AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[migol24]

Originally Posted by photolitherland

Wait, the site in front of the Austonian was cleared of buildings to make way for a hotel that wasnt even fully funded yet? Please dont tell me they were like 1800s commercial buildings. I thought most of the old buildings downtown were protected for the most part.

From what I can remember there was some huge controversy spewing over this site. Many people were opposed to breaking it down. I don't think it was an 1800s commercial building though.

[KevinFromTexas]

I'm gonna hug the W the next time I see it. It really looks good.

Originally Posted by photolitherland

1800s commercial buildings. I thought most of the old buildings downtown were protected for the most part.

As I recall, they weren't. Most were from the 50s. I think the oldest one was from the 30s. Even so it wasn't much to write home about. The value of those buildings was more about what was in them. A beloved Austin restaurant (which moved to another location) and also a downtown daycare business which moved out of downtown, I believe.

The developer is still interested in building it. In fact, they own the property across the street and are planning to start work in March on a 17-story hotel on that block. In the article for that they mentioned they're still interested in the larger hotel. The height of it was said to be anywhere from 27 to 34 floors. I'm hoping it comes back even taller and with a better design. And more than anything, I hope it has retail along Congress. That area of Congress can be a little dead sometimes.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

And more than anything, I hope it has retail along Congress. That area of Congress can be a little dead sometimes.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by photolitherland

Wait, the site in front of the Austonian was cleared of buildings to make way for a hotel that wasnt even fully funded yet? Please dont tell me they were like 1800s commercial buildings. I thought most of the old buildings downtown were protected for the most part.

Correct. The developer pushed to get the building torn down before the funding was completely secured. This happens unfortunately way too often. (As has been stated , the building were not significant. One/two story 30's-50's. There may have been some older parts to them, but that was long gone. The building that are left were the older buildings.) We have a new empty lot at 5th and Colorado for the same reason.

The reason Austin still has so many vacant lots was because of the boom and bust in the 80s. Many older buildings were torn down in speculation of building in the boom and then the first big bust happened. We moved here right after that in the late 80s....so there was a bunch of new empty buildings and a bunch of empty parking lots. Most of the building we have seen in the last 10 years has still been either filling that space or unused 50s/60s era warehouses.

The Austonian was built on a lot that stood empty for at least 20 years. All the empty lots around it on 3rd and congress ( and over to Colorado) and most of the empty space that is being referred to here ( east of Congress) has been that way for 20 years! Empty!

I will say I have learned to be patient with development. While I want to see the space used. I want to see it used well. When the Marriott plan included a JW facing Congress I was in favor of it. When it was downgraded and down sized my interest faded. White Lodging is know for cheap looking hotel properties. ( I stay in one of their properties the "Downtown Louisville Mariott" all the time). They do "lowest common denominator" buildings on the cheap. NOT what I want to see along Congress. So I say, let it ride until the right thing comes along.... what the hell... been empty this long, might as well get it right!

[mars-man]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

A beloved Austin restaurant (which moved to another location)

If only.

[Raining Inside]

Originally Posted by mars-man

If only.

You're right, it didn't move anywhere. Anyone who actually thought it was an iconic Austin business would know that.

[KevinFromTexas]

Well, I had never eaten there so that sounds about right.

[austin242]

W hotel is going to open on 12/09/2010 I noticed this when I was on their website at you can get a hotel room after that date.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by austin242

W hotel is going to open on 12/09/2010 I noticed this when I was on their website at you can get a hotel room after that date.

there are soooooo many workers around there today. Was interesting watching them wash the building by hand! Really. Big squeegees on all the windows AND black around the hotel entrance!

[ahealy]

new render for "Bremond" at 807 Nueces. I like this proposal..
courtesy of downtownaustinblog.org

[MichaelB]

Re: The Fondren Building, aka La Vista on Lavaca, AKA Intel II.

Turns out the building was sold at auction, but it was the original leander who bought it at the auction. Reasons appears to be since they were 5 million into it, another 2.5 mill was worth the investment to try to eventually make money .

SOOOO the property actually remains on the market...but now out of bankruptcy.

[WAustinResident]

You can start booking rooms at the W for nights as soon as tonight. I think they didn't allow advanced booking on the first couple of nights to give them a semi soft opening.

Here are some pics from the Statesman. Ill have some of my own on tuesday night.

http://galleries.statesman.com/gallery/w-hotel-opening-120910/145608/#145608

[Downtown_Austin]

we'll see a flood of pics over the next few days, but here are few interior pics i snapped last night (Thursday)... sorry for grainy android pics, but you should be able to get the idea. There are five distinct lounge areas in addition to the restaurant. the place is big. and swank.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Downtown_Austin

we'll see a flood of pics over the next few days, but here are few interior pics i snapped last night (Thursday)... sorry for grainy android pics, but you should be able to get the idea. There are five distinct lounge areas in addition to the restaurant. the place is big. and swank.

[

drifted thru opening night! fun! Brunch reservations tomorrow! Can't wait!

[priller]

The wife and I walked through on Sat afternoon. The staff was super friendly and we even got a mini tour of the various rooms and restaurant on the first floor. BTW, a friend works there and he highly recommends the "crispy pig head" at Trace restaurant. Really.

[arbeiter]

So other than the courthouse, this kind of marks the end of an era of construction...

[KevinFromTexas]

Last one of the big ones for a while. But there are a handful of smaller projects that could start next year.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by priller

The wife and I walked through on Sat afternoon. The staff was super friendly and we even got a mini tour of the various rooms and restaurant on the first floor. BTW, a friend works there and he highly recommends the "crispy pig head" at Trace restaurant. Really.

Had Breakfast there today! Really good! Wonderful service. Really cool interiors! Went up on the terrace entrance area for ACL, really fun seeing 2nd street area from there!

[BevoLJ]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Last one of the big ones for a while. But there are a handful of smaller projects that could start next year.

Yep, last big one for a while but a dang good one! =)

Lots of other not so skyscrapers stuff but pretty good for us to look forward to over the next couple of years. I hope to see some good stuff with 2nd St. going to the Seaholm and the Seaholm project itself and the Waller Creek all of which which might not be as tall big, but both projects could end up having much bigger impacts on downtown.

On another note, that probably isn't relevant for this thread but not sure... I read a very interesting article in the Statesmen about the Samsung extension. I had no idea it was so huge. They have spent $9 Billion so far. Biggest in Austin history. I had no idea it was so big. I guess they have finished the half of their new factory and are now working on the second $3.6 Billion expansion. This new extension is adding a 220,000 sq foot clean room.

http://www.statesman.com/business/samsun...ize-and-1114634.html?cxtype=rss_business

Samsung construction project is big in size and ambition

By Kirk Ladendorf
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Published: 8:27 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010

Ray Naizer has worked on some big projects in his career, but nothing quite like the big electrical control room at Samsung's manufacturing campus in Northeast Austin.

The enormous room is crammed with transformers and other electrical gear that take high-voltage current coming to the fabrication plant and convert it to the voltages required for use inside.

"The amount of equipment in that room is amazing. It is the heart of the electrical distribution for the new fab," said Naizer, a 36-year veteran of the electrical contracting business who is CEO of Las Colinas-based JMEG Electrical Contractors . "It is the largest electrical distribution room I have ever seen."

Naizer and his workers are part of a massive team of nearly 3,000 people working on the expansion of Samsung's plant, including adding equipment and capacity to the control room.

...

http://www.statesman.com/business/samsun...ize-and-1114634.html?cxtype=rss_business

[actham]

I'm a little surprised that some of the hotel projects haven't kicked off with the F1 track now a reality. I expected to see the Westin announce. Anyone think we will see news on them when the F1 construction starts up this month?