AUSTIN | The Independent | 690 FEET | 58 FLOORS | Complete

[drummer]

I can relate - when I made the move around the world for work, we sold just about everything we own (bought a lot of new stuff when we got here, of course...cheaper than shipping it all). However, we're in an apartment over here, get by with much less stuff, and are all the happier for it, to be honest. Of course, we kept some things that have some sentimental value and stored it at my father's house, but it's only a handful of boxes.

Apartment/condo living is great. I sincerely miss having a yard, etc., but there's a great park nearby that I don't have to mow. I know a lot more of my neighbors, walk a lot more, and feel more like I'm a part of the community rather than some anonymous number. I absolutely understand why folks are wanting to live downtown in apartments/condos more and more - the great showing of folks who want to live in the Independent is proof that there is indeed a growing trend.


Edit: We have high ceilings also - makes it feel much larger. We also have two walls (north and south facing) that are entirely glass, so it brings in a lot of natural light and opens the room up a lot more. Provides a great view of the mountains, too. Curtains provide privacy from our across-the-street neighbors when we need it.

[AusTxDevelopment]

New rendering of the pool at the Independent, from their Facebook page.




https://www.facebook.com/independentaustin

[drummer]

I still think it's interesting how there's little to no room to get around those chairs by the glass. However, this angle makes it looks less and less like an MC Escher piece, as someone ascribed to it previously.

[HighGuy]

Does anyone know whether plans have been made to connect Third Street across Shoal Creek for vehicle traffic, allowing cars to drive along in between the Independent Tower and 360?

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by HighGuy

Does anyone know whether plans have been made to connect Third Street across Shoal Creek for vehicle traffic, allowing cars to drive along in between the Independent Tower and 360?

There are no plans. The Independent is supposed to include a promenade where an extended 3rd St could go.

The only bridge crossing I've seen on any maps would be for a rail crossing.

[HighGuy]

Thanks, that's what I thought. I've previously seen the plans for the Second Street bridge project, but was talking to a real estate professional over the weekend who was under the impression the same thing was set to happen at Third Street. There is light construction going on along Third Street near 360, but as far as I can tell that's related to sidewalk and tree planting, and nothing more.

This is the Second Street stuff everyone's already seen:

https://austintexas.gov/sites/default/fi...rict/Second_Street_Bridge_renderings.pdf

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by HighGuy

Thanks, that's what I thought. I've previously seen the plans for the Second Street bridge project, but was talking to a real estate professional over the weekend who was under the impression the same thing was set to happen at Third Street. There is light construction going on along Third Street near 360, but as far as I can tell that's related to sidewalk and tree planting, and nothing more.

I believe that work is the last leg of Great Streets between Nueces and Congress.

[drummer]

One of the models for the Independent in the bike ride thread showed two smaller bridges at 3rd street (pedestrian and rail) while a larger vehicle bridge for 2nd street.

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by drummer

One of the models for the Independent in the bike ride thread showed two smaller bridges at 3rd street (pedestrian and rail) while a larger vehicle bridge for 2nd street.

The artist likely took some liberties when putting the rendering/model together. There are no city plans that I've heard of or seen with respect to a vehicle bridge over 3rd St.

[drummer]

I mean to say that the model is currently accurate - minus the Independent, of course.

[_Matt]

Well technically, there are currently two bridges, one rail and one pedestrian, so that was accurate. Just not active rail.

[drummer]

Yeah, too bad, too...be nice to have the metro line continue all the way to Seaholm for when the Lone Star Rail comes in...

[clubtokyo]

From Independent FB page:

[ahealy]

Soo pretty. I can't wait for Austin to catch up with big urban cities so we can cut out the giant parking garages on buildings like this.

Also, I REALLY HOPE they haven't nixed the crown lighting....

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Soo pretty. I can't wait for Austin to catch up with big urban cities so we can cut out the giant parking garages on buildings like this.

Also, I REALLY HOPE they haven't nixed the crown lighting....

Of course without the giant parking garage, this tower would be about 100 feet shorter. Of course they could replace it with more residential floors.

There's a couple of interesting things about that rendering and certainly renderings are not very accurate especially with the backgrounds but it is something to talk about at the very least.

Notice that the view faces north. You can see 7Rio to the right which is accurate as well as Shoal Creek ( by the way I am LOVING how it's going to turn out), but take a look at the designs of what I'm assuming are Spring and Bowie. Angle is wrong for one thing and shapes are not right either. The tower on the far left could be Seaholm Residencies but it seems a bit too close to the Independent. Again it's nothing to be taken seriously, I just find renderings interesting because intentionally or not, they can sometimes reveal things kinda like the Austin Proper rendering did with the placement of a random filler building on the AMH site and that was before an announcement came out about it although there were rumors floating around.

I hope the top lights up too ahealy but it may just be how they did the coloring and shading. If you notice the crown has a fuzzy glow around it. That's probably showing it lit. Although if that is what the lighting would really look like I'd go over there and say either you need to boost the power or you need to get brighter light fixtures...


Oooooooooooooohh and I almost missed it but if you zoom into the lower left corner you will find just a single bat perched on the railing with his wings spread out. Can't be an Austin rendering without at least one bat lmao.

[the Genral]

From that render, it looks like a robot leg with the parking podium the shoe.
I think once construction begins above the parking garage, this is going to rise pretty quickly.

[ILUVSAT]

I wish they would take the "green" screening further across the base/parking structure.

Won't you love looking up at this from "beautiful" Shoal Creek and see a 9-story parking garage?!?

[ILUVSAT]

It's a shame...Austin could have two "Riverwalks" and they are not doing much about it. Yes, I know, they are working on Waller Creek. But, I do not see any signs leading me to believe many restaurants and/or retail are going to be involved at the creek level there. AND, nothing is being done with Shoal Creek.

I'm not 100% sure about this, but, couldn't the tower of the Independent be shifted closer to Shoal Creek (CVCs?). And if so, residential units could have been brought down closer to the creek front - creating a more subtle transfer between nature and urban development. I would much rather see a condo balconies than 9 levels of parking garage as I was strolling down Shoal Creek.

I know, I know...one cannot "stroll" down Shoal Creek now...but, what about 5-10 years from now?

[lzppjb]

Being able to walk along Shoal Creek should be coming a lot sooner than that.

And I agree. I hope more restaurants pop up along Waller or Shoal Creeks.

[drummer]

Agreed - I think it will happen eventually.