AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[Tech House]

Try to wrap your head around the idea of Austin growing from a little less than 2 million today, to over 5 million by 2050! http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2...vxW4JtwDdQ0e4cbbba&t=1425935677&page=all

I think what blows my mind the most is their projection that Hays county will grow to 825,000. Are they all going to be in sprawling subdivisions? There's no urban infrastructure down there.

I hope that civic leaders and developers alike, will think in terms of building and preparing for 5 million people, rather than thinking incrementally such that we end up with disasters like the 1-lane offramp from I-35 to 183 northbound. And, memo to developers, those 400-footers you're erecting all over downtown are too modest; you'll wish you built higher. Trust us, we're unbiased regarding building height here on the Skyscraper forum, and we're only looking out for your long term interests.

[lzppjb]

Hays will be giant bedroom communities. Kyle will be huge. San Marcos, Buda will also be very large. Wimberley and Driftwood are also growing.

Edit: Forgot Dripping Springs too.

[wwmiv]

I fully expect that San Marcos will start seeing substantially more VMU development and density in it's own downtown.

I don't fully expect the same of Round Rock, but wouldn't be surprised to see that either.

[KevinFromTexas]

I read a while back that Buda was projected to be 80,000 by 2020. I agree about San Marcos upzoning a bit. It'll probably turn into what Austin was 40 years ago.

Round Rock will probably be like Irving or Arlington with miles of field crushing development.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I read a while back that Buda was projected to be 80,000 by 2020. I agree about San Marcos upzoning a bit. It'll probably turn into what Austin was 40 years ago.

Round Rock will probably be like Irving or Arlington with miles of field crushing development.

Agreed.

San Marcos already has some of the seeds of VMU, we just need to see it take that to the next level with 20-25 story buildings (office and residential).

[dphogan]

I'm not sure where to post this, but with the rain we had today and again it didn't fall "in the right places" to help the lake level, there has to be a way to get the runoff that flows into Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake back up to Lake Travis.i It seems to me that we could put a pump at the Mansfield dam to pump water out of Lake Austin and into like Travis on days like this where the runoff would refill Lake Austin and instead of the excess water traveling downstream we can redirect it to the lake that needs the water. Just thinking out loud.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by dphogan

I'm not sure where to post this, but with the rain we had today and again it didn't fall "in the right places" to help the lake level, there has to be a way to get the runoff that flows into Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake back up to Lake Travis.i It seems to me that we could put a pump at the Mansfield dam to pump water out of Lake Austin and into like Travis on days like this where the runoff would refill Lake Austin and instead of the excess water traveling downstream we can redirect it to the lake that needs the water. Just thinking out loud.

The only slightly good news about our water supply is that LCRA is building a large reservoir downstream from Austin in Lane City. This means more water could be held back in the highland lakes.

http://www.lcra.org/water/water-supply/pages/new-water.aspx

Here's a map of where the reservoir is from the above link:

[KevinFromTexas]

San Marcos is one of the best places in Central Texas for vertical growth. It's actually necessary there due to the aquifer, and because of the flooding issues they have. You can't keep paving over water absorbing land with miles of development, and not expect more flooding problems. The demand is going to remain and even increase, and development will happen. It's best to plan for it in a way that conforms to the unique character of the region, instead of trying to rubber stamp it with cookie cutter suburban designs you could find anywhere else.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

San Marcos is one of the best places in Central Texas for vertical growth. It's actually necessary there due to the aquifer, and because of the flooding issues they have. You can't keep paving over water absorbing land with miles of development, and not expect more flooding problems. The demand is going to remain and even increase, and development will happen. It's best to plan for it in a way that conforms to the unique character of the region, instead of trying to rubber stamp it with cookie cutter suburban designs you could find anywhere else.

Kyle just passed an ordinance (last week I think) allowing for "taller" buildings.

[lzppjb]

San Marcos: 2013 pop. estimate - 54,076 (+9,182 from 2010)
Kyle: 2013 pop. estimate - 31,760 (+3,744 from 2010)
Buda: 2013 pop. estimate - 10,209 (+2,866 from 2010)
Dripping Springs: 2013 pop. estimate - 54.076 (+9182 from 2010)

I thought I had read a year or so ago that Kyle would surpass all other Hays County cities to be the largest. Anyone remember that?


As for the lakes, for a few years now, I've been saying we should look into building another dam east of Austin. It would create a reservoir, as well as more lakefront property. Other forums have shot down my idea because it wouldn't be as deep as the Highland Lakes. That's obvious. But it could be engineered and dug out to be say 25-40 feet deep, for example. It would hold quite a bit of water that could then be pumped upstream to Lake Travis.

[drummer]

San Marcos makes the most sense to go vertical. It already has the blueprint of a city since it's a bit older in the core. Merging downtown more with the campus, etc., would be a natural growth pattern. New Braunfels also has some promise in that area if they do it right. They have a neat small-town downtown area that could still maintain its German charm if done right. The other cities aren't really prepared for anything other than sprawl - though we can hope that if Lone Star Rail becomes a reality, transit-oriented development might be a possibility at each of the stops. I lost hope in Round Rock a long time ago - they seem to want to avoid denser development at all costs. The only sign of progress is the 35/45/Mopac area, but even that isn't really pedestrian-friendly. Downtown Round Rock has some cool coffee shops, etc., and has some promise (again, especially with Lone Star Rail coming through with a stop relatively close), but I don't think the leaders will go for anything more at this time.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by Hill Country

Kyle just passed an ordinance (last week I think) allowing for "taller" buildings.

My mom works in Buda, and there's a senior apartment complex near there with three buildings that are 5 floors each. They're probably about 60 feet tall. They easily could have stacked them and made a nearly 200 foot tall building.

http://www.merrittcommunities.com/creeksidevillas/photos.asp

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

My mom works in Buda, and there's a senior apartment complex near there with three buildings that are 5 floors each. They're probably about 60 feet tall. They easily could have stacked them and made a nearly 200 foot tall building.

http://www.merrittcommunities.com/creeksidevillas/photos.asp

I've been saying this for the past five years, but Hays Co. reminds of where Williamson Co. was at in 1990. Since then the Wilco 'burbs have done an awesome job of recruiting major employers. Hays Co. as a whole will remain a bedroom community until they can establish job centers.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

As for the lakes, for a few years now, I've been saying we should look into building another dam east of Austin. It would create a reservoir, as well as more lakefront property. Other forums have shot down my idea because it wouldn't be as deep as the Highland Lakes. That's obvious. But it could be engineered and dug out to be say 25-40 feet deep, for example. It would hold quite a bit of water that could then be pumped upstream to Lake Travis.

Again, you don't need to pump it back upstream. There's plenty of water in the lakes for the central Texas users. It's the _downstream_ users (industrial/power, agricultural, and ecological) that are using up all the water.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Again, you don't need to pump it back upstream. There's plenty of water in the lakes for the central Texas users. It's the _downstream_ users (industrial/power, agricultural, and ecological) that are using up all the water.

That's a good point. Also we are no longer in a multi-year La Niña pattern which is what put us into the drought and gave us the 2011 Summer of Hell. In fact we have entered into a multi-year El Niño pattern that started last year and is intensifying. This will go a long way to replenish the headwaters of the upper Colorado River. All of west Texas has seen benefitial rain/snow/ice this winter. The soil moisture in Central Texas is at normal to saturated so waterways are filling up much more quickly. Also we can expect a wet and cooler spring which meteorologically speaking we are in now. Meteorology and climate are hobbies of mine.

As far as the most rain falling from Austin east on a regular basis, that's due to our location up against the Balcones Escarpment. Moisture moving inland from the gulf is pushed against the escarpment up 1,000+ feet above sea level. It's like squeezing a sponge saturated with water. That's why we experience events like the Halloween flood of 2013 where storms and heavy rain train over and over central and east Travis, Hays and Williamson Counties but go 10 miles west towards Lake Travis and there is little to no rain falling. The lakes serve both water and protecting Austin from floods upstream but I doubt most people realized at the time due to our placement that a good amount of rainfall that falls overhead just flows downstream to the Gulf and for those who did probably didn't consider the water needs of the future. Ideally they should have built a dam at the Travis/Bastrop county line.

I hope people realize that suburban living isn't all its cracked up to be. Of course we have to deal with the issue of affordability in the city first. I would think that a good amount of people would move into the city if affordability wasn't a problem. there will always be those who prefer suburban life but I think trends could reverse in the future..hopefully...

[lzppjb]

I'm in the suburbs because I couldn't afford a house in the city. I didn't want an apartment. I wanted to own a house. If I could afford it, I'd love to be in the city. Maybe the Manchaca/Ben White area.

[AusTxDevelopment]

Speaking of affordability....

Austin American Statesman
Apartment project plans 260 ‘micro-units’ in East Austin
http://www.statesman.com/news/business/apartment-project-plans-260-micro-units-in-east-au/nkSHR/

[lzppjb]

Pretty cool. I like the green elements. We'll see if they come to fruition.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment

Speaking of affordability....

Austin American Statesman
Apartment project plans 260 ‘micro-units’ in East Austin
http://www.statesman.com/news/business/apartment-project-plans-260-micro-units-in-east-au/nkSHR/

While I really like what this will be.....
Another cool art/party/venue bites the dust.
—.

[oberthewhat]

okay don't you guys think its about time we slow it down on the hotel construction? I was just on a walk downtown the other day and looked around. seemed every building was a hotel. Is this just because Austin's hotel market grew so suddenly, that they bought up all the downtown prime real estate?