AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 305

hookem · #**6081** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 12:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

That was what I had always thought too. I always used the numbered streets to judge what was "central" and not. 56th Street is the last numbered street in Austin, and it's a block south of 2222. Whenever I'm on a numbered street, it feels central to me. Especially when you realize they start at the river in downtown.

That makes a lot of sense to me... the numbered streets, including those which are north of 45th, are still connected to the grid of streets which undoubtedly includes central Austin. If not right now, certainly in a few years that should be considered central Austin...

MichaelB · #**6082** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 12:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Well, I got some stuff in from the city planner when I got home.

Burnett Road from 45th basically to Justin Lane has been zoned for VMU development on either side of the road. Lamar as well for roughly the same area.

The city says they are looking to create high density pedestrian friendly zones in the area. Given that I live half a block off of Burnett I am all for it.

1) I assume it will help my property value if my condos property is rezoned for VMU development

2) I would love for my area to become more walkable. I think this area already makes sense for some mid-sized (sub 8 story) developments to line Burnett road.. it is already pretty dense and I would much rather have a nice walkable neighborhood with a lot of boutique shops on the ground floor than the dense suburban stuff we get now.

In any case, I have some questions. Some of the tracts are listed as "opt-in/opt-out" which makes it sounds like the owner has a choice to build a VMU on the site.. does this mean the non "opt in" sites can only have VMU construction (i.e. no more shopping centers).

The deminsional standards are a bit of a concern for me.

It says that there are

1) No minimum setbacks
2) No FAR limit
3) No building coverage limit
4) No minimum site area

Not that I think it will happen, but does that mean someone can come plop a 500 foot building on one of these sites if they choose to?

Was the Opt in/out meant for property owners or "neighborhood associations"? I thought that was one of the criticisms of the zoning was that it was too easy for the neighborhoods to opt out? Am I remembering that wrong? (or just causing trouble?) And yes, I believe a FAR limit does not have to pertain to height. Just density.

MichaelB · #**6083** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 12:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin Rises

Hey guys; I found this really neat slideshow of The Austonian; check it out!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theaustonian/favorites/show/

Nice! Love the shot from UT tower!

Scottolini · #**6084** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 1:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hookem

That makes a lot of sense to me... the numbered streets, including those which are north of 45th, are still connected to the grid of streets which undoubtedly includes central Austin. If not right now, certainly in a few years that should be considered central Austin...

So do numbered streets east of I-35, south of the river, and west of Mopac count as Central Austin as well?

KevinFromTexas · #**6085** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 2:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottolini

So do numbered streets east of I-35, south of the river, and west of Mopac count as Central Austin as well?

Those areas could be considered East Central, South Central and West Central. People already sometimes call the area between Mopac, Lamar, Enfield and the river West Central Austin, although, most people actually call it Old West Austin.

Also, the numbered streets that are south of the river aren't of the same grid system as the ones in downtown and up through UT. These streets run north to south, rather than east to west. While some areas there do have a somewhat organized grid system, it's not as uniform as the one in downtown and up through UT.

KevinFromTexas · #**6086** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 5:10 AM**

7/27

From 183 at Mopac.

I wonder what the story is behind this building?

The Perry-Brooks Building. It looks completely different.

He was going to that standoff on Mopac where the guy was threatening to kill himself.

Scottolini · #**6087** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 5:22 AM**

Really nice pics, Kevin! What's going on here with the water and trees? Is it just me, or does the water level seem high?

KevinFromTexas · #**6088** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 5:27 AM**

Woah, I hadn't noticed that. Don't the trees along there hang down pretty low? That does look strange though. I'm sure some of that strange look is because of the motion blur.

hookem · #**6089** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 6:07 AM**

No, it's probably true that the water level was high. I've noticed this phenomena a lot. I run on the trail every week, and there is one absolutely certain water level gauge along it -- where the trail crosses the boat ramp near Austin high. If the water level is low, the ramp is dry and you run right across. If the level is a little higher, there is about a 3' wide channel of water, so you kind of have to jump over it. If the water level is high, the water channel is more like 6-8 feet, too long to jump, so you have to divert about 20-30 feet to the north and then jump across.

Anyway, last week, the water level was up high at least one day -- had to divert and run around.

I believe the temporary high levels are due to power generation by the LCRA, or perhaps water release to some treatment plant intakes downstream (for drinking water). They release some water, and it causes Lake Travis to rise briefly, and it's passed on along to Ladybird Lake, which will see the rise for a day or so.

Austin Rises · #**6090** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 12:48 PM**

Hey guys; I just passed along 4th and Brazos and The Prosperity Bank that was there; has been demolished by the bull doser.

Seems as if something is happening on that piece of land!

priller · #**6091** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 2:55 PM**

Yeah, I noticed that last night, too. The old bank with the V-shaped roof is gone.

Nice photos, Kevin! Wow, the Austonian looks soooooo tall from S. Congress. Really amazing.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**6092** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 3:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I'm pretty sure that's just an optical illusion and coincidence that that shadow vaguely resembles Frost's top. There is no way buildings can affect clouds, unless you're talking about very low clouds/fog. Now, Frost does cast a very unique shadow/formation onto the clouds directly above it when it's very cloudy and foggy. This typically happens in the winter time. Basically all it is is that the floodlights atop Frost light up the clouds, and then in the center of the crown where there are no lights, or few of them anyway, there's a dark spot. The lower the clouds are, the more intense the effect is.

Straight-No Chaser on Flickr

Nice picture. You explained it in pretty much every way. But that shadow on priller's shot looked exactly like the Frost Bank Crown. Hmmm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nixcity

^Interesting picture
okay, I can agree in using Airport/45th but I think we should include at least a little to the south of the river.
And I after I posed the question I felt like 35 really isn't far enough east, but there just isn't a good enough street that runs parallel.
Overall though, good breakdown Scottolini!!!

I keep to my word that Central Austin goes up to 45th.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nixcity

That map would be really cool Kevin.

Yea, the map would be cool. Since I was 4, I really wanted a map of all districs or neighborhoods or something like that. So it seems to be coming true.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottolini

That would be really cool to put together.

Cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin Rises

Hey guys; I found this really neat slideshow of The Austonian; check it out!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theaustonian/favorites/show/

Nice. The last few pictures were posted on the Austonian Blog a month ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Great find!

For?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Nice! Love the shot from UT tower!

Me too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

7/27

Thanks for the update.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottolini

Really nice pics, Kevin! What's going on here with the water and trees? Is it just me, or does the water level seem high?

Looks like a swamp there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Woah, I hadn't noticed that. Don't the trees along there hang down pretty low? That does look strange though. I'm sure some of that strange look is because of the motion blur.

I wonder about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by priller

Yeah, I noticed that last night, too. The old bank with the V-shaped roof is gone.

Nice photos, Kevin! Wow, the Austonian looks soooooo tall from S. Congress. Really amazing.

Amazing indeed.

priller · #**6093** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 3:48 PM**

A few from yesterday morning:

From N. Lamar. More wires!

AustinSkyscrapers · #**6094** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 4:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by priller

A few from yesterday morning:

The first picture is what I would expect from a great moist morning.
The second is what I would expect from priller. Birdie.

KevinFromTexas · #**6095** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 5:03 PM**

Wow. Those pics are nice! That's such a beautiful view.

I think that goose was flirting with you, priller.

Myomi · #**6096** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 5:47 PM**

One comment about what you guys are considering central Austin.
If you guys are want to put all the neighborhoods up to 2222 as Central Austin, then you have to include the parts south to 71. Those neighborhoods are pretty equal in density and providing character to Austin. South Congress up to Oltorf is such a vibrant causeway leading up to downtown, and South First seems like a great trip back into old Austin.

But, if it was up to me, I wouldn't include either of them. It seems to me that you guys are putting the center of Austin not as Downtown or the Capitol but as UT. That would be the only reason you guys consider so far north as Central Austin. As a alumni of UT, I definitely agree with the importance of UT. But I would actually like to propose that Central Austin end at the northern boundary of UT (27th-29th). I just don't see why 50 blocks North of the River is central Austin and 50 blocks south is not (or 40 blocks north of the capitol, 40 blocks south, you get my point). Honestly I think you need to count at least to up to Riverside as Central Austin too. And I would go a little further and include the Long Center and Palmer too. So my southern border would be a combination of Riverside and Barton Springs Drive. This makes a nice even 15 or so blocks north and south of the capitol as Central Austin. The rest can be north central or south central or whatever. Does this make the Triangle North Central. Yes it does. And as someone who lives downtown, it definitely feels like North Central.

jeremyz · #**6097** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 6:23 PM**

They've been beating the Green water treatment plant into the ground at a pretty fast clip recently. It seems like it will be an empty field in 3 to 6 months. My guess is that it will remain an empty field for several years. I can't imagine that Trammel Crow will start building their massive complex too soon.

By weuhfuwefh

I noticed yesterday that there was a survey team out at the Federal Courthouse site. I guess they're going to start working on that soon.

Scottolini · #**6098** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 6:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myomi

One comment about what you guys are considering central Austin.
If you guys are want to put all the neighborhoods up to 2222 as Central Austin, then you have to include the parts south to 71. Those neighborhoods are pretty equal in density and providing character to Austin. South Congress up to Oltorf is such a vibrant causeway leading up to downtown, and South First seems like a great trip back into old Austin.

But, if it was up to me, I wouldn't include either of them. It seems to me that you guys are putting the center of Austin not as Downtown or the Capitol but as UT. That would be the only reason you guys consider so far north as Central Austin. As a alumni of UT, I definitely agree with the importance of UT. But I would actually like to propose that Central Austin end at the northern boundary of UT (27th-29th). I just don't see why 50 blocks North of the River is central Austin and 50 blocks south is not (or 40 blocks north of the capitol, 40 blocks south, you get my point). Honestly I think you need to count at least to up to Riverside as Central Austin too. And I would go a little further and include the Long Center and Palmer too. So my southern border would be a combination of Riverside and Barton Springs Drive. This makes a nice even 15 or so blocks north and south of the capitol as Central Austin. The rest can be north central or south central or whatever. Does this make the Triangle North Central. Yes it does. And as someone who lives downtown, it definitely feels like North Central.

Well everyone has their own opinions obviously. I just want to be the first to say that mine is most definitely the best.

Scottolini · #**6099** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 6:36 PM**

I would guess there will be road and utility work at the Green redevelopment site soon after demolition is complete. Don't forget the city is going to build it's new main public library at this location as well. Those bonds have been approved by the voters already.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**6100** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 8:18 PM**

Kind of a grab from the old but remember the old visonized Nahua Tower?
Anything around it?

Plus, in the Drawing Requests Forum there is one for Austin. Anyone fill that in?