AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

The only part that was Austin-related from the game that I can remember was a driving sequence in the very beginning where you can see road signs that indicate they're in central texas.

You also run through a downtown area at one point and see a theater that is very reminiscent of the Paramount but it doesn't really feel like Austin.

[freerover]

Pretty sure the bridge in the game is suppose to be the Monotopolis bridge which is now closed to cars.

[DougRockstead]

I was looking at the pdf someone posted about the Wilson, and "The Railyard" caught my eye. I looked at an apartment there close to 30 yeras ago. What I remember was this: it was small and definitely meant for a single person or childless couple.

... but that is beside the point.

any movement of any kind on that block? With the Wilson going up and it's proximity to pretty much anything, it seems to be ripe for a big project.

[We vs us]

There's a thread for the Railyard buried back on page 2:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...=241677&page=6

It's been quiet or a while now, but the newest renderings we've seen suggest some major changes.

Originally Posted by DougRockstead

I was looking at the pdf someone posted about the Wilson, and "The Railyard" caught my eye. I looked at an apartment there close to 30 yeras ago. What I remember was this: it was small and definitely meant for a single person or childless couple.

... but that is beside the point.

any movement of any kind on that block? With the Wilson going up and it's proximity to pretty much anything, it seems to be ripe for a big project.

[DougRockstead]

Thanks. That would be pretty interesting if built. They look to be a good 700 feet or so when looking at the other towers in the picture. Sure would be nice if they were taller.

Originally Posted by We vs us

There's a thread for the Railyard buried back on page 2:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...=241677&page=6

It's been quiet or a while now, but the newest renderings we've seen suggest some major changes.

[migol24]

Ok, not sure where to post this. I hope someone can help me here. I'm kinda losing sleep over this quote that I think I remember. Hopefully I'm not making it up. I always assumed it was by Mark Twain but a Google search doesn't bring up anything. It goes something like, "if you can't find anything to do in a city then you're the issue." Or something along those lines. Can anyone help me find out who said it, if anyone knows? I'm also hoping this is an appropriate thread for this post.

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by migol24

Ok, not sure where to post this. I hope someone can help me here. I'm kinda losing sleep over this quote that I think I remember. Hopefully I'm not making it up. I always assumed it was by Mark Twain but a Google search doesn't bring up anything. It goes something like, "if you can't find anything to do in a city then you're the issue." Or something along those lines. Can anyone help me find out who said it, if anyone knows? I'm also hoping this is an appropriate thread for this post.

"Something's always happening here. If you're bored in New York, it's your own fault."

- Myrna Loy on NYC

[migol24]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

"Something's always happening here. If you're bored in New York, it's your own fault."

- Myrna Loy on NYC

Hmm that might be it and for whatever reason I always thought it was a general statement about cities.

[drummer]

I'm sticking this here so we don't go off the rails in the transportation thread... (see what I did there?)

Before Project Connect, Austin once considered a gondola public transit system

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday, CapMetro and local government officials commemorated the first completed project from the city’s multi-billion-dollar public transit overhaul, Project Connect.

The program, approved by voters in November 2020, marked a substantial investment in light rail and regional rail lines, bus routes and other public transit resources within the greater Austin community.

But once upon a time, before Project Connect was put before voters, there was a different public transit system on the table: Gondolas.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/aust...ransit-system/

[ArchGuy1]

EDIT: The Austin Observation Deck posts were moved here from the Wilson Tower thread.

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Sounds like the large plaza is going to need to have some kind of public use. The issue seems to be 100% with public benefit - i.e. not enough retail and too much hardscape that doesn't benefit the public.

I want towers built but I am 100% ok with this sort of pushback - it helps us keep a more vibrant activated downtown.

Want the city to mandate an observation deck open to the public as well on one of the topmost floors. This was done with the Columbia Center in Seattle, which was built in 1985.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...tallest-tower/

[ArchGuy1]

EDIT: The Austin Observation Deck post were moved here from the Sixth & Guadalupe thread.

Does anyone here know if Sixth and Guadalupe will have an observation deck open to the public at or near the top of the building, similar to the Empire State Building in New York or the Sears Tower in Chicago. It would make sense to have one as this is the tallest building in Austin and Austin has no mass market and high capacity observation deck open to the public currently. The John Hancock Center in Chicago has such an observation deck despite being a mixed use office and residential skyscraper like Sixth and Guadeloupe.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by ArchGuy1

Does anyone here know if Sixth and Guadalupe will have an observation deck open to the public at or near the top of the building, similar to the Empire State Building in New York or the Sears Tower in Chicago. It would make sense to have one as this is the tallest building in Austin and Austin has no mass market and high capacity observation deck open to the public currently. The John Hancock Center in Chicago has such an observation deck despite being a mixed use office and residential skyscraper like Sixth and Guadeloupe.

No... let's be real, just tech worker transplants will enjoy these views.

[Riverranchdrone]

Is the observation deck on the UT tower still open to the public? This was asked on the Dazed and confused austin facebook page and could not get a recent answer.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

Is the observation deck on the UT tower still open to the public? This was asked on the Dazed and confused austin facebook page and could not get a recent answer.

Nope. BUT it is due for a restoration. I hope they open is again!

[Armybrat]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

Is the observation deck on the UT tower still open to the public? This was asked on the Dazed and confused austin facebook page and could not get a recent answer.

Last time I was on the UT Tower observation deck was with my girlfriend in early July, 1966.
Haven’t been up there since and have no desire to go back.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by ahealy

No... let's be real, just tech worker transplants will enjoy these views.

… uh. You know the top levels are condos, right?

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

… uh. You know the top levels are condos, right?

Yes. I mean living there. I have so many transplant clients who live dt that have moved from the Bay Area. Top levels are apartments, not condo last I checked??

[We vs us]

Preach.

[KevinFromTexas]

I doubt we'll see any observation decks although I wouldn't rule it out. The main thing is they aren't profitable enough. I could see one popping up with some kind of specialty project possibly outside of downtown to draw people there and add something different.

[ILUVSAT]

Do you all know that communications tower located in Clarksville (roughly West Lynn & 10th Street)? I've always thought that structure was ripe for redevelopment into some sort of observation tower.