AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 131

Aiphanes · #**2601** Posted **Mar 9, 2008, 10:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

The Loop 360 bridge opened up several years before that. December 3, 1982 to be exact.

source

My bad...i move to Austin in 1986 but visited it a few years before that. I got my years mixed up.

Anyways it is nice to see the W Hotel and Austonian going up. I checked the W Hotel site for the floorplans of the units...there are some nice units...

KevinFromTexas · #**2602** Posted **Mar 9, 2008, 11:00 PM**

Lavaca Plaza is getting a few more tenants. Three companies have taken 5,500 square feet in total. The occupancy level is now at 91 percent.
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/03/03/daily39.html?surround=lfn

priller · #**2603** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 2:06 AM**

So reading the description of this building it stated this was a "fan-shaped" building, although it doesn't look like it from the rendering, looks pretty rectangular to me.

These are the really simple Gables Park Plaza models I did a while back, based on what little info available. The building in the bottom-left is apparently the one depicted in the rendering. Of course, the real building may not be as angled as I have it here.

Just to give everyone an idea of where it will go.

Is there a rendering of the other building?

Strayone · #**2604** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 2:17 AM**

The Austonian podium rendering is a trip! You have quite an eye Kevin. This is the by product of the marketing people trying to creatively arrange the visuals to better promote the product. I hadn't even thought about those buildings on the lower right, which are duplicates of the buildings just a few blocks above. WTF ...I can't wonder if I'm a tenant if I might prefer to not have a building immediately across the street from my pool. Unless I'm a bit of a voyeur/exhibitionist?... well that's another issue to be discussed outside this forum!

priller · #**2605** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 2:25 AM**

The folks in 100 Congress are going to have a nice view of the pool, too. Speaking of voyeurs...

ATXboom · #**2606** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 5:14 PM**

Friday, March 7, 2008
Central condo project lowers height after zoning hurdles
Austin Business Journal - by Jean Kwon ABJ Staff

Austin-based Fortis Development has scaled back plans by half for a 250-foot tall tower with 200 units at the northwest edge of downtown as a result of zoning hurdles and community opposition.

David Cox, president of Fortis, says he's now planning a 120-foot-tall building with 100 units at West Avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets. Cox, whose initial zoning request to build the taller tower was denied, says the scaled-back building will still need a code amendment -- being drafted by city staff now -- that could enable developers to build much higher in predominantly low-rise and residential areas just outside the urban core. Cox says he's won tentative support for the most recent proposal from the Old Austin Neighborhood Association.

The code amendment would relax so-called compatibility standards, which are meant to ensure new developments are "compatible" with their neighbors, thus forbidding a high-rise from going up near homes in certain areas of downtown.

Compatibility standards currently limit the height of 800 West to 30 to 60 feet. The standards have long been a bane of developers, disallowing buildings of certain heights in areas that have homes within about a two-and- a-half block radius. In the past, compatibility standards have derailed projects altogether or forced developers to redo proposals.

Jdawgboy · #**2607** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 6:19 PM**

Those clouds that everybody had seen the other day were producing Virga, ice crystals or rain that starts falling from the clouds but then evaporates due to the dry atmosphere at the surface. Can cause stunning effects especially if viewed with a sunset. Was really neat to see.

That was a strange thing that they pulled off on that rendering of the Austonian pool deck I was looking and looking when I saw Kevins post about it and then I noticed.

KevinFromTexas · #**2608** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 6:25 PM**

There's a new section on the forum where forumers can post city videos. The section is appropriately named the "City Videos" section. Feel free to visit it. I've started a thread for Austin there. "Austin Video Thread". You can post videos from Youtube of things having to do with Austin, and even create your own videos, upload them to Youtube or Google Videos, and post them in the thread.

City Videos section. It's listed below the Urban Photography section of the forum.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/forumdisplay.php?f=337

Here's a little preview of what you can find there:

Frost Bank Tower construction video.

• Video Link
Posted by theunforeseenfilm

priller · #**2609** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 10:02 AM**

Some Legacy photos:

I didn't notice until I got home and looked at the photo that they were in the process of raising the crane. This is an extreme crop from the previous photo. Still surprisingly detailed. I guess that's what 12 MP does for you, even in a little compact camera.

Austonian, now with 2 cranes. From Monday:

From yesterday:

Frost in the spring:

priller · #**2610** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 10:56 AM**

The latest Austonian update:

http://www.theaustonian.com/pics/2008-03-07_Austonian%20Report_25.pdf

Work activities completed thru the week ending March 7, 2008:

• Final pour of B-1 slab on grade completed March 6, 2008
• Elevated deck for Level 1 approximately 50% complete
• Rebar installation for north side of Level 1 to begin on March 10, 2008
• Perimeter walls at B-1 100% complete
• Congress Avenue pedestrian tunnel extended to Second Street
• Approximate manpower count: 90 each
• Utilities along Congress Avenue completed
• Installation of tower crane #2 began on March 7, 2008

Pretty good set of photos in this report, taken right before the 2nd crane was erected. Here are a few:

KevinFromTexas · #**2611** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 1:54 PM**

Great pics! Wow, that first one is something. I knew Legacy would stand out from those angles, but man, it's really changing that view. Nice pictures too. That new camera of yours is really nice.

Complex01 · #**2612** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 1:59 PM**

Yeah when i saw the first pic i was like, wowww. I likes new pics. Very Kewl...

priller · #**2613** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 3:16 PM**

Hey texboy, on the Austonian, that entrance ramp there on the northwest side, is that going to be the only entrance/exit for the building?

ATXboom · #**2614** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 4:02 PM**

http://www.envisioncentraltexas.com/

Greetings Central Texan!

What's on your mind? We'd like to know! How has the rapid growth in Central Texas over the past few years affected you and the community in which you live and work? Have you seen changes in your city or county? Do you have concerns about how additional growth in the region will affect traffic congestion, housing prices and education?
Envision Central Texas, an area non-profit visioning and planning organization, is seeking your input regarding important growth-related issues in the Central Texas Region. We invite you to participate in one of the eight public meetings that are scheduled as well as to fill out a short questionnaire about regional growth issues.

ECT Vision Progress Assessment

How has Central Texas changed in the past five years?
Five years ago, Envision Central Texas asked citizens to weigh in on how they would like to see our region grow, including how and where land is developed for housing and jobs, the types of homes we live in, how we travel around the region, and how we treat our environment. The input from many thousands of Central Texans formed the basis of a regional Vision which describes the principles, features and priorities that citizens deemed critical to preserving and enhancing our quality of life, today and in the future. You can click here to read more about the region's Vision.

Envision Central Texas is currently conducting a Vision Progress Assessment to determine how the region has changed since 2003, if it is moving toward the concepts described in the Vision and identify the key priorities for moving forward. Input gathered from the Regional Growth Meetings in each of the five Central Texas counties and the Regional Growth Questionnaire will be included in the Vision Progress Assessment report to be completed in May.

Presenters at the ECT Regional Growth Meetings will summarize key changes that have occurred in the region over the past five years, discuss some of the significant opportunities and challenges that are emerging and gather input from citizens on issues like transportation, the local economy, land use and the environment. By sharing your ideas and opinions, you can help create a lasting, positive impact for your family and your community. Please participate in this exciting opportunity and help decide what your future can be.

There is no cost to participate and no reservations are required. Please feel free to invite your friends and neighbors to attend. Refreshments will be served.

If you have questions, please call Wendy Peeples at Envision Central Texas at 512-916-6012, email [email protected] or visit ETC's website at www.envisioncentraltexas.org

Central Texas Growth Questionnaire
Tell us what you think!
Envision Central Texas has created a short questionnaire about the recent growth in Central Texas and priorities for the future. We strongly encourage you to voice your opinion by completing the questionnaire. It takes about 7 minutes to complete. The survey will be avaialable until April 11.

Click here to answer the questionnaire in English

Chasque aquí para contestar al cuestionario en español.

austin242 · #**2615** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 5:08 PM**

I just realized that while looking at one of prillers renderings that in the future republic square will be in a really dense area in the future.

priller · #**2616** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 6:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin242

I just realized that while looking at one of prillers renderings that in the future republic square will be in a really dense area in the future.

Yeah, there's already AMLI II and The Plaza bordering it and 360 just a block away. The Post Office tower and the new Gables apartment tower will be bordering it and Ovation will be across the corner. In terms of # of residents, it will probably be the most dense block in downtown.

ATXboom · #**2617** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 8:48 PM**

Priller,

Great opportunity to post your "future Austin Skyline images 2012"...

SkyscraperPage Forum > Buildings & Architecture > Buildings & Architecture
Current and Future Skylines

hismasterplan · #**2618** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 11:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by priller

Yeah, there's already AMLI II and The Plaza bordering it and 360 just a block away. The Post Office tower and the new Gables apartment tower will be bordering it and Ovation will be across the corner. In terms of # of residents, it will probably be the most dense block in downtown.

I hear the city wants to redesign Republic Sq Park. With that area becoming mostly residential I'm guessing they want a "front yard" thing going.

Saddle Man · #**2619** Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 11:34 PM**

It does need to be redesigned. Since that block of San Antonio St. is going to be closed for the federal courthouse, there will be more (potential) room for the park.

crewer · #**2620** Posted **Mar 13, 2008, 12:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingkirbythegreat

It does need to be redesigned. Since that block of San Antonio St. is going to be closed for the federal courthouse, there will be more (potential) room for the park.

I have a feeling Republic Square is going to become "dog central" very soon.