AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 164

MichaelB · #**3261** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 3:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by priller

Not me. Looks like something that belongs in a theme park.

Gotta go with Prilla/thrilla here. Perhaps it is the generic look of the rest of the project... but something rubed me the wrong way about the fountain as well. Looks too "Hard Rock Cafe" for me. The whole rendeing seems sourced from previous projects. I bet if you look hard enough you would find that fountain at one of the "Hard Rock" properties!

Love the thougt of a fountain though....

So what do you guys think of the guitar piece in front of 360?

Saddle Man · #**3262** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 4:05 PM**

Speaking of Hard Rock Cafe. Their former spot on 6th Street is finally going to be used again. It's going to be a bar called Aces.

MichaelB · #**3263** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 4:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingkirbythegreat

Speaking of Hard Rock Cafe. Their former spot on 6th Street is finally going to be used again. It's going to be a bar called Aces.

Ah hA! Thanks for the info.... do you know if it is local? That has to be a hefty amount of $$.... and Priller said you were spoted at a new lounge on 6th! What was the name?

Saddle Man · #**3264** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 4:46 PM**

I don't know it Aces is local or not. Sorry. But yeah, Priller and I ran into each other at Betty Rocker's Cafe & Martini Bar on Trinity between 5th and 6th. I don't know if they're going to make it though. I liked the food, but the location isn't perfect. It helped kill Salsarita, and I think it might do the same to Betty Rocker's.

priller · #**3265** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 4:49 PM**

I think it's called Betty Rockers, and it's on Trinity between 5th and 6th. Nice martini bar, good food. I liked it.
(on edit -- I think we posted at the same time, Kirby).

AustinTex · #**3266** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 5:23 PM**

Question:

How many people on here are comfortable with developers building ON 6th street, east of Congress - the main music section of 6th? I'd like to know what the thoughts are on here - personally, I DO NOT like this T. Stacy idea of building his 820' - 830' tower ON 6th. I think this is just ego and plain stupid.

According to the news report (AusAmerS), his lawyer/attorney is saying they will have to "violate" (MY word) the 6th St Historical setting to accomplish this? I do not like this at all.

Now, if I read it wrong, please correct me. I, too, LOVE tall buidings, but hey - this is crossing the line. NOT on 6th.

AustinTex · #**3267** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 5:24 PM**

"And there will be a request to change a portion of the Sixth Street Historic District, Suttle said. Initially, the plan was to carve out a portion of the block on Congress."

hell no.

AustinTex · #**3268** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 5:29 PM**

Another question (please answer the one above first if you can): can someone tell me how we in Austin can end the Marshall's / Best Buy / Ross / Linens 'n Things / Petsmart / Shoe Pavillion malls that are popping up?

You notice, they are ALWAYS the SAME stores in the SAME shopping strips. Why? and why has this been permitted? they destroyed The Backyard, the Mueller Development, Sunset Valley, and the list goes on and on. No one comes to Austin to see that crap. Attrocious in my opinion. Any advice on how to squander these developments? other than not buying from there?

ATXboom · #**3269** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 5:48 PM**

I agree and support protecting what makes Austin austin and we should protect any historical bldgs and music clubs on 6th... Having said that I don't think there is anything historical on that block [littlefield, etc]... what could go there would probably be better for the district and the businesses. If it means better business then it may actually do more to protect the area, particularly as downtowns center of gravity moves farther west of congress.

my 2 cents

priller · #**3270** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 6:50 PM**

That specific project, putting a hotel/condo on 6th and Brazos, I think makes a lot of sense. The Littlefield building is not historical in any way, and it's an eyesore, so I don't have a problem with seeing it go away. The rest of the old buildings on 6th are safe. The only building I can see being replaced eventually is the Lottery building at Red River and 6th.

I'm not crazy about a huge parking garage going at 5th and Brazos, but as long as it has retail at the bottom I can live with it, and we do need more parking near 6th. I just hate parking garages, in general, from an aesthetic standpoint.

Saddle Man · #**3271** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 7:18 PM**

Now let's make a distinction here between the Littlefield Quarters building/parking garage at 6th and Brazos and the Littlefield Building at 6th and Congress. Just to be clear. T.Stacy's plans are for the Littlefield Quarters building/parking garage, not the Littlefield Building at 6th and Congress. Because I'm sure someone won't read (or will read the article wrong), and think T. Stacy wants to tear down the Littlefield Building at 6th and Congress.

jowens · #**3272** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 7:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingkirbythegreat

Now let's make a distinction here between the Littlefield Quarters building/parking garage at 6th and Brazos and the Littlefield Building at 6th and Congress. Just to be clear. T.Stacy's plans are for the Littlefield Quarters building/parking garage, not the Littlefield Building at 6th and Congress. Because I'm sure someone won't read (or will read the article wrong), and think T. Stacy wants to tear down the Littlefield Building at 6th and Congress.

More clarification: The Littlefield Building is located on the northeast corner of 6th and Congress and is seperated from the Driskill Hotel by an alley which was recently the site of an oil spill that originated from and old underground tank.

nickxter · #**3273** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 7:53 PM**

I know this has been asked before on this forum but I'm not sure what the conclusion was... does anyone know if the Hotel Van Zandt is still scheduled to be built???

priller · #**3274** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 8:20 PM**

Sorry for the confusion. Yes, Littlefield building -- historical and cool. Littlefield Quarters and parking -- ready for the wrecking ball!

StoOgE · #**3275** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 8:33 PM**

Thats also not the part of 6th street with music. In fact, East 6th is nothing but ghetto dance clubs now that can have a wrecking ball taken to them as far as I care (with the exception of a few holdouts). the music is on red river, and the "austin" type bars all moved to West 6th (4th is being taken over by "Vegas" style ritzy places).

6th has really gone downhill in the last 5 years IMO.

hismasterplan · #**3276** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 9:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinTex

Question:

How many people on here are comfortable with developers building ON 6th street, east of Congress - the main music section of 6th? I'd like to know what the thoughts are on here - personally, I DO NOT like this T. Stacy idea of building his 820' - 830' tower ON 6th. I think this is just ego and plain stupid.

According to the news report (AusAmerS), his lawyer/attorney is saying they will have to "violate" (MY word) the 6th St Historical setting to accomplish this? I do not like this at all.

Now, if I read it wrong, please correct me. I, too, LOVE tall buidings, but hey - this is crossing the line. NOT on 6th.

I don't like the idea of building high rises in the bar and music area of 6th. There are places for skyscrapers and there are places that aren't for skyscrapers. I like how Austin has districts for everything and has a sense of diversity.

KevinFromTexas · #**3277** Posted **Jun 6, 2008, 2:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

So what do you guys think of the guitar piece in front of 360?

I like it. I really like the idea of more public art with these new projects. It's adding one more nice thing to downtown that wasn't there before.

When I went to the 360 party last month, I actually met the artist of the sculpture, Jim La Paso. He gave me his card while I was standing there snapping some photos of the sculpture.

His official website:
http://lapaso.com/

Here's his page on the piece at his website with a few more shots of it and info about it.
http://lapaso.com/custom-work/killer-riffs

The name of the sculpture is 'Killer Riffs'. It is of course powered by wind. He and another man made a point about that when I first asked if it was electric. I didn't really believe that however, and was hoping it was wind powered.

The photos I took of it.

austin242 · #**3278** Posted **Jun 6, 2008, 3:31 AM**

ausome art best guitar ive seen in austin

zx14 · #**3279** Posted **Jun 6, 2008, 5:01 AM**

the mayor and city council of Lexington was impressed with what is going on in Austin. Austin is becoming a model and becon of light for all America. Also a tid bit of info Steven F Austin graduated from Transy here in Lexington in 1810.

MichaelB · #**3280** Posted **Jun 6, 2008, 5:03 AM**

Re" 6th St: I am very pro historical district, but I also think the Littlefield Mall is well replaced. Might as well be tall.

As for 6th in general. I think it is in a transition again. The cool music places will always run away from the masses...I do wish there was a way to get more music back on 6th... however, I am glad to see things like The Alamo and Parkside moving in. I think they are helping reshape the area.

But lets make a distinction between some of the clubs that some might not like vs the building that house them. The "district" needs to be protected as a historical district. Economics will guide the types of clubs, but we have to make sure that there is some form of protection so "economics" will not tear down the buildings, whatever they may house!