Samsung plans another $3 billion Austin investment
By Kirk Ladendorf
Updated: 9:56 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, 2012
Published: 9:48 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, 2012
Samsung Electronics Co. confirmed Monday that it will spend between $3 billion and $4 billion over the next year in converting roughly half of its Austin chip manufacturing operation to a new, potentially more profitable product.
The South Korean company, which is the world's second-largest chipmaker, last month closed the part of the Austin factory devoted to memory chip production.
When that work is completed and the retrofitted part of the factory is in production in the second half of 2013, then the entire production of the factory is expected to be devoted to making "system chips" for smartphones and other smart mobile devices.
Samsung employs nearly 2,500 workers in Central Texas, which include a few hundred workers at its engineering design center in Northwest Austin.
When the latest project is completed, it will bring Samsung's total investment in Austin to more than $13 billion, making it one of the largest foreign investments in the United States.
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New apartment project joins Burnet Road renaissance
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By Shonda Novak
Updated: 8:46 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012
Amid the region's apartment building boom, Ardent Residential has broken ground on Burnet Flats, a project that will bring 179 upscale apartments to an evolving stretch of Burnet Road in North Central Austin.
At 5453 Burnet, next to Karavel Shoes, Burnet Flats is Austin-based Ardent's second project along Burnet between 45th Street and RM 2222/Koenig Lane. Ardent also developed a 175-unit mixed-use project two blocks south that it sold to AMLI in December 2010.
Burnet Flats' first units are expected to be ready in late 2013, with the project due to wrap up in the second quarter of 2014. Market rates have not yet been set, said Brett Denton, co-founder and a principal in Ardent along with Art Carpenter. Some units will be leased to qualifying tenants at below-market rents. The project will also have about 3,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.
"Like many urban corridors in Austin, Burnet Road is experiencing a transition with the development of new, denser projects to house Austin's growing population while still maintaining the local character of these important roads," Denton said. "A lot is happening in these three or four blocks. It's becoming a destination area."
Several new restaurants or bars are expected to join the lineup, including a Little Woodrow's and Pinthouse Pizza, which will open in the next month or two in a building at 4729 Burnet Road that once housed an appliance store.
It has a base that makes you think its going to be 600 feet but no.....
I was thinking the same thing. It looks very similar to The Austonian base.
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Originally Posted by ahealy
dead zone
Yeah, this really needs some retail. I hope whatever gets built at the post office site across the street is wrapped with retail on all sides. I really don't mind the design. It's too bad it couldn't be taller, but the design isn't bad. I do like the contrast between what I guess is limestone and the almost smokey glass.
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Originally Posted by photoLith
Wait, what is this? Any renders?
This is the construction site for the JW Marriott Convention Hotel. It'll be 408 feet tall with 34 floors and will have 1012 rooms. It'll be the largest JW Marriott in the world and the largest hotel in Austin. It officially broke ground this week.
Made a quickie model of the hotel in SketchUp and took a few views of it in Google Earth. Unfortunately, I don't think it will have much of an impact on the overall skyline, being nestled among various other building. Still, a major addition to downtown.
Again, many thanks to Kevin for all the links to building info, especially the COA case number. Wealth of information there!
From the Chase Bank garage:
From S. First bridge:
From the Hilton pool deck (I'm sure I'll be taking many pics from here):
Looking at the Hyatt Place I see why they had to leave a blank wall there. It bumps right up to the property line and more likely than not there will be a future building where the u ship office is. There is no ally there so the builings would merge. Id like to see a tall highrise on that lot.
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Wow! They just started and I want it to be finished already! That area of 2nd and Congress are going to be awesome!
Between that JW Hotel and if something good goes in on that T. Stacy site at 6th and Congress that hopefully will include some street retail it will really tie 6th + 5th and Congress and 2nd streets together.
These photos are from August 18th, 22nd and 24th. They're all from I-35.
2400 Nueces.
Views from I-35 near Parmer Lane. You can see the IBM buildings up on North Mopac to the right, and to the left are some of the Arboretum midrises. That building in the middle behind the pole is at Mopac and Braker.
IBM buildings on North Mopac and some of the Domain buildings.
National Instruments HQ on North Mopac.
RiverView Apartments.
I call this one "Does anyone have a hack saw?" I really hate that pole!
2400 Nueces again. It's at the 11th floor now. Just 5 more to go.
UT lowrises and midrises.
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Not trying to be off topic but if the Austonian were to add a 350 foot tall spire. That would make it the tallest in Texas. There are a few buildings in this country that are not much taller that use an over sized flag pole to achieve that height. Why not complain about spire height. Just join in on the fun.
Thank you for those Kevin. I avoid I-35 at all cost. I think I have been on parts north of Ben White only like 5-6 times in the last decade. lol. It has some great views and is good to get to see how those views are coming along with out having to suffer the traffic.
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That area of 2nd and Congress are going to be awesome!
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