corner pieces? You're kidding...I hope.

It cost me slightly over $1,000 just to put in approximately 100' of residential fencing along one stretch of my backyard.

That fencing cost well north of $10,000; $20,000; maybe even $30,000. Still small potatoes when compared to their entire construction budget. However, more costly than most construction barriers.

Jdawgboy · #**678** Posted **Jul 2, 2014, 5:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

$1,000 to erect a 10' tall (maybe taller) wooded fence around roughly one-half square block plus artistic design and printing of the four large corner pieces? You're kidding...I hope.

It cost me slightly over $1,000 just to put in approximately 100' of residential fencing along one stretch of my backyard.

That fencing cost well north of $10,000; $20,000; maybe even $30,000. Still small potatoes when compared to their entire construction budget. However, more costly than most construction barriers.

Yea about 30 min after I posted I was thinking about it a bit and figured it was a lot more.

Definitely a drop in the bucket.

GoldenBoot · #**679** Posted **Jul 3, 2014, 8:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Yea about 30 min after I posted I was thinking about it a bit and figured it was a lot more.

Definitely a drop in the bucket.

No worries. I apologize if my comment sounded like an attack. It was not meant to be.

bigdogc · #**680** Posted **Jul 20, 2014, 6:40 PM**

Here is what I have found out from a subcontractor that wishes to remain anonymous-

The old design at 47 floors is way over budget. The new design is still over budget, but they are working on it. It will be 36 floors, but add more hotel rooms per floor (shorter and fatter). The height will be below 420 feet.

Current scheduled ground breaking is in October. If they miss this date the entire project is in jeopardy as many subcontractors will walk.