AUSTIN | Photos & Videos Thread - Page 89

Urbannizer · #**1761** Posted **May 3, 2018, 2:11 AM**

IMG34 by Brian Cole Photography Client Page, on Flickr

IMG14 by
Brian Cole Photography Client Page, on Flickr

JACKinBeantown · #**1762** Posted **May 3, 2018, 9:00 PM**

^^ Nice pictures!

We vs us · #**1763** Posted **May 3, 2018, 9:09 PM**

I know it's limited by city ordinance, but I wish our buildings were better lit. It always seems a bit dim and sleepy from a distance.

KevinFromTexas · #**1764** Posted **May 3, 2018, 10:55 PM**

https://www.flickr.com/photos/crimin...52291/sizes/k/

KevinFromTexas · #**1765** Posted **May 3, 2018, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

I know it's limited by city ordinance, but I wish our buildings were better lit. It always seems a bit dim and sleepy from a distance.

I've never heard that before. If that's true, that's unfortunate. I'm generally anti-light pollution, especially when it comes to shopping centers which tend to not pay much attention to taking steps to reduce it, but when it comes to downtown I'm good with the buildings being lit.

the Genral · #**1766** Posted **May 4, 2018, 1:12 AM**

From the last pick I just realized what makes Austin's downtown so unique and beautiful. In many large cities, if not most, that ribbon of highway cuts through the heart of their downtowns, ie: Cleveland, Cincy, Houston, even Corpus Christi, or right on the edge of it. Its actually is quite unattractive and not that easy to navigate to get to the city streets from them. Austin's skyline doesn't include any major highways or overpasses running through it. You may disagree with me, but I don't see I35 cutting through downtown, even if more and more buildings are headed towards it. Unless you're on it, you really don't see it from most angles. It really isn't that big of a pain in the ass to get into or out of the city, except during rush hour, I get there via Burnet Rd, or Lamar, but I am so glad we don't have to look at ribbons of winding elevated highways cutting through and ruining the view of downtown. I prefer that we essentially have to take the 'small' roads to get there from the ribbons of highways. By default since no one saw the growth we're seeing in the last 20 years, all those major roadways are thankfully in the distance. Regarding I35, it can be hidden by...what do you call it? Cap and bury? At least most of dt is blocks away from it.

We vs us · #**1767** Posted **May 4, 2018, 3:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I've never heard that before. If that's true, that's unfortunate. I'm generally anti-light pollution, especially when it comes to shopping centers which tend to not pay much attention to taking steps to reduce it, but when it comes to downtown I'm good with the buildings being lit.

Just personal preference, of course, but it’s occurred to me on more than one occasion when DT at night.

My formative city experiences were in Chicago and NYC, so my tastes always lean towards the brighter/gaudier.

KevinFromTexas · #**1768** Posted **May 4, 2018, 6:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

From the last pick I just realized what makes Austin's downtown so unique and beautiful. In many large cities, if not most, that ribbon of highway cuts through the heart of their downtowns, ie: Cleveland, Cincy, Houston, even Corpus Christi, or right on the edge of it. Its actually is quite unattractive and not that easy to navigate to get to the city streets from them. Austin's skyline doesn't include any major highways or overpasses running through it. You may disagree with me, but I don't see I35 cutting through downtown, even if more and more buildings are headed towards it. Unless you're on it, you really don't see it from most angles. It really isn't that big of a pain in the ass to get into or out of the city, except during rush hour, I get there via Burnet Rd, or Lamar, but I am so glad we don't have to look at ribbons of winding elevated highways cutting through and ruining the view of downtown. I prefer that we essentially have to take the 'small' roads to get there from the ribbons of highways. By default since no one saw the growth we're seeing in the last 20 years, all those major roadways are thankfully in the distance. Regarding I35, it can be hidden by...what do you call it? Cap and bury? At least most of dt is blocks away from it.

I agree. Not having the heart of the city choked by highways is something I've always loved about Austin. I love even though I live about 5 miles south of downtown, I can hop on my bicycle and ride it all the way downtown using only residential streets to get there. Granted, I do have to cross Ben White to do it, but it just means crossing an overpass across Ben White. I can ride from my house up through the center of Austin and come out on Barton Springs Road around Butler Park. That route is kind of hilly through the Galindo and Bouldin Creek neighborhoods, so the route that I usually take is through my neighborhood (Garrison Park) and then through South Manchaca to around the South Austin Medical Center. From there I cut across to South First and then South Congress via Radam Lane. It's actually a really pleasant ride - all through neighborhoods. Even riding down Congress isn't too bad.

Sigaven · #**1769** Posted **May 4, 2018, 4:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

From the last pick I just realized what makes Austin's downtown so unique and beautiful. In many large cities, if not most, that ribbon of highway cuts through the heart of their downtowns, ie: Cleveland, Cincy, Houston, even Corpus Christi, or right on the edge of it. Its actually is quite unattractive and not that easy to navigate to get to the city streets from them. Austin's skyline doesn't include any major highways or overpasses running through it. You may disagree with me, but I don't see I35 cutting through downtown, even if more and more buildings are headed towards it. Unless you're on it, you really don't see it from most angles. It really isn't that big of a pain in the ass to get into or out of the city, except during rush hour, I get there via Burnet Rd, or Lamar, but I am so glad we don't have to look at ribbons of winding elevated highways cutting through and ruining the view of downtown. I prefer that we essentially have to take the 'small' roads to get there from the ribbons of highways. By default since no one saw the growth we're seeing in the last 20 years, all those major roadways are thankfully in the distance. Regarding I35, it can be hidden by...what do you call it? Cap and bury? At least most of dt is blocks away from it.

I've thought about this too...most downtowns in most major cities are tightly surrounded by a box of highways...dallas, houston, SA to name cities in TX. Austin doesn't have that...just I-35 right by downtown. Scary to think that we almost had this "box" of highways destroy part of our city...Cesar Chavez, guadalupe, 15th street etc...

NYC2ATX · #**1770** Posted **May 6, 2018, 7:37 PM**

What a great post Genral.

I always said that it was fortunate for Austin to have not boomed to a massive and more urban scale until the 21st Century. Especially comparatively speaking as a city in Texas, when you look at Dallas and Houston, the banner cities for the earlier Texas boom in the 70s and 80s, the "downtown loop" of highways is immediately evident..as is the stand of office buildings amid parking lots and few border zones with neighboring areas that are hospitable or walkable.

Austin missed that boat and thank god it did. It was too small then to warrant an extensive freeway network, and now that it's big, the urban design appetite is entirely different. I look forward to seeing areas neighboring downtown densify, so tall buildings will give way to shorter-scale but still dense development, and so on and so forth. The classic and timeless image of a city. Austin lucked out there, and initiatives like the Great Streets Program and the Capitol View Corridors will make it distinctive.

Also, in regards to the post at the top of this page, those photos, especially the one showing the Independent, demonstrate how far the skyline has yet to grow in areas further from the lake. It always occurred to me that the lake view of the skyline packed a much bigger punch that the view from the north, such as that from the capitol and from West Campus. I'm thrilled to think that view still has the potential to be phenomenal.

the Genral · #**1771** Posted **May 6, 2018, 10:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

What a great post Genral.

I always said that it was fortunate for Austin to have not boomed to a massive and more urban scale until the 21st Century. Especially comparatively speaking as a city in Texas, when you look at Dallas and Houston, the banner cities for the earlier Texas boom in the 70s and 80s, the "downtown loop" of highways is immediately evident..as is the stand of office buildings amid parking lots and few border zones with neighboring areas that are hospitable or walkable.

Austin missed that boat and thank god it did. It was too small then to warrant an extensive freeway network, and now that it's big, the urban design appetite is entirely different. I look forward to seeing areas neighboring downtown densify, so tall buildings will give way to shorter-scale but still dense development, and so on and so forth. The classic and timeless image of a city. Austin lucked out there, and initiatives like the Great Streets Program and the Capitol View Corridors will make it distinctive.

Thank you! And ditto on your post from one former Yank to another

Mopacs · #**1772** Posted **May 7, 2018, 3:48 AM**

Here are a few pics taken this weekend

Barton Creek Mall

Shepherd Mountain

Riverside Drive

Butler Park

Our dog approves

5th and West

wwmiv · #**1773** Posted **May 7, 2018, 6:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

It always occurred to me that the lake view of the skyline packed a much bigger punch that the view from the north, such as that from the capitol and from West Campus. I'm thrilled to think that view still has the potential to be phenomenal.

It seems to me that there has been a general consensus among posters that Austin will develop, thankfully, a skyline that gradually grows taller as one moves further from the river.

Some good examples of cities with large skylines of that type (where buildings are consecutively taller the further one moves from a large river) allowing for sweeping vistas of the skyline from that river in the United States currently include Minneapolis, Portland, Austin, Nashville, Philadelphia, Denver, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Cincinnati, and Columbus. A few of those are some of the most aesthetically pleasing skylines in the country, so very nice company to keep.

KevinFromTexas · #**1774** Posted **May 7, 2018, 6:22 PM**

Great pics, Mopacs. That Barton Creek Mall view is just unbelievable. And I really like the ones from Butler Park. Ah, springtime in Austin, Texas.

urbancore · #**1775** Posted **May 7, 2018, 7:52 PM**

Is it just me, or does the Independent seem like it will "appear" a wee bit shorter than the Austonian? I feel like the pic from Mopacs from BCM is the only vantage point which it MAY appear taller. From every other point of view in town, it seems as though after the crown is added, it will still appear a tiny bit shorter.

If they wanted to claim to the be tallest, they should have just done it...instead of approaching it.

N90 · #**1776** Posted **May 7, 2018, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dcbrickley

Is it just me, or does the Independent seem like it will "appear" a wee bit shorter than the Austonian? I feel like the pic from Mopacs from BCM is the only vantage point which it MAY appear taller. From every other point of view in town, it seems as though after the crown is added, it will still appear a tiny bit shorter.

If they wanted to claim to the be tallest, they should have just done it...instead of approaching it.

I have to disagree. Seeing it in person, it looks both bigger and taller than the Austonian already and it's not even finished yet.

Jdawgboy · #**1777** Posted **May 7, 2018, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dcbrickley

Is it just me, or does the Independent seem like it will "appear" a wee bit shorter than the Austonian? I feel like the pic from Mopacs from BCM is the only vantage point which it MAY appear taller. From every other point of view in town, it seems as though after the crown is added, it will still appear a tiny bit shorter.

If they wanted to claim to the be tallest, they should have just done it...instead of approaching it.

Don't forget there's only a 2 foot difference between the two and I believe the ground elevation At the Independent is a little lower than the ground the Austonian sits on. Reality is both buildings are pretty equal in terms of overall height. It will come down to where you are viewing the skyline from. If your viewing the skyline from the west, the Independent should look a little taller because it's closer to your vantage point than the Austonian. Conversley if your viewing from the east, the Austonian will look taller. From the south, I think they look about the same,

urbancore · #**1778** Posted **May 7, 2018, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Don't forget there's only a 2 foot difference between the two and I believe the ground elevation At the Independent is a little lower than the ground the Austonian sits on. Reality is both buildings are pretty equal in terms of overall height. It will come down to where you are viewing the skyline from. If your viewing the skyline from the west, the Independent should look a little taller because it's closer to your vantage point than the Austonian. Conversley if your viewing from the east, the Austonian will look taller. From the south, I think they look about the same,

Yeah, I get the foreground-background contrast, but even from Doug Sahm hill, which i frequent a couple times a week, it appears shorter even when accounting for crown. Very scientific, I know. I totally forgot that it was on a lower elevation and 2 feet shorter is so dumb.

MichaelB · #**1779** Posted **May 7, 2018, 8:14 PM**

Just IMO... I think independent looks taller from a lot of angles because there are fewer tall buildings around it.
You get a lot more Top to ( almost ) bottom look at the building from more angles.
So context and contrast are playing into it.

Jdawgboy · #**1780** Posted **May 7, 2018, 8:20 PM**

That view of the skyline from the west is also looking very impressive. Block 71 will really give a much needed boost to give some height to the central portion of DT. Crazy to think that the One American Center sits higher than all the waterfront buildings and it looks so stubby, despite it being a 400 footer. Block 71 will really stand out in that area. Though just realized will block most if not all of Frost from that vantage point...