AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[H2O]

$68 / sq ft

[NYC2ATX]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Well I heard something lastnight from an acquaintance who works at one of the gay clubs on 4th, a manager. He let slip that there is a push by some developers to basically wipe out the rest of the Warehouse District with two towers. One would take out OCH, Sellers and Rain, the other would be across the street and would take out Fado, Cedar Street, Halycon. I really wish I had asked further questions but I'll see him again this weekend during pride so will ask for more details.

I will say here and now that the City of Austin should be wise to reign in some of this upcoming building boom. Even though this is hearsay, we are seeing highrises get closer and closer to this stretch of 4th. I'm close to saying enough with the highrises. If they can't build them on open lots (405 Colorado not withstanding even though I can't stand it and the feeling is mutual on 4th Street), or on other lots which aren't used as entertainment venues then they should just not build more. Sorry I went there and said it. I'm a highrise lover as much as the next but there is a limit to how far my love for them will go and that limit is drawing awefully close.

I will say, if that is the case, I agree that the city should step in or at least put heavy limits on development on that block, because the Warehouse District is positively vital to the lifeblood of Downtown and the city as a whole. That being said, I feel like there's still so much underdeveloped land in Downtown that could continue to welcome new skyscrapers without it being at the expense of significant nightlife districts that are major drivers for revenue and foot traffic in the area. What's more, my understanding is the city is still looking to drive development toward places that can absorb it, like the Waller Creek area and the Statesman Site, to offer some examples.

Perhaps what is needed is a new sort of preservation-type of zoning that protects and cultivates nightlife districts in Downtown and environs. You could imagine such an overlay on this block of 4th, Dirty 6th and West 6th (which had already shown a capacity for moderated development with the Canopy Hotel and Blueprint projects).

Either way, I think after a certain point, city and neighborhood leaders may and should understand that they would be shooting themselves in the foot to wipe out an entire block that is such a center of activity that it can possibly be partially credited with bringing the retail and commercial activity on surrounding blocks to the boil it's currently sustaining. Even at 300 Colorado, the building housing Sullivan's had to be found not historic enough to be saved before demolition could proceed. In fact, I could sooner see the city expanding pedestrian space adjoining the raised walks on either side of the street and narrowing traffic lanes on 4th, than I could them bulldozing the whole place for towers. It's 2018, we're better than that.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Well I heard something lastnight from an acquaintance who works at one of the gay clubs on 4th, a manager. He let slip that there is a push by some developers to basically wipe out the rest of the Warehouse District with two towers. One would take out OCH, Sellers and Rain, the other would be across the street and would take out Fado, Cedar Street, Halycon. I really wish I had asked further questions but I'll see him again this weekend during pride so will ask for more details.

Yea, I am not a NIMBY. I am very pro-development. I will, however, march against this one.

[GoldenBoot]

Isn't there an overlay district limiting development in a specific area of the Warehouse District?

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Isn't there an overlay district limiting development in a specific area of the Warehouse District?

That's what I thought too. I thought the city had already set an overlay a few years back. At any rate I'll do my best to get some more details. The Pride Parade is tomorrow night so I'll most def be down there.

[lzppjb]

I spend almost no time in that part of town unless I go to Frank, but I do understand a downtown's need for entertainment districts. Austin does need to protect certain areas and even cultivate them further. 6th, Warehouse, Rainey, Red River...maybe another will pop up.

I think Congress south of the Capitol where all the empty buildings and dead atmosphere could be a cool nightlife area.

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, I'm not cool with gutting the warehouse district. Besides it being a legitimately lively and (relatively) safe part of downtown, there are so many other areas that need a shot in the arm to turn them into a place that people would actually want to go. The east side of downtown has largely been ignored in that way, and there are many open lots that could be built on and some other properties that could be redeveloped and no one would miss them. It doesn't make sense to sacrifice one area of downtown to transform it into something else when there are other areas that basically no man's lands that contribute nothing to the vibe and vitality of downtown. Besides, towers standing among old lowrise buildings has a sort of unique look and feel to it.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

So, the "Diagrams" section in Austin needs some work. The heights are all wrong and we're missing a lot of stuff.

Yeah, I think some of those diagrams were made before we discovered a way of finding the building elevations. The site plans also include the widths of the buildings and their blocks, so that info is helpful also in scaling the drawings properly when drawing them. I think there was some guesswork involved with some of those older ones.

The diagrams aren't my area, but I do contribute to the building database (adding buildings and data) which the diagrams draw their information from. It's just that some of those older buildings haven't been updated since the site plans became available to us.

I haven't finished adding all of Austin's buildings yet either. Austin has already gone past 200 high rises.

[The ATX]

The Planning Commission takes up a subdivision request for a project called "The East" at 42 East Ave at their next meeting. This is the same project as 44 East that has been posted about before after a pre-development tree assessment permit was filed.

http://austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/40_1.htm

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by The ATX

The Planning Commission takes up a subdivision request for a project called "The East" at 42 East Ave at their next meeting. This is the same project as 44 East that has been posted about before after a pre-development tree assessment permit was filed.

http://austintexas.gov/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/40_1.htm

Confused by this. If it's the same as 44 East, why isn't that lot outlined on the file you linked. I'm missing something.

[lzppjb]

I remember a link was provided more than a year ago that had an interactive map of Austin, and you could zoom in and it'd have different color highlighted lots that had projects in the pipeline. I can't find it anymore. I was going to use it to monitor South Congress.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Can you provide the link?

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Confused by this. If it's the same as 44 East, why isn't that lot outlined on the file you linked. I'm missing something.

LROC Properties Southwest LP owns 44 East and is listed as the owner (along with 42 East Property Investments) of 42 East on the Planning Commission document. "The East" is listed as a multifamily project. Based on the lot sizes, I'm guessing they need both lots to build a typical Rainey St. residential project. It would be great to see two skinny Avenue type projects side by side, but I'm awake right now.

[Jdawgboy]

Was way too crowded and busy lastnight for me to get a chance to talk to my friend to get more info but I did notice yet another closure. The Oak on Colorado St. is apparently becoming part of Walmart's Tech offices which took out what was once a club. There won't be much reason for people to go out DT if we keep losing these restaurants/lounges/bars. Sure there are some new spots that will be opening but we are losing the cohesive clusters which doesn't help with maintaining foot traffic from one entertainment area of DT to another. If some of these tower projects tried to incorporate club/music venue space rather than simply restaurant/retail space, I wouldn't be as worried. I still think it would have been wise for 3rd and Shoal to incorporate a concert venue to replace the Austin Music Hall (putting aside it's flaws) it was still an important music venue that we no longer have a comperable space DT, (not including ACL Moody which is on a different level). One last complaint, enough with the rental spaces. There are several former club/bar venues that now sit empty with signs promoting private event space ect... It does nothing to enhance DT or street activity. I think the city should crack down on this sort of thing. There are dedicated places such as Brazos Hall, we don't need a bunch of party/wedding/business rentals leaving dead spots.

[lzppjb]

I could be totally wrong because I haven't been down there, but perhaps the rental spaces you're talking about are just temporary until they can land a solid tenant.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

I could be totally wrong because I haven't been down there, but perhaps the rental spaces you're talking about are just temporary until they can land a solid tenant.

Yes. Said contributor tends to react rather than respond.

[We vs us]

I feel like the warehouse district horse is pretty well out of the barn at this point. By the time the Parsley HQ goes up, along with the Molar, along with whatever's planned on the other side of the ZaZa (not to mention ZaZa itself), the district will be pretty much scattered to the four winds. There won't be the feeling of continuity or of "district" -- unless you're thinking about the single-block stretch of 4th between Colorado and Lavaca, or maybe the south side of 5th, between Colorado and Congress (which isn't really the Warehouse District -- not really, IMO).

And this isn't an argument for tossing everything that's good and right about Austin on the ash heap of history, but I do think we're a day late and a dollar short to save whatever the Warehouse District was back in 2015.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by We vs us

I feel like the warehouse district horse is pretty well out of the barn at this point. By the time the Parsley HQ goes up, along with the Molar, along with whatever's planned on the other side of the ZaZa (not to mention ZaZa itself), the district will be pretty much scattered to the four winds. There won't be the feeling of continuity or of "district" -- unless you're thinking about the single-block stretch of 4th between Colorado and Lavaca, or maybe the south side of 5th, between Colorado and Congress (which isn't really the Warehouse District -- not really, IMO).

And this isn't an argument for tossing everything that's good and right about Austin on the ash heap of history, but I do think we're a day late and a dollar short to save whatever the Warehouse District was back in 2015.

I suggest folks speak out to city hall and not give up.
This is a place I draw the line..

[drummer]

Question: On Google Earth it looks like there are some things being built on West 5th - one at Orchard St., and one at Paul St. Are these just apartment buildings? Any retail? Anything else planned in that area? Good to see more density going west.

The Google Earth date that I'm seeing is 1/14/2018, fyi.

[Urbannizer]

The Braxton by Darius Fontenette, on Flickr

[ahealy]

I love the way this turned out on Burnet. I'd also love to get a rooftop view of downtown from those apartments! .....Still miss the old Omlettry, but whatevs.