AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 209

Saddle Man · #**4161** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 2:22 AM**

Spring says that they're 55% sold. The Monarch says they're 70% leased, and 64% occupied.

OU812 · #**4162** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northcrossed

Now Highland Mall is dying so it's time to move on, like a hermit crab looking for a larger shell.

NOOOOOO say it isn't so!!! I LOVE the Highland Mall!! I've been going there since I was a little child. I think I have like an emotional attachment to that place LOL. I was very sad to see the JC Penny anchor close down. That was the biggest and best Penny's in the city.

I think HM should be majorly remodeled and tricked out for today's standards. I seriously hope we don't lose another indoor mall. That would be a tragedy. I've always preferred indoor malls because it just gets too damn hot in Texas to walk around shopping in the heat!

Scottolini · #**4163** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 8:01 PM**

The problem with Highland is too many of the people with money to spend, that live nearby, aren't the type of people who shop at malls. You know, they shop local, and look down on people who shop at malls. It's not much better than Wal-Mart shoppers in their eyes.

Then there's those that are turned off because the mall is popular with the darker skinned people who live north and east of it. You know, those minority youth with baggy clothes hanging out are scary! These are the ones you hear say how "ghetto" the mall is.

It's really quite sad, as this is one of only three major indoor malls left in Austin, and the only one that's centrally located. It's a great location, and could still be a nice mall if the owners invested some money in it.

KevinFromTexas · #**4164** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 8:18 PM**

I haven't been to Highland Mall in a long time, but I was always impressed by it. I haven't been to Lakeline Mall, but I would pit Highland Mall against Barton Creek Mall. Both have a bright and airy feel that Northcross lacked.

Aiphanes · #**4165** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I haven't been to Highland Mall in a long time, but I was always impressed by it. I haven't been to Lakeline Mall, but I would pit Highland Mall against Barton Creek Mall. Both have a bright and airy feel that Northcross lacked.

Barton Creek was or still is a pretty huge mall....and I agree on Northcross.

Looks like indoor malls are a dying breed.

MichaelB · #**4166** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 11:06 PM**

Believe it or not, there is a bit of activity stirring at LaVista. Minor as it may be..... there are electrical contractors over there installing lights on the work site! I asked them if it was rolling again. "They" said the new owners were waiting on money. So..... anyone else have in insider info? I knew there was a deal in the making to sell it. Looks like that might have happened>!>?

Scottolini · #**4167** Posted **Nov 7, 2008, 11:12 PM**

Highland does not compare favorably to Barton Creek at all. Lakeline is also much nicer. Both have many more stores, and are much fancier than Highland. This is mainly due to Highland being the oldest of the three, and the owners not investing money into it for renovations.

Not to make this a Highland Mall thread, but I will say that there is potential for a major mixed-use project on the site. Good road access, commuter rail (I know it sucks though, M1EK), large footprint to work with, and I would assume very little NIMBYism from surrounding areas, as there are no single family neighborhoods abutting the property, except on the west side, and they're across Airport Blvd. and the commuter rail tracks.

A bigger version of the Triangle, but with some highrises? Maybe like the Concordia site? A less high-end Domain? The possibilities are exciting!

Northcrossed · #**4168** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 12:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OU812

NOOOOOO say it isn't so!!! I LOVE the Highland Mall!! I've been going there since I was a little child. I think I have like an emotional attachment to that place LOL. I was very sad to see the JC Penny anchor close down. That was the biggest and best Penny's in the city.

Sale speculation follows mall
Highland co-owner’s debt nearing $27B
Austin Business Journal - by Kate Harrington ABJ Staff

"Despite the mall’s proximity to Central Austin and the future commuter rail line, its occupancy was at 77 percent as of December 2007, according to Simon’s year-end report. Simon’s other Austin properties have fared much better: Barton Creek Square Mall has 99 percent occupancy; The Domain’s first phase has 91 percent occupancy; and Lakeline Mall has 96 percent occupancy."
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/11/03/story1.html?b=1225688400%5E1725062

Of course a lot of that vacancy is the empty JC Penney.

hookem · #**4169** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 6:08 AM**

I agree that both Barton Creek and Lakeline compare very favorably to Highland Mall. And I think Barton Creek is probably in the best situation long-term, even though Lakeline will probably have several more good years.

If you live in the Westlake/Rollingwood area, there is ZERO big box around or even much shopping in general other than Barton Creek Mall. So it has a big clientele from those neighborhoods, which will not likely have big box any time soon (or ever) to compete with the mall. Plus, I think it's actually closer to downtown (especially the new condos) than Highland Mall. So when those condo dwellers downtown need an Armani store fix, until the shopping is up to speed downtown... they'll probably make the short trip to Barton Creek. Unless they are close enough to the commuter rail and the ride to the Domain is bearable..

Northcrossed · #**4170** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 2:10 PM**

All you haters of 823 Congress (my favorite DT building) might want to see what was there in 1964:

http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-33338:1
Photo by Neal Douglass. Hundreds of Austin photos (with searchable metadata) by Mr. Douglass are at the URL.

Every hour the glockenspiel guy on the building's corner would rotate on his turntable and hit the bell with his giant hammer, the head of which is obscurred by the streetlight. Can you imagine what the bank's insurance agent would say about that today? "You're going to have an unattended machine do what thirty feet above a public sidewalk 24 times a day?"

OU812 · #**4171** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 5:49 PM**

Highland Mall has one of the most unique food courts I've ever seen. Nice 'secluded' booths like what you would normally see in a restaurant and a glass atrium overhead letting in sunlight. I always go there to grab a bite to eat whenever I had/have a class at the ACC campus bulding nearby (and even when I don't -- it's got a great NY style pizza place!)

I think the mall has alot of potential if someone would fork over the cash and modernize it. Perhaps it could include more non-chain type stores to attract people. It could be billed as the official 'Keep Austin Weird Mall'.

Depending on who moves into the old Pennys building, the traffic and occupancy rate could skyrocket.

OU812 · #**4172** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 5:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottolini

Not to make this a Highland Mall thread, but I will say that there is potential for a major mixed-use project on the site.

Well there is already a huge mixed use project (Crestview) going on across the street along the new commuter rail line... But then again, don't know if I can forsee the Highland Mall around in 50 years, although I wish it was preserved by the city declaring it an historical land-mark (told ya I have an emotional connection to it) LOL

migol24 · #**4173** Posted **Nov 8, 2008, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OU812

Highland Mall has one of the most unique food courts I've ever seen. Nice 'secluded' booths like what you would normally see in a restaurant and a glass atrium overhead letting in sunlight. I always go there to grab a bite to eat whenever I had/have a class at the ACC campus bulding nearby (and even when I don't -- it's got a great NY style pizza place!)

I think the mall has alot of potential if someone would fork over the cash and modernize it. Perhaps it could include more non-chain type stores to attract people. It could be billed as the official 'Keep Austin Weird Mall'.

Depending on who moves into the old Pennys building, the traffic and occupancy rate could skyrocket.

what's with the keep austin weird phrase?

i've been living in austin since 1998 and i still don't get it. austin's not even weird... the only weird thing about it are the people who wear those shirts that say keep austin weird.

or like a girl who said that she liked my long curly hair and said, "it's very 'keep austin weird' " and i said, "you're weird."

hismasterplan · #**4174** Posted **Nov 9, 2008, 1:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

what's with the keep austin weird phrase?

i've been living in austin since 1998 and i still don't get it. austin's not even weird... the only weird thing about it are the people who wear those shirts that say keep austin weird.

or like a girl who said that she liked my long curly hair and said, "it's very 'keep austin weird' " and i said, "you're weird."

I showed a lady friend around from Philadelphia and she thought Austin lived up to that phrase. She got lucky though because within 3 or so blocks of 6th St, we were flashed by a man in a trench coat, saw Leslie, and a couple art cars drive by. That was enough to convince her that Austin was "weird." I remember seeing a bumper sticker that said "Keep Austin Weird" but weird was crossed out so it said "Keep Austin." I sort of like that better.

Indescribable · #**4175** Posted **Nov 9, 2008, 2:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northcrossed

Every hour the glockenspiel guy on the building's corner would rotate on his turntable and hit the bell with his giant hammer, the head of which is obscurred by the streetlight. Can you imagine what the bank's insurance agent would say about that today? "You're going to have an unattended machine do what thirty feet above a public sidewalk 24 times a day?"

Very interesting. It was a much simpler era, that's for sure.

CHAPINM1 · #**4176** Posted **Nov 9, 2008, 2:38 AM**

I'm guessing the Austonian is almost reaching 30 floors now...

priller · #**4177** Posted **Nov 9, 2008, 3:06 AM**

Austonian is just starting the 25th floor.

priller · #**4178** Posted **Nov 9, 2008, 3:10 AM**

re: Keeping Austin Weird

My wife and I were sitting at the coffee shop at the Hilton a few weeks ago and we were listening to two 50-something tourist ladies at the table next to us. They were completely puzzled by the Keep Austin Weird slogan. "I don't understand that. Do they want to be weird? Why would anybody want to be weird? I don't think that's something to be proud of." Etc, etc. I was quite humorous listening to them.

CHAPINM1 · #**4179** Posted **Nov 9, 2008, 3:17 AM**

Nice; thanks a lot for the update Priller!!!

OU812 · #**4180** Posted **Nov 9, 2008, 7:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

what's with the keep austin weird phrase?

From my understanding (and I could be wrong) the phrase was conceived of by the city council a number of years ago in order to rebel against chain stores and support locally owned small businesses, aka: mom & pop shops. As most native Austinites didn't want the city to become just another generic 'burb with endless strip malls of cookie cutter chain stores (seems inevitable for ANY city though)

So I guess keeping it 'weird' was supposed to mean unique or anti-establishment, BUT in a business sense -- Not necessarily personality wise, which is how everyone seems to interpret it now.

Due to it's vague language, it's obviously very easy for the slogan to be misconstrued as it has greatly over the years.

By the way, I think Portland Oregon uses this phrase too, which has caused some discontent because Austinites think they invented it first lol.