AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[The ATX]

I'm just glad an eyesore on Congress Ave. is getting a makeover. Congress Ave. is the Main St. of Austin, and the CBD portion of it mostly sucks at street level.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by The ATX

The CBD portion of it mostly sucks at street level.

Restaurants like this are the answer, to be honest. Also... said this elsewhere, but it should be repeated until nauseous: in ALL of the parking spaces on Congress put those wooden elevated pocket patios. It'd created a tremendous sense of place.

http://designweekaustin.com/blog/the...sign-in-austin


Generally, this is probably better for traffic in areas with high enough foot traffic density to support retail regardless of the parking out front, because people bother to look for parking spaces (thereby slowing the pace of traffic). So... on major thoroughfares in downtown (or adjacent), it might be prudent to begin to expropriate this idea in a more permanent fashion, with varying styles for varying corridors.

However, we'd need business buy-in.

A good way to get business buy-in is to for the city to partner with local tech companies to create a smart phone AND web app that allows users to find the closest available on-street parking spots and parking garages and their prices by integrating smart tech into the actual physical infrastructure, such as weight sensors in the parking spaces and infrared cameras that sense car heat (at least in the public spaces) to feed real time information into the app about availability, and definitely integrate Google map directions into it. Call the damn app something short, pithy, and catchy to do with Austin's culture and then plaster the name and the app logo EVERYWHERE downtown on street signage displayed prominently with simple instructions. This would be an incredibly useful enterprise and actually pretty cost effective if done solely within the city core, regardless of the parklets.

How do you get the major tech companies to partner with you? Easy: It'd allow them to develop this as a pilot project, and then expand the idea elsewhere as a huge money-maker for them in city contracts. The idea is a fucking no brainer and I can't believe it hasn't been done before or talked about.

https://www.parkme.com/austin-parking

This gets at the idea, but a significant part of the idea is that the city act in an official capacity to encourage the use of a single platform that is displayed prominently downtown so that everyone can locate available parking near where they're going, without having to necessarily park directly in front of the building (thus slowing traffic).

In other words, this could eat away both at traffic and help to create a sense of place because we could replace many parking spaces with parklets.

[lovethecity]

Yeah the layout of the parking mixed with the sidewalk always seemed strange. I completely agree, they should fill all of the angled spaces with "parklets" and sitting areas, or even just an expansion of the sidewalk.

For the people worried about parking, let the curb lane on Congress Ave. be used for parking outside of designated rush hours and limited to one or two hours. Aside from rush hours, does Congress really need 3 lanes? Especially since the majority of the bus routes have been moved off the street.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by Novacek

What news/plan was this? I don't recall ever hearing about it.

Not sure of date, but it was when the shopping center announced plans to renovate the site. I guess it was at least five or six years ago. I was under the impression that apartments were being considered or planned for the rear of the property. I was also expecting some new retail facing Anderson with parking behind. I remember thinking that it was a good idea and might contribute to making that part of Anderson more congenial to pedestrians, etc. Maybe I'll try to locate the old press release, if it is still available online. This is your turf, so you no doubt know more about it than I do.

[austlar1]

I found this from an old Austin Business Journal article. It lacks specifics, but at one time around 2007 the new owners of the Village Shopping Center were considering a larger mixed use project for the site. The plan was later revised perhaps due to the economic situation of the time or maybe it was more NIMBYism from the neighborhood.

"An affiliate of Austin-based Capital City Partners LLC purchased The Village in fall 2007. The ownership group, led by local developer Joe Lamy, had a tough time getting the property's lender, the now-defunct AIG, out of the picture. Once done, that paved the way for the owner to refinance the property through Texas Capital Bank.

In February 2007, the group asked the city for a zoning change on the property to allow for a larger mixed-use development. That request was eventually withdrawn and Lamy's group opted instead to make improvements to the existing center and approach the leasing strategy from a different angle."

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/st...7/daily52.html

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by austlar1

I found this from an old Austin Business Journal article. It lacks specifics, but at one time around 2007 the new owners of the Village Shopping Center were considering a larger mixed use project for the site. The plan was later revised perhaps due to the economic situation of the time or maybe it was more NIMBYism from the neighborhood.

"An affiliate of Austin-based Capital City Partners LLC purchased The Village in fall 2007. The ownership group, led by local developer Joe Lamy, had a tough time getting the property's lender, the now-defunct AIG, out of the picture. Once done, that paved the way for the owner to refinance the property through Texas Capital Bank.

In February 2007, the group asked the city for a zoning change on the property to allow for a larger mixed-use development. That request was eventually withdrawn and Lamy's group opted instead to make improvements to the existing center and approach the leasing strategy from a different angle."

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/st...7/daily52.html

Thanks. I tried a little googling but couldn't find this.

I've been in that general neighborhood for about 6 years, so I was curious about any big plans I hadn't heard about.

Too bad it fell through, but hopefully that's just temporary on the long term. And perhaps when/if it does happen, it will be even better (2007 would have been pre-metrorapid, pre Burnet Corridor planning, etc.)

[The ATX]

That Snowland Indoor skiing facility that came to light during the Chinese Investment summit has a Facebook page. There's no word about whether or not they got any of that Chinese investment money, but I doubt it.




Link: https://www.facebook.com/pg/SkiTexas...=page_internal

[kwinkles]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

While I am glad to see life in this space and at least and attempt to return a somewhat historic facade.... I can't help but lament a cheap national chain ( part of McAlister's Deli Franchises) going in on Congress. I'm all for the need for some good cheap diners downtown. But not this.

It's fine, it's not a local place, but it is better than a vacant building, and its another lunch option for people downtown. There is already a Subway, a Quizno's and a Chipotle on Congress Ave, it's not going to change the character to have another national lunch food chain take over a vacant building.

[kwinkles]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Restaurants like this are the answer, to be honest. Also... said this elsewhere, but it should be repeated until nauseous: in ALL of the parking spaces on Congress put those wooden elevated pocket patios. It'd created a tremendous sense of place.
...
In other words, this could eat away both at traffic and help to create a sense of place because we could replace many parking spaces with parklets.

I personally think it would be great if congress was closed to traffic except on the cross streets, or closed entirely for a few blocks downtown. Look at other cities that have removed car traffic from a few blocks in urban areas, and you see that it actually increases foot traffic and use of the area.

[jbssfelix]

Originally Posted by kwinkles

I personally think it would be great if congress was closed to traffic except on the cross streets, or closed entirely for a few blocks downtown. Look at other cities that have removed car traffic from a few blocks in urban areas, and you see that it actually increases foot traffic and use of the area.

I think that would be ideal, but I also think that's highly improbable to actually happen. However, even a road diet of losing a lane on either side would make a massive difference. With that extra 24ft of ROW, you could build two protected bike lanes and significantly widen the sidewalk

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by kwinkles

I personally think it would be great if congress was closed to traffic except on the cross streets, or closed entirely for a few blocks downtown. Look at other cities that have removed car traffic from a few blocks in urban areas, and you see that it actually increases foot traffic and use of the area.

This.

The entirety of Congress north of the river should be pedestrian. Shift the north traffic a block east onto Brazos and the south traffic a block west onto Colorado and control traffic flow by using a modified and signalized roundabout at Cesar Chavez and Congress with some huge public art installation in the middle.

Except I still love the parklets idea.

[GoldenBoot]

Austin is getting an 82-key ARRIVE Hotel (1800 block of East 6th St.)!

This is a really cool boutique hotel concept. I've recently seen their first hotel in Palm Springs. The Austin project will be their second location.

[smith_atx]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Austin is getting an 82-key ARRIVE Hotel (1800 block of East 6th St.)!

This is a really cool boutique hotel concept. I've recently seen their first hotel in Palm Springs. The Austin project will be their second location.

Nice, looks like the design can be found here: Link

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Austin is getting an 82-key ARRIVE Hotel (1800 block of East 6th St.)!

This is a really cool boutique hotel concept. I've recently seen their first hotel in Palm Springs. The Austin project will be their second location.

http://eyelikedesign.com/work/arrive-hotels/

[Urbannizer]

More on the Arrive Hotel:

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...ew-domain.html

Arrive Hotel is planned for 1813 E. Sixth St. The hotel will include two restaurants, a coffee shop and underground parking. The owner is 1809-1817 East 6th LLC. Baldridge Architects is handling the design. Projected to break ground in March, the development is valued at $17,369,297.

Via street view



2010 South Lamar:

Sackman Enterprises, which is building the 70 Rainey luxury condo tower, is planning creative offices at 2010 S. Lamar Blvd., the former site of La Feria restaurant. The project includes two levels of underground parking with three stories of office and retail. Sixthriver Architects is handling the design of the $20 million project.

Via street view

[corvairkeith]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

[


http://eyelikedesign.com/work/arrive-hotels/

The rendering shows it on the South-West corner of 6th and Chicon.

[The ATX]

There were three permits filed today for a "Hotel Capstone". It's near the Skyloft at 23rd & Nueces. The permits are for utility work by the moonlight tower at that location. The only other Hotel Capstone I found with a quick Google is by the the University of Alabama. Maybe they are expanding to be near another big university? Here's one of the permits:

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...rtyrsn=2017471

EDIT: See thread for "22 West Residential".

[gardensoul]

[JoninATX]

That view never gets old. I'm enjoying even more of it before "Frosty" is covered behind Austin Proper and Third + Shoal.

[Meagan0803]

Anybody have some current numbers on rentals coming on the market? Are they keeping up with demand and population growth?