Domain/North Austin Development Updates

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by PartyLine

Maby it's the 29 story Twelve hotel/condos that was proposed to be built in there a while back?

Oh yea I forgot about that hotel proposal but have not heard anything since so who knows if its still even planned.

[PartyLine]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Oh yea I forgot about that hotel proposal but have not heard anything since so who knows if its still even planned.

Yeah I haven't heard anything about it since then either

[Mikey711MN]

The original website redirects to the Twelve Hotel main page, so I imagine that this particular condo/hotel component is dead. That said, they're very likely planning for that space to have some height, but they'll need the market to recover a bit more.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by Mikey711MN

The original website redirects to the Twelve Hotel main page, so I imagine that this particular condo/hotel component is dead. That said, they're very likely planning for that space to have some height, but they'll need the market to recover a bit more.

Yea, your right. Some of the zoning for the North Burnet Gateway is for full highrise development so I wouldn't be surprised in the coming years of some fairly tall buildings popping up in that area as long as they keep the density and the blocks of 6 to 12 floor buildings on both sides of the street, it will become a pretty impressive area.

[The ATX]

The city approved a zoning case for a 300' (or maybe it was 350', I can't remember) condo tower at the Domain well before the recession started.

[Cloud92]

I dont know if this is still the plan but i find it fun to look athttp://www.marcuspulsipher.com/landscape_architecture/projects/thedomain/domain1.html

[migol24]

Originally Posted by Cloud92

I dont know if this is still the plan but i find it fun to look athttp://www.marcuspulsipher.com/landscape_architecture/projects/thedomain/domain1.html

isn't that the actual designs to what is now actually the domain? if i'm not mistaken, that has already been built.

[BevoLJ]

No that is the proposed phase 2. The top road that is out of focus or whatever is Burnet with the trees of the IBM Campus parking in the top left.

What are they going to do with Bioware / EA and all those companies when they do this work. Are they planning on moving? Because it looks like they are replacing their current offices.

[Jdawgboy]

I believe that is still the final design. Most of the street grid has been built and it follows the design of those renderings.

My main complaint about the area and the plan is the abundance of surface parking. Really? Surface parking? They had done a great job mostly with the first phase of the Domain with the garages built on the backside of the main streets but then they have a massive surface parking lot between Macys and Dicks Sporting goods which is a HUGE barrier for pedestrians walking from the north end to the southern end where Simon clearly created a more mall like layout rather than a true urban corridor. There is no connection between the two and it ruins the experience because of how disconnected the two ends are from eachother. I hope they plan on getting rid of that parking lot eventually build a few more parking garages and actually connect the two sides.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

No that is the proposed phase 2. The top road that is out of focus or whatever is Burnet with the trees of the IBM Campus parking in the top left.

What are they going to do with Bioware / EA and all those companies when they do this work. Are they planning on moving? Because it looks like they are replacing their current offices.

oh cool i had no idea. i just hope they don't place a parking lot in between like they did with phase 1. it kind of defeats the purpose of this plan, in my opinion. i just find it very strange because it looks like they're trying to develop an entirely new neighborhood and as i've read in other parts, a second downtown, but when you place a parking space like that it just looks like a shopping mall. and every time you drive by it, that's what it looks like... just a mall. it's still a great design and i like the concept, but it just looks crappy with a huge parking lot right in the middle. i hope they don't continue this in the second part. judging from the designs, it doesn't look like that would happen.

and i also feel that they should have bus routes that take you directly from downtown and straight into this area. the only bus that takes you from downtown and into this area is bus route#3. and if you've taken that bus route before, as i had many many times, it takes you almost an hour to get from downtown and to this part of austin. the other buses that take you through this area didn't take you to downtown, as far as i can remember. and just not to forget, when the bus drops you off in this area there aren't really safe sidewalks that connect you to the domain. it's a very strange design to say the least, because it looks like it's trying to be some urban and dense development but it still has all the characteristics that any shopping mall in houston or dallas would. if these things are improved, i can see this part being widely successful more so than it already is. and it can create a much more urban feel to it, imo.

[BevoLJ]

Metrorail has a station about a mile from there. Seems they should have a bus to go to the Domain. Is there not one? I just checked on Google and it seems the train is a ~30 min ride and then it is a mile+ walk (another ~20 mins) to the Domain. I would think they would have a bus to connect the Metrorail station with the Domain. If there isn't then perhaps it is silly stuff like that which is the reason Metrorail has been doing so poorly?

http://g.co/maps/mg7ce

Not saying they should just have a bus just for that. But seems they could include it as part of one of the existing bus routes to connect the two. A mile isn't all that far a walk, but if you are up there shopping or working then knowing you will have to walk a mile vs just having your car to hop in, most are going to say screw it and take their car.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

Metrorail has a station about a mile from there. Seems they should have a bus to go to the Domain. Is there not one? I just checked on Google and it seems the train is a ~30 min ride and then it is a mile+ walk (another ~20 mins) to the Domain. I would think they would have a bus to connect the Metrorail station with the Domain. If there isn't then perhaps it is silly stuff like that which is the reason Metrorail has been doing so poorly?

http://g.co/maps/mg7ce

Not saying they should just have a bus just for that. But seems they could include it as part of one of the existing bus routes to connect the two. A mile isn't all that far a walk, but if you are up there shopping or working then knowing you will have to walk a mile vs just having your car to hop in, most are going to say screw it and take their car.

yeah, that wouldn't be such a bad idea. and it's not only for the people who go there to shop but also for the people that go their to work. or vice versa, for the people who live in the domain and want to go to downtown. simply put, there's a lot of work that needs to be done.

[Jdawgboy]

It is not convenient where the train stop is to the Domain but I hope that as the whole North Burnet/Gateway area gets more dense, we will see a better connection between where the station is and mass transportation routs throughout the area including the Domain.

[Mdlx]

Originally Posted by migol24

oh cool i had no idea. i just hope they don't place a parking lot in between like they did with phase 1. it kind of defeats the purpose of this plan, in my opinion. i just find it very strange because it looks like they're trying to develop an entirely new neighborhood and as i've read in other parts, a second downtown, but when you place a parking space like that it just looks like a shopping mall. and every time you drive by it, that's what it looks like... just a mall. it's still a great design and i like the concept, but it just looks crappy with a huge parking lot right in the middle. i hope they don't continue this in the second part. judging from the designs, it doesn't look like that would happen.

and i also feel that they should have bus routes that take you directly from downtown and straight into this area. the only bus that takes you from downtown and into this area is bus route#3. and if you've taken that bus route before, as i had many many times, it takes you almost an hour to get from downtown and to this part of austin. the other buses that take you through this area didn't take you to downtown, as far as i can remember. and just not to forget, when the bus drops you off in this area there aren't really safe sidewalks that connect you to the domain. it's a very strange design to say the least, because it looks like it's trying to be some urban and dense development but it still has all the characteristics that any shopping mall in houston or dallas would. if these things are improved, i can see this part being widely successful more so than it already is. and it can create a much more urban feel to it, imo.

the reason for that huge, disgusting, parking lot is because of the high-voltage LCRA(i believe) power lines overhead. They start near braker and 183 and run right through the Domain and finally end right before getting to lamar. Nothing can be built below them.

[BevoLJ]

Ah, that makes sense. I just looked on Google and you can follow them all the way from Mansfield Dam to just south of Elgin and on to Giddings and beyond.

[Cloud92]

the metro rail is just a flop in my opinion.

[LoneStarMike]

New upscale hotel planned for the Domain
By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

A new hotel concept reminiscent of the roadside motor court hotels in the 1940s and 1950s will take up residence at the upscale Domain project in North Austin.

Billed as "a 21st century re-interpretation of the nostalgic motor court," the upscale concept is the latest by Valencia Group. The Houston-based company develops and operates boutique luxury hotels, including the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio.

Renderings from the article:

[JoninATX]

Looks nice, and its something different to the area.

[Jdawgboy]

Im sorry but I don't think its appropriate for the location. As I stated in the other thread it looks like it belongs in Drippings Springs, not at the Domain which mind you is supposed to be a dense, pedestrian oriented development but projects like these are lessening that premise. I think its a neat project but it should be placed away in lower density areas or in a surrounding town that wants to keep that old town feel. Austin is trying to grow up, this project still gives the sense that Austin is fighting tooth and nail to stay low density.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

New upscale hotel planned for the Domain
By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Tuesday, March 6, 2012



Renderings from the article:

Reminds me of the place that got torn down just north of St. John on the west side of IH35, a 1950's style motel spread out in a park like setting of mature trees, etc. I forget what it was called, but it turned into one huge crack hotel. This proposal is certainly is not the urban icon that one might expect from the developers of Austin's "second downtown". I personally think the entire Domaine project is trash, a pseudo urban environment for people who hope to avoid any kind of contact with a real urban environment.