AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 63

MichaelB · #**1241** Posted **Jul 27, 2007, 5:41 PM**

Re: Monarch.... Interesting the new rendering does not show what the east end of the block will look like. Hum. The old renderings had different versions..... I would love to see an updated view of the east end on the project.

jgouger · #**1242** Posted **Jul 27, 2007, 6:26 PM**

Kevin, and StrayOne Thanks for the comments about crane construction. I will be sure to check out the thread on that.

While this may be a little off topic, I had a chance to visit with the Realtors for Akoya Austin in the SoLa area. I'm very impressed with these condos, they are located off Lamar near where Uchi and the Drafthouse are. And they start at 139k for a one bedroom condo!!!!!!

http://www.akoyaaustin.com

Strayone · #**1243** Posted **Jul 27, 2007, 7:15 PM**

I also hadn't heard of Austin Towers but it looks fairly comprehensive, anyone heard of Paul D'Arcy for some reason the name sounds familiar, probably because a search showed other Paul D'Arcy's one of which is an Irish artist. To be honest any info I myself want can be gotten right here.

Also on the site ChiPsy mentioned the T Stacy project is shown as a mirror image.

GoldenBoot · #**1244** Posted **Jul 27, 2007, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I had never heard of that Austin Towers website. Looks pretty good actually. I'd be interested in finding out where they found some heights. Several of those I don't have heights for.

Remember to take any info you get from there with a grain of salt. It’s inundated with errors; both grammatical and statistical. Thus, I don’t give it much credence. But, it looks nice. I’d stick to the other two if I were you. Heck, you’re the editor for Austin’s Emporis page.

Jdawgboy · #**1245** Posted **Jul 27, 2007, 11:45 PM**

I would have to agree with GoldenBoot on the Austin Towers Site. Too many errors and it isn't consistant with other information that we have heard on some of these projects.
On another note I now see why they raised the crane as high as they did for Monarch. With that interesting roof design they would need a good ammount of height. I wonder how high the top of the roof is from the top residential floor?

crewer · #**1246** Posted **Jul 28, 2007, 12:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgouger

Cool! That is great that they are renaming Town Lake after Lady Bird. That has got to be a massive undertaking with all of the businesses that refer to Town Lake.

I don't like the name change at all. I like Town Lake! It's Austin. Calling it Lady Bird Lake sounds ridiculous. Plus, it does involve a large undertaking.

Frankly, I think they should have named the National Wildflower Research Center after her, or maybe the botanical gardens.

Don't get me wrong, I liked her, but I don't like having landmarks renamed without public input.

Strayone · #**1247** Posted **Jul 28, 2007, 2:33 AM**

^ I agree some friends and I thought Lake Lady Bird, or better yet Lady Bird Town Lake. It's more proper sounding than what they came up with. I'll always call it Town Lake though.

crewer · #**1248** Posted **Jul 28, 2007, 3:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strayone

^ I agree some friends and I thought Lake Lady Bird, or better yet Lady Bird Town Lake. It's more proper sounding than what they came up with. I'll always call it Town Lake though.

It doesn't make sense that they would name the lake after her. She was into natural beautification and the planting of native flowers along federal highways. She once said that she wanted Vermont to look like Vermont and Texas to look like Texas, and she managed to do that. Thanks to her, there are bluebonnets and other native flowers all along the Texas roadways.

So, to commemorate her legacy, Austin is going to name a man-made lake after her? What the Hell is that all about?

I would think naming the botanical gardens, maybe the revitalized Auditorium Shores, or better yet, a scenic regional highway after her would make much better sense, unless there's a connection to Town Lake and Lady Bird that I'm unaware of. If anyone's name should go on Town Lake, it should be Merlin Tuttle's for protecting the bats, thus making Town Lake a nearly mosquito-free zone.

KevinFromTexas · #**1249** Posted **Jul 28, 2007, 5:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Remember to take any info you get from there with a grain of salt. It’s inundated with errors; both grammatical and statistical. Thus, I don’t give it much credence. But, it looks nice. I’d stick to the other two if I were you. Heck, you’re the editor for Austin’s Emporis page.

Yeah, I spotted some errors. Some of those heights, such as the Brown Building looked to be estimated or else rounded up. I'm always weary of numbers that end with a 5 or 0 since they can sometimes be rounded up. I may send them an email and ask where they found those heights and question their accuracy. I've been chasing down a height for the Brown Building for years, but no one seems to know it. 120 feet does sound about right, but I'd want to make sure. Maybe if I get the name of their source I can get some more info and determine if it's reliable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDawgboy

I wonder how high the top of the roof is from the top residential floor?

According to the blueprints, which came from the architect, RTKL Associates, Inc., the top floor height is 287 feet and the top of the butterfly wings are 323 feet. That actually seems a bit high now that I have this new rendering. Anyone know what floor they're working on now?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strayone

^ I agree some friends and I thought Lake Lady Bird, or better yet Lady Bird Town Lake. It's more proper sounding than what they came up with. I'll always call it Town Lake though.

I like the sound of Lady Bird Town Lake much much more. I think Lake Lady Bird could end up being confused with LBJ Lake by some people who aren't in the know. She said herself that she didn't want to have the lake renamed for her. But I would whole heartedly agree that she definitely made an impact on it and was connected to it because of her efforts to beautify it. By her being connected to it, I think it would be appropriate that it be called Lady Bird Town Lake.

I think she would have liked it better that way. Lady Bird Town Lake just sounds more graceful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crewer

I would think naming the botanical gardens, maybe the revitalized Auditorium Shores, or better yet, a scenic regional highway after her would make much better sense, unless there's a connection to Town Lake and Lady Bird that I'm unaware of.

Well, when she was able to, she walked the hike and bike trail daily and did spearhead beautification efforts along the trail and Zilker Park also. She didn't only encourage the planting of flowers along highways. That was just her most visibly noticeable achievement.

Jdawgboy · #**1250** Posted **Jul 28, 2007, 7:20 PM**

Yea I never liked the sound of Town Lake either in fact I don't consider it a lake at all even though it is technically a lake cause of the dam. It looks like a river and so I just call it the Colorado River wich is what it is. But I do like Lady Bird Lake better than Town Lake either way.

By the way they are raising the tower crane for 360 right now. I saw the webcam and I can see a crane piece up against the top. I want to go actually watch how they do it so Im about to drive down there now.

KevinFromTexas · #**1251** Posted **Jul 29, 2007, 4:21 PM**

They're starting to raise the crane today guys. Yesterday they had a piece in place on the tray, but today they've actually raised it up three sections starting at 7:14 am. I think the rain yesterday threw a wrench into the process. Downtown and South Austin had some heavy rain for about an hour.

Web cam.
http://novare.oxblue.com/austin360/index.html

Notice that the crane raises a few times just a tiny bit. That's actually the jack lifting up. They a new section is moved into place, secured, and then the jack moves up another level and they bring in a new section. Pretty cool stuff.

Does anyone have the ability to make animated images? I had a free trial program, but it's expired now. It would be sweet to loop all the images and see the crane raise up and down.

Anyway, this should put the crane up to around 450 feet high, easily making it the 2nd highest point on the skyline currently.

Jdawgboy · #**1252** Posted **Jul 29, 2007, 7:40 PM**

Yea I was all exited yesterday cause I noticed they started to put the crane peice on but they didnt do anything els so I went down there for nothing yesterday. oh well Im glad they are finally raising it.

Mopacs · #**1253** Posted **Jul 31, 2007, 2:30 PM**

Double post...

Mopacs · #**1254** Posted **Jul 31, 2007, 2:35 PM**

Here are a few distant, hazy shots I took this morning. As you can see, the 360 crane has risen dramatically, and taken its place on the skyline. I'd estimate it to be around 450-470ft? Its still lower than Frost. Monarch is also hard to miss.
Both towers look a bit 'squat' from my vantage point, due to their lower elevations in the river valley, relative to my location.

^^ Does anyone know what that small white crane is for, below and to the right of Monarch? Its a very low crane, along MLK, about 1-2 blocks west of Guadalupe.

adamhodges · #**1255** Posted **Jul 31, 2007, 3:15 PM**

the small white crane on MLK is for a condo project called Presidio on Judges Hill.. i could be a little off on the name, but thats what the crane is for

MichaelB · #**1256** Posted **Jul 31, 2007, 3:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamhodges

the small white crane on MLK is for a condo project called Presidio on Judges Hill.. i could be a little off on the name, but thats what the crane is for

Yep..... thats it....

jgouger · #**1257** Posted **Jul 31, 2007, 4:56 PM**

There is a lot of activity going on at the block 21 site today. They are wrapping the fence with the Block 21 Residences signage, and bringing the heavy earth moving equipment to the site. However they still have not moved the big tree yet. Everyone here at my office is anxiously waiting to see them move the tree.

That is going to be one impressive hole in the ground once they start excavation! I believe that the excavation depth will be almost as deep as Altavida's but an entire city block. Also Altavida it looks like the main tower will have its underground portion complete in the next week or so.

KevinFromTexas · #**1258** Posted **Jul 31, 2007, 6:13 PM**

Cool "aerial" video of a 2D model of The Austonian an downtown.
http://theaustonian.com/AustonianFly08.wmv

That's from their website.

StoOgE · #**1259** Posted **Jul 31, 2007, 8:01 PM**

I love how T. Stacey is shorter than Frost on that video :lol

Edit: Ive actually got a meeting set up with the good people of W Hotels to see about buying one of their 1 BR units if the price isnt too bad. I love their layouts and their location is better than any of the other ones that have broken ground to this point.

StoOgE · #**1260** Posted **Jul 31, 2007, 8:22 PM**

Pricing on W Residences:

Low 400K's for the smaller 1 BR's with .63 PSF for HOA fees. This is absolutely an upscale residence, which is to be expected given their track record. 10K downpayment (fully refundable) with 10% due at groundbreaking (October 12th).

So, not alot of firefighters and teachers in this one :lol