AUSTIN | Shoal Creek Walk | 219 FEET | 15 FLOORS | COMPLETE - Page 6

_Matt · #1 Posted **Jan 26, 2015, 4:45 AM**

Pedestrian bridge over Bowie (connecting to Whole Foods corporate?) and pad for future building. Guessing the "future building" will be limited vertically by the CVC but I'm hoping there will be opportunity for street interaction.

Source: ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...amar_PLANS.pdf

Tech House · #2 Posted **Jan 26, 2015, 6:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Matt

Pedestrian bridge over Bowie (connecting to Whole Foods corporate?) and pad for future building. Guessing the "future building" will be limited vertically by the CVC but I'm hoping there will be opportunity for street interaction.

I'm unclear on the concept of the pad for future building. Why is it cut diagonally with reference to the 5th and Bowie intersection? Also, what is meant by "pad" in this context? Does it mean that a future building could occupy any or all space within that shaded area? Just as a mental exercise, it's fun to imagine the challenge of designing a building that has that exact shape.

NYC2ATX · #3 Posted **Jan 27, 2015, 9:38 AM**

I'd be OK with a building respecting the CVC and housing solely retail, only because since they are calling it the Market District, this project should help perpetuate this area as a retail mecca for downtown and the entire city of Austin. No doubt it's already taking root with the retail shops across Lamar from Whole Foods, but I'd love to see it spread throughout the immediate area.

Also, just spitballin' here, but I go to Whole Foods often and always sort of wish it wasn't facing a parking lot. That lot is actually quite unnecessary to me considering all the underground parking, and I think some of you would agree. I'd love to see that small surface lot (and possibly the one across the street in front of Office Max) turned into a spacious outdoor plaza. It would be a pivot point on which this Market District of sorts could center around. Thoughts?

lzppjb · #4 Posted **Jan 27, 2015, 1:17 PM**

WF would have to number crunch. They probably get more customers using cars than they have capacity in the garage. But if the garage can handle it, a plaza sounds pleasing.

AustinYIMBY · #5 Posted **Jan 28, 2015, 1:49 AM**

There is something about having a surface lot that makes a shopping area more appealing to some customers. I think a lot of people see having to park in a garage to go to one store a pain and would rather shop elsewhere. I believe that is one issue that some of the stores in mixed use projects have. If people are going to one store specifically, they probably wouldn't have an issue with parking in the garage, but somebody driving by and on a whim decides to stop in, might find it less appealing if they don't see a parking lot.
I personally would love to see less emphasis put on cars or all surface lots put underground to make full use of developed land. But I feel that especially in a place as spread out and "car-cultured" as Austin and Texas in a whole, surface parking brings more casual shoppers in.

JManny · #6 Posted **Jan 28, 2015, 3:42 AM**

Looking at the site plan makes me wonder what the shape of the building will be along the access road. I can't imagine its the shape of the bold line, especially when compared to the rendering. Hopefully its a smooth curved glass wall that follows along the access road.

_Matt · #7 Posted **Jan 28, 2015, 7:01 PM**

Regarding the pad: The small text mentioned "vehicular traffic" so maybe that is the only area to support traffic, per the future building design.

Regarding the WF parking lot--I envision that area to be used as a transit plaza for our future gondola system. Next stops east to CBD, south to Zilker.

KevinFromTexas · #8 Posted **Mar 20, 2015, 9:11 PM**

Soil retention.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...0Sys_PLANS.pdf

The ATX · #9 Posted **May 26, 2015, 4:38 AM**

Kevin posted this photo in the weather thread that is getting bombarded with Austin weather news. This would be why the developers had trouble getting this project approved due to floodplain issues:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=5377

smith_atx · #10 Posted **May 26, 2015, 4:42 PM**

Anyone know if a Waller Creek type of tunnel could work for Shoal?

Tech House · #11 Posted **May 26, 2015, 5:10 PM**

Going out on a limb with a wild guess, I think there would be more difficulty tunneling near Shoal Creek because it's rockier, whereas the Waller zone is almost ideal for tunneling with softer material. It's also hard to imagine voters approving bonds for a second tunnel, although there are some deep pockets with a vested interest in not seeing a repeat of Memorial Day 1981, when the water was substantially higher.

Where is the weather thread referenced by Hill Country? I'm watching from afar, in relatively dry Seattle (which has received about a foot LESS precipitation than Austin thus far in 2015.) I spent at least 2 hours online last night, ogling video, stories, and images of what is transpiring in Texas. What happened in Wimberley is tragic, entire neighborhoods virtually erased as if by a Cat 5 tornado or hurricane, and potentially several lives lost (haven't seen updates on the missing dozen.)

LoneStarMike · #12 Posted **May 26, 2015, 5:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech House

Where is the weather thread referenced by Hill Country? I'm watching from afar, in relatively dry Seattle (which has received about a foot LESS precipitation than Austin thus far in 2015.

Your Area's Weather - Version 2.0

edited to add the other thread

Texas Floods

Tech House goes off to Seattle 3-4 weeks ago & all of a sudden we start getting all this rain. Coincidence? I think not.

Lake Travis only has 25 more feet to go.

http://isthelakefullyet.com/

I hope you're coming back soon.

scraperwill · #13 Posted **May 26, 2015, 6:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech House

Going out on a limb with a wild guess, I think there would be more difficulty tunneling near Shoal Creek because it's rockier, whereas the Waller zone is almost ideal for tunneling with softer material. It's also hard to imagine voters approving bonds for a second tunnel, although there are some deep pockets with a vested interest in not seeing a repeat of Memorial Day 1981, when the water was substantially higher.

Where is the weather thread referenced by Hill Country? I'm watching from afar, in relatively dry Seattle (which has received about a foot LESS precipitation than Austin thus far in 2015.) I spent at least 2 hours online last night, ogling video, stories, and images of what is transpiring in Texas. What happened in Wimberley is tragic, entire neighborhoods virtually erased as if by a Cat 5 tornado or hurricane, and potentially several lives lost (haven't seen updates on the missing dozen.)

Shoal Creek and Waller Creek have similar subsoil conditions. Hard/rock material would be preferable for tunneling.

Jdawgboy · #14 Posted **May 28, 2015, 8:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech House

Going out on a limb with a wild guess, I think there would be more difficulty tunneling near Shoal Creek because it's rockier, whereas the Waller zone is almost ideal for tunneling with softer material. It's also hard to imagine voters approving bonds for a second tunnel, although there are some deep pockets with a vested interest in not seeing a repeat of Memorial Day 1981, when the water was substantially higher.

Where is the weather thread referenced by Hill Country? I'm watching from afar, in relatively dry Seattle (which has received about a foot LESS precipitation than Austin thus far in 2015.) I spent at least 2 hours online last night, ogling video, stories, and images of what is transpiring in Texas. What happened in Wimberley is tragic, entire neighborhoods virtually erased as if by a Cat 5 tornado or hurricane, and potentially several lives lost (haven't seen updates on the missing dozen.)

There is a big difference when comparing Waller and Shoal Creeks and that is Shoal Creek is a much longer creek with a larger collection basin. Waller begins not too far north of UT and while it can get pretty bad when flooding it would be difficult for it to get as bad as Shoal Creek can get.

The city could start by adding native riparian species and build big rain gardens along the creek that could catch large amounts of urban runoff rather than it being dumped directly into the creek. The rain gardens would help to slow the flow although they won't be able to handle massive amounts of water. Having a tunnel would go a long way in helping the flood problems of Shoal.

drummer · #15 Posted **May 26, 2015, 11:52 PM**

Here's a Flickr photo thread that has a bunch of pictures from the 1981 Memorial Day flood. At the top, it says:

"May 24, 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of Austin's Memorial Day Flood when 13 people lost their lives and damage across the city was estimated at $35.5 million."

https://www.flickr.com/photos/austin...7626196677382/

loonytoony · #16 Posted **Aug 17, 2015, 10:16 PM**

Saw some surveyors out there today. Hopefully this project is still on track.

JoninATX · #17 Posted **Aug 18, 2015, 12:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by loonytoony

Saw some surveyors out there today. Hopefully this project is still on track.

More than likely they'll be starting construction soon.

AustinGoesVertical · #18 Posted **Aug 25, 2015, 10:53 PM**

The site appears to have a new fence around the perimeter with another sign that says "available 2017". I was gone all Summer, but live in the area and the torn up parking lot is no longer filled with weeds, but gravel now. All that seems to be standing are the light poles. There's a small bulldozer on site, so I feel like this one is entering site prep stage.

The ATX · #19 Posted **Aug 26, 2015, 2:54 PM**

This should be getting underway pretty quickly. Two tower cranes are planned to go up in September:

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11405989

MTM-ATX · #20 Posted **May 27, 2015, 10:41 PM**

3 stories of underground parking... When I meet with Schlosser a few years back to look at some preliminary plans, I asked how they intended to protect cars and people in an underground parking garage. They responded that there would be an emergency "Submarine" door at the parking entrance that would be sealed off during high risk flooding events. There is a similar door (all be it much smaller) at Austin City Lofts on the other side of Shoal Creek. This door is between the pool and first floor. Their pool was flooded and assume they closed it off prior to the flood.

I do like that they will be providing an ADA compliant access ramp from 6th St down to the SC trail.