AUSTIN | Fairmont Hotel | 595 FEET SPIRE/456 FT ROOF | 37 FLRS | Complete - Page 53

drummer · #1 Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 1:24 AM**

^^ Great find! I wonder if there's a good place for that house to go where it can be repurposed...seems like it'd be a big undertaking.

So, as the Fairmont finishes, what is the likelihood of something getting developed on the block where this house currently sits? I've seen a rendering of the convention center expansion (not the newest idea) taking this block and the one north of it. Does that hold any water? I'm hoping not - I'd rather see hotels/restaurants, etc., as they'd complement the Waller Creek plan significantly better. Forgive me if I'm asking something obvious - I've heard so much speculation about this area that I can't recall opinion from potential fact without researching. It seems the Fairmont could bring greater potential to that side of the convention center (obviously the Palm School site is yet to be determined).

KevinFromTexas · #2 Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 1:52 AM**

I wonder if that house could be moved to one of the downtown parks such as Waterloo Park or even Palm Park. San Antonio's Hemisphere Park has several old structures that are being reused.

drummer · #3 Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 2:09 AM**

I was also thinking of something like the Dallas Heritage Village just across I-30 from DTD. Surely there are enough older structures worth saving that are able to be moved. It'd be interesting, for sure.

Edit: In fact, if Austin were to do something like Dallas Heritage Village, the Palm Park / Palm School site would be a great one for it. It would take some work, but the Palm School could be turned into a decent museum showcasing the area's history, which is interesting to me, at least.

lzppjb · #4 Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 4:15 AM**

We need to get Nicole Curtis, Rehab Addict, on that house!

austlar1 · #5 Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 8:16 PM**

Yes.

wwmiv · #6 Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 11:22 PM**

Ohhhhh duh.

drummer · #7 Posted **Jan 17, 2016, 12:33 AM**

Thanks for bringing us back, ATX!

KevinFromTexas · #8 Posted **Jan 17, 2016, 4:46 AM**

Also, Homecreek did post this link to the downtownaustinblog that had a photo of that smaller wood framed building you guys were talking about. It's called the Castleman-Bull house.

http://downtownaustinblog.org/2011/03/09/this-is-bull/

The ATX · #9 Posted **Jan 17, 2016, 5:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Also, Homecreek did post this link to the downtownaustinblog that had a photo of that smaller wood framed building you guys were talking about. It's called the Castleman-Bull house.

http://downtownaustinblog.org/2011/03/09/this-is-bull/

Thanks for posting that. I thought DAB was where I saw the story on it, but I couldn't find it.

AustinGoesVertical · #10 Posted **Jan 17, 2016, 6:52 AM**

Honestly, I think the Fairmont should do one of two things:

They could buy the land, restore the house and make a free tour part of the hotel package or they could even classify it as a guest suite and charge a really high nightly rate that includes the hotel's amenities but a stay in the house. Think of how perfect it would be for a group of executives coming in for a convention.

We vs us · #11 Posted **Jan 17, 2016, 3:57 PM**

That's a weird little area surrounding the Fairmont, and that includes the No-Longer Mystery House, the Palm School and attendant park, and a couple of other single story utility buildings/garages/what-have-you in the block just north. Everything from the Austin Visitor Center and garage south is kind of isolated from the city. All of that would seem to be prime property at this point in the city's life. I'm a little surprised there aren't more cranes over there.

drummer · #12 Posted **Jan 18, 2016, 1:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

That's a weird little area surrounding the Fairmont, and that includes the No-Longer Mystery House, the Palm School and attendant park, and a couple of other single story utility buildings/garages/what-have-you in the block just north. Everything from the Austin Visitor Center and garage south is kind of isolated from the city. All of that would seem to be prime property at this point in the city's life. I'm a little surprised there aren't more cranes over there.

That's a good point. With all that land over there (Palm School and the park aside), what's happening? Who owns it? Is it that the Convention Center is a massive wall preventing much spread of development in that direction thus far?

Tech House · #13 Posted **Jan 18, 2016, 3:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

That's a weird little area surrounding the Fairmont, and that includes the No-Longer Mystery House, the Palm School and attendant park, and a couple of other single story utility buildings/garages/what-have-you in the block just north. Everything from the Austin Visitor Center and garage south is kind of isolated from the city. All of that would seem to be prime property at this point in the city's life. I'm a little surprised there aren't more cranes over there.

Exactly, it really is an odd area, a dead zone that feels neglected to the point of being abandoned. But we must save The Gas Pipe. After all, I grew a few pot plants in the early 90s and bought supplies there, so it has great historic and sentimental value and I will be crushed if they have to move. Or not.

A couple of enormous factors that have kept that area blighted are the flood situation with Waller Creek (soon to be a thing of the past), and the freeway (soon to be a thing of the past, or so I dream.) Property owners and developers can count on what's going to happen with Waller, but until the freeway issue is decided it's probably going to prevent much from happening in that immediate area.

A few of the small businesses in that area are in neat little old buildings that are probably going to stay, and I'm happy about that. I've really been enjoying the contrast that I see all over town where there are new developments next to food trailers and funky bars, that sort of thing. It looks like a lot of small parcels are going to remain as they are and won't be gobbled up by massive developments sprawling over entire blocks. There's nice diversity of sizes and types of businesses in many areas. West Sixth is pretty awesome in that respect, and the food trailers next to the Bowie are a sweet contrast to the residential tower cluster, providing that much-needed human-scale vibe to the street.

wwmiv · #14 Posted **Jan 17, 2016, 5:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Honestly, I think the Fairmont should do one of two things:

They could buy the land, restore the house and make a free tour part of the hotel package or they could even classify it as a guest suite and charge a really high nightly rate that includes the hotel's amenities but a stay in the house. Think of how perfect it would be for a group of executives coming in for a convention.

Can you find examples of anything like this happening elsewhere? Unique idea.

drummer · #15 Posted **Jan 18, 2016, 4:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Honestly, I think the Fairmont should do one of two things:

They could buy the land, restore the house and make a free tour part of the hotel package or they could even classify it as a guest suite and charge a really high nightly rate that includes the hotel's amenities but a stay in the house. Think of how perfect it would be for a group of executives coming in for a convention.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Can you find examples of anything like this happening elsewhere? Unique idea.

I also like this idea. My only issue is that this particular house/building seems fairly small. I could see it as a single-rented building for the uber rich, I guess, as opposed to a place for several executives. I saw the photos of the inside (didn't look at all of them, though). It seems like one large suite with a couple of bedrooms upstairs and a common area downstairs.

the Genral · #16 Posted **Jan 18, 2016, 12:55 AM**

Turn it into an authentic saloon, cater to tourists and contrast the modernistic bar at the Fairmont. Have an old timey piano playing and replicate all things wild, wild west. Landscape and tie into the Fairmont with trails, add a few old wagons and wagon wheels, hitching posts and spittoons.

priller · #17 Posted **Jan 24, 2016, 11:34 PM**

From yesterday:

The ATX · #18 Posted **Jan 25, 2016, 2:29 AM**

Nice update priller.

hookem · #19 Posted **Jan 25, 2016, 5:26 AM**

Thanks for the photos, Priller.

I've been looking out for something in the building structure (like a special reinforced section or something) in these first few floors to indicate where the skywalk to the Convention Center will connect... anyone spotted that yet?

Is it the little blue steel "plank" with the column forms sitting in front on the first pic, maybe? Wouldn't seem so with the orientation to the street, but that does stand out as a potential connection.

The ATX · #20 Posted **Jan 25, 2016, 5:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hookem

Thanks for the photos, Priller.

I've been looking out for something in the building structure (like a special reinforced section or something) in these first few floors to indicate where the skywalk to the Convention Center will connect... anyone spotted that yet?

Is it the little blue steel "plank" with the column forms sitting in front on the first pic, maybe? Wouldn't seem so with the orientation to the street, but that does stand out as a potential connection.

The early renderings of the skywalk had it connecting at a lower level in the podium which hasn't been built yet.

Link: Somewhere in this forum. Look for it.