AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Hey, friend, I'll send you some good vibes. Maybe you and I and JDawgboy could meet up again for another drive.

Thanks Kevin, and I would love that. Gives me more incentive to get through this.

[Riverranchdrone]

https://urbanland.uli.org/issues-trends/...,every%20day%20of%20the%20week.%E2%80%9D
The downtown residential surge began under leadership of former Austin Mayor Will Wynn, who was elected in 2003. The young mayor articulated a vision calling for Austin to increase its downtown population to 25,000 by the year 2015. The city fell short. Only 14,300 were living downtown in 2023, the Downtown Alliance reported. But Wynn’s leadership spawned an impressive construction boom and demand for upscale high-rise living.

So in about 20 years, we added 10,000 people downtown. But we were well short by 10,000 people of our goal. Could we will add 10,000 more people downtown? Do we have the space, system, and demand? Is this a realistic goal?

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

https://urbanland.uli.org/issues-trends/...,every%20day%20of%20the%20week.%E2%80%9D
The downtown residential surge began under leadership of former Austin Mayor Will Wynn, who was elected in 2003. The young mayor articulated a vision calling for Austin to increase its downtown population to 25,000 by the year 2015. The city fell short. Only 14,300 were living downtown in 2023, the Downtown Alliance reported. But Wynn’s leadership spawned an impressive construction boom and demand for upscale high-rise living.

So in about 20 years, we added 10,000 people downtown. But we were well short by 10,000 people of our goal. Could we will add 10,000 more people downtown? Do we have the space, system, and demand? Is this a realistic goal?

Downtown population numbers are very subjective - especially when comparing cities. Austin's downtown is more defined than a lot of cities. I think we should include parts of East Austin along I-35 & even West Campus in downtown population numbers.

[Lobotomizer]

I know a chick that grew up in Baton Rouge, and went to college and worked in Nashville before moving to Austin that considers UT, along with a good chunk of inner East and South Austin "downtown".

We were once meeting up, and she said she was at a bar downtown. I asked where, and it was a spot on S. Lamar a mile or two south of the river.

[drummer]

Many folks consider downtown to be where one can find urban or urban-adjacent development, regardless of the geographic lines of the label. As Austin grows and densifies, downtown "grows" to some.

I know folks in DFW who consider downtown Dallas to be (beyond the CBD itself): Cedars, Uptown, Knox/Henderson, Oak Lawn, Design District, Deep Ellum, Trinity Groves, and beyond....

[Armybrat]

Well, the Domain is “downtown” to me……from up here in Brushy Creek.

And at one time I lived next to the Caswell Tennis Court facility - also at the Ambassador Apartments on 17th, just west of Guadalupe.

[randalls]

There’s a brand new national Kia commercial running right now during the NBA playoff games. It’s all shot in downtown Austin and on Congress St bridge. It must be filmed recently because The Waterline is in the commercial looking at about the same height it is now.

[The ATX]

Here's the Kia commercial:

• Video Link

[gillynova]

The crown of republic isn't completed. I wonder when they came and filmed!

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by gillynova

The crown of republic isn't completed. I wonder when they came and filmed!

I remember seeing filming permits for a Kia commercial. It seemed like only about two months ago, but I didn't search for the permits again to verify.

[SproutingTowers]

Austin Central District expanding.

[drummer]

I like it. Not sure if these merit inclusion as well, but the following areas would also be worth considering for any added density efforts or other infrastructure that might come with the designation. I haven't really read into this yet, so just from the map above:

* 5th/6th streets all the way to Mopac (likely down to Lady Bird Lake)
* Barton Springs Blvd all the way to Barton Creek and up to Lady Bird Lake (Butler Shores area)
* 4th - 7th Streets east of 35, down to perhaps Chicon St.?

Honorable mention: the old Concordia campus - they just stopped at St. David's at 32nd St., though I suppose there's not another good border street until 38 1/2 St, and that would include some other blocks that are unnecessary.

[Lobotomizer]

Army training program leaving Virginia to merge with Austin command

A crucial program for the U.S. Army will be doing what so many other businesses and people have been doing lately: move to Texas. The headquarters of the Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), which has been located for nearly 15 years in Virginia, is exiting Fort Eustis and reorganizing in Austin, according to WHRO Public Media in Newport News, Virginia.

According to George, TRADOC will merge with the Army Futures Command in Austin and create the Army Transformation and Training Command.

https://www.chron.com/news/article/army-training-virginia-texas-austin-20333598.php

[Lobotomizer]

Here's an older article from 2018 when the Army Futures Command was moved to Austin.

Army Chooses Austin as Site for Futures Command Headquarters

Austin, Texas, will be the location for the headquarters of the new U.S. Army Futures Command, Army Secretary Mark T. Esper announced today at a Pentagon news conference.

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Storie...s-site-for-futures-command-headquarters/

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by drummer

I like it. Not sure if these merit inclusion as well, but the following areas would also be worth considering for any added density efforts or other infrastructure that might come with the designation. I haven't really read into this yet, so just from the map above:

* 5th/6th streets all the way to Mopac (likely down to Lady Bird

The area south of W 5th could be a whole new district.

[Tyrone Shoes]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

The area south of W 5th could be a whole new district.

That's the old Tips Iron and Steel site across the tracks from the Amtrack station.

[Lobotomizer]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Shoes

That's the old Tips Iron and Steel site across the tracks from the Amtrack station.

Really from north of Cesar Chavez to at least 6th St. between Lamar and Mopac is a great candidate for some really dense, urban redevelopment.

[Lobotomizer]

And while I'm dreaming, then down Lake Austin Blvd. to a Mueller style (but even more densely built) redevelopment of that golf course. We then extend the Red Line west down 5th/6th and Lake Austin with stations near Lamar, Lynn, and Exposition.

[KevinFromTexas]

I've always thought we'd eventually have towers lining the river to 183. Sounds crazy, but I'm sure it'll happen eventually. Something like Chicago's towers along the lake.

[wwmiv]

If we’re dreaming, I’d like every property inside the 183/71/360 loop within CoA to be zero-lot-line by right.

I’d like 250’ height limits throughout Austin’s pre-1960 grid (roughly bounded by Springdale/51st/Oltorf)

500’ limits in the area outlined in the graphic above.

Unlimited height everywhere in what is currently downtown.

Or better yet:

Systematically delineate neighborhood boundaries for every square inch of Austin, and outline height limits in rings around downtown in increments of 250’ (as well as special nodes elsewhere with their own height limits, like the Domain).