AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[ahealy]

I just find it hard to believe these designs get approval. You can construct a 2 story building and make it beautiful. This is so ridiculous for downtown Austin. I haven't felt this way about a new building in a long time (if ever). I know I sound dramatic....

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Yeah, I'd prefer a parking lot over this crap. The parking garage in this building is monstrous.

TOTALLY agree.

Filler at it's worse

[N90]

I like it. Totally kills a parking lot. Parking lots in downtown areas just automatically ruin my day. I hate those more than anything else!

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by N90

I like it. Totally kills a parking lot. Parking lots in downtown areas just automatically ruin my day. I hate those more than anything else!

Parking lots ruin my day as well, but they aren't even trying with this. It's borderline brutalist architecture. Sometimes I feel like they (developers/architects) just need to take a chance and do something truly urban, instead of these cookie cutter vertical gated communities! Ahhhh

[N90]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Parking lots ruin my day as well, but they aren't even trying with this. It's borderline brutalist architecture. Sometimes I feel like they (developers/architects) just need to take a chance and do something truly urban, instead of these cookie cutter vertical gated communities! Ahhhh

Think of it this way, with the tons of projects going on in just Downtown Austin alone, I think one ugly building in a lot of many impressive ones isn't too bad. Every city has that one tower every couple of years that just make the eyes want to bleed till they're gone.

Austin, fortunately has 16 + other towers being planned/constructed in Downtown. If this were the only thing being built, then it would be a capital tragedy but luckily Austin's fortunate to have more going on than just this. Parking lots however are complete nightmares, its hard enough driving past those in downtown but walking by those is even worse. It's dangerous, ugly, flat, nonexistent, uninspiring, and most of all polluted with haze.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by N90

Think of it this way, with the tons of projects going on in just Downtown Austin alone, I think one ugly building in a lot of many impressive ones isn't too bad. Every city has that one tower every couple of years that just make the eyes want to bleed till they're gone.

Austin, fortunately has 16 + other towers being planned/constructed in Downtown. If this were the only thing being built, then it would be a capital tragedy but luckily Austin's fortunate to have more going on than just this. Parking lots however are complete nightmares, its hard enough driving past those in downtown but walking by those is even worse. It's dangerous, ugly, flat, nonexistent, uninspiring, and most of all polluted with haze.

I agree, ugly ones do indeed turn out. My biggest problem is the prime location. This apt building will now accentuate that tan and white design that the Hampton inn has, along with the new Hyatt Place...making that a more domineering look in that region of DT.

[Nickelplate]

With all the clammoring for affordable housing downtown, it makes sense with the dulling down of this project. Besides in the coming years we will have a glassy tower about doubling it 1 block to the west.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by Nickelplate

With all the clammoring for affordable housing downtown, it makes sense with the dulling down of this project. Besides in the coming years we will have a glassy tower about doubling it 1 block to the west.

I'm fine with the new design generally, but I'm not sure they've changed to being more affordable. These were originally supposed to be higher end apartments.

[NYC_Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Wow. This is shit.

Maybe it will be in the next Mission Impossible Movie!!!

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Nickelplate

With all the clammoring for affordable housing downtown, it makes sense with the dulling down of this project. Besides in the coming years we will have a glassy tower about doubling it 1 block to the west.

This was labeled as a luxury apartment building (vertical gated community) with the automobile playing a huge part in its design. Sorry, I'm not trying to use fighting words or anything. After all, my building has 8 levels of parking...

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by ahealy

This was labeled as a luxury apartment building (vertical gated community) with the automobile playing a huge part in its design. Sorry, I'm not trying to use fighting words or anything. After all, my building has 8 levels of parking...

Vertical gated communities are still better than actual gated communities. Not only that, but it will still interact with the street in a productive way. These people will still be able to walk to many places, and they will hopefully forgo the use of their cars for many things. Also, you really have to understand that it is almost impossible to live without a car, so a parking component will actually be helpful in attracting the best kind of residents: those who aren't completely sold on the idea of living car-less.

[Nickelplate]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

These were originally supposed to be higher end apartments.

I know, probably not economically feasible for a new build to be affordable. But it will be interesting to see how it turns out with the new render released right at the start of construction.

[Nickelplate]

Originally Posted by ahealy

This was labeled as a luxury apartment building (vertical gated community) with the automobile playing a huge part in its design. Sorry, I'm not trying to use fighting words or anything. After all, my building has 8 levels of parking...

Austin won't have any sufficient public transportation for a long time so large parking ramps will be prevalent in all future projects unfortunately.

[ahealy]

I've lived downtown without a car for the past 4 years and gotten by just fine. I'm not anti-car (I'm named after one). I feel like more Austinites need to just bite into some more serious urban living. I remember working at a pizza shop on 2nd 2 years ago, and residents at "The Ashton" refused to walk to 2nd & san Antonio to pick up their food...that scares me. All in all: I am all for new apartment buildings in our cities core.

[TexasPlaya]

Originally Posted by ahealy

I've lived downtown without a car for the past 4 years and gotten by just fine. I'm not anti-car (I'm named after one). I feel like more Austinites need to just bite into some more serious urban living. I remember working at a pizza shop on 2nd 2 years ago, and residents at "The Ashton" refused to walk to 2nd & san Antonio to pick up their food...that scares me. All in all: I am all for new apartment buildings in our cities core.

It really depends on where you work. Of the few people I know who live the immediate downtown area, none of them work in the area. They do bike, but public transit needs to really step it up.

To the design of the building, not ideal but here in Texas any downtown surface lot that gets used up needs to be applauded.

[NYC2ATX]

The way I see it, not every building will be a winner, but Austin needs infill now, it needs some buildings that are not such superstars to form the backdrop for all the new towers that are. Yes 3rd and Brazos is decent at best, and the new Hyatt is no prize either, but they form a denser urban setting for the gorgeous towers that now define the Austin skyline.

All in all, things could be worse..

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by ahealy

I've lived downtown without a car for the past 4 years and gotten by just fine. I'm not anti-car (I'm named after one). I feel like more Austinites need to just bite into some more serious urban living. I remember working at a pizza shop on 2nd 2 years ago, and residents at "The Ashton" refused to walk to 2nd & san Antonio to pick up their food...that scares me. All in all: I am all for new apartment buildings in our cities core.

You may be just fine jumping into a setting where you don't have a car, but that just isn't the case for most people. I agree that not having a car is a good long-term strategy (one that many people aspire to), but most people generally need to ease into that situation. Having parking available to residents is a great way to accomplish that easing process.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

You may be just fine jumping into a setting where you don't have a car, but that just isn't the case for most people. I agree that not having a car is a good long-term strategy (one that many people aspire to), but most people generally need to ease into that situation. Having parking available to residents is a great way to accomplish that easing process.

my honest opinion is that the best way to "ease" into it, is to just get rid of your car. that's what i did. cause when i had my car, i was constantly tempted to drive it even if i didn't really need to.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by migol24

my honest opinion is that the best way to "ease" into it, is to just get rid of your car. that's what i did. cause when i had my car, i was constantly tempted to drive it even if i didn't really need to.

But then you aren't easing... You're going cold turkey.

For most people, realistically, that isn't going to be an option.

[jowens]

What about ground level retail in this building. Is it in the plans?