AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II - Page 163

Tech House · #**3241** Posted **Jul 21, 2016, 9:50 PM**

That 400' wall is going to look quite imposing from Cesar Chavez as you drive east from Lamar. Nice. I propose we call this part of town The 400 Foot District. No, way too long. At least a few buildings are taller than the world's tallest tree, which was 381 ft. last time I checked. Imagine a forest that height. Incredible, and so off-topic.

lzppjb · #**3242** Posted **Jul 21, 2016, 10:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

Agreed. Though it also points up how similar the buildings all are -- not just in height but in geometry. Lots of blockiness clustered right there, IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech House

That 400' wall is going to look quite imposing from Cesar Chavez as you drive east from Lamar. Nice. I propose we call this part of town The 400 Foot District. No, way too long. At least a few buildings are taller than the world's tallest tree, which was 381 ft. last time I checked. Imagine a forest that height. Incredible, and so off-topic.

Call it the Block Party.

lzppjb · #**3243** Posted **Jul 21, 2016, 11:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

Think about what the background of that picture could be in the next decade or so.

1. Fairmont
2. 70 Rainey
3. Waller Park Place #1
4. Waller Park Place #2
5. Waller Park Place #3
6. Villas on Town Lake #1
7. Villas on Town Lake #2
8. Convention Center Expansion Hotel
9. Lot behind IHOP
10. 99 Trinity Tower
11. 48 East (a little to the right of the edge of this photo)

Some may not end up how they are currently planned, but the seed has been planted. Another developer could come in and get something built.

the Genral · #**3244** Posted **Jul 22, 2016, 12:45 AM**

I think the upside is at least the height of the buildings is decent. They could have all been 200 footers. So in addition to the density and canyon effect, there will be the neck strain effect from looking up from street level. The downside is the view blocking of the Northshore from the west looking east. That building looks best when looking at the east or west sides. The Independence will add some necessary height variation nearby. I wasn't always a fan of the design of any of these buildings, but Austin has distinct clusters of buildings and this is shaping up to be the dense cluster and I'm a fan of that, if not any of the individual buildings, but the collection of them.

austlar1 · #**3245** Posted **Jul 22, 2016, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

I think the upside is at least the height of the buildings is decent. They could have all been 200 footers. So in addition to the density and canyon effect, there will be the neck strain effect from looking up from street level. The downside is the view blocking of the Northshore from the west looking east. That building looks best when looking at the east or west sides. The Independence will add some necessary height variation nearby. I wasn't always a fan of the design of any of these buildings, but Austin has distinct clusters of buildings and this is shaping up to be the dense cluster and I'm a fan of that, if not any of the individual buildings, but the collection of them.

Northshore and the office building being constructed behind (500 W. 2nd?) look quite imposing from South Lamar when one drives north into town. That office building is going to look enormous from that angle as it continues to rise to its full height. I think it is supposed to hit 400 feet which is a few feet taller than the Northshore. I noticed today that the same office building is barely visible when viewed from Mopac. I guess this is because it is a narrow side view that gets lost in the overall cluster of buildings. Maybe it will start to stand out more when it reaches full height.

GoldenBoot · #**3246** Posted **Jul 22, 2016, 2:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austlar1

Northshore and the office building being constructed behind (500 W. 2nd?) look quite imposing from South Lamar when one drives north into town. That office building is going to look enormous from that angle as it continues to rise to its full height. I think it is supposed to hit 400 feet which is a few feet taller than the Northshore

I believe the "Google" tower (500 W. Second) is going to be right at 400' and The Northshore is 424' in height.

austlar1 · #**3247** Posted **Jul 22, 2016, 2:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I believe the "Google" tower (500 W. Second) is going to be right at 400' and The Northshore is 424' in height.

I stand corrected. Still, the office building looks huge from across the river or from up near the Alamo Draft House complex on South Lamar. Does anybody know how many floors are left before 500 w. 2nd tops out?

drummer · #**3248** Posted **Jul 22, 2016, 3:41 PM**

Northshore will still be visible from the East given that City Hall and the buildings on either side of it are quite short. That side view that you talk about, General, will still be seen from that angle.

We vs us · #**3249** Posted **Jul 22, 2016, 6:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Think about what the background of that picture could be in the next decade or so.

1. Fairmont
2. 70 Rainey
3. Waller Park Place #1
4. Waller Park Place #2
5. Waller Park Place #3
6. Villas on Town Lake #1
7. Villas on Town Lake #2
8. Convention Center Expansion Hotel
9. Lot behind IHOP
10. 99 Trinity Tower
11. 48 East (a little to the right of the edge of this photo)

Some may not end up how they are currently planned, but the seed has been planted. Another developer could come in and get something built.

You're right about that last -- some amazing background is going to be filling in before 2025. Hell, even before 2020. It's nothing short of astounding what's happening here, and what these empty lots are becoming.

I'm very curious to know, though, if there're structural/economic reasons to build the way that Austin's been building. We've discussed a few of them in regards to floor count/height. I'm also curious if that limits the more useless-but-beautiful architectural details that make for unique buildings. Why don't we get more Frost Towers? Why do they all look like a variation on NorthShore?

Jdawgboy · #**3250** Posted **Jul 22, 2016, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

You're right about that last -- some amazing background is going to be filling in before 2025. Hell, even before 2020. It's nothing short of astounding what's happening here, and what these empty lots are becoming.

I'm very curious to know, though, if there're structural/economic reasons to build the way that Austin's been building. We've discussed a few of them in regards to floor count/height. I'm also curious if that limits the more useless-but-beautiful architectural details that make for unique buildings. Why don't we get more Frost Towers? Why do they all look like a variation on NorthShore?

Zoning is the biggest problem and the outdated FAR. Besides the CVCs, some more relevant than others but that is for get another debate, there shouldn't be a height cap on DT, there are sections where the height is capped at 400 feet.

KevinFromTexas · #**3251** Posted **Jul 23, 2016, 6:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

There was a permit filed today for a five story West Campus apartment building today called the Avon. This link, also from permit filing from today, is for an eight story apartment building called 2502 Nueces:

https://www.austintexas.gov/devreview/b_showpublicpermitfolderdetails.jsp?FolderRSN=11493299

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Site plan /elevations for 7-story building at 2502 Nueces Street. It's 82 feet 10 inches.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/AULC...ULCC_SP-2502%20Nueces%20Street_PLANS.pdf

They're calling it "The Ruckus" now. Site plan/with elevations here:

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/AULC...ULCC_SP-2502%20Nueces%20Street_PLANS.pdf

lzppjb · #**3252** Posted **Jul 23, 2016, 6:43 AM**

You have got to be kidding with that name.

• Video Link

lzppjb · #**3253** Posted **Jul 24, 2016, 2:25 AM**

8327 South Congress is going to be self storage. One auto salvage lot gone.

KevinFromTexas · #**3254** Posted **Jul 29, 2016, 6:43 PM**

New 6-story office building being planned for 316 West 12th Street.

Marketing brochure with renderings.

http://www.jllproperty.us/assets/doc/316w12thstreet_8358282.pdf

Site plan with the elevations shows it to be 90 feet 10 inches to the mechanical penthouse.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/AULC...w%20316%20West%2012th%20Street_PLANS.pdf

austlar1 · #**3255** Posted **Jul 29, 2016, 10:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

New 6-story office building being planned for 316 West 12th Street.

Marketing brochure with renderings.

http://www.jllproperty.us/assets/doc/316w12thstreet_8358282.pdf

Site plan with the elevations shows it to be 90 feet 10 inches to the mechanical penthouse.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/AULC...w%20316%20West%2012th%20Street_PLANS.pdf

They refer to it as "newly renovated" in the first link you gave. Maybe this building already exists. The windows look kind of familiar to me, but I could not say for sure.

austlar1 · #**3256** Posted **Jul 29, 2016, 10:35 PM**

Went to Google maps. Here is a link to picture of existing building, The Texas State Teachers Assoc. Bldg. https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2752143,...DfRHIUjQ1Szqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

KevinFromTexas · #**3257** Posted **Jul 30, 2016, 1:56 AM**

Oh, ok. I only glanced at it before I had to leave for work. Glad to see that one renovated.

futures · #**3258** Posted **Jul 31, 2016, 9:32 PM**

Anyone know what's going on with the Jack in the Box on Lamar and Barton Springs? It closed permanently this week. It's an unusually large lot for a fast food joint, and it's prime real estate.

lzppjb · #**3259** Posted **Jul 31, 2016, 9:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by futures

Anyone know what's going on with the Jack in the Box on Lamar and Barton Springs? It closed permanently this week. It's an unusually large lot for a fast food joint, and it's prime real estate.

I saw it listed as 3.92 acres. Nice corner lot to develop.

drummer · #**3260** Posted **Aug 1, 2016, 1:04 PM**

I would love for that lot to be developed - prime location. I'd also love for lots where the Mattress Firm and Enterprise are to be developed. And the Schlotzky's across the street (that would be great on the first floor of an apartment building though). Those all have great potential.

Side note...can we get rid of that Pollo Tropical yet? If it's there any longer people are going to start calling it an Austin icon and demand historical preservation if anyone talks about developing that lot again. Sad to see the Taco Cabana gone....I miss the old Austin.