AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[austin242]

Yes the City owns One texas Center.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by arbeiter

Austin's city hall is alright, but what I don't understand is why they built it so small. Essentially, it is a boutique municipal palace, and not a serious office building. I suppose most of the other functions of a normal city hall is simply contained in annex buildings. The public space around it is kind of sterile, too. I think the court house will be a much more inviting place to be once it's completed.

Re: size of city Hall. When the city made the deal with CSC for the land around city hall. They actually originally had three blocks! It included the property that is now the W!. Yes, there were to be 3 building all alike surrounding city hall. Remember this area was totally underdeveloped. So... as part of the deal to get the buildings built in the "DIGITAL downtown", the city agreed to keep the city hall shorter than the CSC building! It was part of the original deal. Then CSC dumped the third lot, but it was too late to change the plans. There was always criticism as to the size from the beginning of the project.

Kev... do you still have the renderings of the area with all three buildings?

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Re: size of city Hall. When the city made the deal with CSC for the land around city hall. They actually originally had three blocks! It included the property that is now the W!. Yes, there were to be 3 building all alike surrounding city hall. Remember this area was totally underdeveloped. So... as part of the deal to get the buildings built in the "DIGITAL downtown", the city agreed to keep the city hall shorter than the CSC building! It was part of the original deal. Then CSC dumped the third lot, but it was too late to change the plans. There was always criticism as to the size from the beginning of the project.

Kev... do you still have the renderings of the area with all three buildings?

To add to this.. I found this 2000 article. It talks about the CSC agreement and has a model of the area. As history!

http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2000-04-07/76743/

[Somnio]

Nevermind.

[ahealy]

That second render makes me wanna hurl! lol

[ahealy]

Does anyone know what the next step for this apt proposal is?
Photo courtesy of DAB

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by migol24

what's HomeAway?

Homeaway is an Austin based company that lets homeowners list their homes for rent when they're away. It allows people to go on vacation to any location and rent someone's home who has it listed on their website.

Homeaway had a commercial during last year and this year's superbowl. The one last year featured Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo from the National Lampoon's Vacation movies.

Here is the commercial that aired in 2010.

• Video Link

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Kev... do you still have the renderings of the area with all three buildings?

Not handy. I've probably got it on a disk somewhere, but not available to post. I think the one you posted in your link is pretty much the only one they released. I do remember one similar to that that was made of wood, but it didn't show much detail other than the shape.

[priller]

Originally Posted by Somnio

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/s...04/12/f1_organizers_to_announce_new.html

http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com/

Not really interested in F1, but MotoGP I would love to see!

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by ahealy

That second render makes me wanna hurl! lol

close as we get! ha!

[KevinFromTexas]

Speaking of the CSC Buildings.

http://www.statesman.com/business/real-e...-move-38-employees-downtown-1398194.html

Oxford Commercial to move 38 employees downtown

What: Oxford Commercial leases 10,000 square feet downtown

Where: 200 W. Cesar Chavez St., one of two buildings that house the headquarters of Silicon Laboratories Inc.

The details: In mid-May, Oxford will move 38 employees from The Terrace on South MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1), where it has been for 12 years. The new space will allow the firm to grow to 45 employees downtown.

[oberthewhat]

Emo's is opening another location behind the Thundercloud on E Riverside. Here is an article about it with a rendering.


http://www.soundcheckmagazine.com/news/2493-new-qemos-eastq-scheduled-for-august-11-opening

[KevinFromTexas]

Oh wow, I just noticed our thread hit 1,000,750 views.

[The ATX]

It's now up to 1,000,836!

[migol24]

i've also seemed to notice its about the busiest on this forum.

[KevinFromTexas]

A lot of people don't realize that dog parks are really a bad idea. Besides inviting fights between dogs, they can also be habitats for all kinds of canine illnesses. All a dog would have to do is step on a patch of grass where a sick dog had peed or pooped, and then later lick its paw and contract it. Parvo is one of those, and its extremely contagious and lethal in about 80 percent of cases. Even if a human steps on fecal material and then takes it home on their shoe, their dog will be in danger of becoming infected.

But anyway, as for the park itself, yeah, that piece of land seems like it could be better used. And they have a point about it being a trailhead for the new boardwalk addition.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/popular-off-leash-dog-area-may-close-1404806.html

Popular off-leash dog area may close
Officials considering other uses for Norwood Park in South Austin.

By Sarah Coppola
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Published: 8:15 p.m. Friday, April 15, 2011

Austin parks officials say they would like to eventually close the popular off-leash dog area at Norwood Park in South Austin.

The Parks and Recreation Department has hired a consulting firm to write a long-term plan for the 9.5 -acre park, which includes the dog area and the historical but dilapidated Norwood House .

The dog area has endured heavy wear and tear and is not visually appealing but is prominently situated on Riverside Drive, one of Austin's key corridors, park development coordinator Marty Stump said.

[The ATX]

The whole idea of having dog parks is just crap.

[ROCrot]

Our dog loves running free, but the only way to do that responsibly is in an area where they can't go too far out of your line of sight. In other words, a very large, but enclosed area. Such an area has a name: "dog park".

If you're afraid of Parvo virus, get your dog inoculated!

If you're NOT afraid of Parvo virus, then STILL get your dog inoculated.

[the Genral]

I agree totally with Kevin, I have 10 dogs and I don't take them to public places especially dog parks. The Parvo Vaccine is only about 65 - 70% effective and the Parvo virus can live for 6 months or more on any surface. Small dogs, puppies, and old dogs are most vulnarable. I know about dogs, I personally found homes for over 1500 in the last 5 years and consult with vets regularly. Keep in mind that dogs are allowed in many parks in Austin so the potential for contracting diseases for your dog exists everywhere, so keep them updated on their vacs, have them tested for parasites at least 2 times per year, about $25 bucks or less, and keep 'em on a leash, oh and clean up after them!

[JoninATX]

Stacy refinances Congress Avenue office tower

By American-Statesman staff | Monday, April 18, 2011, 01:45 PM

Austin developer Tom Stacy has refinanced his holdings at Sixth and Congress, with a new loan from a German bank.

The new loan is for the Bank of America tower. Stacy said the move frees the other parcels he owns in the area from all debt.

Stacy long has had ambitious plans for a mixed-used project, with two towers, on the Congress Avenue block but has not yet moved ahead on them. He said he may start construction on the first phase — a parking garage — as early as next year.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/s...4/18/stacy_refinances_congress_aven.html

[Austinite101]

Wow it's been years since I have heard anything from this project. I thought it was long dead. What does this mean now?