AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 327

KevinFromTexas · #**6521** Posted **Sep 17, 2009, 5:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strayone

Memory lane stuff going on in the last few photo's in that mid 80's picture is precisely the time I moved to Austin. San Jacinto center, 100 Congress and One Congress Plaza don't appear to have begun construction , what a huge change the last 2.5 decades has brought about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zx14

what building is being built in that picture?

The tower crane in that old skyline photo above was working on the William P. Hobby state office building (red building). The building was finished in 1985. That's right before the southern part of the skyline really started to take off. I'm sure they were probably doing at least excavation work for 301 Congress, 100 Congress, One Congress Plaza and San Jacinto Center when that photo was taken.

KevinFromTexas · #**6522** Posted **Sep 17, 2009, 6:53 AM**

9/8

ndirishdad · #**6523** Posted **Sep 17, 2009, 4:29 PM**

Just a thought...
Why not we build an observatory tower with a restaurant at the top and name it " Keep Austin Weird Tower" or " Tower of Texas". Over 1000 feet tall?
Like one in San Antonio, Toronto and Seattle..
We will get a full 360 degree view of Greater Austin Metro and Hill country at 1/1000000th price of a 1/8 penthouse condo in Austonian Tower!

StoOgE · #**6524** Posted **Sep 17, 2009, 7:11 PM**

Well, it's not economical for one thing.

More importantly, of the six observation decks I have seen with my own eyes:

1) CN Tower - giant and ugly.
2) Tower of the Americas - large and ugly.
3) Thing in Knoxville - small and hideous. Sadly, not really a wig shop.
4) Observation tower at Six Flags in Dallas - looks like an oil derrik.
5) Space Needle - looks pretty nifty.
6) Reunion Tower - Ugly and Green.

One of these is the exception to the rule. The rest all look really silly. Because they are.

If Stratosphere counts it's cool. but only because it has a theme park on top of it.

LoneStarMike · #**6525** Posted **Sep 17, 2009, 9:44 PM**

Well yesterday 9/16 I couldn't resist going out again. (It's a sickness, I need help

)

I decided to go check out ACC's new observation deck...err... parking garage near 12th & Lamar. I also thought I'd stop by the TMI Castle since it would be close.

On the 338 Bus. Love the billboard. "Let's get ice cream after you paralyze us." Four Seasons Residences on right.

ACC Garage. With all those stars, maybe they could name it Lone Star Garage.

Looking northwest towards Lamar Blvd where it crosses Shoal Creek.

House Park Stadium

Closer view of stadium

Midtown

Looking southeast

Wider view of Skyline

Looking south

Looking southwest towards Lamar Blvd. & the TMI Castle

Zooming in on the TMI Castle

Walking up 12th Street towards Lamar Blvd.

West 12th Street

I always wondered what the views from this place would look like

As I was passing by the above building, I noticed a semi-enclosed staircase (on the left - sticking out of the building). There was no gate, so I couldn't resist.

Views half a landing from the top.

Panoramic View

I'm liking this place. I decided to go ahead and contine to the TMI Castle, then come back.

Views from the street in front of the TMI Castle

TMI Castle

Old foundation of the cancelled condo project from a long time ago. It's completely blocked by a chain link fence. I took the photo through one of the holes.

Another skyline photo through the holes in the chain link fence

Walking back down 12th Street towards the other condos.

360, City Lofts, The Nokonah, The Monarch, Whole Foods & Spring

Spring

Skyline

Four Seasons Residences

360, City Lofts, The Nokonah and Monarch

Skyline

Walking down W 12th St. back to Lamar.

Looking back at the TMI Castle

Thundercloud's. I ate here just to kill some time. I couldn't leave with taking some dusk/night photos.

Going back to those cool condos on the the West Side of Lamar. I never knew there was parking on the second level of that shopping center. It's well hidden. I only say it from the top of the ACC garage

Skyline at dusk

State Capitol, Moonlight Tower and ACC Garage

Night Skyline

Anoter Capitol/Moonlight Tower/ACC Garage shot. This time the ACC Garage has a purple light.

Since I just missed the 8:26 bus, I decided to go back to the ACC Garage one last time and then catch the 8:56 bus home.

ACC Garage

Skyline View

Last shot of the night

.

KevinFromTexas · #**6526** Posted **Sep 17, 2009, 9:44 PM**

Most of the world's observation towers are ugly. I really think the Space Needle is the only one that has any real beauty to it, and it's certainly the most interesting. Although, I suppose the Eiffel Tower is also considered an observation tower.

KevinFromTexas · #**6527** Posted **Sep 17, 2009, 10:04 PM**

Great pics Mike!

This must be one of the best views of downtown.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/September79.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%20Night/September2009-31.jpg

And I really like the view that's setting up here. Just imagine this with everything at Green and Seaholm.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%20Night/September2009-37.jpg

Mopacs · #**6528** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 12:36 AM**

Another superb photo shoot LoneStar! Man does the Austonian look impressive from this angle or what? Hard to believe this is Austin.

OU812 · #**6529** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 6:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

6) Reunion Tower - Ugly and Green.

What's wrong with Reunion? I always thought it was quite cool looking. A ball on top of a tower with symmetrical steel web type of cage surrounding it. Which at night, lights up with dancing patterns.

Tower Of Americas is OK, the exterior just needs an upgrade, it's looks too 1960s-70s. The view from atop is great though.

I think at some point Austin will have a public observation deck. I wouldn't expect to see it anytime soon tho. But since DELL is probably one of the biggest success stories to come out of this area, Michael Dell should fund something like this. Not that he needs his name on anything else already.

OU812 · #**6530** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 7:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Most of the world's observation towers are ugly. I really think the Space Needle is the only one that has any real beauty to it, and it's certainly the most interesting. Although, I suppose the Eiffel Tower is also considered an observation tower.

A lot of good observation areas are inside of buildings too. Hmm let's see, there's Smith Tower and Bank of America Tower in Seattle. Houston used to have a public observation deck inside of the Williams tower off the 610 Freeway/Westheimer, but I think it's closed now. Then of course the famous ones: Sears Tower, Jan Hancock Towers in Chicago, and probably the MOST famous: Empire State Building. Btw, I got to visit the top of 1 World Trade, which had a restaurant/bar with amazing views. I think the outside observation decks were in the WTC 2 bldg.

NYC2ATX · #**6531** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 7:12 AM**

I really must say that I believe Austin has the most transformed skyline of this past decade. I mean it's not often that three new tallest buildings sprout within 10 years of one another.

StoOgE · #**6532** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 4:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OU812

A lot of good observation areas are inside of buildings too. Hmm let's see, there's Smith Tower and Bank of America Tower in Seattle. Houston used to have a public observation deck inside of the Williams tower off the 610 Freeway/Westheimer, but I think it's closed now. Then of course the famous ones: Sears Tower, Jan Hancock Towers in Chicago, and probably the MOST famous: Empire State Building. Btw, I got to visit the top of 1 World Trade, which had a restaurant/bar with amazing views. I think the outside observation decks were in the WTC 2 bldg.

Boston has one in the Prudential Center as well.

I would much prefer an observation deck built inside a skyscraper. I think T Stacey would be a good option for one if it ever gets built. Since it will be a mixed use building anyway. A nice resteraunts up top with an observation deck the floor below would be great.

Not sure of the economics of such a thing, but it has to be more practical than an observation tower.

hookem · #**6533** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OU812

What's wrong with Reunion? I always thought it was quite cool looking. A ball on top of a tower with symmetrical steel web type of cage surrounding it. Which at night, lights up with dancing patterns.

I like Reunion Tower as well. It added a lot to the character of the Dallas skyline. Is there another observation tower that looks anything like it? Especially at night, the lighting was ahead of its time IMO. The hotel right next to it balances out, too, vs. some of the other observation towers.

I've always thought that a perfect location for an observation tower would be on the old Charles Schultz tract south of the river. The triangular lot with Hooters on it. It's right next to the Long Center, near the Congress Bridge, Auditorium shores, etc. Good location for a "tourist attraction". Plus, it would be a perfect location to watch things like the Capitol 10K, or other runs/rides from such a tower. Too bad they don't make observation towers anymore!

breathesgelatin · #**6534** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 5:04 PM**

It strikes me that most pure-out observation towers are built for a very specific reason, usually an event like the world's fair. So barring that...

JACKinBeantown · #**6535** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StatenIslander237

I really must say that I believe Austin has the most transformed skyline of this past decade. I mean it's not often that three new tallest buildings sprout within 10 years of one another.

More like 5 years!

Hillaryrocks · #**6536** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 8:45 PM**

Excellent PIX! Man i miss Austin.
m.

zx14 · #**6537** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 9:12 PM**

Why a flag and not a tree?

KevinFromTexas · #**6538** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 10:32 PM**

They usually do one or the other, or sometimes both. Come to think of it, the Four Seasons did the same thing. They hoisted a flag, but I don't think they ever put a tree up there.

StoOgE · #**6539** Posted **Sep 19, 2009, 2:16 PM**

Also, after all of this talk, I thought I would point out.. we do have a 300 foot tall observation deck in Austin..

zx14 · #**6540** Posted **Sep 20, 2009, 7:54 AM**

First 100000 crowd in Texas history. 101000 plus saw texas win last night. We have the record for largest crowd. Atleast intill dallas plays its game tomorow.