AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[ATXboom]

The properties on red river will be under a lot of pressure to redevelop. Taxes and demand will increase due to the tunnel completion and the build out of the medical school.

[pscajunguy]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Dreading the next wave of cool old spaces going away. I've been kinda oK unil now.
The buiding Elysium is in has a really cool history.
I'll withhold that and see what folks find. ( yes, A homework assignment !)
I really don't think we've seen "Hysteria" yet.
But I'm hoping people in Austin will wake up... and we will!

Yes, 7th and Red River was kind of a gay crossroads at one time - Chances, The Austin Country, The Red River Crossing, the little tranny bar next to The Crossing, and the disco with the big dancing floor and patio that is now Red 7 were all around there. There were also a couple of smaller gay bars on 9th & 10th and Red River. I remember it seems to have started out as a little bar called "Pearl's" on 7th Street, which later became part of the Austin Country, that had a huge poster of Janis Joplin, lying on a couch, over the bar and was opened by, purportedly, one of Janis Joplin's old grieving girlfriends. Well, the gays bars came and went and were replaced by the music scene, which is, in my opinion, a fair trade. It would be a shame if all these old venues, steeped in history and intrigue, were wiped out by a wall of Hyatt Places. But, then again, there would be no need for Hyatt Places, if that were to happen!

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by ATXboom

The properties on red river will be under a lot of pressure to redevelop. Taxes and demand will increase due to the tunnel completion and the build out of the medical school.

yes.... and.... hopefully the city .... with pressure from good/involved citizens and downtown residents who want the city to "Grow it's character" and not wipe it out.... will push to see that there is a balance.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by pscajunguy

Yes, 7th and Red River was kind of a gay crossroads at one time - Chances, The Austin Country, The Red River Crossing, the little tranny bar next to The Crossing, and the disco with the big dancing floor and patio that is now Red 7 were all around there. There were also a couple of smaller gay bars on 9th & 10th and Red River. I remember it seems to have started out as a little bar called "Pearl's" on 7th Street, which later became part of the Austin Country, that had a huge poster of Janis Joplin, lying on a couch, over the bar and was opened by, purportedly, one of Janis Joplin's old grieving girlfriends. Well, the gays bars came and went and were replaced by the music scene, which is, in my opinion, a fair trade. It would be a shame if all these old venues, steeped in history and intrigue, were wiped out by a wall of Hyatt Places. But, then again, there would be no need for Hyatt Places, if that were to happen!

Ah,,,,, yes.... all true.
I wasn't even thinking of that.
Yes, as per usual , the gays lead the way..... and then moved on.

But before that..... When the first bar opened in what is now Elysium.
That was a red light district. The guy who did the first lighting system in that building ( taught lighting at UT) told me stories of going in the attic and there were still small rooms built up there where the prostitues worked.
That area has a "Cool" that nothing could replace.
Smart growth will find a way to balance both cultural and vertical growth.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

yes.... and.... hopefully the city .... with pressure from good/involved citizens and downtown residents who want the city to "Grow it's character" and not wipe it out.... will push to see that there is a balance.

What would you suggest the city do, out of curiosity? Please remember that the land owner will still need to achieve the highest and best use of their land.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

What would you suggest the city do, out of curiosity? Please remember that the land owner will still need to achieve the highest and best use of their land.

Many cities have set up culural or historic districts that help maitain the vibe of a city. If you are truly interested take a look at how Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans are dealing with the same thing.
I am not going to get into a debate on such things on this forum.
I know there are plenty of folks on here who have no personal investment in downtown Austin and it is just not useful.
The question is, does that matter to you?
Again.... if you really want to know. I just googled 3 articles about how above cities are apporaching the probelm of shrinking music districts.

Lets put our desire to grow the character of the city in front of the next crane going up. We know that will happen.
Where there is a will there is a way.
I suggest we start looking at how that is possible.
Otherwise we just become the next generic city.
Or we just get a generic "Riverwalk".
Neither of which is deirable in my neighborhood.

Hope to see you at city hall trying to make our city more vibrant not less.

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by Tech House

Whereas, if these conspiracy nutters would realize that Austin is a hotbed of socialist gun-disliking, ecofascist Obama-voting spies for the New World Order, maybe they'd move to their own colony somewhere out by Marfa.

I know you are joking around, but I'd say Austin is a hotbed for Libertarians that want to be able to make their own decisions without being told what to do by big brother.

[lzppjb]

I bet a lot more music venues start moving south of the river.

[austlar1]

Ultimately clubs and music venues are going to locate in places where they can afford the rent and make a bit of money. Downtown probably won't be able to offer that kind of environment much longer given the current pace and nature of development. The fact that one new project downtown, The W, included a music venue, does not make it practical for other developments to follow suit. The venue at The W is heavily subsidized by Austin City Limits and other big ticket acts that can afford the tab there. That is not the kind of generic and funky club environment that is appealing to so many locals and visitors. My guess is that the local music scene will set up shop in other parts of town. Hopefully this won't mean the end of the local music or club scene, but it will look and feel a lot different in the years ahead.

[hereinaustin]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

I know you are joking around, but I'd say Austin is a hotbed for Libertarians that want to be able to make their own decisions without being told what to do by big brother.

Yes sir.

[austlar1]

Has anybody been able to read the entire ABJ story linked here. It is behind a paywall. Sounds interesting. http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-...-time-to-scrutinize-downtown-condos.html

[MichaelB]

For all you folks that are atually interested in maintaining the cultural of Austin.... an article in the Chronicle this week is a good start.
Might give you insight into where to put your efforts.

[jbssfelix]

Originally Posted by austlar1

Has anybody been able to read the entire ABJ story linked here. It is behind a paywall. Sounds interesting. http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-...-time-to-scrutinize-downtown-condos.html

Just read it. In short, it talks about how the luxury urban condo market is starting to relax just a little bit. Increasing supply and increasing prices are finally making a small impact in what buyers will tolerate. It referenced one realtor who talked about showing properties to a prospective buyer, only for them to balk and essentially say they'll keep renting or leave town because of the feeding frenzy.

It also mentions briefly that when another recession hits, the first real estate to go is often luxury condos. Therefore, because of everything mentioned, we should be extremely cautious about how many additional luxury condo projects we can accept.

**I can copy/paste the article, but I don't know if that's a red flag here. Someone lmk.

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Lets put our desire to grow the character of the city in front of the next crane going up. We know that will happen.

Amen to that. The fact that it's so profitable for corporate developers with no interest in the soul of Austin to build as fast as they can here, has already had a very deleterious effect. Yes, it's becoming more cosmopolitian, but it's also becoming a lot more like every other city, and the unique aspects of Austin are falling by the wayside or being pushed to the margins where they can't achieve critical mass to be a real "scene." My last great hope for the city is that the east side can save the day. Others point to developments to the south, but those are widely spread out compared to the scene in central east Austin

Originally Posted by lzppjb

I know you are joking around, but I'd say Austin is a hotbed for Libertarians that want to be able to make their own decisions without being told what to do by big brother.

Yup. It just goes overboard far too often, such as in the paranoia about Jade Helm. Big Brother is relatively laid-back and unintrusive in America. For all the hysteria on the libertarian fringe, you'd think we were living under a totalitarian regime with no tolerance for criticism or civil rights. But the very fact that thousands of paranoid white men continually air their grievances against the government on YouTube channels and radio programs, without ever facing any form of harassment, confiscation of their sizable arsenals, or any form of muzzling of their idiotic ranting, completely negates their argument.

It's possible to be libertarian without being a nutter. It's the nutters who need a colony near Marfa, one where Laura Pressley can take her rightful place on the council.

[austlar1]

**I can copy/paste the article, but I don't know if that's a red flag here. Someone lmk. [/QUOTE]

Kevin, is it against forum rules to copy and paste an article that is currently behind a pay wall on another site?

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Tech House

Amen to that. The fact that it's so profitable for corporate developers with no interest in the soul of Austin to build as fast as they can here, has already had a very deleterious effect. Yes, it's becoming more cosmopolitian, but it's also becoming a lot more like every other city, and the unique aspects of Austin are falling by the wayside or being pushed to the margins where they can't achieve critical mass to be a real "scene." My last great hope for the city is that the east side can save the day. Others point to developments to the south, but those are widely spread out compared to the scene in central east Austin

.

Thank you!

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by jbssfelix

It also mentions briefly that when another recession hits, the first real estate to go is often luxury condos. Therefore, because of everything mentioned, we should be extremely cautious about how many additional luxury condo projects we can accept.

"we can accept"?

Why? Let the market build. If prices then drop, well hey, that helps the affordability problem we've been having.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Novacek

"we can accept"?

Why? Let the market build. If prices then drop, well hey, that helps the affordability problem we've been having.

Right. Developers usually don't know when to stop building which always leads to lower prices eventually. The market takes care of itself.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by austlar1

Ultimately clubs and music venues are going to locate in places where they can afford the rent and make a bit of money. Downtown probably won't be able to offer that kind of environment much longer given the current pace and nature of development. The fact that one new project downtown, The W, included a music venue, does not make it practical for other developments to follow suit. The venue at The W is heavily subsidized by Austin City Limits and other big ticket acts that can afford the tab there. That is not the kind of generic and funky club environment that is appealing to so many locals and visitors. My guess is that the local music scene will set up shop in other parts of town. Hopefully this won't mean the end of the local music or club scene, but it will look and feel a lot different in the years ahead.

This is exactly the wrong way to go for Austin. The bulk of the music scene has to stay in DT or Austin will just become another city with clubs spread way too far apart.

You can say goodbye to SXSW If that occurs because it is for the very reason the entertainment/club scene was concentrated in DT where people could easily walk from one venue to the next and so on that the concept SXSW was born from. Fact is DT grew the way it did because of the music and nightlife scene. It seems counter productive to the future of DT if the very things that made it as popular as it is today dissappear or at the very least have a diminished presence. The city council really needs to look at this issue very carefully and the community needs to push them to do it.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by austlar1

**I can copy/paste the article, but I don't know if that's a red flag here. Someone lmk.

Kevin, is it against forum rules to copy and paste an article that is currently behind a pay wall on another site?

Yeah, it is. It's because we had people on the forum posting tons of articles in full, and then we'd have someone from that media group contacting us about it. I believe the articles on the Business Journals become free and open after a period of time. LoneStarMike mentioned it, but I can't remember how long you have to wait. I also know that with some publications that if you share the link with someone, it automatically makes it free to them. The publication even acknowledges it. So in that way it's worth the try.