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Originally Posted by greenbelt
How did it go last night? Sorry I couldn't be there.
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It went great.
And my theory regarding a small “height war” may be coming to fruition. If anyone noticed, Tom Stacy’s project rezoning requests were positioned just before Benchmark’s request for their 200 Congress project. As we all know, both of these projects have been sited as having heights in the neighborhood of 700’. Well, Benchmark did what I would have done in their shoes – knowing Stacy’s project requests were before theirs, Benchmark requested a postponement on their case. I believe this way a planned move. In doing so, Benchmark achieved the ability to view information regarding Stacy’s project. Giving them the opportunity to bump alter their plans over the next two weeks.
Why do all of this? Well, if you are proposing to spend $100-$200 million on a skyscraper that may be the tallest in your respective city – wouldn’t you do everything possible to secure your claim to the “tallest building in town?”
Richard Suttle, Stacy’s attorney, did a very good job at not giving away too much information on their project. He provided just enough information to secure zoning approval. The only aspect of his presentation that gave away the potential size of 5th & Congress was their request for an FAR of 30:1 (from the current 8:1 & 12:1). This will allow for a building in excess of 700’ on their site.
However, when Commissioner Moore requested to see some preliminary renderings, Stacy got up and obliged him. His renderings depicted a structure in the neighborhood of 750’ (roughly equal to the total height, including antennae, of the Tower of Americas in San Antonio) with no spire. Its E-W façade is slender with a wide N-S façade. The building includes ground level and 2nd floor retail, hotel or office space and topped with roughly 180 condominiums.
By the way, the rendering shown at the Commission hearing was a rendering provided by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. The final product may be similar to what was shown - or it may not. Nonetheless, the rendering in question was, I believe, the one P.C.P. Architects. supplied in their response to Stacy's RFP.
I will be eager to see Benchmark’s presentation on May 23!
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