AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[Urbannizer]

Future of El Mercado Uptown uncertain following approval of demolition permit

Nearly five decades of serving frozen margaritas and enchilada plates at 1700 Lavaca Street may be coming to an end in the near future. Finding insufficient support for historic zoning, the Historic Landmark Commission approved an application for 1700 Lavaca Street’s demolition in a 7-2 vote, with commissioners Terri Myers and Ben Heimsath in opposition.

“And another one bites the dust,” remarked a defeated Myers as she tallied up the votes.

Readers may recognize 1700 Lavaca as the home of local restaurant chain and bona fide Austin institution El Mercado, which opened in 1996 following the success of its South First Street location in the 1980s. Longtime Austinites may also recall the building’s stint as Jorge’s Uptown Enchilada Bar, which opened in 1978 and advanced the tradition of Austin Tex-Mex for almost 20 years.

Beyond the general anticipation of more high-rises, it remains unclear what is in store for the new development. As of January, El Mercado owners Gerald Stone and Tony and Denise Villegas were still the site’s officially listed owners, but with a demolition and opportunity for development in the pipeline, the signs point to change.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Future of El Mercado Uptown uncertain following approval of demolition permit

So sad another neighborhood institution will go away. It's not even that good of food.... the cultural and architectural flavor was more important.

[myBrain]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

So sad another neighborhood institution will go away. It's not even that good of food.... the cultural and architectural flavor was more important.

Yeah this is a bummer. Particularly given all of the other underused sites in the vicinity and the fact that we'll most likely be getting some afterthought architecture here. I actually like this little corner of town, with Arturo's, Dive Bar, El Mercado, Clay Pit, Sushi Junai, etc., and I do want to see development bring in more foot traffic to help sustain these businesses and better connect campus to downtown, but couldn't we start with the parking garages first (yes, I know, they're owned by the state - i'm just venting)

[StoOgE]

Yeah - this one feels kind of crappy especially given how great the texture of that block is - it really feels like a hidden little gem. ESPECIALLY considering how much absolute crap and state-owned surface parking lots are in the area.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by myBrain

Yeah this is a bummer. Particularly given all of the other underused sites in the vicinity and the fact that we'll most likely be getting some afterthought architecture here. I actually like this little corner of town, with Arturo's, Dive Bar, El Mercado, Clay Pit, Sushi Junai, etc., and I do want to see development bring in more foot traffic to help sustain these businesses and better connect campus to downtown, but couldn't we start with the parking garages first (yes, I know, they're owned by the state - i'm just venting)

Yep... you get it.
My number one concern is the race to infill and not have demand create need to better architecture.
it didn't help that Dog and Duck was replaced with a 'dead block". ie, the court house that has no business and will be empty in the evening.
The new condo will help offset that a bit I hope.
Next to go will probably Dive Bar and Arturos. The owners are now the Children on the man who owned it for years. They have no interest in the property other than profit. ( unlike their dad) So I'm sure there are just waiting for the right moment to sell.

[kingkirbythe....]

Notice Anything Different About These Two Corners in Downtown Austin?

https://austin.towers.net/notice-anything-different-about-these-two-corners-in-downtown-austin/

You’ll find towers in various stages of planning or building on corners throughout downtown Austin, but two really stand out this month as signs of upcoming change — the southeast corner of West Fifth and Colorado Streets; and the southeast corner of West Sixth and Guadalupe Streets. Let’s hike down there and see what’s cooking.

[The ATX]

A tower crane license agreement was filed for two tower cranes to build a multi-family project called Windsor Park Towers. It maps to the SE corner of the I-35 and US290 interchange.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/public-searc...=12873741&t_selected_propertyrsn=3033211

[The ATX]

This is the lovely location of the Windsor Park Towers:

[clubtokyo]

Omg that corner needs to be redeveloped so badly.

[We vs us]

Yeah it's a wasteland that needs to be developed, stat. But I also feel for the eventual residents of Windsor Park Towers -- they'll be looking out at one of the busiest cloverleaves in the entire metro highway system.

Yay. Scenic views.

[The ATX]

I didn't remember this project, so I searched for permits. Here's the approved Plan Review with plenty of elevations. There's an East Tower & a West Tower. But the "Towers" are only five floors. Anyway, there will be homes for a lot of people in Central Austin on a spot where there are currently zero albeit for a few tents maybe.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/attachment/a...PHUX%2BDq5VQaFAPVeZwqFkgkNlWawEGTwYds6gv

[drummer]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

Notice Anything Different About These Two Corners in Downtown Austin?

https://austin.towers.net/notice-anything-different-about-these-two-corners-in-downtown-austin/

You’ll find towers in various stages of planning or building on corners throughout downtown Austin, but two really stand out this month as signs of upcoming change — the southeast corner of West Fifth and Colorado Streets; and the southeast corner of West Sixth and Guadalupe Streets. Let’s hike down there and see what’s cooking.

From the article:

Potentially completed by 2024, the project’s [415 Colorado Tower] set to bring 110,000 square feet of offices beneath 328 apartments to the site — and yes, as we were happy to confirm last month, the building has been redesigned to include retail space, making the future of this corner much more interesting for those of us who don’t live or work there.

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by The ATX

This is the lovely location of the Windsor Park Towers:

Once upon a time that was home to a Night Hawk restaurant and later a Texas Land and Cattle steakhouse, as seen from that dilapidated sign. I didn't realize they had demolished the building.

[Urbannizer]

Waterloo Central



3 Waller

[Urbannizer]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pearlstone-partners-wraps-dynamic-2021-211100122.html

Northwest Downtown
The Pearlstone team is planning another mixed-use project in the northwest part of downtown Austin — an area that, historically, has provided few residential offerings for sale.

Early-Stage Development
Pearlstone has three additional projects in the early stages of development. More details will be shared in the next three to six months, as plans progress.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pearlstone-partners-wraps-dynamic-2021-211100122.html

A lot of opportunity in that area. I’m excited that neighborhood grow in the coming years.

[We vs us]

What would we consider "northwest downtown Austin?"

Is that essentially the West Capitol area? Or further south, near West Sixth?

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by We vs us

What would we consider "northwest downtown Austin?"

Is that essentially the West Capitol area? Or further south, near West Sixth?

I call everything south of 10th Street and west of Guadalupe the West End, but I think the definition of boundaries vary depending on who you talk to.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I call everything south of 10th Street and west of Guadalupe the West End, but I think the definition of boundaries vary depending on who you talk to.

Yep. I had to correct someone the other day who said the Triangle was downtown. This same person said Mueller was downtown. Basically anything south of Anderson Ln is downtown to them, haha.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by drummer

Yep. I had to correct someone the other day who said the Triangle was downtown. This same person said Mueller was downtown. Basically anything south of Anderson Ln is downtown to them, haha.

I know people that call anything north of Downtown, South Dallas.