Domain/North Austin Development Updates

[travelinmiles]

This is cool for Austin. How is retail downtown? I know 2nd Street is coming up but are there any more proposals?

[KevinFromTexas]

I've merged these two threads.

The one by Boris Austin's Second Downtown and the one by ATXboom The Making of Downtown North

All the same subject. Boris' was posted first since it's the oldest.

[bgrn198]

I was looking through the website at the buildings that were never built in Austin and there was supposed to be 2 24 story office towers up around Gateway they were gunna be called One and Two Stonebridge Gateway Tower and there was also supposed to be a 15 story Lincoln hotel too part of the Stonebridge Gateway Galleria. Does anyone know what it's talking about the Stonebridge Gateway Galleria? was Gateway supposed to be a Galleria mall like in Houston and Dallas? cause it's not called a Galleria now.

[KevinFromTexas]

From what I understand they were supposed to be part of the Gateway Shopping Center development on Mopac near 183 where the CompUSA is. I think they had bolder visions for the development than what happened. Besides the towers, I think they wanted more of a pedestrian oriented project than a typical strip center.

[paulsjv]

Speaking of Gateway shopping center. What's going to happen with that center now that some of the major stores are either going out of business, moving across mopac, or to the domain?

[JAM]

Originally Posted by paulsjv

Speaking of Gateway shopping center. What's going to happen with that center now that some of the major stores are either going out of business, moving across mopac, or to the domain?

I've been over there recently but didn't notice any major stores leaving. Who are they?

[Raining Inside]

CompUSA closed its doors nationwide and Whole Foods is moving to new digs across MoPac.

[Mikey711MN]

Originally Posted by Raining Inside

CompUSA closed its doors nationwide and Whole Foods is moving to new digs across MoPac.

Not to mention Circuit City going across MoPac to Arbor Walk, which leaves a fairly good-sized chunk of retail directly adjacent to the MoPac-183 interchange pretty under-utilized.

[hookem]

The circle of retail life. I'm sure some other big box will come in and take the space that the ones moving leave... after all, both Circuit City and Best Buy were in their 2nd locations in that area. The Circuit City was on the other side of 183 where the Petco is, and Best Buy was where the Golfsmith store was.

[bluedogok]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I havn't been up to the Domain recently, how much progress are the on the next phase?

they have some mesh fencing up and it looks like they are doing some sitework. We moved our offices last Friday, I already know the area could use some eating establishments other than the $15 and up burger joints. Hopefully the newer phases will have more varied offerings.

Originally Posted by bgrn198

I was looking through the website at the buildings that were never built in Austin and there was supposed to be 2 24 story office towers up around Gateway they were gunna be called One and Two Stonebridge Gateway Tower and there was also supposed to be a 15 story Lincoln hotel too part of the Stonebridge Gateway Galleria. Does anyone know what it's talking about the Stonebridge Gateway Galleria? was Gateway supposed to be a Galleria mall like in Houston and Dallas? cause it's not called a Galleria now.

My former employer did the Stonebridge buildings along with the Arboretum and many of the office buildings around it, the ones that were built were shorter than that.

Originally Posted by Raining Inside

CompUSA closed its doors nationwide and Whole Foods is moving to new digs across MoPac.

Well, they kind of did, there is still a CompUSA, both online and physical stores. A company bought them and kept some markets open and closed in others. CompUSA.com has a listing of new store openings.

[AustinGuy]

Interesting article in Variety about the movie theater chain that will be opening at The Domain. I wonder if they'll have this $35/ticket rate in Austin?

http://www.variety.com/VR1117982907.html

Filmgoers get a taste of the good life
Luxury exhib chain plans $35 film tickets
By MARC GRASER
A recession may be looming, but a group of investors thinks Americans are ready to pony up $35 for a movie ticket.
Village Roadshow Ltd., Act III, Lambert Entertainment and the Retirement Systems of Alabama pension fund have partnered to bring the luxury cinema circuit Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas to the U.S.

The partners will spend $200 million to build 50 theaters nationwide over the next five years, with the first two venues set to open in South Barrington, a suburb of Chicago, and the Seattle suburb of Redmond in October. Others are planned for Fairview, Texas, near Dallas-Fort Worth, and Scottsdale, Ariz.

Each complex will sport theaters featuring 40 reclining armchair seats with footrests, digital projection and the capability to screen 2-D and 3-D movies, as well as a lounge and bar serving cocktails and appetizers, a concierge service and valet parking.

But the circuit will especially push its culinary offerings -- made-to-order meals like sushi and other theater-friendly foods from on-site chefs (a service button at each seat calls a waiter). Moviegoers will have to pay extra for any food they order, however.

The Burbank-based company's hoping to attract 10 million "upscale and affluent" consumers per year to its theaters that will be housed in high-end shopping centers and malls. Each complex will typically house eight screens....

[paulsjv]

Also, DSW Shoes moved as well. I often thought that the shopping center where the shoe store and circuit city was didn't get a lot of traffic because it was fairly hard to get to coming off of 183 north or 360.

[Raining Inside]

Originally Posted by paulsjv

Also, DSW Shoes moved as well. I often thought that the shopping center where the shoe store and circuit city was didn't get a lot of traffic because it was fairly hard to get to coming off of 183 north or 360.

I always thought it was awkward to get to also. Mainly because TxDot didn't continue the US183 access lanes across MoPac.

[austin242]

I don't know about the whole luxury theater it might work because one thing I know is that alamo draft house is anti kids so if this place isn't people might go their just so they can take their kids.

[austin242]

The reason theaters are having problems being filled is because they are so crappy. It seems that now days they forget to put in surround sound that is up to par. If they wan't theaters filled maby they shoud be more luxurious because I know I would deffinently be willing to pay 35 dollars to get HD surround sound and better picture quality while still getting a bite to eat.

[M1EK]

The whole Braker/183 interchange is going through the typical suburban sprawl clear-out; traffic got so bad there for large parts of the day that the retail was choking itself. (Problem, again, with TXDOT's idiotic insistence on frontage roads everywhere - the intersection basically fell over completely; which is no small part of why it's being abandoned by so many retailers now that there are other options).

[hookem]

The 360/183 intersection was the worst. People having to cross over 4 lanes of the frontage road to get over into the Gateway shopping center.

Oddly, though, both Circuit City and Best Buy chose those newer Gateway centers even though their existing locations (183 & Great Hills and 360/183 but on the other side of the horrible intersection) had easier access and were basically the same location.

I see the exact same thing traffic thing happening Arbor Walk... not so much with the Domain, yet.

My guess is the newer developments offer these big box retailers (the ones they want) with teaser deals in exchange for 5 year leases. Then they can get the anchor tenants they need to sell out the development, or lock in the investment needed for construction.

Either that, or these big retailers feel the newer locations are necessary to maintain the desirability of the store, so they move to the new strip mall even if it is just across the street. They don't want to be stuck in a dying strip mall; they want the prime space in the area, before it gets taken by someone else.

[KevinFromTexas]

That whole shopping center is difficult to navigate also. Besides getting into it, the place is always a mad house and is really packed even on off times. Thank god for the REI and Whole Foods in downtown.

[paulsjv]

I would never pay $35 to see a movie plus food costs?! I really think most Austinites would laugh at the idea and just go to the drafthouse.

[Jdawgboy]

Yea I agree, Alamo Draft house is just great, why would people want to pay 35 dollars for most of the things we can get at Alamo Draft house now.