AUSTIN | Waterline | 1,034 Feet | 73 Floors | T/O - Page 29

The ATX · #**561** Posted **Dec 1, 2015, 8:35 PM**

More good news today...DAB has conformed that the buildings are being fenced off for Demo.

http://downtownaustinblog.org/

lzppjb · #**562** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 9:00 PM**

Demolition has begun.

http://downtownaustinblog.org/2016/01/15...owntownAustin+%28Downtown+Austin+Blog%29

The ATX · #**563** Posted **Jan 15, 2016, 11:29 PM**

Nice. At least some eyesores are being removed even if this project stalls again after demo.

drummer · #**564** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 12:02 AM**

^ And if it fails, stuff will be out of the next guy's way so he can just move forward.

AustinGoesVertical · #**565** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 12:56 AM**

Okay naysayers, what do we all think about this? Personally I've been confident in this one all along but I'm just naturally an optimistic person. This is in line with that article awhile back that said site movement would begin in early Janurary, with delivery in 2019.

On a premonition note, just last night I had a dream that I was standing near the Fairmont (which looked great btw), looking out at the three Waller Park Place towers. One of them looked like the current World Trade Center One in NYC. Basically, they were beautiful towers, clad with glass and sleek, except they were just shells. I guess Sutton and McCourt had run out of funding but built the skin of the building before finishing off the interior.

I remember thinking, "that sucks, but jokes on them because us skyscraper fans at least get to look at finished towers from the outside..."

It made me think about something. Most of us on here love the architectural component but also really care about the economic viability of these projects and how they'll help the city grow on its path to world class status. So I pose this question: This is so unrealistic and hypothetical, but would you have felt the same way I did in my dream? They were empty but we had added three great towers to the skyline.

wwmiv · #**566** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 1:14 AM**

No, I would have been very unhappy. That happening would have huge dampening effects on future developments because investors would no longer see Austin as an attractive market.

KevinFromTexas · #**567** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 5:58 AM**

How awesome and amazing would it be to have three 600+ foot tall buildings under construction at the same time? This one, The Independent and the Block 71/UT block redevelopment.

drummer · #**568** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 7:23 AM**

^ Indeed. I was kidding about it failing, by the way. I certainly don't want any project to fail due to lack of interest.

GoldenBoot · #**569** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 4:45 PM**

I'd feel a whole lot better about this project if they were not only beginning site preparation but also had already announced/released/began the following (in no particular order): financiers (who, specifically, is providing construction and development loan facilities), hotel operator, general contractor, pre-sales for condos, new renderings, pre-leasing of office space, pre-leasing of retail space, pre-leasing of apartments, etc.

None of the aforementioned information has been made publicly available. So, simple demolition of the existing, run-down structures really does not mean a whole lot. It also does not mean this specific project is moving forward. It is what it is...demoing old buildings.

AustinGoesVertical · #**570** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

No, I would have been very unhappy. That happening would have huge dampening effects on future developments because investors would no longer see Austin as an attractive market.

No they weren't empty because of lack of demand, just for some reason WWP decided not to even finish the inside (for lack of their own funding... or some other reason, idk, it was a dream lol) but they looked great so let's hope that part of the foreshadowing is true.

wwmiv · #**571** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

No they weren't empty because of lack of demand, just for some reason WWP decided not to even finish the inside (for lack of their own funding... or some other reason, idk, it was a dream lol) but they looked great so let's hope that part of the foreshadowing is true.

The actual reason wouldn't matter, the perceived reason would still be that Austin's market couldn't stomach the development and it would result in a freeze of new stock.

MichaelB · #**572** Posted **Jan 16, 2016, 10:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I'd feel a whole lot better about this project if they were not only beginning site preparation but also had already announced/released/began the following (in no particular order): financiers (who, specifically, is providing construction and development loan facilities), hotel operator, general contractor, pre-sales for condos, new renderings, pre-leasing of office space, pre-leasing of retail space, pre-leasing of apartments, etc.

None of the aforementioned information has been made publicly available. So, simple demolition of the existing, run-down structures really does not mean a whole lot. It also does not mean this specific project is moving forward. It is what it is...demoing old buildings.

Always the voice of reason, thank you.
I agreee, Demo can only mean demo.
We see several empty blocks downtown that were demolished in the past couple years without a project being built: ZaZa ( thought it may happen) and almost the entire 1700 block of Guadalupe ( where the dog and duck , etc were)
Hell, so much of what has been built downtown in the last decade was built of empty lots that were demolish in the 80s on spec.... and many still stand empty.
So... while I do hope this project happens.... demo is not a sure indicator.... espescially condering the laundry list of unknowns listed above.

Jdawgboy · #**573** Posted **Jan 17, 2016, 10:45 PM**

I walked by the site Friday night and thought the same thing. Demo doesn't mean construction is imminent. Unless there is a public announcement or some sort of official news release then it's hard to say this is moving forward.

They may simply be creating new surface parking lots.

the Genral · #**574** Posted **Jan 17, 2016, 11:26 PM**

Or maybe they are cleaning up the property to make it more attractive to a potential buyer...

drummer · #**575** Posted **Jan 18, 2016, 1:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I walked by the site Friday night and thought the same thing. Demo doesn't mean construction is imminent. Unless there is a public announcement or some sort of official news release then it's hard to say this is moving forward.

They may simply be creating new surface parking lots.

If they do that, all of you folks need to do a sit-in protest.

austlar1 · #**576** Posted **Jan 18, 2016, 2:32 AM**

With the price of oil sinking and stock markets tumbling here and everywhere else, I suspect this is not going to get started anytime soon. Economic conditions are too uncertain. Look on the bright side. Parking has become problematic in that part of town.

The ATX · #**577** Posted **Jan 24, 2016, 1:49 PM**

I went by the site early - too dark for pictures - this morning. It looks like all of the remaining buildings are in various stages of demolition. In about a week the site should be cleared. I hope it doesn't stay that way for too long.

Jdawgboy · #**578** Posted **Jan 24, 2016, 6:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

I went by the site early - too dark for pictures - this morning. It looks like all of the remaining buildings are in various stages of demolition. In about a week the site should be cleared. I hope it doesn't stay that way for too long.

Here's to hoping

Seems like a lot of projects are pushing forward all at once. I'd say if we don't hear any specifics on this in the next couple of months then it's not likely to happen.

I'm an optimist as much as I can be but I've learned over the years never to expect a project is happening for sure but rather be pleasantly relieved when construction begins.

ILUVSAT · #**579** Posted **Jan 25, 2016, 1:24 AM**

As much as I was intreagued by the initial plan for this development, it's not going to happen as originally planned!

That is all I can say at this juncture.

The ATX · #**580** Posted **Jan 25, 2016, 1:31 AM**

I'd rather see them go slow(er) and maybe just build the office tower first rather than dumb down the entire project.