AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by East7thStreet

I believe this is replacing the Arnold Oil site across from Cisco's.

Your right, I got turned around by looking at street names in the rendering.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

The Whole Foods campus plan has many things stirring in my mind, one of which is something I have been already pondering for some time. Being at Whole Foods on Lamar, I'm sometimes thrown by the fact that it's the "flagship" considering it's not much different in appearance than others in the chain. I've been to several in New York that are larger and busier (I know, it's NYC, but still). I think that, if office expansion is on the horizon, they should do this:

Instead of attempting to build a new office tower at the Shoal Creek Walk site...and deal with the CVC...they should build a new, larger and more impressive flagship (with creek-frontage to boot...hello, creekside outdoor dining) on that site, and close up the corner of 5th and Lamar where the current store parking lot is with new office space. This would also allow for integration with the existing central office building, and a potential skyway connection from the offices to the new flagship. To me that makes the most sense.

Also, love the Eastside Village renderings...between Corazon, the Plaza Saltillo plan and this, I'm going to LOVEEE that area in a few years, and I love it already.

That would kill the pedestrian activity there. No.

[KevinFromTexas]

The Bowie side of Whole Foods is pretty uninviting. Even the Lamar side could use some work with that parking lot. I really don't see why they don't just dig out the Lamar facing parking lot, put in more underground parking there and then build more office space on top. They could even expand the store all the way to Lamar and have a public plaza. I don't get why they did't just do that instead. Instead of buying those other properties, they could have purchased the Schlosser lot where Shoal Creek Walk is/was planned. They could use the lot temporarily for surface parking while their new garage is being built, and then treat it as a real estate investment afterward selling it off or holding onto it for a while.

[427MM]

Originally Posted by 427MM

Arnold Oil site





Austin Update Part 1 (in thread archive)
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=104192

This is the site as of Dec '13 (little has changed). Arnold Oil has their new location on Burleson Road well underway with expected completion in November. I feel that the mural and the green walls are terrific and hope that 5th St gets the same treatment.

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

The Bowie side of Whole Foods is pretty uninviting. Even the Lamar side could use some work with that parking lot. I really don't see why they don't just dig out the Lamar facing parking lot, put in more underground parking there and then build more office space on top. They could even expand the store all the way to Lamar and have a public plaza. I don't get why they did't just do that instead. Instead of buying those other properties, they could have purchased the Schlosser lot where Shoal Creek Walk is/was planned. They could use the lot temporarily for surface parking while their new garage is being built, and then treat it as a real estate investment afterward selling it off or holding onto it for a while.

I may have mentioned this before in the Shoal Creek Walk thread (too lazy to look), but part of the problem with that parking lot land is that it is in the flood plain. In fact it floods often, well...often when we have actual rain. There are signs throughout the parking lot stating that you park at your own risk and warning of a flood hazard. Schlosser has submitted multiple mitigation plans to the city to shore up Shoal Creek and redirect the water in that area in order to build the Shoal Creek Walk building with underground parking, and the city has rejected every plan they've submitted. It's actually been going on for a couple of years. That delay may likely be the reason the Whole Foods deal with Schlosser fell apart. It is also probably the reason Whole Foods didn't buy the land.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment

I may have mentioned this before in the Shoal Creek Walk thread (too lazy to look), but part of the problem with that parking lot land is that it is in the flood plain. In fact it floods often, well...often when we have actual rain. There are signs throughout the parking lot stating that you park at your own risk and warning of a flood hazard. Schlosser has submitted multiple mitigation plans to the city to shore up Shoal Creek and redirect the water in that area in order to build the Shoal Creek Walk building with underground parking, and the city has rejected every plan they've submitted. It's actually been going on for a couple of years. That delay may likely be the reason the Whole Foods deal with Schlosser fell apart. It is also probably the reason Whole Foods didn't buy the land.

Time to build a Shoal Creek Tunnel (let's avoid the view corridor this time

[MichaelB]

Businesses know now how to build in flood plains.
Something is amiss.
We need to be looking at poor planing or lack of insight on the part of a builder
It's not just about a city process. They need to be clear of flood plains for insurance
purposes.
We don't need a tunnel on that side of town.
Just properly designed buildings.
Like.... oh, Austin City Lofts, The Bowie.... just to name two neighbors that figured it out!

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Businesses know now how to build in flood plains.
Something is amiss.
We need to be looking at poor planing or lack of insight on the part of a builder
It's not just about a city process. They need to be clear of flood plains for insurance
purposes.
We don't need a tunnel on that side of town.
Just properly designed buildings.
Like.... oh, Austin City Lofts, The Bowie.... just to name two neighbors that figured it out!

I'm not privy to the details, so I'm not sure why the City and Schlosser can't work it out. If you know Brad Schlosser, you know he has a 'strong personality' and has been called a lot of things...but never a poor planner or lacking in development insight. He knows his stuff and has made a fortune as a successful developer in Austin. The rumor is that its a personality issue/politics that's holding up the flood mitigation. Which is stupid. That's a lot of money to potentially waste because of egos, but whatever. I'm sure there's much more to it than that.

By the way, those two examples you gave both have above-ground parking, so the flood plain issues are not the same as they would be for Shoal Creek Walk's underground parking/potential underground lake.

PS To Novacek: Ha!!

[LoneStarMike]

Re: Shoal Creek Walk

This article's from April 2013:

Proposed office tower near Whole Foods back on track
Robert Grattan
Staff Writer- Austin Business Journal
April 12, 2013

It says the building was originally intended to house new offices for Whole Foods, but a Whole Foods spokesperson says the company is at an impasse in negotiations for the space.

It also said that in a 2010 agreement that Schlosser was required to participate in the Great Streets Program and to keep at least 30,000 square feet of the property as green or open space.

Schlosser now wants the requirement for open space reduced to 20,000 square feet because:

“We have a site that is imposed upon by a rising flood plane elevation, by a compressing Capitol View Corridor and a property-shrinking Greats Streets imposition,”

[SNIP]

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended the change in the restrictive covenant. The City Council will have the final say on the change in the coming months.

With regards to the rising flood plain, the article noted:

Since the last change was approved in 2006, the city’s estimate of the 100-year flood estimate has risen 1.5 feet, according to documents Schlosser submitted to the city.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment

I'm not privy to the details, so I'm not sure why the City and Schlosser can't work it out. If you know Brad Schlosser, you know he has a 'strong personality' and has been called a lot of things...but never a poor planner or lacking in development insight. He knows his stuff and has made a fortune as a successful developer in Austin. The rumor is that its a personality issue/politics that's holding up the flood mitigation. Which is stupid. That's a lot of money to potentially waste because of egos, but whatever. I'm sure there's much more to it than that.

By the way, those two examples you gave both have above-ground parking, so the flood plain issues are not the same as they would be for Shoal Creek Walk's underground parking/potential underground lake.

PS To Novacek: Ha!!

Please know I am in agreement with you about Schlosser.
And it's what I mean. They KNOW not to try to build underground parking there. So why are they trying????
That "strong" personality just might be the issue! LOL! .... and might also be a hint as to why Wholes Foods moved on!
But I don't know. I'm just not thinking this should all be put on the city..
which is the easy out for lots of folks.

[GoldenBoot]

A Whole Foods Executive told me about 2½ years ago that WF "would not and will not" take space in that building. She went further and said she'd be "VERY surprised" if it were to even get built (in the form proposed back then).

[Jdawgboy]

Oh waaah!, its such an imposition to contribute to the Great Streets Program which not only is meant to improve pedestrian mobility but it also helps to add greenery and as well as beautify Downtown. What a creep! They want to build on that lot then fine but if they think its such a drag to contribute to the vitality of DT then they might as well sell the property.

As much as I am not fond of office towers built on top of above ground parking garages, in this case it would seem the best option for them plus it would add height to the tower. They might as well build compact and tall for a site like that.

[Chiveman]

Original image taken by Mopacs. Edited by me.

Hello,
I have been a long time lurker on this forum and decided I should start posting.

I was interested in seeing what the skyline would look like with some of the U/C, proposed, and planned buildings. It only includes these 6 buildings because a lot of the others wouldn't be seen from this vantage point.

Feedback about placement and height/size is welcome!

[migol24]

Well it would appear to me that the Fairmont would be a little taller with the spire peaking around 700'+ if I am not mistaken.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Chiveman

Original image taken by Mopacs. Edited by me.

Hello,
I have been a long time lurker on this forum and decided I should start posting.

I was interested in seeing what the skyline would look like with some of the U/C, proposed, and planned buildings. It only includes these 6 buildings because a lot of the others wouldn't be seen from this vantage point.

Feedback about placement and height/size is welcome!

Thanks for the interest and effort to make this image. !

[GoldenBoot]

I agree. Nice attempt.

I also agree that the Fairmont (if built) will be taller as well as Seaholm (only slightly). And Hyatt has yet to announce an Andaz hotel in Austin. I believe you mean Hotel Van Zandt.

All in all, it gives everyone a nice visual of what will (may) become of Austin's skyline.

Can you add the other proposed projects (i.e. 99 Trinity, 5th & Brazos, 5th & West, 70 Rainey, The Aloft & Element project at 7th & Congress, etc...)?

[Chiveman]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I agree. Nice attempt.

I also agree that the Fairmont (if built) will be taller as well as Seaholm (only slightly). And Hyatt has yet to announce an Andaz hotel in Austin. I believe you mean Hotel Van Zandt.

All in all, it gives everyone a nice visual of what will (may) become of Austin's skyline.

Can you add the other proposed projects (i.e. 99 Trinity, 5th & Brazos, 5th & West, 70 Rainey, The Aloft & Element project at 7th & Congress, etc...)?

My mistake on the Van Zandt. I don't know where I got Andaz.

I will add 99 Trinity, I forgot about that project. I'll adjust those two heights. I'm not sure the others would be visible from this vantage point. I think 5th and Brazos might just be visible. The others I'm pretty sure are hidden behind other buildings. I will check and have an updated image later tonight.

I'll also try some other vantage points. I'm a college student on break so I have some extra time haha

[Chiveman]

Original image taken by Mopacs. Edited by me.

Here is an updated image that hopefully shows a more accurate example of what the skyline could look like. I went ahead and added most of the buildings proposed, U/C, and planned.

Feedback welcome!

[KevinFromTexas]

Giggity!

Hotel ZaZa & Apartments, assuming it gets built, would show up between the Bank of America Center and 360. Plus whatever goes in at the Austin Energy Control Center, though, we don't have an exact height yet. It's presumed to be two towers of 400 feet or so.

[the Genral]

And the Austonian reigns supreme in the skyline, perhaps forever