AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[Myomi]

First, I don't think UT campus should be considered in any discussion of downtown. It is a completely separate entity that happens to have some tall buildings.

Second, is there any better renderings of the Stratus design because they seem to have at least one Austonian-like building in terms of height. I bet this one is pretty impressive, though I love the Trammell one the best so far. I wish that one had the HEB.

[austintilIdie]

I think UT has it own identity, throw in West Campus and you have more density

I guess the downtown core would end at 11th? or even 15th st?

The rough distance west to east from Spring to Legacy is roughly 1.6 miles, bookended by i-35 and the west end/clarksville neighborhood

From Lamar to i-35 and 6th to 1st, we'll see incredible density over the next several years that will be unrivaled in the state.

[priller]

That's really not that big of a downtown, I don't think. I guess it seems stretched out because the tall buildings are largely in a line along the river. I can walk from the Sabine to Whole Foods in about 20 minutes or so, even on my bum knee. But I usually take the Dillo. (Actually, we usually go to HEB at Hancock Center and get food for a week.)

BTW, last weekend, we didn't use the car once. Yay! Walked to Walgreens to get a few things, walked Town Lake a bit, milled around the festival a lot, went swimming at the Hilton. It seemed more like a little vacation than a weekend at home. Really starting to enjoy downtown living!

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by austintilIdie

I think UT has it own identity, throw in West Campus and you have more density

I guess the downtown core would end at 11th? or even 15th st?

The rough distance west to east from Spring to Legacy is roughly 1.6 miles, bookended by i-35 and the west end/clarksville neighborhood

From Lamar to i-35 and 6th to 1st, we'll see incredible density over the next several years that will be unrivaled in the state.

Actually Kevin Identified it correctly. The "CBD" officially ends at MLK.

[priller]

A few Spring photos:





New sign:





The Gables area. They are really moving on this area now.






Nice clouds today:

[KevinFromTexas]

Very cool angle of Spring from the bridge, priller. Springs just now starting to be noticeable.

And yeah, I'm getting SO excited about the West End. Having Spring and Gables moving along. Not to mention the huge project slated for Seaholm and Green. And I'm also really looking forward to seeing the pedestrian bridge expanded. The views from the bridge over Cesar Chavez are going to be fantastic. You'll be able to see right down the street along the wall of density. I'm also looking forward to a more pedestrian friendly Cesar Chavez. Currently, the north side of the street is just about unnavigatable. At one point near Green there's not even a sidewalk. I'm looking forward to a better connected West End. Have 2nd Street tie into West Avenue and the bridge cross Cesar Chavez. As it is, it's difficult to get over there from the east or south as a pedestrian or on a bicycle.

[zx14]

good observations about down town area size. That is correct here kerwin and blanding towers and the patterson office towers are not considered downtown either. And they are the same distance as UT is from downtown. Also is the Legacy topped out yet?

[KevinFromTexas]

I don't think Legacy is topped out yet. Anyone know what floor they're on?

Speaking of Legacy on Town Lake, here are a couple of shots I took last Saturday (5/03/08). About a week and a half ago I was in downtown. I was riding in the car as a passenger, so I got to pay attention to downtown a bit more than usual. As we came down Congress, I noticed Legacy poking up on the horizon. So last Saturday when I went downtown, I stopped for a photo. I had been through that exact same spot before, but I missed it every time. There's a small, small window view straight down Congress of Legacy about a block (south) before you get to Cumberland Road, just a hundred feet or so south of the Great Outdoors on South Congress. Every time before I missed it because the view is rather obscure, and if you aren't paying attention you'll miss it. Then as the street curves it pops out of view, then later it curves back, but by then it drops below the tree line.


Legacy poking above shops along South Congress.


Another view from Barton Springs Road near Sandy's Ice Cream across from the Long Center garage.

[ivanwolf]

Hey i saw a new billboard in town today, did anyone else?

I think it is up for the Memorial day weekend, then i hope they take it down, its a bit tacky, but i hope it at least works, tax dollars at work.....

[MichaelB]

Yeah.....saw it this afternoon...... it's SO BIG!

[hookem]

Saw it too when I was out running the trail.. perhaps biggest printed ad ever in Austin? Sure looked huge.

[crewer]

Originally Posted by hismasterplan

There goes the 360 resident's view of the hill country.

Absolutely. Well welcome to urban living.

[hismasterplan]

Originally Posted by crewer

Absolutely. Well welcome to urban living.

That was one of the catches of the building too. A "360 view" of Austin. Potential false advertising.

[Saddle Man]

Buyer beware. Views are not guaranteed, no matter how much you pay.

[CHAPINM1]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythegreat

Buyer beware. Views are not guaranteed, no matter how much you pay.

Go over to the Las Vegas thread, there are people there who bought units in a condo from a developer who screwed them over. The same developer is currently building a 235 foot parking ramp directly in front of the views of people living on the lower 20 floors of the building along the south and west sides. That's probably the worst case of any buyer getting fucked over that I've ever heard of by a long shot!

[Saddle Man]

I don't know the in's and out's of that Las Vegas case, so I'm not going to comment on that particular one. It does sound like they're in a shitty situation though, and that sucks.

I'm just going to comment on views in general. The only way stop another building from blocking your views is to own the property where a potential might be built, or if there were height restrictions along the line of the CVCs. If the same developer of your building decided to build another building that blocks your view, you're SOL. Unless there was some sort of contract or clause in a contract with the buyers in the first building that said the developer wouldn't build another building to block their views in the first building. I suspect if there were such contracts, that the developers would use them as a selling tool, and that those condos would cost a lot more since they would have guaranteed views.

[Strayone]

The water treatment plant proposals are interesting, especially the Forest city and Simmons vedder that have some buildings either under construction or proposed. F city rendered the Austonian to look like a smaller version of the green neon fringed building in Dallas aka...Gumby. I would be ecstatic if the Trammel Crow project got the green light.

[pm91]

there is a building i found on this website: http://www.morrisarchitects.com/. at the home page, click on "what", "advanced design", and then "200 congress". its a BEAUTIFUL building..

[Raining Inside]

Originally Posted by pm91

there is a building i found on this website: http://www.morrisarchitects.com/. at the home page, click on "what", "advanced design", and then "200 congress". its a BEAUTIFUL building..

That location is where the 56 story, 683' Austonian is being built. The height in the pictiure looks correct, but the Austonian tower is oval shaped.

[Raining Inside]

Excuse my crappy cell phone picture, but the W hole is already a few feet deep. It still has a long ways to go