The Transformation of South Lamar

[lzppjb]

Could be this property just north of Post. It's about 3 acres and would be bridging the gap a bit more between Post and the new Lamar Plaza. Maybe Kevin can check out the permits page and find out exactly.

[corvairkeith]

That's Jesse James' speed shop. I don't really see him going anywhere soon.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by corvairkeith

That's Jesse James' speed shop. I don't really see him going anywhere soon.

How did he ever end up in Austin?

[Austin_Expert]

Originally Posted by corvairkeith

That's Jesse James' speed shop. I don't really see him going anywhere soon.

He leases his shop.

Binswanger Glass is moving in October to a location on S. Congress, just north of Ben White because of new ownership wanting to redevelop the property.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by migol24

How did he ever end up in Austin?

He moved here to be close to his kids. Remember the Sandra Bullock days? Also, one of his other ex-wives, a porn star I think, moved to Buda I heard.

[KevinFromTexas]

Yes, leave Peter Pan alone. My grandparents used to go there on dates in the late 40s and early 50s.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/a...3/03/developers-steer-clear-of-mike.html

Mar 21, 2013, 10:39am CDT UPDATED: Mar 22, 2013, 7:57am CDT
Developers, steer clear of Mike Dismukes and Peter Pan

Colin Pope
Editor-
Austin Business Journal

Stay strong, Mike Dismukes. If no one has officially proclaimed it so, I’m dubbing your operation an iconic Austin business that can’t go the way of Las Manitas or Liberty Lunch.

I was thrilled to read in an article in today's ABJ print issue that you have no intention of seeing your Peter Pan Mini Golf razed for something bigger or “better” even though potential rezonings in your area could make that possible.

I’m not a fan of holding onto something just because it’s old, though I will point out that Peter Pan Mini Golf has been an Austin tradition since 1946, according to its website. Most importantly, this place epitomizes Austin.

-

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-...al-sites-may-have-crack-at-new-life.html

Mar 22, 2013, 5:00am CDT
Central sites may have crack at new life

Redistricting could yield opportunity for developers

Robert Grattan
Staff Writer-
Austin Business Journal

The city of Austin may soon shift four plots of land along South Lamar Boulevard and Riverside Drive from the Butler Shores Subdistrict to the Auditorium Shores Subdistrict.

The change in designation would open more land — the iconic Peter Pan Mini Golf, a McDonald’s, a bike shop and the Butler Park Pitch & Putt — in an already hot part of Austin to a much wider variety of uses and could clear the way for redevelopment.

[wwmiv]

The mini golf will stay, as they have no intention of selling and the community would be against any attempts to force them out. The other sites, however, I don't care about.

[lzppjb]

Agreed. Don't mess with T-Rex. The other stuff can go.

[kingkirbythe....]

Until the owners can't pay their tax bills.

[MightyYoda]

Love PeterPan and would be sad to see it go though I doubt they do unless they want to leave. The rest, I hope they sell or are redeveloped.

[lzppjb]

Drove Lamar today. Wow! They're really coming along at all the sites. There is a nice hole in the ground at the Drafthouse site. I think there will be action at the Bluebonnet parking lot soon. Going to be a restaurant.

The Tree on South 1st is moving along quickly as well.

[lzppjb]

More great skyline views, from Gibson Flats this time. Courtesy of their Facebook page.





I think that structure in the last photo is the garage. Here is an overhead view of the site from November. The garage is on the left.

[KevinFromTexas]

^That's an interesting angle. It makes West Campus, UT and Uptown contribute to the lower part of downtown's skyline.

I can't wait to see the views from these projects once they're finished. It's going to be a little too much to handle!

[LoneStarMike]

The first 2 photos were taken from the 5th floor lobby of the Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center April 22, 2012.

On the horizon, Gibson Flats (left) and Post South Lamar (right).



Zoomed in on Gibson Flats:




April 23, 2013 from 5th & Lamar - looking down S. Lamar. You can see Gibson Flats & the cranes for the Hanover.

[The ATX]

Those are some great seldom seen view points.

[LoneStarMike]

Yeah - I guess that's one of the very few advantages of being summoned for jury duty in that building. I think floors 3 - 9 have the same setup. The general lobbies on each of those floors face south. I think anyone can go up and access those lobbies. You have to go through security, but they don't know if you're a juror, a witness, or whatever.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Yeah - I guess that's one of the very few advantages of being summoned for jury duty in that building. I think floors 3 - 9 have the same setup. The general lobbies on each of those floors face south. I think anyone can go up and access those lobbies. You have to go through security, but they don't know if you're a juror, a witness, or whatever.

I'm glad you clarified that jury duty was the reason why you were there. I had thought about posting some smart ass remark about why you would be there.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Yeah - I guess that's one of the very few advantages of being summoned for jury duty in that building. I think floors 3 - 9 have the same setup. The general lobbies on each of those floors face south. I think anyone can go up and access those lobbies. You have to go through security, but they don't know if you're a juror, a witness, or whatever.

Did they give you any trouble about your camera?

[LoneStarMike]

No - the people at security didn't care. All they look for is weapons. A bunch of people saw me taking photos out the south-facing windows of the lobby including lawyers, court officials, DPS troopers & police officers and no one said a word. I just made sure I wasn't taking photos of people or interior shots of the building.

I was actually chosen to be a juror in a DWI case and after the trial was over, the DA and her assistant came to the jury deliberation room to get our feedback and to answer any questions we had. When we were leaving for the last time, the DA and her assistant saw me taking photos and I told them about skyscraperpage.com (and my username here) and they thought it was cool and were happy for me that I got to take photos from a new vantage point.

[LoneStarMike]

A couple of months ago, I noticed some new construction going on behind South Austin Music on S. Lamar. It appeared to be apartments and they were 3 stories. You can see them on the right hand side of the photo behind South Austin Music. They're just north of the Post South Lamar Apartments and Binswanger Glass.




Sunday, I finally got off the bus at that stop so I could check them out. This is the view of the backside of them from the Binswanger Glass parking lot.




There's a chain link fence around the back of the development, and to the west of it are some older apartments. I then walked north up S. Lamar and turned west on Lamar Square Drive and was able to view them from the front.





Apparently it's a 40-unit affordable housing project associated with the Mary Lee Foundation. The Mary Lee Foundation is at 1330 Lamar Square Drive and these apartments are at 1342 Lamar Square Drive.

Here's the website about the project. It's supposed to open in May.

The Legacy – 1342 Lamar Square Drive

Rendering from the website:



Also there's some blog entries at the above site and the latest one has a couple of views of downtown from the third floor of this project. In the first photo, you can see Gibson Flats on the right.



A second one of downtown and on the far left you can see Gables Park Plaza II



Overall, it's not a huge project, but it will add some more density to the area.