AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[IluvATX]

I haven't been to SoCo in a few years, but is all this happening where Doc's was?

[austin242]

Yes it is. It's a disgusting monstrosity being added to my neighborhood. The building itself is a nice addition. However I'm not very happy about this New York invasion of chain Retail and Bars. We don't need anymore swanky fake places for the cool posers. I for one miss the old congress. It doesn't get better with age just less and less character. I wouldn't be too surprised if in 10yrs time it get's it's first H&M or even a chilli's. Just more death of character of a neighborhood. There was already a gym with character as well as a bar. Soho House and Equinox would be better suited for a more trendy city like Dallas or Houston. Not a trend setter like Austin.

[StoOgE]

"Old" South Congress is used car lots, drug dealers and prostitutes along with sex shops and a porn movie theater.

I'm guessing you want "old" South Congress that started popping up around 2001-2008 back when the first wave of gentrification hit before Perlas opened.

Austin was at it's best 5 years before whoever is speaking moved here.

Speaking of things coming from NYC we seem to have hit peak bitching about change and pining for crime ridden hell holes.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

"Old" South Congress is used car lots, drug dealers and prostitutes along with sex shops and a porn movie theater.

I'm guessing you want "old" South Congress that started popping up around 2001-2008 back when the first wave of gentrification hit before Perlas opened.

Austin was at it's best 5 years before whoever is speaking moved here.

Speaking of things coming from NYC we seem to have hit peak bitching about change and pining for crime ridden hell holes.

I agree with that sentiment. I remember when an out of town State Rep got busted for soliciting a prostitute in SoCo (before it was SoCo) during a Legislature session. I also remember when East Austin was the place to avoid in Austin because of the violent crime. And that was when I was living in the Rundberg and N. Lamar area which was a decent area at the time. Times change. But Austin keeps getting better. Except for the traffic and home prices and rent...

[IluvATX]

When I lived in SoCo the south congress hotel was UC and it alone killed the vibe I think. I used to love going to Home Slice or gueros. I'm kind of against this kind of development since SoCo was great to begin with. The gentrification won't make it better. The music lane project is gentrification at its best. Good luck affording any food they offer of any of the hotels nearby. IMO SoCo was fine to begin with. Let's focus on Lamar development instead.

[the Genral]

I'd like to see Franklin's BBQ expand to SOCO and eliminate the need to stand in line for hours. Too bad it can't expand with "old", anything added will be new. Just a bunch of newcomers making their contributions. When our population was 368K, when I moved here, Allen Boots was the main attraction and that church with the big roof, and a few motels. Not much reason to go there. 6ooK later, this is what they want and will get. I hear Wimberley is still pretty much the same, as well as Fredricksburg if the cost of progress is too disheartening for some.

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, South Congress was kind of a wasteland not too long ago, especially just a bit farther to the south. Generally, everything north of Mary Street was nice, but areas south of it, especially south of Oltorf were "kind of" sketchy. The property where the Great Outdoors is on South Congress across from Saint Ed's used to be owned by a friend of my dad. That stretch of Congress was notorious for hookers and drug dealing back then. It's a big reason why she sold and left. That was in the mid 90s. That area now is generally safe at night and new restaurants have opened up around there.

I can remember the areas north of Mary Street being nice. We did a good bit of shopping there in the 90s. Our bicycle shop was a place called Abajams on South Congress, right about where that meat market is at Congress & Annie. My mom and grandma also would take us to Terra Toys back when they were on Congress.

Of course, austin242 does have a point. I do worry that with these big fancy developments that the rent will be out of reach for some of the places that would have chosen the neighborhood to further the vibe of it. And I also worry that we'll lose some of the little old storefronts that are there now to the bigger places. And I also worry that the bigger buildings could bring more generic businesses that are oblivious to the vibe and history of the area. It's like when that Houston developer wanted to build a condo building at South Congress next to the Hyatt back in the late 90s and asked how to get rid of the bats under the bridge, and people just about laughed them out of town.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

It's like when that Houston developer wanted to build a condo building at South Congress next to the Hyatt back in the late 90s and asked how to get rid of the bats under the bridge, and people just about laughed them out of town.

I wasn't living here in the late 90s and don't remember that. What project was it?

[IluvATX]

I lived on Monroe for 2 years and walking to SoCo was part of my life. I could afford to go eat and shop easily. Now with all this new development, how will the locals be able to frequent these places. The music lane is made for tourists and looks nice, but it's not helping anyone in the neighborhood.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by The ATX

I wasn't living here in the late 90s and don't remember that. What project was it?

It was a 12-story project called "The Gotham Condominiums". They liked the bats enough as a playoff of the name, but the guano was just too much, I guess. The address was 200 South Congress, right where that little old building is where Yeti opened a store.

Here's a rendering I scanned from the Austin Chronicle. This was from October 1, 1999.

I believe this project was affiliated with this one in Houston, similar name, and design, and I remember the developer of the Austin one being from Houston.
http://www.highrises.com/houston/gotham-lofts/

[clubtokyo]

They seriously wanted to get rid of the bats? That’s insane. That’s one of favorite things about Austin.

[KevinFromTexas]

I believe this is the article the rendering is from. It talks about the bats.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/1999-10-01/74111/

People weren't happy about the bat comment.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/colu...9-10-15/74225/

Some of the comments of opposition to this were very eye roll worthy as they weren't very well informed on the subject. For example, one claim was that it would further limit access to the lake. Please, someone, tell me how the two buildings that are there now offer any access to the lake. Not to mention the old building where Yeti is now was at the time vacant. And of course, they had the heights all wrong on neighboring buildings.

[the Genral]

Wow, I remember that! All they would have had to do to eliminate the bats would be to seal the seams they live in while dodging a hail of bullets. 30 + years ago they might have met with less resistance, they weren't as welcome then as they are now.

[clubtokyo]

Also the project rendering looks hideous!

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

"Old" South Congress is used car lots, drug dealers and prostitutes along with sex shops and a porn movie theater.

I'm guessing you want "old" South Congress that started popping up around 2001-2008 back when the first wave of gentrification hit before Perlas opened.

Austin was at it's best 5 years before whoever is speaking moved here.

Speaking of things coming from NYC we seem to have hit peak bitching about change and pining for crime ridden hell holes.

I completely agree with your sentiment here. This past weekend I heard somebody (who has lived here for less than two years) complain how Rainey Street has changed due to all the "frat boys". I've been here for 20 years and I can't tell you how many times I've heard this type of complaining from somebody that knows almost nothing about what Austin "used to be".

<soap-box>
People like to mindlessly complain. Often, they just repeat what they heard someone else say...without even thinking about it. "Frat boys" is one of the most common go-tos here. For 20 years I've constantly heard people complain that they don't like this or that location anymore because of the "frat boys". I always think, "Seriously? You know that UT is one of the largest universities in the country, right?" Frat boys have been everywhere in Austin since the dawn of time.

The South Congress Hotel complaints are annoying too. That hotel was planned long before that lot became a food truck lot. If it were an old, permanent food truck lot, I'd get it. But it was NEVER meant to be a food truck lot. The hotel was simply delayed due to the 2008 recession. I mean, I definitely liked the food trucks, but it was always clear that it was temporary. But people don't care about that. They just like "bitching" and being uppity about it.

As much as people complain about losing iconic "old Austin" places. They fail to see that we've gained way more places that are now iconic or are becoming iconic. And many/most times, the newer iconic places are better than the old.
</soap-box>

[drummer]

I recall Austin a long time ago. It was pretty cool. I also recall Austin the last time I was there (a year and a half ago). It was pretty cool, too.

[Sigaven]

Looks like we found a couple of NIMBYers in the wild!!

I bet there were some people sharing your exact same sentiments decades ago before our first downtown building boom. Keep austin small! Downtown is just fine! We had such a great vibe with warehouses and parking lots everywhere! Such a small town feel!

Please get real. You realize that many of the SoCo places we love and cherish as part of the vibe today, like the complex where Hopdoddy's/Perla's is, and Hotel San Jose (as a boutique hotel rather than a dump), were not here 10-15 years ago? South Congress has always been changing and it shouldn't ever be time to put on the brakes because "now it's just right".

I think this project along with Hotel Magdalena will inject a great vibrancy to this part of Soco that currently feels qutie disconnected from what's further south.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

Looks like we found a couple of NIMBYers in the wild!!

I bet there were some people sharing your exact same sentiments decades ago before our first downtown building boom. Keep austin small! Downtown is just fine! We had such a great vibe with warehouses and parking lots everywhere! Such a small town feel!

Please get real. You realize that many of the SoCo places we love and cherish as part of the vibe today, like the complex where Hopdoddy's/Perla's is, and Hotel San Jose (as a boutique hotel rather than a dump), were not here 10-15 years ago? South Congress has always been changing and it shouldn't ever be time to put on the brakes because "now it's just right".

I think this project along with Hotel Magdalena will inject a great vibrancy to this part of Soco that currently feels qutie disconnected from what's further south.

couldn't have said it better myself. I live in the area, and have since since '87.....so pumped about all the changes.

[StoOgE]

As a resident of South Lamar, I have to say everything that has and is happening in the area is dope and makes my day to day living better.

I now have about 20 walkable bars and restaurants that I like and an amazing movie theater.

Vs.... some fast food and used car lots that were here when I was a kid?

Change is inevitable and sometimes things I love (Fran's hamburgers, Artz Ribhouse) feel the squeeze of growth and urbanization. But change is constant, and I'd rather Austin keep growing for the better becoming denser than the alternative.

Beloved places always come and go, and Id rather they do so because of increasing rent and competition instead of lack of business.

[maru2501]

I have not been to austin since SXSW a couple of years ago. went once before that. my best friend is from there. loved it

is all this development pushing some of the quirky stuff to other streets and places? My first glimpse of austin was the movie "slacker"