AUSTIN | Projects & Construction III

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Syndic

Agreed. It gets more sophisticated and bougie the further west you go. These projects aren't going to change that. If anything, they'll increase it. But I do think that street activity is a good thing. Seaholm (and its accompanying Trader Joe's) and the library will increase street activity in the area but they wouldn't do so nearly as much if it weren't for the streets being connected. West Street connecting to Cesar Chavez, the street connecting 3rd Street with Cesar Chavez (I don't know what they'll end up calling it), and the 2nd Street connection (most of all) will actually allow for free movement in the area so the whole area will become much more activated in the next 2 years or so. For lack of a better term, it will finally become a full-fledged member of downtown, which it hasn't been, really, over its history.

I still wish they would connect the street going through the Gables buildings with 3rd Street. At worst, a pedestrian connection, at best a sort of curving street that makes it an etension of Bowie Street. I think a pedestrian path is more realistic, though. And could end up being more interesting.

I just hope developers build character with their projects. It's more than just popping up a skyscraper with some yuppie couple in an ad doing yoga with "LIVE! WORK! PLAY!" streaming across the banner. We need permanence in each project and in these developing neighborhoods...something that encourages people to want to stay downtown instead of having some faux urban life before they buy a McMansion somewhere.

[audiomuse]

Originally Posted by migol24

I also wonder why Austin isn't consistently flooded with pedestrian crowds throughout the day in Downtown. I'm sure better public transportation will probably change that, but that's also an entirely different topic.

We really need more shopping in downtown Austin. Affordable but trendy clothing stores like H&M and Forever 21 are great destination retailers and would bring a lot more people downtown. A City Target store would be great as well. These types of stores would draw large amounts of people walking around downtown on the weekend and strolling around for some shopping. It really promotes street-life and the "window-shopping" atmosphere. It would give suburbanites/people who don't live downtown a reason to go there during the daytime hours.

San Antonio... a city that has much less people living in its downtown has the Rivercenter Mall with all the typical suburban shopping mall type stores. People go downtown to shop there.

Instead of an enclosed mall though I'd like to see retailers locate at street-level. That or some open air shopping arcades/pedestrian streets. Downtown still really feels like a restaurant/bar dominated place. The shopping that is available is mostly specialty stores and boutiques that the majority of the population don't do the bulk of their shopping at. Whole Foods is great but I'm really looking forward to the more affordable Trader Joe's coming to the Seaholm. I'm a big supporter of all of the local shopping options available downtown right now but I personally think that the introduction of national retailers would only be a boon for everyone. It would draw more a more diverse group of people downtown.

It would be amazing to see the pedestrian traffic SOCO gets on the weekends in the downtown area

[lzppjb]

We always mention a downtown market that would be open 7 days a week. That would liven up the place. It's just a matter of figuring out where to put it. Browsing Google Maps, and remembering a question I had about how to utilize these 2 lots, made me think a market on 4th Street between Congress and Colorado could work. It's the large surface parking lot next to Frank.

They could dig down and give just 1 or 2 levels of parking/docks, then have a combination of indoor and outdoor areas, with the indoors going up a couple of floors.

I think it'd be cooler in the SW part of downtown with all the residents closeby, but what lot would be used? Convert Sand Beach Park by Gables?

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by audiomuse

We really need more shopping in downtown Austin. Affordable but trendy clothing stores like H&M and Forever 21 are great destination retailers and would bring a lot more people downtown. A City Target store would be great as well. These types of stores would draw large amounts of people walking around downtown on the weekend and strolling around for some shopping. It really promotes street-life and the "window-shopping" atmosphere. It would give suburbanites/people who don't live downtown a reason to go there during the daytime hours.

San Antonio... a city that has much less people living in its downtown has the Rivercenter Mall with all the typical suburban shopping mall type stores. People go downtown to shop there.

Instead of an enclosed mall though I'd like to see retailers locate at street-level. That or some open air shopping arcades/pedestrian streets. Downtown still really feels like a restaurant/bar dominated place. The shopping that is available is mostly specialty stores and boutiques that the majority of the population don't do the bulk of their shopping at. Whole Foods is great but I'm really looking forward to the more affordable Trader Joe's coming to the Seaholm. I'm a big supporter of all of the local shopping options available downtown right now but I personally think that the introduction of national retailers would only be a boon for everyone. It would draw more a more diverse group of people downtown.

It would be amazing to see the pedestrian traffic SOCO gets on the weekends in the downtown area

I'm on the fence with that one. I would never in a million years want Austin to strive to be like downtown San Antonio and their semi-urban touristy giant corporation stores/restaurants. It is the 3rd ring of hell (I can say that as a native san antonian). At the same time I agree that we need more practical and well known retailers. A large well known anchor tenant somewhere would be great.
Honestly, I can't shop on 2nd street or congress for almost anything... and those are supposed to be the main retail destinations. They're not. Over the years we've seen shops come and go almost over night on 2nd because they are NOT realistic stores for people who live downtown. I think downtown ATX needs to take note from Portland, OR http://downtownportland.org/

[Syndic]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

We always mention a downtown market that would be open 7 days a week. That would liven up the place. It's just a matter of figuring out where to put it. Browsing Google Maps, and remembering a question I had about how to utilize these 2 lots, made me think a market on 4th Street between Congress and Colorado could work. It's the large surface parking lot next to Frank.

Per AusTxDeleopment's post below, there's already plans for a building on that 4th and Colorado lot:

Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment

Yesterday Bury, who are the engineers for Lincoln Property Company, submitted AULCC transmittals for both this building (5th & Colorado Tower, 190,000 square feet) and a second office/retail building at 4th & Colorado (90,000 to 100,000 square feet). The AULCCs say that construction is estimated to start as early as 7/1/14.

The documents are on the City's FTP site here:ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/131121/

There is also a combined map showing the 2 locations here: ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...orado%20St.pdf

No site plans, renderings, elevations or construction drawings yet. I'm sure that will follow.

There's also an AULCC for a hotel at 7th & Congress (621 Congress). I can't remember off the top of my head which hotel this is, but there is a map included: ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...20Congress.pdf Feel free to move this part of my post to whichever thread is tracking that.

For those of you not familiar, AULCC stands for Austin Utility & Location Coordination Committee, and one of the early steps in preparing to develop a commercial building in Austin is to submit a request to this committee to locate and confirm the utilities in the area you plan to develop. They are they guys that spray-paint those orange (telecom), green (sewer), blue (water) and yellow (gas) arrows and lines on the roadways, showing where the utilities are. They also handle right-of-way disputes, crane approvals, etc.

Originally Posted by lzppjb

I think it'd be cooler in the SW part of downtown with all the residents closeby, but what lot would be used? Convert Sand Beach Park by Gables?

I disagree about putting the market in the SW part of downtown, or even the western part of downtown. I think a public market is a place that needs to unite the two halves of downtown. It needs to be a central part of Austin downtown life. So, in other words, somewhere near the current heart of downtown; Congress Ave. The lot you suggested is good, but it's taken. I still like the lot just north of the Austonian, across from Colorado Tower.

[JoninATX]

I think it will be a great idea if we can put a public market where the future Federal court house will be, between Republic Park and the Amli. Also who owns that hideous parking garage by the 360? It needs a good makeover or build sometime else in it's place.

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by Syndic

I still wish they would connect the street going through the Gables buildings with 3rd Street. At worst, a pedestrian connection, at best a sort of curving street that makes it an etension of Bowie Street. I think a pedestrian path is more realistic, though. And could end up being more interesting.

I believe there are already plans for a pedestrian underpass at the railroad, adjacent to the two Gables?

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

I think it will be a great idea if we can put a public market where the future Federal court house will be, between Republic Park and the Amli. Also who owns that hideous parking garage by the 360? It needs a good makeover or build sometime else in it's place.

Or the goddamn Contemporary Austin needs to reclaim that block. Since we're on the subject of how we can make downtown better, let's talk about our museums (or lack of). We seriously NEED a large museum downtown. I recently went to the Contemporary on Congress and asked them if there were any plans to open a new larger facility and they reacted as if the Congress space was just enough for Austin. It makes me cringe when I think about how we have almost nothing besides the Blanton. Laguna Gloria is just an events space with almost zero art. BARF.

^^Sorry about the rant

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by Syndic

I still like the lot just north of the Austonian, across from Colorado Tower.

That could work for a small market. But I was thinking about something big and able to be used year-round (indoor/outdoor).

Of course, they'll probably just stick it east of 35.

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by Mopacs

I believe there are already plans for a pedestrian underpass at the railroad, adjacent to the two Gables?

Yep. I think construction is supposed to start this year.

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Or the goddamn Contemporary Austin needs to reclaim that block. Since we're on the subject of how we can make downtown better, let's talk about our museums (or lack of). We seriously NEED a large museum downtown. I recently went to the Contemporary on Congress and asked them if there were any plans to open a new larger facility and they reacted as if the Congress space was just enough for Austin. It makes me cringe when I think about how we have almost nothing besides the Blanton. Laguna Gloria is just an events space with almost zero art. BARF.

^^Sorry about the rant

I'm baffled by the lack of museums in and around downtown as well. I could care less if the Planetarium tower isn't built but the museum itself should have.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

That could work for a small market. But I was thinking about something big and able to be used year-round (indoor/outdoor).

Of course, they'll probably just stick it east of 35.

What about the convention center garage ground floor?

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

I'm baffled by the lack of museums in and around downtown as well. I could care less if the Planetarium tower isn't built but the museum itself should have.

Yeah. It's very embarrassing for Austin. I am always praying and hoping some billionaire opens some private Hammeresque museums here.

[Syndic]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Yep. I think construction is supposed to start this year.

Actually, last I heard, there was a conflict with the railroad and they didn't know how to sort it out. They have to either stop the railroad for a short period of time or reroute it, somehow.

The lot south of Colorado Tower wouldn't be a small public market. It would just be long and narrow (and hopefully crowded), which is the way a public market should be. For example, Seattle's:

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by Syndic

Actually, last I heard, there was a conflict with the railroad and they didn't know how to sort it out. They have to either stop the railroad for a short period of time or reroute it, somehow.

The lot south of Colorado Tower wouldn't be a small public market. It would just be long and narrow (and hopefully crowded), which is the way a public market should be. For example, Seattle's:

Ah. Thought you meant the small lot beside the Colorado tower.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Migol, about what you mentioned earlier.. I really appreciate the semi sleepy residential feel the SW has at night. I used to love the crazy busy vibe (and still do at times), but drunk assholes DO INDEED get old after so many years living downtown Like, how many agro dudes in Ed Hardy shirts looking for a fight do we really need??

I hear you. I mostly meant being an active part mostly during the day. The skyline in that part looks very vibrant but when you walk through there, zilch is going on. Maybe a few local coffee shops, or bookstores would make it very nice and quiet with a few things to get lost into. But I think once the Seaholm is built and all that is planned might bring in some of that. I agree with mostly everyone about bringing in more retail where people can shop and not just go around and get drunk. That's kinda annoying and enough of it to go around in and outside of downtown. But I'm really not worried about that part of downtown necessarily... I mostly feel that there could be more activity throughout the day in downtown.

Maybe I'm a bit spoiled after being in San Francisco, having active both day and night neighborhoods. That part of downtown can remind me a bit of the same crowd you'd find in Hayes Valley in SF, with a mix of hip and shiekh retail stores and restaurants. Something to that effect is ideal to me. It's still a laid back atmosphere but very active.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by ahealy

I need details now. Is this really happening? Holy smokes there is SO MUCH HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

It is going through the city's development process:

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11056288

The applicant is proposing the development of a multi-family high-rise and associated improvements.

The address is 718 West 5th Street on the lot that is east of the Austin City Lofts. The project is being called 5th & West.

[Jdawgboy]

I'm really glad they are finally filling in those lots on Colorado between 4th and 5th. Now all that's left is to get a highrise built on that parking lot on the northwest corner of Congress and 4th.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

As for a slow down, the only slow down that I could see is if the economy goes to s*** again, other than that Austin will continue to add towers. Also there is a tower proposed for midtown, looks to be in the 300ft. range. I know it was proposed yrs back but if I can find the rendering and or information I'll share it.

Are you talking about TWELVE Domain? The only height I ever heard for it was 320 feet, and we've assumed for a while now that it was dead.

We had two threads watching it, but like I said, this project was from 2007, and we haven't heard a thing about it in at least 5 years.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=131432

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=131080

[Jdawgboy]

Okay Ahealy, I know your not supposed to say anything about the ECC project but it's really getting to me not knowing anything. Can you at least hint one of two things?
Could you either hint if we should be excited about its height or is it pretty much compatible to what we have seen?

If not that could you hint of a possible time frame that we can expect an official announcement?

Thanks