AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II - Page 261

Syndic · #**5201** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 8:00 AM**

Wow, I used to park in that parking lot every day. One of the only places in downtown where you could park for $4-5 per day.

In a way, I'm kinda sad to see it go. But that's a much better spot for the courthouse.

urbancore · #**5202** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 2:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndic

But that's a much better spot for the courthouse.

Curious to see how much of a bond they will ask the taxpayers for. If it is anywhere near the price tag of the last one, I doubt it will pass. It wasn't the previous location, is was the $ that doomed it for the taxpayers.

Maybe they can leverage the sale/land lease of their other properties. We can hope.

We vs us · #**5203** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

That name Wallace sounded familiar. That's this project that had been proposed there. This is an old project - going back several years. I'm glad to hear they're not done designing it.

I remember not long ago someone on the forum had posted a couple more renderings of it. I don't seem to have those saved. Honestly, I don't have a whole lotta confidence in this one.

Thanks for digging that out. Not sure if I was around yet for those original renderings but I feel like we might've mentioned these lots on Congress recently. Either way, I'll take any kind of forward momentum. They're such eyesores.

AusTxDevelopment · #**5204** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 3:12 PM**

Here are a couple of older images from the same group.

urbancore · #**5205** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 3:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment

Here are a couple of older images from the same group.

I like it.

MichaelB · #**5206** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

Holy frick this render takes me back like 11ish years! I always liked this one...

Well I would like it better if what appeared to be a canopy really was.... instead of just a marker for "Capitol dominance overlay"!

atx-adam · #**5207** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 9:11 PM**

Bloomberg is reporting that the US Army selected Austin as the location of the new Futures Command.

We vs us · #**5208** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 9:41 PM**

Here's the Statesman:

https://www.statesman.com/business/repor...s-command-center/H8OyifMl0b3aXNAuRvP2BM/

"The University of Texas System Board of Regents has posted plans for a telephone meeting Friday afternoon to discuss leasing space in the system’s downtown headquarters building “to the United States government,” possibly the Army."

This is good news for those of us who have to fly semi-regularly to DC for work. Demand for nonstops to IAD and DCA oughta increase a tad.

EDIT: in googling up related news stories I came across this interesting tidbit:

Quote:

The new center would add to a quickly-growing field of military-related tech activity in Austin. Last month, the U.S. Air Force announced Austin would be home to its latest military innovation lab AFWERX. And that followed visits from then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who launched a DIUx hub at Capital Factory, and then-Army Secretary Eric Fanning, who launched the “Hack the Army” program.

https://www.americaninno.com/austin/inno...or-the-u-s-armys-futures-command-center/

AusTxDevelopment · #**5209** Posted **Jul 12, 2018, 9:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

Here's the Statesman:

https://www.statesman.com/business/repor...s-command-center/H8OyifMl0b3aXNAuRvP2BM/

"The University of Texas System Board of Regents has posted plans for a telephone meeting Friday afternoon to discuss leasing space in the system’s downtown headquarters building “to the United States government,” possibly the Army."

This is good news for those of us who have to fly semi-regularly to DC for work. Demand for nonstops to IAD and DCA oughta increase a tad.

UT's new downtown HQ building at 210 West 7th has 19,000 square feet of vacancy that they've been marketing for lease. It would be a good fit for the Futures Command. Supposedly they chose Austin for the talented workforce since this will basically be an innovation center as well as a command center. Downtown location, relationship with UT, Austin as a talent driver, they're checking all the boxes.

The ATX · #**5210** Posted **Jul 13, 2018, 12:02 AM**

Here's the ABJ version:

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/...army-futures-command-a-nerve-center.html

I suspect proximity to Fort Hood was a consideration as well:

Quote:

“We're 50 miles from literally the largest military base in the world [Fort Hood] with operational units who can provide feedback and rapidly prototype projects,” Walker said. He adding that Texas is "one of the largest National Guard states with about 20,000 soldiers [and] has its headquarters about 10 minutes from downtown at Camp Mabry.”

lzppjb · #**5211** Posted **Jul 13, 2018, 2:59 AM**

This is awesome news.

We vs us · #**5212** Posted **Jul 13, 2018, 2:10 PM**

In which I get a gentle callout in a Towers post for being a free-news freeloader.

Quote:

. . . That’s why this week’s Austin Monitor story regarding the dismantling and restoration of the facades at 907, 909, and 911 Congress Avenue was a very nice thing to read. If you can’t access the article, maybe it’s time to subscribe — it’s like five bucks, Ebeneezer — but here’s a quote anyway:

Interestingly, I immediately give the article even more credence than usual. Public shaming works, folks, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

https://austin.towers.net/getting-past-t...-avenues-most-eligible-vacant-buildings/

atxsnail · #**5213** Posted **Jul 13, 2018, 2:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

"The University of Texas System Board of Regents has posted plans for a telephone meeting Friday afternoon to discuss leasing space in the system’s downtown headquarters building “to the United States government,” possibly the Army."

That's good to hear. I was worried they would try to build their own office and turn it into an impenetrable fortress like the federal courthouse. Maybe if UT doesn't work out there's some room in the JJ Pickle federal building.

downsouthman1 · #**5214** Posted **Jul 13, 2018, 2:31 PM**

Beautiful design. Nice what they turned that original rendering into. The actual form is nice.

urbancore · #**5215** Posted **Jul 13, 2018, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

In which I get a gentle callout in a Towers post for being a free-news freeloader.

Interestingly, I immediately give the article even more credence than usual. Public shaming works, folks, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

https://austin.towers.net/getting-past-t...-avenues-most-eligible-vacant-buildings/

I was a paid subscriber for a year or so, till I noticed the original content was lacking. It seemed to me that at least half of the articles were also on KUT's website, for free. So I was paying for 1-3 original articles a week I actually cared about. I am happy to subscribe again, but they need more original content.

Most articles read pretty slanted in my view, as well. Not the worst thing in the world, but I'm not impressed.

urbancore · #**5216** Posted **Jul 13, 2018, 5:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

This is awesome news.

I love it. 500 more high paying jobs downtown. This is great.

LoneStarMike · #**5217** Posted **Jul 14, 2018, 5:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

This is good news for those of us who have to fly semi-regularly to DC for work. Demand for nonstops to IAD and DCA oughta increase a tad.

We have plenty of demand now for flights to DCA. But AUS-DCA is 1315 miles and DCA has a 1250 mile perimeter rule.

We vs us · #**5218** Posted **Jul 14, 2018, 12:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

We have plenty of demand now for flights to DCA. But AUS-DCA is 1315 miles and DCA has a 1250 mile perimeter rule.

That’s something I didn’t know. Why would DCA have a limit like that? I assume maybe it’s because DCA itself isn’t that big ....

427MM · #**5219** Posted **Jul 14, 2018, 2:44 PM**

Noticed while sitting on the Long Center lawn during the 4th of July show there is a pretty amazing view of Frost Tower reflected off of 5th and West. It is not a clear view of the crown but it is amazing nonetheless.

chinchaaa · #**5220** Posted **Jul 14, 2018, 3:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

That’s something I didn’t know. Why would DCA have a limit like that? I assume maybe it’s because DCA itself isn’t that big ....

That's right. They want IAD to be the main airport for the metro area. They're extending the Metro to Dulles so in a few years it will be pretty to go downtown from out there.