AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 494

Jdawgboy · #**9861** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 2:29 AM**

My vote goes to the Manchester Hotel as far as design only because of height. I really like the Marriott and I love the glass facade of that hotel. But just the sheer height and the smaller tower footprint of the Manchester, wins hands down in my opinion as I am not as fond of shorter buildings with fat or long tower footprints and fact is that is what the JW will have.

The ATX · #**9862** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 2:35 AM**

I like the design of both convention hotels equally. But I'd vote for the Waller Creek (Manchester) one simply because of its prominent location by I35. It will look sweet from the highway while driving through Austin.

BevoLJ · #**9863** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 2:43 AM**

I agree with the above couple of post. The Grand (Manchester, Waller Creek, ... we need to pick a name and stick with it, lol) I think wins hands down because of the height. And it just looks great, but then so does the new JW designs. It looks amazing too, but just isn't as tall.

However, I am getting a feeling that the JW will actually be a nicer place to stay than the Grand. I also like its location on Congress better. But in 8 years who knows with how the convention area and Rainey Street are growing, and with the new Waller Creek project, perhaps the Grand may be a better location. Until recent years that area of 2nd with the Austonian, W, and everything else is now, was a nasty area. But still JW's are nice hotels to stay at.

photoLith · #**9864** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 2:55 AM**

Maybe the courthouse is better looking in person, Ill have to see when Im in Austin in a couple weeks.

wwmiv · #**9865** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 3:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Maybe the courthouse is better looking in person, Ill have to see when Im in Austin in a couple weeks.

It looks much better in person, although still not a great design.

wwmiv · #**9866** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 3:41 AM**

The Marriott has the superior design. The Grand is the better building.

migol24 · #**9867** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 4:08 AM**

I'm gonna have to go with the Grand in both design and height. I still like the JW though...

kingkirbythe.... · #**9868** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 6:20 AM**

I think the courthouse is very sharp.

Nickelplate · #**9869** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 6:32 AM**

Best design: Austin Grand
Best location: JW Marriott
Best replacement of hideous eyesore parking lot: JW
I think we have a winner.

Nickelplate · #**9870** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 6:49 AM**

My opinion on the federal courthouse, too small for a full city block and as referenced in a previous post: Borg cubish. That's not good for all you Trekkies out there.

BevoLJ · #**9871** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 7:16 AM**

Lol. That courthouse always seems really damn big to me. At least in person. Though in the photos it does look kinda like a little toy. =)

JoninATX · #**9872** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 7:22 AM**

First low-income housing project in decades planned for downtown

Quote:

By Sarah Coppola

Published: 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012

An Austin nonprofit plans to build the first downtown development in decades to house low-income residents, a population often priced out of apartment and condo towers downtown.

Foundation Communities is proposing a $15 million, four-story project called Capitol Terrace at 11th and Trinity streets that will include 135 efficiency apartments. The units will be rented for $400 to $650 a month, utilities included, to single adults who earn less than $27,000 — roughly half of Austin's median income .

Ten of the Capitol Terrace apartments will be reserved for musicians and artists, Moreau said. About two dozen will be set aside for people with especially low incomes who have been receiving housing and social service help from groups like Caritas of Austin and Austin Resource Center for the Homeless , the city's shelter.

Foundation Communities has hired Dick Clark Architects to design the project and hopes to break ground in early 2013 and open in early 2014 . Foundation Communities is under contract to buy the 0.6 -acre tract, which is a parking lot, and it would not have to seek a zoning change to build there, Moreau said.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/firs...-project-in-decades-planned-2142265.html

JoninATX · #**9873** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 7:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

Lol. That courthouse always seems really damn big to me. At least in person. Though in the photos it does look kinda like a little toy. =)

Lol. It does...

ahealy · #**9874** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 7:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoninATX

First low-income housing project in decades planned for downtown

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/firs...-project-in-decades-planned-2142265.html

I read this on DAB. I'm very pleased to hear this. Maybe my friends will finally be able to move BACK downtown.

JoninATX · #**9875** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 7:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

I read this on DAB. I'm very pleased to hear this. Maybe my friends will finally be able to move BACK downtown.

Me to, although I am alittle disappointed that its only going to be 4 stories.

JoninATX · #**9876** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 7:40 AM**

Anyways glad something is being built in that area.

Myomi · #**9877** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 8:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

My vote goes to the Manchester Hotel as far as design only because of height. I really like the Marriott and I love the glass facade of that hotel. But just the sheer height and the smaller tower footprint of the Manchester, wins hands down in my opinion as I am not as fond of shorter buildings with fat or long tower footprints and fact is that is what the JW will have.

Looking at the newly released diagrams and renderings, it looks like the Manchester Hotel is just as wide as the JW. It looks really skinny because from where most of the renderings are coming from, we are looking down the narrow end of the building from west to east. However, looking from the north, coming south on I-35, the building is going to look pretty wide. I would say that they both have about the same tower footprint as they both extend about the length of a city block.

One of them is definitely taller...but I am interested to see if this project has retail space, or is it just going to have the restaurant space. And I want to see how they interface with Waller Creek on the north side. From these renderings, it looks like the main entrance will be on that side, which means that all the car activity will form a sort of barrier between the hotel and the creek. I was really hoping for a restaurant/lounge area or even just a balcony that overlooked what is supposed to be a new jewel in the Austin downtown park system.

I am excited though about the statement that they will "support Palm Park improvements." Maybe that area shall become sort of a front lawn for this new hotel. We shall see what happens. As for the JW, I am really interested to see what material they use for unique cladding on the west side. If they pick the right stuff...that surface might be absolutely spectacular.

migol24 · #**9878** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 8:25 AM**

IF that low-income apartment gets built you bet your ass I'm moving back to Austin to live there!

cvillehorn · #**9879** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 8:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

Wow, the new courthouse is quite ugly, yuck. Its just a random assemblage of rectangles that make no sense.

It's an attractive and interesting building in person. Notwithstanding my reflexive position against a public judicial building in the middle of such a booming commercial district, the facade has an excellent texture with unique, quality evoking materials. I think it will be just fine right there.

MichaelB · #**9880** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 4:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

I read this on DAB. I'm very pleased to hear this. Maybe my friends will finally be able to move BACK downtown.

yes, Jude on DAB has a good perspective on this.