AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[urbancore]

from the ABJ

"Judge: Austin voters will get a crack at controversial CodeNext"

I never thought that, even if Code Next passed in any of its iterations, it would have a affect on the actual number of doors and hardly move the needle with regard to density/traffic/affordable housing. With the existing tree ordinances, set back rules, building heights, drainage, deed restrictions, (this is a HUGE one), overlays......what did we expect?

The biggest problem I see, is the 40% "floor to area ratio" (FAR) is way too restrictive in the urban core.

In the end, not much will change, but it wouldn't have anyway. Austin is in the middle of a replacing older working class homes with new homes. Nothing has or will stop that progress. Most of these houses were never intended to be 100 year old homes. The ones that can be saved will be saved....the rest are on the way to the landfill.

We will always be a cost alternative to the coastal cities. I predict that the cost of living in the urban core will continue to rise so long as the total remains a fraction of the coastal cities we often compete with, that and as long as we continue to add 30k jobs per year.

[hookem]

Right now, CodeNext has 0% chance of passing.

There is no public "for" movement -- the only public movement is "against". Could they (the city, business, developers) change that before November? Perhaps. But they have a lot of ground to gain, and only a few months to do it.

It has changed the mayoral race, too. Adler will be the "for" candidate, Morrison will be the "against" candidate, and if it ends up as a another referendum on CodeNext... well, the future isn't bright.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by hookem

It has changed the mayoral race, too. Adler will be the "for" candidate, Morrison will be the "against" candidate, and if it ends up as a another referendum on CodeNext... well, the future isn't bright.

That's actually what gives me hope.

If Morrison makes the mayoral race about CodeNext, Adler (who is _far_ ahead in fundraising and it seems support) will have to defend it, and it's on the same ballot.

Put another way, there's way more money already in the mayoral race than on CnC's ballot initiative.

[Jdawgboy]

This is what gets me, CodeNext shouldn't have to be put on the ballot but now that it is, it's time to let everyone know who is behind the campaign to end it. I wonder how many NA members would like digital billboards brightening up our night sky.

[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

This is what gets me, CodeNext shouldn't have to be put on the ballot but now that it is, it's time to let everyone know who is behind the campaign to end it. I wonder how many NA members would like digital billboards brightening up our night sky.

But it isn't really on the ballot, rather whether to put CodeNext on the ballot is what's on the ballot. I think?

[The ATX]

This could be related to the 44 East pre-development permit linked to a few pages back in this thread in mid-June. Today a permit for 42 East was filed today to connect two plots for a project called "The East". This has to be a significant project in the works, and in early July trilliondollarted mentioned a rumored 40 plus story building at 44 East.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...pertyrsn=92822

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by The ATX

This could be related to the 44 East pre-development permit linked to a few pages back in this thread in mid-June. Today a permit for 42 East was filed today to connect two plots for a project called "The East". This has to be a significant project in the works, and in early July trilliondollarted mentioned a rumored 40 plus story building at 44 East.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...pertyrsn=92822

Intracorp is a residential builder - apartments. The only one they've done in Texas is The Marc in San Marcos. But browsing through their developments on their web page, they do low-rise, mid-rise and towers, mostly in California and Canada. http://intracorphomes.com/

[StoOgE]

Is there any indication what the city is planning with the old central library site?

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Is there any indication what the city is planning with the old central library site?

Austin History Center

http://library.austintexas.libanswers.com/faq/206686

[AustinGoesVertical]

There's a lot of office development in the pipeline. Threw together a go-to graphic so people can easily associate an address with a project. Crazy to imagine that all of this has a reasonable chance at getting delivered over the next 3-5 years.

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

There's a lot of office development in the pipeline. Threw together a go-to graphic so people can easily associate an address with a project. Crazy to imagine that all of this has a reasonable chance at getting delivered over the next 3-5 years.

Amazing. Poor Frost Bank Tower may soon need view corridors established to let us know it's still there

[gabetx]

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

There's a lot of office development in the pipeline. Threw together a go-to graphic so people can easily associate an address with a project. Crazy to imagine that all of this has a reasonable chance at getting delivered over the next 3-5 years.

Which one of these are likely to begin construction in 2018 or first quarter of 2019?

I know for sure, Block 71.
Aside from that, maybe The Republic, Third + Shoal, 405 Colorado, and HOPEFULLY 600 Guadalupe.

I think Block 185 is still a long ways away, and I have no knowledge or interest in 300 Colorado, given the fact that it looks like it belongs in the Domain.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by gabetx

Which one of these are likely to begin construction in 2018 or first quarter of 2019?

I know for sure, Block 71.
Aside from that, maybe The Republic, Third + Shoal, 405 Colorado, and HOPEFULLY 600 Guadalupe.

I think Block 185 is still a long ways away, and I have no knowledge or interest in 300 Colorado, given the fact that it looks like it belongs in the Domain.

Block 71 - already underway
The Republic - had a December start listed in City documents. But Lincoln is focused on 600 Guadalupe first, and this will probably start after that project
Third + Shoal - Almost complete
300 Colorado - Demo planned for August with construction to follow
600 Guadalupe - May still start this year. But I suspect early 2019
Block 185 - 2019, has a ways to go in the permitting process

[N90]

Third + Shoal has already topped out and is almost done. So that's definite.

Block 71 is getting leased by Indeed so that seems definite.

300 Colorado is getting leased by Parsely Energy so that seems definite.

600 Guadalupe appears to be on the fast track to starting soon. An insider involved with the project named George Blume confirmed that it's a go. It should be moving dirt in 8-9 months.

I don't know anything about the Republic, 405 Colorado, or Block 185. Most posters here seem confident that the Republic will happen but I don't know about its details if it's spec or already has committed tenants or when it will start construction and if permits have been filed.

I don't know anything about 405 Colorado but is probably the second furthest from starting imo.

Block 185 is the one that we may know the least about. Probably the furthest from coming to fruition.

[427MM]

What gives us confidence re 600 Guad? I'm a huge fan of it but don't want to get my hopes up too high until we see action. All the fingers crossed!!

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by 427MM

What gives us confidence re 600 Guad? I'm a huge fan of it but don't want to get my hopes up too high until we see action. All the fingers crossed!!

I have more confidence in 600 Guad than the Republic right now just because a Lincoln Rep said their main focus is 600 Guad and not the Republic. So my confidence in the Republic is minimal until 600 Guad breaks ground.
But I have always had a little concern that the residential portion of 600 Guad may kill it as currently proposed because we all know there is a tremendous amount of residential projects in the pipeline, and they cannot all be built any time soon.
I have more confidence in condo projects right now than rentals, and the latest info we have on 600 Guad from the Design Commission files indicates that the residential is still planned as rental. Those will be the most expensive rental units in Austin if built.
But 600 Guad is moving through the permit process about as quickly as possible and seems to have momentum based on the developer's press releases. It reminds me of the Independent in its early days. But if there is little to no activity or news after the site plan is approved, my confidence level will drop like it has for:

48 East
The Avenue
Hotel Mirabeau
Waller Park Place

[lzppjb]

I was looking at a satellite image of downtown just thinking of all the activity going on around Republic Square, and I wondered if anyone had heard anything about the BBVA Compass Bank lot on the SE corner of 6th & Guadalupe.

Seems like a perfect spot for a point tower. It'd be just across the street from whatever giant gets built on the post office block, and catty-corner from 600 Guadalupe. It'd be an amazing intersection.

And anything new on the half block north of IBC Bank? Wasn't there supposed to eventually be something developed there?

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

I was looking at a satellite image of downtown just thinking of all the activity going on around Republic Square, and I wondered if anyone had heard anything about the BBVA Compass Bank lot on the SE corner of 6th & Guadalupe.

Seems like a perfect spot for a point tower. It'd be just across the street from whatever giant gets built on the post office block, and catty-corner from 600 Guadalupe. It'd be an amazing intersection.

And anything new on the half block north of IBC Bank? Wasn't there supposed to eventually be something developed there?

I agree that the Compass Bank lot has potential, but have heard nothing about it being redeveloped.

There was some talk of a hotel going up on the northwest corner of the IBC block. That was a fair amount of time ago though. So, the plans could easily change before any dirt moves. Also, it looks like the lone building on that lot is being leased out now. So, I wouldn't expect anything is going to happen there in the short run.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by 427MM

What gives us confidence re 600 Guad? I'm a huge fan of it but don't want to get my hopes up too high until we see action. All the fingers crossed!!

Do you know something we don't? I know you've got some connections.

[ILUVSAT]

Was it Block 185 or The Republic which has been rumored to have a large tennant (at least interested)? It's a large multi-national company with a current downtown presence - looking for more space.