AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by Syndic

It looks like some of us -- if you remember what company I work for -- may be moving to an office building on Congress. They haven't told us which building, but I've got a pretty good inkling that it's 501 Congress. There are three floors that are empty right now. I think Google has some employees there, too. Or they will. Just what I'm hearing. I'm excited. I like our office now but I want to see what 501 Congress looks like on the inside and I think I'll enjoy working there.

I don't think it's 501 Congress since you say Google might be in the building. According to documents that were sent out by the company selling 501 Congress, Dropbox has an exclusive in their lease that the landlord cannot sign a lease with any of their competitors, including "Sugarsynch, Box.net, Amazon, Google, Microsoft or YouSendIt." That exclusive is only valid if Dropbox occupies at least 80% of their office space, otherwise it goes away. Maybe they aren't moving in? Other possibilities - both 111 Congress and 301 Congress have some vacant floors. And One American Center has one vacant floor right now.

[The ATX]

Here's another new SoCo proposal. This is being developed by the owners of Guero's and would be located behind the restaurant. It needs a variance to go four stories.

ABJ:
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/r...r-plans-office-retail-and-condos-at.html

Statesman:
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/business/gueros-owners-plan-mixed-use-project-off-south-con/nm9Sp/

From the Statesman:

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Tech House

That block is a dead zone on Sixth, along with one or two blocks to the west of there, which is very strange to walk past when you're going from one vibrant zone to the other. It would be nice to see some kind of activity happening there that ties things together. That building is beautiful architecturally, but as a functional piece it feels (to me) like it 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 energy from the whole area. Glad to know they're going to do something with the block, and that the majority of participants in the ABJ poll would like to see a mixed-use project there.

Redevelopment and preservation can go hand in hand for those who have the intrest and the insight. !
I would promote seeing both!

[Syndic]

Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment

I don't think it's 501 Congress since you say Google might be in the building. According to documents that were sent out by the company selling 501 Congress, Dropbox has an exclusive in their lease that the landlord cannot sign a lease with any of their competitors, including "Sugarsynch, Box.net, Amazon, Google, Microsoft or YouSendIt." That exclusive is only valid if Dropbox occupies at least 80% of their office space, otherwise it goes away. Maybe they aren't moving in? Other possibilities - both 111 Congress and 301 Congress have some vacant floors. And One American Center has one vacant floor right now.

Nice investigative work. The Google comment was made by a supervisor who doesn't know very much and isn't there anymore. It's possible it's bogus. I know we have a very good relationship with Dropbox, though. 111 Congress and 301 Congress just aren't really our style. 501 Congress is. Also, they said we'll be "just two blocks away, on Congress" which says to me that it's not really north or south, but right down the street from us (we're at 6th and Guadalupe). Anyway, we'll be moving in a month or two, so I guess I'll find out. They're obviously busy preparing the place, wherever it is.

[beverett]

My grandma has been volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store on South Congress for the past 30 years. Today she told me that the store will be moving to North Austin at the end of the year. Very bittersweet.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by beverett

My grandma has been volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store on South Congress for the past 30 years. Today she told me that the store will be moving to North Austin at the end of the year. Very bittersweet.

There's no new development going there (at least as far as I know.). Is it because the rent got jacked up? It is a prime SoCo storefront.

[beverett]

Originally Posted by The ATX

There's no new development going there (at least as far as I know.). Is it because the rent got jacked up? It is a prime SoCo storefront.

St Vincent's owns the building. I think push finally came to shove. The building needs a ton of work.

I know Stubb's gave them an offer a couple years ago, but I dont know who's purchasing the property. I would imagine its a big name.

That property is so prime.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by beverett

St Vincent's owns the building. I think push finally came to shove. The building needs a ton of work.

I know Stubb's gave them an offer a couple years ago, but I dont know who's purchasing the property. I would imagine its a big name.

That property is so prime.

Makes sense. An opportunity for a non-profit to profit. !

[The ATX]

Here's an nice Austin photo thread recently posted by Urbannizer in the photo thread that's not getting any support from Austinites. What's up with that?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=218102

[AusTxDevelopment]

GLG signed a 41K square foot lease at 301 Congress, according to this press release: http://news.sys-con.com/node/3396098 This is an expansion of their current 25K square foot office, which is in the building, and will make it their second largest office in the US. From the looks of the renderings they posted, they are dragging that outdated 1980's building into the 21st century. The press release says GLG's space is "designed by award-winning architect Clive Wilkinson".

more images here: http://glg.it/news/renderings-glgs-innovative-austin-office/

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Here's an nice Austin photo thread recently posted by Urbannizer in the photo thread that's not getting any support from Austinites. What's up with that?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=218102

Thanks for the shoutout! I'm now working with a better camera, so there's even better photo threads to come!

Here's some updates over the past few days.

422 at The Lake





Uptown at University Park













South Congress Hotel



Enclave (4225 Guadalupe)

This has to be the second slowest project in Austin (behind Zaza). Enclave has been u/c for well over a yr now.

[KevinFromTexas]

This is a really interesting read about Austin and how we're actually less dense now than we were going back to the 1950s, considering we sprawl more now than we did then.

http://carfreeaustin.com/2015/02/17/density-does-not-cause-traffic/

[KevinFromTexas]

422 at the Lake is a beast of a building. 375,000 square feet, and it's 6 floors. By comparison the Colorado Tower (seen in the background of Urbannizer's photos) is 373,000 square feet with 28 floors. Those two buildings show off quite well the benefits of vertical development over horizontal. One is low slung and hulking, while the other is more slender and relatively unimposing even considering its height.

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

This is a really interesting read about Austin and how we're actually less dense now than we were going back to the 1950s, considering we sprawl more now than we did then.

http://carfreeaustin.com/2015/02/17/density-does-not-cause-traffic/

If you noticed, the decline in density bottoms out at the 2000 census and has been increasing (thankfully).

Another thing I'd like to know is how dense is the city core? Usually when we talk about population density we look at it as a function of municipal population vs. municipal boundaries. Really, these boundaries are more or less arbitrary. It would be more interesting to see density maps of Austin by decade.

[drummer]

I agree, I would venture a guess that the density of only the downtown area is at its highest, only because of the sheer number of units compared to before. Austin has grown geographically so significantly since 1950 that it makes sense that the density would be lower almost at any rate. You internet research gurus, can you find and produce a map so lazy people like me don't have to go and look it up?

[BuildingATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

422 at the Lake is a beast of a building. 375,000 square feet, and it's 6 floors. By comparison the Colorado Tower (seen in the background of Urbannizer's photos) is 373,000 square feet with 28 floors. Those two buildings show off quite well the benefits of vertical development over horizontal. One is low slung and hulking, while the other is more slender and relatively unimposing even considering its height.

Keep in mind that the square footage that you listed for Colorado Tower is the rentable square footage (i.e. only the office levels) and does not include the square footage of the parking garage levels.

[Urbannizer]

New UT Pedestrian Bridge is now underway, it will span across Dean Keaton.



St.Davis Medical Center

Looks like a portion of the hospital is being expanded?

[JoninATX]

Looks like St. David is expanding their intensive care services.



http://www.livehealthyaustin.com/2015/06...-center-expands-intensive-care-services/

[austlar1]

The St. David's expansion is the construction of a single floor ICU on the top of the existing building. I was there today and asked what was happening. I was told it is just a one floor addition.

[drummer]

Thanks for looking into that, austlar1, I was wondering if that was the case from the pictures.