AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II - Page 273

lzppjb · #**5441** Posted **Sep 13, 2018, 8:20 AM**

Did y'all see this on Austin Towers about 'Star Tower?' Fantasy, but pretty cool.

https://austin.towers.net/downtown-austin-needs-a-signature-tower-so-this-guy-designed-one/

We vs us · #**5442** Posted **Sep 13, 2018, 2:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Did y'all see this on Austin Towers about 'Star Tower?' Fantasy, but pretty cool.

https://austin.towers.net/downtown-austin-needs-a-signature-tower-so-this-guy-designed-one/

Would love something like this across the river, maybe part of the complex at Auditorium Shores or at the Statesman site. I mean, a tower deserves a view, and those spots are about as good as it gets.

Sigaven · #**5443** Posted **Sep 13, 2018, 2:35 PM**

Pretty cool except it could do without the cheesy star at the top

urbancore · #**5444** Posted **Sep 13, 2018, 2:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Did y'all see this on Austin Towers about 'Star Tower?' Fantasy, but pretty cool.

https://austin.towers.net/downtown-austin-needs-a-signature-tower-so-this-guy-designed-one/

Just visited the Tower of America in SA last week, hadn’t been there since ‘85, and an observation tower with tourist food is just meh. I think this type of building has its day in the 70’s when most people had never even taken a plane ride.

I heard zero oohs and aahhs about the views, the food, or all the history. It was a bummer.

I think a huge Ferris wheel would be bad 🞵🞵🞵....thinking of London. Great views, romantic, cool.

KevinFromTexas · #**5445** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 12:02 AM**

This is interesting. An FAA permit for a 300 foot tall crane across 183 from the airport for the installation of wind turbines.

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/sea...=displayOECase&oeCaseID=372821606&row=11

If you Google the coordinates, you'll see a piece of property with some excavation going on.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/30%C2%...1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d30.2119444!4d-97.6847222

the Genral · #**5446** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 12:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

Would love something like this across the river, maybe part of the complex at Auditorium Shores or at the Statesman site. I mean, a tower deserves a view, and those spots are about as good as it gets.

We debated this years ago and I placed observations towers all around Austin on my 'What if' thread to see where it would fit in best and give the best views. If I recall, most people here at the time were against observation towers
all together. But I agree with you especially Auditorium Shores, they do have a rather small footprint, and now that the AAS site could be up for grabs, that would be an ideal location for one. I don't like the idea of it being in the mix of the other buildings. It needs to be seen from a distance in all its splendor as well as view the city from a distance. I am 100% for something like this, with a toned down crown, but who is going to pay for it??? Nobody.

wwmiv · #**5447** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 12:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

We debated this years ago and I placed observations towers all around Austin on my 'What if' thread to see where it would fit in best and give the best views. If I recall, most people here at the time were against observation towers
all together. But I agree with you especially Auditorium Shores, they do have a rather small footprint, and now that the AAS site could be up for grabs, that would be an ideal location for one. I don't like the idea of it being in the mix of the other buildings. It needs to be seen from a distance in all its splendor as well as view the city from a distance. I am 100% for something like this, with a toned down crown, but who is going to pay for it??? Nobody.

I’d be okay with a 350ish foot overservation tower at the southern edge of the Domain or near the potential soccer stadium if it provided protected good downtown skyline views (with maybe a CVC of the Capitol building) with a rotating sky deck if and only if the Domain develops a decent skyline itself. Also, it has to have a tasteful design.

KevinFromTexas · #**5448** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 1:11 AM**

I actually really like his idea for that Star Tower. It's on the site of the 99 Trinity project, so we might as well be rooting for a fictional tower there.

I like the idea of the connections to the Waller Creek trail and the tourism boost it would give and get by being near the convention center. Also, if you're going to have a tower anywhere around downtown, it's better to have it on the east side of downtown so that the skyline is in the foreground with the hills beyond.

Anyway, if anyone is going to build an observation tower in Texas, the correct height should be 1,845 feet. Or 1,836 feet if you're feeling rebellious.

wwmiv · #**5449** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 1:48 AM**

There are only three observation towers I like: San Antonio’s Tower of the Americas, Seattle’s Space Needle, and Beijing’s Canton Tower. I think something like the latter would be great at the Domain.

NYC2ATX · #**5450** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 1:52 AM**

The Star Tower is certainly a cool idea, but how many observation towers do we really need in the US before they become less interesting and unique? When everyone has one, it's not really that cool anymore. I feel this way about the trend of observation wheels that everyone wants to throw up to get a quick attraction up and going. If someone is going to create a landmark something for Austin that's visible on the skyline, can we not come up with something that's never been done before for a city that's not like any other?

KevinFromTexas · #**5451** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 2:14 AM**

I'm less interested in the towers making an impact on skylines than I am seeing the views from them. Every city is going to have a different view, so I'm good with them.

427MM · #**5452** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 12:33 PM**

Alright folks, any leads on what's to break ground in the next month? I hear Thompson is ready to go--any others? We've been spoiled as of late with all the great new inventory topping out and I'd like to stay spoiled for another five-eight years or so

Downtown Austin is becoming more magical by the second. Now if we can just get some love for some more two-way street conversions and road diets!! Ready to focus more on walkability, grade separated bike/scooter lanes and green-space within the public realm.

corvairkeith · #**5453** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 1:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427MM

Now if we can just get some love for some more two-way street conversions and road diets!!

I drove North on Colorado from 2nd to 7th a few weeks ago. There was very little traffic but I still caught EVERY SINGLE LIGHT. Seems like the lights are still timed for Southbound only.

OU812 · #**5454** Posted **Sep 14, 2018, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Did y'all see this on Austin Towers about 'Star Tower?' Fantasy, but pretty cool.

https://austin.towers.net/downtown-austin-needs-a-signature-tower-so-this-guy-designed-one/

Watch out, Michael Dell will swoop in and "borrow" the idea, renaming it Dell Tower!

The ATX · #**5455** Posted **Sep 15, 2018, 12:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427MM

Alright folks, any leads on what's to break ground in the next month? I hear Thompson is ready to go--any others? We've been spoiled as of late with all the great new inventory topping out and I'd like to stay spoiled for another five-eight years or so

Downtown Austin is becoming more magical by the second. Now if we can just get some love for some more two-way street conversions and road diets!! Ready to focus more on walkability, grade separated bike/scooter lanes and green-space within the public realm.

Other than the Thompson Twins, the Alexan had a September ground breaking planned. They have all their permits as far as I can tell. But I haven't been by the site to see if there is any activity. Urbannizer or corvairkeith reported that fencing went up around The Huston site. Other than some WC projects, I don't think anything else will break ground until 2019.

We've been in somewhat of a lull (by Austin standards) in 2017 and 2018 as far as major projects breaking ground. But things look really good for 2019.

KevinFromTexas · #**5456** Posted **Sep 15, 2018, 5:26 AM**

This popped up on Facebook.

Quote:

Wait until this time next year.....I’ve bid on four projects scheduled to start before the end of this year, all over 30 stories. That doesn’t include the new Marriott at Trinity and Cesar Chavez that is still a hole in the ground as well as Block 71 which just started as well!

The ATX · #**5457** Posted **Sep 15, 2018, 6:08 AM**

Interesting...assuming that is true...

The 501 Brazos project is the only "sure thing" 30+ story tower for this year. The Alexan is only 29-stories, but let's assume that it was included since it is also a "sure thing". That means the other two need to have an approved site plan or will have one in the very near future. That leaves:

Approved site plans:
48 East
Hotel Mirabeau
The Avenue

Site plans that appear close to approval:
6 X Guadalupe
Austin One

H2O · #**5458** Posted **Sep 15, 2018, 1:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

Interesting...assuming that is true...

The 501 Brazos project is the only "sure thing" 30+ story tower for this year. The Alexan is only 29-stories, but let's assume that it was included since it is also a "sure thing". That means the other two need to have an approved site plan or will have one in the very near future. That leaves:

Approved site plans:
48 East
Hotel Mirabeau
The Avenue

Site plans that appear close to approval:
6 X Guadalupe
Austin One

OK I give up. I'm more than old enough to know who the Thompson Twins are, but what are the Thompson and Austin One?

We vs us · #**5459** Posted **Sep 15, 2018, 2:58 PM**

The Thompson/Tommie dual branded hotel is really 5th and Brazos. Not sure which one Austin One is. Republic Square maybe?

Echostatic · #**5460** Posted **Sep 15, 2018, 4:32 PM**

Austin One is a 350' tower south of the Holiday Inn.