North Lamar/Burnet Development Thread

[Urbannizer]

The Saint George


Arch-Con Corporation via LinkedIn

[Echostatic]

Neutered by compatibility restrictions, but housing is housing at the end of the day.

[Mopacs]

Not quite Burnet Rd, but close. This building will really stand out given its prominent setting above Mopac.

https://austin.towers.net/demolition...lyn@towers.net

Demolition Pending for Northwest Austin’s Former Luby’s Cafeteria

Local real estate firm Ardent Residential now owns this 2.38-acre former Luby’s site at 8176 North MoPac Expressway, with plans since 2021 to redevelop the tract with approximately 275 apartments in a project simply called Ardent Northwest Hills,

[Urbannizer]

In North Austin, the Lone Star Center Thumbs Its Nose at the Highway

Road passes under Highway 183 in North Austin, an unusual 8.7-acre shopping center sits tucked behind the Highland Lanes bowling alley at 9012 Research Boulevard. Since it’s all connected by an ocean of parking lots, the Lone Star Center strip mall doesn’t look so strange from the ground, but examine the actual bounds of the property and you’ll find a pretty weird setup — this site, the adjacent bowling alley, the Olive Garden, and Cavender’s Boot City are all owned by different people, and the shopping center tract in the rear only extends a small thumb-looking piece towards Burnet Road.

The shopping center, anchored by the also slightly odd-looking Furniture Row showroom alongside a number of other quirky businesses and owned by an entity linked with Connecticut-based real estate firm U.S. Properties, is now seeking a rezoning from the City of Austin to redevelop the site with potentially hundreds of new homes.

The application states that a redevelopment of this site could yield a whopping 700 residential units across multiple phases of construction, which isn’t a crazy level of density considering the tract is more than eight acres, but still potentially a big improvement from its current heavily overparked condition.

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

This is underway. Site was being cleared last time I passed by.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

They are preparing an RFQ, which is different from the RFP process they went through with the original developer. Rather than solicit specific proposals, they are looking to select a development partner that the city can work with to design the project.

The parameters for the project were previously:

• Number of Units: 300
• Park Space: 1.25 Acres
• Community Amenities: 7k sq ft commercial/community space
• Coordination w Cap Metro on transit plaza and bike/ped access through site
• Income Levels: 50% rental units affordable @ 60% MFI or below, 50% ownership units at 80% MFI or below

The new updated parameters are:

• Number of Units: 300
• Park Space: 1.25 Acres
• Community Amenities: commercial/community space as permitted by funding sources
• Coordination w Cap Metro on transit plaza and bike/ped access through site
• Income Levels: 20% units affordable @ 50% MFI, 30% @ 80% MFI, 40% @ 100% MFI, 10% @ market rate. All rental.

They are asking for public input at:
https://www.speakupaustin.org/ryandrive

It would be good for transit/density/housing advocates to share their opinions on the site above. It seems to have attracted development skeptics based on a quick read of the more recent messages.

They've also been holding office hours to ask for comments/questions throughout town and through zoom.

The 6909 Ryan Dr RFQ is up:

https://www.austintexas.gov/page/request-proposals


Here's the timeline:

February 21st, 2024
Request for Qualifications Published

March 20th, 2024
Applications Due by 11:59 p.m. CST

March 25th, 2024
Application Scoring

March 29th, 2024
Finalist Interviews

April 1st – April 14th, 2024
Public Evaluation

April 15th, 2024
Executive Team Recommendation

May 2nd, 2024
AHFC Board of Directors Selection

November 1st, 2024
End of Exclusive Negotiation Period

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

5916 N Lamar

This one was canned, site is up for sale.

https://thebrokerlist.com/have/sale-141796

What was proposed:

[H2O]

OMG DPS has got to go! I was driving up Guadalupe through there the other day and marveled at the potential. Especially once light rail gets extended that far. That function would be so much more suitable out on the outskirts somewhere.

[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by H2O

OMG DPS has got to go! I was driving up Guadalupe through there the other day and marveled at the potential. Especially once light rail gets extended that far. That function would be so much more suitable out on the outskirts somewhere.

Agreed! Or at least densify the site somehow. I love the 1950s office building. Everything else can be demo'd and replaced though.

[JayRayMay]

Well, this at least is a welcome refresher to that corner...McCallum Community Forum Presentation about reconstruction of the school over the next 3 years.

Will thankful add some greenery to Koenig rather than a parking lot.

https://austinisd.canto.com/pdfviewe...ix=pdf&print=1

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by JayRayMay

Well, this at least is a welcome refresher to that corner...McCallum Community Forum Presentation about reconstruction of the school over the next 3 years.

Will thankful add some greenery to Koenig rather than a parking lot.

https://austinisd.canto.com/pdfviewe...ix=pdf&print=1

I may be mistaken but I think this bond money only goes towards Phase 1 in the vision document. We're a long way off from the long-term final plan that would eventually replace the parking lot along Koenig with a turf field.

[JayRayMay]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

I may be mistaken but I think this bond money only goes towards Phase 1 in the vision document. We're a long way off from the long-term final plan that would eventually replace the parking lot along Koenig with a turf field.

And this is why we can't have nice things...

[Urbannizer]

15-Story Residential Tower Could Bring Lamar and Airport an All-Time High

A transit-oriented residential development now in the early planning stages at the southeast corner of Lamar and Airport Boulevards at the edge of the Highland neighborhood could set a new record for height in this region of Central Austin, with the project’s developers now seeking a zoning change from the city unlocking a maximum height of 160 feet or about 15 floors. The approximately 350-unit project would rise on 1.73 acres at 6817 and 6901 North Lamar Boulevard, two adjacent sites respectively occupied by an Enterprise car rental facility and a single-story office.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

The 6909 Ryan Dr RFQ is up:

https://www.austintexas.gov/page/request-proposals


Here's the timeline:

February 21st, 2024
Request for Qualifications Published

March 20th, 2024
Applications Due by 11:59 p.m. CST

March 25th, 2024
Application Scoring

March 29th, 2024
Finalist Interviews

April 1st – April 14th, 2024
Public Evaluation

April 15th, 2024
Executive Team Recommendation

May 2nd, 2024
AHFC Board of Directors Selection

November 1st, 2024
End of Exclusive Negotiation Period

The city has selected its development partner for 6909 Ryan Dr after completing the RFQ. They're going with DMA Development Company, LLC. They have a lot of multifamily projects around town, though most are pretty forgettable. I really hope the city can use its imagination to guide this thing along because DMA doesn't seem to have much of one. Here is how their Talavera Lofts project interacts with the Plaza Saltillo stop directly next door.

Other DMA projects are here: https://dmacompanies.com/communities/. To their credit, they do have experience with developing affordable housing in Austin.


Here is the text of the email I got:

We have an important update to share regarding the 6909 Ryan Drive partnership solicitation. On May 2, the AHFC Board of Directors selected DMA Development Company, LLC as AHFC’s development partner. This decision affirmed AHFC’s staff recommendation based on evaluation scores.

Over the next several months, AHFC and DMA Development Company will enter negotiations to solidify the details and expectations of the partnership. Both parties are committed to delivering a development that the community will be proud of. We learned from you, the community, that it is important we choose a developer that prioritizes community input, understands the local community, and has a strong track record developing affordable housing. There was a strong theme of support for resident services and community programming, which will be incorporated into negotiations to strengthen the project and align with community priorities.

As the project continues to move forward, engaging the community will remain an integral part of the process. By choosing a partner based on qualifications rather than a proposed plan for the development, we have a great deal of flexibility throughout the planning and development phases. The RFQ process also allows AHFC and its partners to adjust to changing economic conditions and community needs/priorities.

[Echostatic]

DMA developed the multifamily at the Hatchery which I think turned out fantastic. Seems to be a high-floor low-ceiling operation. Hopefully the city pushes them towards the former although housing is housing at the end of the day.

[Urbannizer]

7301 N Lamar

https://www.griffincapital.com/news/...-austin-texas/

Griffin Capital Company, LLC (“Griffin Capital”), a leading private real estate investment manager, together with their joint venture partner Greystar Real Estate Partners (“Greystar”), a privately held national real estate developer, broke ground on N. Lamar, a 378-unit multifamily development in Austin, Texas.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

7301 N Lamar

https://www.griffincapital.com/news/...-austin-texas/

Glad it's getting built and the dilapidated blight that was there is now gone. It's always curious to me though when these places claim neighborhoods that they're technically not a part of. This seems to happen mostly with the Domain and Mueller. While Crestview is a great neighborhood, Highland (where this is located) isn't anything to be ashamed of. Between the Linc, ACC Highland, and 99 Ranch shopping center, it feels like Highland has more of the big ticket things to brag about these days.

It will be funny to see if a coffee shop actually does appear in the retail spot here as described. That would put 7 coffee shops within a half mile of each other. I'd be willing to bet that the intersection of N Lamar and Airport is in the top 5 highest density sugary drink centers in the entire state.

Editing to add that it should be taller.

[aleph4]

As a Highland resident, I can tell you this happens all the time. Nobody wants to claim Highland, even though it's quickly becoming one of the most improved neighborhoods thanks to ACC Highland.

I hope it ends up being something other than a coffee shop. It's hard to beat Barrett's.

[AusTex]

Originally Posted by aleph4

As a Highland resident, I can tell you this happens all the time. Nobody wants to claim Highland, even though it's quickly becoming one of the most improved neighborhoods thanks to ACC Highland.

I hope it ends up being something other than a coffee shop. It's hard to beat Barrett's.

Highland is now Central Austin now which is desirable. Full Stop. Old Austin attitudes are hard to advance. Outsiders know the difference.

When I moved into Bouldin 30+ years ago from out-of-state I was endlessly criticized for the poor choice. I stated that the next boom in Austin would target south of Town Lake....Now look at the neighborhood. I was also endlessly laughed at when I said East Austin would be next on the list! Location, Location, Location.

[Lobotomizer]

Originally Posted by AusTex

Highland is now Central Austin now which is desirable. Full Stop. Old Austin attitudes are hard to advance. Outsiders know the difference.

When I moved into Bouldin 30+ years ago from out-of-state I was endlessly criticized for the poor choice. I stated that the next boom in Austin would target south of Town Lake....Now look at the neighborhood. I was also endlessly laughed at when I said East Austin would be next on the list! Location, Location, Location.

Yep, inside of Anderson Lane is Central. Call it North Central if you want, but old Austin's perceptions are just ridiculous.