AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[actham]

Has anybody heard anything about an open house for ACL's new Moody Theater? It would be great to see the new auditorium.

[Syndic]

http://www.acl-live.com/

Bill Maher is doing a show next month. Just buy tickets to something and check it out! Oh and take some pictures.

[KevinFromTexas]

It's not really a skyscraper, but it is a good sign.

http://www.statesman.com/business/south-lamar-project-ready-for-launch-1244327.html

South Lamar project ready for launch
Apartment-retail complex has been in works for more than 4 years

By Shonda Novak and Barry Harrell
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAF
Published: 9:38 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

Post Properties Inc. plans to break ground next month on a long-delayed South Lamar Boulevard apartment project.

Post South Lamar, at 1500 S. Lamar Blvd., will have 298 units, Atlanta-based Post said Wednesday.

The project will be on the former site of Stoneridge apartment complex, which was torn down, leaving a 4-acre lot.

The $41.7 million project will include more than 8,500 square feet of street-level retail space, Post Properties said in its quarterly financial report. The company projected that the first apartments would be ready for residents in late 2012.


LOONEY RICKS KISS

[KevinFromTexas]

The article I posted above says the rental occupancy rate in Austin is 94.8 percent.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2011/02/08/austin-condo-sales-rise-in-jan-w.html

Austin condo sales rise in Jan.; W Hotel sells six

Austin Business Journal
Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 12:18pm CST

Austin condominium sales continued to rise in January, while the W Austin Hotel & Residences closed on its first units since opening late last year, according to Multiple Listing Service data reported on the Downtown Austin Blog Tuesday.

The $300-million W Austin opened in the growing downtown Second Street District in December last year. Condo units start at about $580 per square foot with upper floors going as high as $1,000 per square foot. One three-bedroom, three-bath, for example, is currently listing for about $1.6 million.

Several listed properties closed one and two units in January, including the Four Seasons Residences (55 total sold) and the Austonian (48 total sold). The 41-story Spring Condos sold seven last month, and has closed a total 181 since opening in 2008.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/business/centra...-service-evaluating-options-1186503.html

Postal Service 'evaluating options' for downtown site

COMPILED FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published: 7:48 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, 2011

Postal Service evaluating options for downtown site

The U.S. Postal Service is evaluating options for its downtown Austin post office site, where a developer previously announced plans for a condominium tower and a hotel.

"We are currently conducting a feasibility study to determine the best course of action to take, if any, regarding the Austin Downtown Station Post Office facility that will best accommodate the Postal Service and our customers," said the statement, released through spokesman Sam Bolen. "Once we reach a decision we will make a formal announcement. No firm timetable for reaching a decision has been set."

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2011/01/24/downtown-condo-sales-rose-50-in-10.html

Downtown condo sales rose 50% in '10, report says

Austin Business Journal
Date: Monday, January 24, 2011, 8:36am CST - Last Modified: Thursday, January 27, 2011, 9:55am CST

Austin condo sales through listing services doubled last year, while prices were stable, according to recent Multiple Listing Service data released Monday.

A report from AustinTowers.net, a downtown Austin real estate blog, compiled MLS data from 25 downtown residential towers. The group tracked 168 sales last year, or about 50 percent more than in 2009. The average selling price last year was $294 per square foot, down from $296 per square foot in 2009. Units sold for an average $308 per square foot in 2008.

[JoninATX]

Medical office construction planned in Austin in early 2011

Premium content from Austin Business Journal - by Francisco Vara-Orta , ABJ Staff
Date: Friday, December 17, 2010, 5:00am CST - Last Modified: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 3:45pm CST

Read more: Medical office construction planned in Austin in early 2011 | Austin Business Journal

Three local developers are preparing to start construction on medical office buildings in the next two quarters, with varying percentages of space presold or preleased.

The anticipated activity is indicative of data real estate experts have cited showing lower vacancy rates among such buildings, bolstered by increasing demand resulting from population growth and baby boomers reaching retirement age. And it comes while construction remains halted for speculative nonmedical office space, industrial buildings and big box-anchored retail developments.

Onair Development is about to start building its previously announced 41,500-square-foot, fully leased medical office building in Kyle, President and CEO Kerry Angus said. The project, named Kyle Crossing Medical Center, will be built on 3.5 acres off the southeast corner of I-35 and Kyle Crossing, across from the new Seton Medical Center Hays

Read more: Medical office construction planned in Austin in early 2011 | Austin Business Journal

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-...ical-office-construction-planned-to.html

[nixcity]

It's not really a skyscraper, but it is a good sign.

That is a great project in a great spot, it really helps the walkability of S. Lamar and the committment to ground level retail is much appreciated.

[KevinFromTexas]

I'm actually wondering if this could be some reincarnation of the 7Rio project - the tower that was supposed to go up at West 7th & Rio Grande. I found this which mentions that tower. The owners of that property also own the property this article below talks about. So I'm wondering if this is the 7 Rio project, or maybe a completely different one. If you look in the 'supporting' list in the link I posted above, you'll see Lowa LTD.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2011/02/11/whats-up-with-that.html

Taller buildings could be coming to W. Seventh in Austin

Austin Business Journal - by Jacob Dirr, ABJ Staff
Date: Friday, February 11, 2011, 5:00am CST - Last Modified: Friday, February 11, 2011, 9:41am CST

Something may be up — or rather going up … possibly way up — on West Seventh Street and West Avenue.
Property owners on the 700 block of West Seventh Street are seeking Central Business District zoning, a designation that would remove restrictions on building height. Properties at 701 and 711 W. Seventh St., one of which now houses a yoga studio, filed the application Feb. 2, according to city records.

The land is subject to a building height limit of 60 feet. Lowa Ltd. owns the half-acre property at 701 W. Seventh St., and 711 West 7th Street Partnership ...

[JoninATX]

Looks like Rhodes Parnter Architect has more than just one project up it's sleve, it's also it designer of the proposed "Bremont", and is developing a 4 story pravite residence in downtown Austin, also there are plans for a 3-4 story apartment in west campus. I had no idea that Kerrville had a proposed Convention Center & Hotel although City Leader rejected the idea saying it would cost the city tax payers around $18-20 million.

http://rhodepartners.com/

here is the link about the City rejecting the convention center & hotel
http://www.hotel-online.com/News/2011_Jan_12/k.KFG.1294862370.html

[Downtown_Austin]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

http://rhodepartners.com/

Damn Flash website.

I've heard that The Bremond site owners are looking for more capital. What four story private residence are you referring to?

[JoninATX]

From what there website says in the news archives, stating

9/2010 Austin, Texas- Rhodes Partners has begun design work on a unique 4 story private residences in downtown Austin featuring a professional music studio and sub-grade parking.

although I could not find any more additional information or rendering.

[KevinFromTexas]

Well I'm disappointed.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/lady...o-end-1252006.html?viewAsSinglePage=true

Lady Bird Lake boardwalk work delayed to end of year or later
Mayor says he's surprised, disappointed project approved by voters won't start sooner.

By Ben Wear
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Published: 9:57 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

In the run-up to November's $90 million transportation bond election, city officials said that its largest piece the Lady Bird Lake boardwalk could start construction as soon as January .

In a campaign where Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell and other supporters of the bond proposal trumpeted how "shovel-ready" many of the component projects were, the $17.4 million boardwalk running along the south shore of the lake was advertised as the most shovel-ready of all.

But three months after voters approved the bonds, officials now say construction on the boardwalk will begin at the end of the year, at the earliest.

[KevinFromTexas]

I went downtown this weekend for some photos. I mostly wanted to check out the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge extension.

There are some really nice views from the bridge. I noticed it wiggles a lot. I had my bicycle parked, and every time someone would walk, jog or ride their bike past, my bike would wiggle with the bridge.

2/12

This photo is neat, since every building seen here didn't exist 10 years ago. You only would have been able to see the three smokestacks at Seaholm. Also every building seen here is residential, except two. Frost, and 300 West Sixth (short tower behind the smoke stacks).

[gardensoul]

Beautiful images! Thanks for sharing - the bridge is very cool.

[crewer]

Originally Posted by gardensoul

Beautiful images! Thanks for sharing - the bridge is very cool.

Wow, that is really an attractive bridge! Is that real or faux wood? (I don't live in Austin, so I've not seen it close up.)

I hope it can remain in this attractive state. It looks like a graffiti vandal's dream canvas.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by crewer

Wow, that is really an attractive bridge! Is that real or faux wood? (I don't live in Austin, so I've not seen it close up.)

I hope it can remain in this attractive state. It looks like a graffiti vandal's dream canvas.

Took a walk on it this AM.... it is wood... on it own it should age reasonable. It's nicely done, but certainly is not totally low maintenance.

BUT.. yeah, I had the same thought: It is graffiti bait. Too bad. Not only via the surface...but also because you can easily hide from traffic and take yo time!

But for now.... beautiful!

[photoLith]

On your bridge photos Kevin, is something being built across from those condos/apartments? The boards that say Lease Today, looks like something is being done behind them.

[hookem]

Originally Posted by photolitherland

On your bridge photos Kevin, is something being built across from those condos/apartments? The boards that say Lease Today, looks like something is being done behind them.

I believe that is where another phase of the Gables Park Plaza will go. It was originally supposed to be a 16 story condo building (I think), but now I think it's office/retail of about the same height. This article talks about it:
http://downtownaustinblog.org/2010/04/16/new-downtown-office-tower-announced-next-to-gables/

[Samwill89]

Wow! I really have to check out the new bridge. As a downtown resident, I rarely go out an experience the cool public amenities of the city. That will change.