AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 119

TXLove · #**2361** Posted **Feb 10, 2008, 4:08 AM**

great pics priller and that pano is sweet!!!!!!

OfCourse · #**2362** Posted **Feb 10, 2008, 4:15 AM**

Nice.

Pano is rad, too.

I like the Shore.

zx14 · #**2363** Posted **Feb 10, 2008, 5:12 PM**

Do you think the legacy will topout a good month before the Altavida?

priller · #**2364** Posted **Feb 10, 2008, 6:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zx14

Do you think the legacy will topout a good month before the Altavida?

Earlier than that, I think. Legacy is now at 13th & 14th floors, Altavida is 11th, I think. Legacy is adding a floor every week, if not a little faster. Altavida is going slower than that.

JGFrisco · #**2365** Posted **Feb 10, 2008, 8:37 PM**

Legacy will top out months before Altavida will. That modular construction is really moving, plus Altavida is considerably taller.

Nice pix...and it's nice to see Spring starting to rise. I think that one is going to be a nice-looking building in its own right.

DTAustin · #**2366** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 1:08 AM**

I just heard a rumor that 21C isn't going to build on the Whitley site. Anyone know anything about this?

MichaelB · #**2367** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 5:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTAustin

I just heard a rumor that 21C isn't going to build on the Whitley site. Anyone know anything about this?

As opposed to another site? .... or just not built at all? Thier sales office is still open..... and last I asked, at the office..... about a month ago... it was still a go. The Whitley company has already moved to their new digs.

KevinFromTexas · #**2368** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 6:27 AM**

^ I also posted this on page 116 of this thread:

Quote:

I just got off the phone with someone with 21C. I was hoping to get some height info for it and maybe find out how soon we can expect it to break ground. I also asked for permission to use the building's renderings at Emporis. He said that right now they're "tweaking" the design. So he asked me to hold off on using the current renderings. He said everything inside would stay the same, but that the height and a few details would change. I got the drift that these were just minor changes in the design, not a major reduction. However, we'll see. He said that they should know for sure what the final design and height will be around March or April. So he asked that I call back then to get the details. I also asked then that if the design is different could I use the renderings, and he basically said yes. So, by either March or April we could be hearing some new news about 21C.

I complimented the building, saying I really liked the design. He said he loves Austin and that it's one of the places he really would like to expand into. By the way, his area code was 210, (San Antonio).

DTAustin · #**2369** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 2:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

As opposed to another site? .... or just not built at all? Thier sales office is still open..... and last I asked, at the office..... about a month ago... it was still a go. The Whitley company has already moved to their new digs.

Still being built, but moving to a new site with more space for parking. Well, I'm speculating that parking issue is the reason for an alternative site. A while ago, some of the neighboring properties told me that they were approached by the 21C reps looking for more space. 21C couldn't cost-effectively build enough parking below ground. I think they needed to go down 2 or 3 more levels beyond the 6 or so they were already digging to have enough parking.

MichaelB · #**2370** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 4:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTAustin

Still being built, but moving to a new site with more space for parking. Well, I'm speculating that parking issue is the reason for an alternative site. A while ago, some of the neighboring properties told me that they were approached by the 21C reps looking for more space. 21C couldn't cost-effectively build enough parking below ground. I think they needed to go down 2 or 3 more levels beyond the 6 or so they were already digging to have enough parking.

Haven't heard that. 21 C actually bought 2 pieces of property from the orginal owners of the Whitley company. The land where the company is and the parking lot accross the street that the Whitley used for employee parking. So they already own two parcels of land.That would seem to be quite a move to buy to lots... have a building designed for the site.... and then sell the lots and buy another. But, hey..... ya never know!

Mopacs · #**2371** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 6:26 PM**

FYI... They have started placing the glass on the 360 spire:

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

Kevinb · #**2372** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 6:47 PM**

hismasterplan · #**2373** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 8:43 PM**

What's the word with the construction start of the Tom Stacey building? Sorry if it's been asked to death but I've looked around and the only information I've found is outdated, saying that it was supposed to start in '07.

bigdogc · #**2374** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 8:57 PM**

no one knows. its on hold for now, but the statesmen had an article ~ 4 months ago about it. apparently the guy has to move tenants out, then hes going to build a parking garage, then he might end up building this building.

someone should really post that article on page one since this is asked at least once a week.

Complex01 · #**2375** Posted **Feb 11, 2008, 8:58 PM**

That spire is so huge. You know after seeing the ones they have in NYC, i have to say i like spires, they add a very different feel to the building. So very kewl, i want one a kewl one in Houston now...

KevinFromTexas · #**2376** Posted **Feb 12, 2008, 4:19 AM**

6 levels down for the 21C parking??? Geez, that'll take a while to accomplish. If they do indeed need more parking and were faced with having to dig down deeper, than it is a possibility that they might be seeking another site. I guess, I'm no authority on this, but I would imagine having to do much deeper would be expensive and time consuming. Either way, if they're putting more parking above ground we should expect to see the height increase a bit with more parking levels being added.

Nice shots of 360's spire, Kevinb. That will certainly alter the appearance, hopefully in a good way.

ivanwolf · #**2377** Posted **Feb 12, 2008, 4:57 AM**

I looked up 21C for what info I could find regarding the site plan. Original intake was Aug. 3, 2007, thats when the application process started, the last date of any reviewing took place Oct. 15, 2007. So no updates were ever submitted for this project. The application has now expired as of Feb. 5, 2008. They will have to completely re-apply and pay all fees and start over I think. So to me they either have serious issues (garage) or they have ended or postponed the project. The site plan number is SP-2007-0453C. One issue you can consider if it is related to the garage, remember they are trying to build a condo (202 units) AND a hotel (234 units) on the same half block property. Thats a lot of cars to have to put on half a block. I would think they would need the 6 floors down and at least the same amount above to accommodate both the condo and the hotel.

JGFrisco · #**2378** Posted **Feb 12, 2008, 3:16 PM**

I've thought for a long time that 21c was very iffy. When you start talking unusual layouts, unusual plans, or anything else that's different, things start grinding to a half.

When you throw in the economic slowdown, and the credit crunch, it is not at all surprising that they are having issues. Were I a lender I'd be very leery in this market of a combined hotel-condo in unproven scenarios. And their deal in Louisville is very different from the one in Austin.

In this (tough) market, you have to have a well-defined target market, proven sales, and a track record. Not sure that what they are trying to sell falls in that category.

This might happen, but I expect (like the Stacy building) that major changes will be made, and that they will try to wait out the credit crunch until lending money gets a little looser.

priller · #**2379** Posted **Feb 12, 2008, 3:30 PM**

I liked the 21c from the beginning and would love to see it take off. Hey, I could use more neighbors east of Congress. Also, I think I remember reading that part of the 21c deal was to provide funds for redoing Brush Square park, which is near our place at the Sabine and in desperate need of a makeover. My dog needs a nice park -- for her to poop in!

GoldenBoot · #**2380** Posted **Feb 12, 2008, 3:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanwolf

I looked up 21C for what info I could find regarding the site plan. Original intake was Aug. 3, 2007, thats when the application process started, the last date of any reviewing took place Oct. 15, 2007. So no updates were ever submitted for this project. The application has now expired as of Feb. 5, 2008. They will have to completely re-apply and pay all fees and start over I think. So to me they either have serious issues (garage) or they have ended or postponed the project. The site plan number is SP-2007-0453C. One issue you can consider if it is related to the garage, remember they are trying to build a condo (202 units) AND a hotel (234 units) on the same half block property. Thats a lot of cars to have to put on half a block. I would think they would need the 6 floors down and at least the same amount above to accommodate both the condo and the hotel.

Their site plan cannot be approved before their zoning change request is granted.

Poe, the developer, wants to build a denser project than is currently allowed for that site. 21c's zoning case is expected to be heard by the City Council late this month. Also, the city is pretty slow in updating its website regarding site plans and zoning cases. There is a really good chance that Poe received an extension - so that their zoning case can be heard and approved on three readings.

Normally on a project this big, the developer will submit a site plan and zoning change request at the same time...leading to the chance of one, if not several, extension requests.