AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[Blakesalot!]

Originally Posted by downtownaustincondos

This is the first notice of the launch of a spectacular website with a flash piece of downtown Austin unlike anything done before. The website which combines the skills of a pilot, writer and two web design companies and a vision of normal Austin guy will be a focal point for anyone who has an interest in condos in downtown Austin. The website will be complete in about a month.

Josh

That's a cool front picture, but I think Priller deserves to be credited for the renderings.

Blake

[priller]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

So did anyone get any photos of the fireworks? I missed them actually.

I got some shots, but my laptop is in the shop.

By the way though, there's a sweet photo in today's paper of the fireworks that was taken from the 45th floor of The Austonian. Check it out.

Yeah, that was a pretty cool shot. There are also a lot of nice shots on Flickr. Here are a few:

By redcti:


By Dons:



I wasn't aware they had other fireworks going off at the Austin Country Club. Cool shot here by Jim Nix:

[chewy]

"Inspired" by recent comments about how much development has occured downtown in the last decade, I invite the younger folks and the Austin noobies to rent the movie Slacker and see how it used to be. Namely, the "Madonna's pubic hair" scene where you can see exactly how run down the Warehouse District used to be.

On another note, (1) the Fondren has topped out but I don't think there'll be a tree and (2) we've begun design on Fondren's condo unit MEP design (base building MEP belong's to someone else and the retail/office/bar is still undecided).

Isn't AustinSkyscrapers a character? Just sayin'...

[Myomi]

I was wondering when someone would finally say something. I guess that is one way to put it.

[Scottolini]

I've actually seen Slacker. It's been a while, though. I think I should take another peek.

One of my biggest memories of the area from the mid-nineties is that the city had a rather large (it took up the whole block) day laborer facility right on Cesar Chavez. I believe it was where the westernmost Silicon Labs building currently sits.

I was too young at the time to really remember the eighties highrise boom. I have seen photos of the skyline during the time. I wonder how you would compare the eighties versus the 2000s highrise boom. Which added more highrises downtown? Obviously the 2000s added a lot more height, but when compared to what was there before, were the 80s just as skyline changing? More?

Undoubtedly the 2000s will go down as a more healthy boom, though. We added apartments, condominiums, hotels, office buildings, retail, as well as infrastructure improvements downtown. The eighties was dominated by office space, with little ground floor retail.

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by OU812

The problem with tolling existing highways [...]

And by the way, I assume you are speaking about someone else when referring to "anti toll kooks".

Nope. You. Anybody who uses the phrase "tolling existing highways" when that's not actually what's happening sets off one of my anti-toll-kook-sensors. You actually set off several more with your inaccurate description of our government (we're a republic, not a democracy); your oh-so-typical complaints that tolls are UNFAIR!!!!1; etc.

Capitalism at its simplest is the idea that anything that is non-trivially 'scarce' should be rationed by means of price if possible. Communism, by the way, at its simplest is the idea that a scarce good should be rationed by long lines, if you're lucky, or central planning otherwise. Which one sounds more like clogged 'free'ways to you?

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Originally Posted by priller

I got some shots, but my laptop is in the shop.




Yeah, that was a pretty cool shot. There are also a lot of nice shots on Flickr. Here are a few:

By redcti:


By Dons:



I wasn't aware they had other fireworks going off at the Austin Country Club. Cool shot here by Jim Nix:

Really cool pic find, priller. Love that one with Spring-AMLI II. Sadly, I was in Steiner Ranch during the July 3-4 fireworks and in Houston during the July 4-5 fireworks.

[chewy]

Originally Posted by Scottolini

I've actually seen Slacker. It's been a while, though. I think I should take another peek.

One of my biggest memories of the area from the mid-nineties is that the city had a rather large (it took up the whole block) day laborer facility right on Cesar Chavez. I believe it was where the westernmost Silicon Labs building currently sits.

I was too young at the time to really remember the eighties highrise boom. I have seen photos of the skyline during the time. I wonder how you would compare the eighties versus the 2000s highrise boom. Which added more highrises downtown? Obviously the 2000s added a lot more height, but when compared to what was there before, were the 80s just as skyline changing? More?

Undoubtedly the 2000s will go down as a more healthy boom, though. We added apartments, condominiums, hotels, office buildings, retail, as well as infrastructure improvements downtown. The eighties was dominated by office space, with little ground floor retail.

I remember it too...only I THINK it was actually located on the City Hall block. Liberty Lunch was where the Silicon Labs building is. But yeah, the expanse of mostly abandoned warehouses with busted out glass is a vivid memory. The Kids museum building is about the only building in the immediate City Hall vicinity that's still standing from those days. I've been here since 87 and it's been amazing watching the change.

Cedar Park used to be out in the middle of nowhere (you had to take a left at the LIGHT at Mopac and 183 to get there), the Arboretum area was forest, Southpark Meadows was a pasture/concert venue, there were 6 high rises downtown, and SoCo is where the "ladies of the night" would venture.

[Scottolini]

But don't you know, all these tall buildings that yuppie Californians are moving into (although they're all empty and doomed to fail, confusing I know) are ruining the character of Austin. Empty, dilapidated warehouses, surface parking lots, etc. are what made Austin special. South Congress used to be much better when you could easily get a crack rock and a prostitute all in one place. It was the Wal-Mart of the underworld.

[priller]

The "warehouse district" was an upgrade from what it used to be. Back around 1900 that area was called "Guy Town" -- the red light district. Between Guadalupe and Colorado, from 5th street to the river.

This neighborhood was home to hundreds of prostitutes, slowly building momentum from the early 1870s until its eventual shutdown by moral crusaders in 1913. In 1880, for example, there were about a hundred prostitutes, or fully 5% of Austin's female population aged 18-44.

There were also many complaints of public drunkenness, loud music, and "vile talk". Well, some things haven't changed!

The top brothel was owned by Blanche Dumont. It was located where Oil Can Harry's is now.

More interesting reading at: http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/guy_town/

[chewy]

Originally Posted by priller

The "warehouse district" was an upgrade from what it used to be. Back around 1900 that area was called "Guy Town" -- the red light district. Between Guadalupe and Colorado, from 5th street to the river.

There were also many complaints of public drunkenness, loud music, and "vile talk". Well, some things haven't changed!

The top brothel was owned by Blanche Dumont. It was located where Oil Can Harry's is now.

More interesting reading at: http://www.historyhouse.com/in_history/guy_town/

Who are you to say it was an upgrade? Certain folks have their needs, okay? Has anyone read/seen anywhere what kinds of goodies were found in the earth during the excavations for all the new warehouse district buildings?

[zx14]

still on 51? NO need to rest on their lorals being satisfied with the tallest record. Tell them to hurry!

[priller]

No, they're up on 52 now, although it did take a little longer than usual. I don't know if that was due to the extreme heat or rain or some construction issue. I have pictures but, as I said earlier, laptop troubles, so the photos are still on the camera.

[AustinSkyscrapers]

No, it's a usual hype when they get a record, like when 360 got a record there was a slow down, not that much though like the Austonian.
Austonian looking good during sunsets. :-)
Aerials of Austin:

Lake Travis:




360 Bridge:


UT & Downtown:


DKR:


Downtown:


Credits to rhoby13 for posting these on the Austin Update Thread.

You can see the Austonian on 52.

[the Genral]

Check out "Outlaw Blues" on DVD starring Peter Fonda if you want to see 1977 Austin. There is a car chase scene through DT (the color of the APD cars was accurate through the 80's) and they drove a boat over a dam on lake Austin. Compare 1977 DT from the movie with the 80's boom and you'll see how dramatic the change was. The construction stretched from the Capitol building to the river. Stevie Ray V. made a music video which included him falling out of the Towers Of Town Lake condo which was under construction, the One American Center was featured in a John Travolta movie (Michael) super-imposed in a DT Chicago scene. One Ameican seems to have lost her appeal. No one comments about her anymore. I still think its a great structure especially viewed from I35. Its always Frost Frost Frost. Ahhh wish you all could have seen her going up. It was a sweet sight watching her grow. Timing an Airline flying over 35 landing at the old airport was pretty cool too. They came in so low the highway lights were stunted so the planes wouldn't crash into them. The 80's...when the crane 'officailly' became the state bird, when there was serious talk of sealing the bottom of the Congress Ave Bridge to prevent the bats from nesting there. Good times...good times...
The 2000's boom is growing taller with nicer, more modern looking buildings, but what made Austin, 'Austin' happened long before then. She's just wearing new clothes now.

[Strayone]

Hey Bicen that is a groovy vid, nice shots of DT and who doesn't like Bike Jousting? Keep em comin. Anyone know how high the W is now, I can see it popping up over West campus/Pease pk. now and it can't more than what... 10 floors? It will have a noticeable impact on that area when it is topped out.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by chewy

"Inspired" by recent comments about how much development has occured downtown in the last decade, I invite the younger folks and the Austin noobies to rent the movie Slacker and see how it used to be. Namely, the "Madonna's pubic hair" scene where you can see exactly how run down the Warehouse District used to be.

On another note, (1) the Fondren has topped out but I don't think there'll be a tree and (2) we've begun design on Fondren's condo unit MEP design (base building MEP belong's to someone else and the retail/office/bar is still undecided).

Isn't AustinSkyscrapers a character? Just sayin'...

A:.... do you know if there are still going to be light features on the side of the Fondren? If so.... what kind?

B: Yep.

[KevinFromTexas]

So they're finished with the main roof of Fondren. Have they finished the mechanical penthouse yet? Is it completely topped out? I saw it the other day from I-35, and it didn't seem to be, then again I might have missed it.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

So they're finished with the main roof of Fondren. Have they finished the mechanical penthouse yet? Is it completely topped out? I saw it the other day from I-35, and it didn't seem to be, then again I might have missed it.

Not finished with all the mechanicals. There looks to be an area for the elevator stuff that is on the south end of the building that is yet to be finished. Not sure where all the mechanicals are going. There looks to be something like "cabanna's" on the roof. Looks like that will not be a concrete poor. There is also a large hole in the roof of the garage in the back. wondering if some of the mechanicals may go there.

Chewy.... do you know the answers? Mine are guessing.

[KevinFromTexas]

Chewy, was it you that mentioned Fondren would be 143 feet tall? Do you know how tall it'll be to the main roof and mechanical penthouse? Or to the highest architectural point?