Dog's Head: 2,500+ Acre Mixed-Use Development

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

The FAA most likely restricts height in Dogs head to 100ft maybe 200ft if you are lucky. A stadium would not work here. The density wouldnt make it feasible here for light rail either. From the images the rail line would go from riverside to the airport but not through Dogs head. Bus routes with a base at ABIA would be a smarter move. But these discussions should be moved to transportation or dogs head thread.

what do you mean density wouldn't make it feasible? lol there's nothing there. look up TOD. this is called smart planning...

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

what do you mean density wouldn't make it feasible? lol there's nothing there. look up TOD. this is called smart planning...

You would need a population density of over 4000 people per square mile in that little area. With the mix use, stunted building height limits. That is impossible. Yes a stop at the airport and a stop at Pleasant Valley would work but anything around that at the most should and would only be served by bus.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

You would need a population density of over 4000 people per square mile in that little area. With the mix use, stunted building height limits. That is impossible. Yes a stop at the airport and a stop at Pleasant Valley would work but anything around that at the most should and would only be served by bus.

You do know they’re calling for 12k housing units there? Retail and office? Let’s not be silly. If this development moves forward, the train absolutely has a business case to go through Dog’s Head. We need to think long term you guys like come on

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

You do know they’re calling for 12k housing units there? Retail and office? Let’s not be silly. If this development moves forward, the train absolutely has a business case to go through Dog’s Head. We need to think long term you guys like come on

Rail=long term thinking.

This specific alignment=short term thinking to piggy back on the existing rail program.

Rail planning needs to be long-term, so let’s actually think long-term, no?

Best solution: add an east side standalone line down 5th, up 183 into the Bolm redevelopment, cross the river into Dog’s Head, cross the river again for access to Tesla. Take it to the voters as part of the first expansion, whenever it is politically and financially feasible.

This hits MULTIPLE existing and soon-to-be transit nodes AND one of the strongest employment drivers in the entire region:

• E. 6th
• Govalle
• Bolm
• Dog’s Head
• Tesla

A large chunk of central Austin would then be able to get to work at Tesla with at most two transfers (bus to rail and then rail to rail downtown). Many could be realistically served by the single rail transfer downtown. The ability to transfer outside of downtown from both commuter rail lines onto this line is also a huge sell.

An as-directly-routed-as-possible standalone line is the best path forward, not a spur. Such a line may actually end up being one of the strongest performers of the bunch over time.

[drummer]

I stand corrected on the article mentioning a stop - I was focusing on the existing extension path being on the outskirts of Dog's Head where it would just be a stop on 71.

[ATX2030]

Amazon picks East Austin for multi-billion dollar robotics facility

Ben Thompson
Published August 19, 2026 at 5:19 p.m. CT

https://communityimpact.com/east-austin/...-multi-billion-dollar-robotics-facility/

...Amazon is bringing a multi-billion dollar advanced robotics manufacturing facility to East Austin, the company announced Aug. 19. The project will be an anchor development in the newly annexed Dog's Head, and was first detailed by city officials during recent planning and financing reviews for that district.

"Austin's talented workforce, world-class universities and strong community partnerships make it the ideal home for this facility," Holly Sullivan, Amazon vice president of worldwide economic development, said in a statement. "We're proud to deepen our commitment to this city and the state of Texas."

[chinchaaa]

well, looks like dog's head is for the corporations and not the people of austin. not a shocker.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

well, looks like dog's head is for the corporations and not the people of austin. not a shocker.

corporations = jobs

people need jobs

dog's head will be developed with housing as well, I've heard up to 12,395 residential units with 20% of those listed as "income restricted", not to mention no less than 266 acres of parkland. All for land that is currently highly underutilized.

people need/prefer housing close to jobs....which reduces traffic, less impact on the environment, less commute time = more personal time.

the fact that Austin somewhat embraces urban concepts now after decades of suburban sprawl is the real "shocker".

[SproutingTowers]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

well, looks like dog's head is for the corporations and not the people of austin. not a shocker.

Need corporations to be anchors and then build stuff around it like retail, entertainment, residential, and sports/venues around it like the domain where the original anchors was IBM and Charles Schwab. Turned out a perfect mix for the Domain where more corporations have been added like Amazon and VBRO to keep the site economically healthy. Same ingredient has been applied to the Grove and Mueller.

[Riverranchdrone]

I know they want residential there. The city needs to make sure its affordable housing though. We usually get these bait and switches where the city is sold on the idea of affordable housing but what the developer builds end up building what they market as Luxurious apartments. That area needs stores big time. Mostly a grocery store. That entire area is a food desert.

[lonewolf]

why does the city needs to make sure its affordable housing?

[Riverranchdrone]

Because we don't have enough affordable housing. We can't keep building for the 1%. Especially in an area already plagued by gentrification. The developers only care about pocketing money. They dont care about the people of Austin. When most of the population makes under $60,000 a year yet the cost of living in Austin is over $110,000 a year.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

Because we don't have enough affordable housing. We can't keep building for the 1%. Especially in an area already plagued by gentrification. The developers only care about pocketing money. They dont care about the people of Austin. When most of the population makes under $60,000 a year yet the cost of living in Austin is over $110,000 a year.

I'm sure the 1% are champing at the bit to build mansions underneath the ABIA flight path.

The median family income in Austin (metro) is 134k /year. City of Austin median household income (different measure) was 93k in 2024 (higher now).

[Werdman89]

Originally Posted by Novacek

I'm sure the 1% are champing at the bit to build mansions underneath the ABIA flight path.

The median family income in Austin (metro) is 134k /year. City of Austin median household income (different measure) was 93k in 2024 (higher now).

Exactly, any multifamily market rate housing built over there will be affordable to the vast majority of Austinites.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Novacek

I'm sure the 1% are champing at the bit to build mansions underneath the ABIA flight path.

The median family income in Austin (metro) is 134k /year. City of Austin median household income (different measure) was 93k in 2024 (higher now).

you're so close to getting it

[ATX2030]

I remember when the City bought out houses in the Richland Estates subdivision in the Dog's Head because of noise pollution from the airport. Now they want to build in the same area. Make it make sense.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/council-watch-11702008/

Hard to believe Endeavor Real Estate wants to build 6,200 Single-Family Homes there.

I get them building 6,200 Multifamily Units like mid-rise or high-rise apartments and condominiums integrated into the commercial and retail districts but single family homes.

Just recently there was huge push back from neighbors concerning the new fuel farm build on airport property near 183/McCall Ln.

I guess those who buy the single family homes will know what they're getting into from the get go.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by ATX2030

I remember when the City bought out houses in the Richland Estates subdivision in the Dog's Head because of noise pollution from the airport. Now they want to build in the same area. Make it make sense.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/council-watch-11702008/

What doesn’t make sense? Most of dogs head is 10x further away (or more) from the airport than Richland Estates.

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by ATX2030

I remember when the City bought out houses in the Richland Estates subdivision in the Dog's Head because of noise pollution from the airport. Now they want to build in the same area. Make it make sense.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/council-watch-11702008/

Hard to believe Endeavor Real Estate wants to build 6,200 Single-Family Homes there.

I get them building 6,200 Multifamily Units like mid-rise or high-rise apartments and condominiums integrated into the commercial and retail districts but single family homes.

Just recently there was huge push back from neighbors concerning the new fuel farm build on airport property near 183/McCall Ln.

I guess those who buy the single family homes will know what they're getting into from the get go.

You are 100% correct. It doesn't make sense. The only structures on Dogshead will have to be concrete apartments. Single family housing won't work well. My work is on the other side of the river and I can barely take a nap in my car with all the plans flying over. I can still hear the planes in my house near pflugerville.

[Jdawgboy]

Well sound proofing is an option for one. I visited Riverview condos a couple of years ago with some friends and I was impressed by how quiet it was, couldn't hear anything outside like I35. The host started playing loud music and I couldn't even hear it in the hallway.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Well sound proofing is an option for one. I visited Riverview condos a couple of years ago with some friends and I was impressed by how quiet it was, couldn't hear anything outside like I35. The host started playing loud music and I couldn't even hear it in the hallway.

The materials cost increase throughout raises the price of the units to above what is truly affordable.