AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 136

Jdawgboy · #**2701** Posted **Mar 26, 2008, 6:05 PM**

I don't think Alta Vida is midway point yet. It is supposed to be 37 stories, I would assume though that they are close probably once they pass the first setback on 101 Congress. Great shots...

KevinFromTexas · #**2702** Posted **Mar 26, 2008, 7:31 PM**

They said it would be 412 feet tall. 100 Congress next door is 320 feet. So it's getting there.

MichaelB · #**2703** Posted **Mar 26, 2008, 10:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Gingerman is my favorite bar in the city. Where else can I drink Delerium Tremmons and bring my dog with me to chill? Its such a great place.

I would hate to see them have to move...

please see the links above and write the city and Gables.

KevinFromTexas · #**2704** Posted **Mar 26, 2008, 10:09 PM**

KVUE is about to run a story on an Austin company that plans to build wind turbines on several of Austin's highrises. They showed one of KVUE's reporters standing on the roof of one building. Do try and catch it, it looks interesting.

Here's the story.
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/032608kvuewindpower-bm.20ba7bc.html

And here is the company. "Building Turbines".
http://buildingturbines.com/

priller · #**2705** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 1:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I don't think Alta Vida is midway point yet. It is supposed to be 37 stories, I would assume though that they are close probably once they pass the first setback on 101 Congress. Great shots...

You're right. For some reason I had 32 floors in my head for Altavida. A few more to go for halfway. Wow, it's going to be a big building.

JGFrisco · #**2706** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 2:11 AM**

I count floor 16 for Altavida...so it would be about 3 more til the halfway point.

hismasterplan · #**2707** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 4:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

KVUE is about to run a story on an Austin company that plans to build wind turbines on several of Austin's highrises. They showed one of KVUE's reporters standing on the roof of one building. Do try and catch it, it looks interesting.

Here's the story.
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/032608kvuewindpower-bm.20ba7bc.html

And here is the company. "Building Turbines".
http://buildingturbines.com/

I met a man on an airplane recently who was going to Austin on his way to a meeting about wind power and he mentioned something like this. Wonder if these guys crossed paths.

crewer · #**2708** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 1:19 PM**

I got the word that the W Hotel will start construction next week. So we'll see.

crewer · #**2709** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 2:05 PM**

By the way, I made my move from DC to Asheville a month ago. We did an office relocation, and now I'm living amongst the mountains. Asheville is one Hell of an interesting city and is pretty much what Austin was 35 years ago. The downtown is amazingly intact, having been spared the wrecking ball, for the most part. The downtown is packed with coffee houses, art galleries, outside cafes, and friendly, interesting people. Supposedly Asheville is the most vegan-friendly small city in the US, according to goveg.com. There are no Whole Foods around, but they have their own organic stores that remind me of what Whole Foods once was.

It's sure not going through the building boom Austin is seeing, but there are a few substantial projects in the works. The tallest will be the 23 story Ellington, which is tall building for Asheville.

jgouger · #**2710** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 5:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by crewer

I got the word that the W Hotel will start construction next week. So we'll see.

Hmm... I heard that they are having problems with their financing model. I heard that from a friend that knows someone with Urbanspace. Something seems very fishy with that project. They had this massive public grand opening party and then almost 6 months later, no ground has actually been broken!

This seems very reminiscent of "The bigger they are the harder they fall"

Raining Inside · #**2711** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 6:04 PM**

A few weeks ago it was posted that the W hadn't even applied for their building permits. Did this ever happen?

WestAustinite · #**2712** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 6:04 PM**

I would agree that it seems odd that "W" has not broken ground. My guess is that because the the two luxury projects - Austonian and Four Seasons - got their shovel in the ground first, that took away a lot of prospective buyers. After all, can you imagine condos in all three of those towers coming into play within the same 6 month period? There are only so many people who can pay $600K+ for a condo. Now the $250-400K range would be a much different story.... if there were any being built downtown. Those would sell faster than slices of Ropollos Pizza on a Saturday night.

ATXboom · #**2713** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 6:45 PM**

I hear construction in April for sure.

Keep in mind their funding model is very different from 100% condo developments. ....being the first luxury hotel to market in Austin is very important.

GoldenBoot · #**2714** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 9:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestAustinite

I would agree that it seems odd that "W" has not broken ground. My guess is that because the the two luxury projects - Austonian and Four Seasons - got their shovel in the ground first, that took away a lot of prospective buyers. After all, can you imagine condos in all three of those towers coming into play within the same 6 month period? There are only so many people who can pay $600K+ for a condo. Now the $250-400K range would be a much different story.... if there were any being built downtown. Those would sell faster than slices of Ropollos Pizza on a Saturday night.

It's not odd at all...their site plan has not been approved yet. Thus, they cannot apply for their building permits. Also, they had to make an adjustment in the zoning conditions/restrictions, forcing the developers to get approval from city council, which they did a couple of weeks ago.

Furthermore, construction on the Austonian and Four Seasons has had absolutely no affect on the W's construction plans! In September, the W Residences had contracts on 80% of their units. As of January 2008, both the Austonian the Four Seasons had commitments for 40%-50% of their respective projects.

MichaelB · #**2715** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 11:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

It's not odd at all...their site plan has not been approved yet. Thus, they cannot apply for their building permits. Also, they had to make an adjustment in the zoning conditions/restrictions, forcing the developers to get approval from city council, which they did a couple of weeks ago.

Furthermore, construction on the Austonian and Four Seasons has had absolutely no affect on the W's construction plans! In September, the W Residences had contracts on 80% of their units. As of January 2008, both the Austonian the Four Seasons had commitments for 40%-50% of their respective projects.

So glad you are around with reason and real info!

austin242 · #**2716** Posted **Mar 28, 2008, 1:16 AM**

you all have to see the new google street view for austin its totally wicked you can actuall see your own house.

KevinFromTexas · #**2717** Posted **Mar 28, 2008, 1:36 AM**

Oh dear, they got us on trash day. Well that looks attractive.

lol

KYbred · #**2718** Posted **Mar 28, 2008, 3:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin242

you all have to see the new google street view for austin its totally wicked you can actuall see your own house.

It's only a matter of time until somebody finds something really weird that was caught on that camera, do post!

Dale · #**2719** Posted **Mar 28, 2008, 3:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

It's not odd at all...their site plan has not been approved yet. Thus, they cannot apply for their building permits. Also, they had to make an adjustment in the zoning conditions/restrictions, forcing the developers to get approval from city council, which they did a couple of weeks ago.

Furthermore, construction on the Austonian and Four Seasons has had absolutely no affect on the W's construction plans! In September, the W Residences had contracts on 80% of their units. As of January 2008, both the Austonian the Four Seasons had commitments for 40%-50% of their respective projects.

And in any case, aren't they upsizing the project ? If so, that hardly portends a struggling project.

GoldenBoot · #**2720** Posted **Mar 28, 2008, 2:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale

And in any case, aren't they upsizing the project ? If so, that hardly portends a struggling project.

I believe so. A few weeks ago, the developers received City Council approval to increase the project's FAR from 11:1 to 12:1 - thus, allowing for a maximum project square footage of 919,966 (up 76,664 SF from the 11:1 maximum of 843,302 SF).