AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 81

jgouger · #**1601** Posted **Oct 3, 2007, 4:01 PM**

Wait I can bring my dog to the Gingerman??

Cool!

You know while we are getting nostalgic, they are renovating Halcyon, and I fear that they are making that place trendy too. I'm all for trendy places, but places that are dives and have built a loyal clientèle by being dives should stay that way.

mars-man · #**1602** Posted **Oct 3, 2007, 6:12 PM**

Don't forget that Halcyon itself is a "trendy" redo of "divey" Ruta Maya, which fled the building's high rents for South Congress. Such is life -- evolve or perish...

KevinFromTexas · #**1603** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 3:26 AM**

A few random highway shots from 9/30.

New tower crane going up near UT. I don't think it's for 21 Rio because 21 Rio is at 21st & Rio Grande. This looked to be north of The Castillian which is at 23rd & San Antonio.

The Shore minus its crane.

Strayone · #**1604** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 4:18 AM**

^ I saw that crane today and wondered what it was, it looks to close to the 24th st area.

arbeiter · #**1605** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 4:21 AM**

^ those clouds are just lovely, although you can tell it's like 80 degrees or warmer outside. too hot for october.

Austin's skyline is kind of homely from most angles, I wish that these buildings were going to fix that. approaching on the upper deck of 35 it looks dense but squat. from head on down near cesar chavez, it looks tall but spread out. it can't win!

KevinFromTexas · #**1606** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 4:28 AM**

I know what you mean. lol My favorite views are from the south and west. Everything important comes into view and it looks denser.

And yep, it was hot that day, though with the clouds and some rain in the area it was at least breezy and you'd catch a blast of cooler air every once in a while. It was about 85F I think.

Mopacs · #**1607** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 12:32 PM**

Thanks for the shots Kevin! Part of the excitement of watching a new highrise sprout up is seeing it from multiple angles around downtown... and you have done that. Man, the skyline from the I35 bridge looking upriver is going to be one impressive sight in a few years. It already is, with 360 and Monarch topping out.

I also agree about the view from the upper deck of 35.... the topography makes the skyline look very squat. With the slimmer 'point' towers on the way, most notably The Austonian, I think that perception will change. Though I will say this, the upper deck view of the UT campus is second to none... Its an awesome sight for anyone driving that stretch of 35. As for the crane in your pic, I believe that is an on-campus building.

jgouger · #**1608** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 2:30 PM**

Speaking of cranes going up, I walked by the Spring site the other day and noticed that the crane mount is installed.

Complex01 · #**1609** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 4:32 PM**

Kewl. I will drive by today. As i am visiting, to fun...

KevinFromTexas · #**1610** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 4:57 PM**

I had a good laugh last night during the local news. Fox7 ran the story about CWS Capital's plan for the three 200 foot highrises along East Riverside. They of course talked about all the neighborhood opposition. One guy said, "Picture the Hyatt along there, but 100 to 150 feet taller." He was of course referring to the new towers being much taller than the Hyatt. Not true. The Hyatt is only 182 feet tall with 17 floors. That height came from the building manager of the hotel. These three new towers will be 200 feet each and have 18 floors. So only 18 feet taller. The difference in height will be pretty much unnoticeable unless you really set and looked for it.

I know it's not the city's responsibility to inform people about this kind of thing, but I really do wish there was an open public database with the city that was user friendly so anyone could look this information up. Imagine being the developer of those towers and seeing that news piece and hearing the false information being broadcasted on television. Highrise developers have one of the few professions where information about their product can be incorrectly spoken about or debated (even on television) and have little control over what is said, even when it's false.

This is partially why I'm such a height hound. It's why I collect building heights straight from the official sources, either the developer or the architect, and then list that info here and at Emporis.

Saddle Man · #**1611** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 6:06 PM**

This is not directed at you KevinFromTexas.

But it can be controled. The news station could do some research, know that what this guy is saying is incorrect, and then not air it because it is false. They then could have the talking heads give the actual facts about the development and controversy. That would control it. Just a little fucking journalism. That's all. They should just stick to news they're good at reporting. Like the lastest Britney 'news' or whatever else useless crap that passes for 'news' these days.

priller · #**1612** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

My favorite views are from the south and west. Everything important comes into view and it looks denser.

Agreed. The view from Mopac bridge is great. I wish there was some place that we could stand and get the same view.

Coming down I-35 from the south, as it approaches downtown, is always a good view.

A view I saw for the first time a few weeks ago was from the bridge going from southbound I-35 to westbound Ben White. It's a tall bridge and it gives an incredible view of downtown off in the distance. I would love to get a photo of that on a clear morning right at sun up.

KevinFromTexas · #**1613** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 6:32 PM**

^ Mopacs has a shot of that view. Not only downtown but also St. Ed's shows up nicely. Unique view of the city. Also with the elevated highway along 71 to the airport heading west, there are some nice views of downtown along there, especially all the talls. Several months ago 360 was poking up nicely there. There's several nice views up and down Ben White/71, even farther west.

And agreed on the journalism thing. Catching their mistakes with building heights and development issues with the city, it makes me wonder what else they're reporting wrong.

Saddle Man · #**1614** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 7:27 PM**

Most everything it seems.

Mopacs · #**1615** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 7:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

^ Mopacs has a shot of that view. Not only downtown but also St. Ed's shows up nicely.

Yep... I've taken shots a few times up there. I do NOT recommend this, but I usually pull over to a wide right-shoulder that is essentially a bridge 'stub' where the future EB Ben White to SB I-35 connector will run. GREAT stationary views out the window. Now you do so at your own peril... If you can go 0-60mph in 3.5 when resuming, you'll be fine

Just watch that rear/side view mirror like a hawk! Its worth it though.

JGFrisco · #**1616** Posted **Oct 4, 2007, 7:57 PM**

The problem with comparing the view from the north is that you are looking from an elevated highway 40 feet in the air, and more importantly you are standing a couple of hundred feet higher than the ground along the river.

On the upper deck, you are eye level with about 20th floor of the Frost Bank bldg.

A much better view of downtown is had from Ben White close to S 1st.

crewer · #**1617** Posted **Oct 5, 2007, 2:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I had a good laugh last night during the local news. Fox7 ran the story about CWS Capital's plan for the three 200 foot highrises along East Riverside...

Fox News? Please tell me you aren't surprised about this.

priller · #**1618** Posted **Oct 5, 2007, 3:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Yep... I've taken shots a few times up there. I do NOT recommend this, but I usually pull over to a wide right-shoulder that is essentially a bridge 'stub' where the future EB Ben White to SB I-35 connector will run. GREAT stationary views out the window. Now you do so at your own peril... If you can go 0-60mph in 3.5 when resuming, you'll be fine

Just watch that rear/side view mirror like a hawk! Its worth it though.

If I do it early on a Sunday morning, maybe there won't be many cars on there.

StoOgE · #**1619** Posted **Oct 5, 2007, 12:09 PM**

local news is a complete joke everywhere... 99% of their stories arent fact checked, they get random yokels who dont know the ins and outs of the situation to give their "opinion" on the situation. Their idea of fair reporting is to get two yokels to comment on the situation instead of gauging actually public opinion (presenting a view as a 50/50 split isnt fair or unbiased if 99% of people feel one way).

My dream in life is to become very wealthy, but a local TV station, and fire the entire news department. I know you have to do some sort of "good for the community" stuff to retain your FCC license, so I'll fill it with an hour of making fun of the other local news stations.

Mopacs · #**1620** Posted **Oct 5, 2007, 1:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by priller

If I do it early on a Sunday morning, maybe there won't be many cars on there.

Hey, go for it! I'd love to see the results with your D80 from up there. I did something similar from the crest of the new tollway direct connectors in Round Rock and Cedar Park.

FYI...This is the wide shoulder/stub I am referring to. Just give yourself enough room to accelerate, yet don't hit that concrete barricade at full speed...else you'll be in for the ultimate thrill ride.

The view (ignore the Mal Wart if you find it distracting

Another interesting freeway view... from the 290 W elevated freeway section just east of William Canon.