Domain/North Austin Development Updates

[murfnut]

The problem is that the land was an old IBM plant that was started in the 60s on a farm out in the middle of no where. The roads within IBM did not follow a grid pattern. Instead IBM had this outer circle and ball fields and other stuff, no real pattern. The domain then worked with what was already existing. The first section is where the ballfields were and second section was on the other side of the power lines. The rockrose/whole foods area was where the big manufacturing section was.

Also 045 because of its location prevented a straight road from braker into the domain, instead we get this odd turn after entering.

Hopefully when the bulk of Robinson Ranch gets built, it will have a nice grid pattern since they have a blank slate for most of the land.

By the way I have worked here for 30 years before 183 was a highway and mopac stopped at 183. I remember when IBM sold the land. The original plan for the domain changed after the high tech bust of 2000. It was originally going to just be a tech center. That is why its called the Domain. Then it was changed into a high end shopping area with apartments, then as the economy took off especially with high tech and the new office buildings became the big thing. WFoods was going to be a tower similar to the one on 6th street.

[AusTex]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

...massive parking podiums under every single tower... something most users here complain about ad nauseum.

We can’t have it both ways. Either we design spaces for cars or we design spaces for people.

Having first floor retail and massive parking podiums above, in downtown Austin does have it both ways to a certain extent. Just as the Domain is a quasi urban area in a suburban Austin area.

[AusTex]

Originally Posted by murfnut

Hopefully when the bulk of Robinson Ranch gets built, it will have a nice grid pattern since they have a blank slate for most of the land.

It has been my understanding that the family is not really big on the "planning" thing, as I has gathered over the last quarter century. They are content in selling off pieces as time goes by rather than plan. The COA has approached them in the past without much success. I hope they are now working with the city, however I have not heard that.

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by AusTex

It has been my understanding that the family is not really big on the "planning" thing, as I has gathered over the last quarter century. They are content in selling off pieces as time goes by rather than plan. The COA has approached them in the past without much success. I hope they are now working with the city, however I have not heard that.

Actually, the Robinson family has been working with the City for years. In 2004 they signed a long-term (45 year) plan with the City for the phased annexation, zoning and development of their Ranch. PDF of the agreement: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=82936

The family's quarry, Austin White Lime, is profitable which explains why they've been slow to sell. Its the same reason Austin Metal & Iron Co. located in that prime spot on East 4th next to Plaza Saltillo hasn't sold out yet.

[murfnut]

There is an article in the Austin Business Journal on the new South Domain Towers. I do not have access, so was wondering if anybody that does can take a look and see if there is anything interesting in there to share.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...298&j=86922801

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by murfnut

There is an article in the Austin Business Journal on the new South Domain Towers. I do not have access, so was wondering if anybody that does can take a look and see if there is anything interesting in there to share.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...298&j=86922801

Click through and hit ESC while it loads . . . you should be able to view the whole article.

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Click through and hit ESC while it loads . . . you should be able to view the whole article.

What browser are you using for that trick?
I've never been able to get that to work (tried multiple browsers).

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by zrx299

What browser are you using for that trick?
I've never been able to get that to work (tried multiple browsers).

I'm a Chrome guy, can't confirm it works on Firefox or (blech) IE.

[Novacek]

The other (ugly) option is after it loads, choose View Source. The actual text of the article is buried in the markup.

[murfnut]

http://media.bizj.us/view/img/111000...renderings.jpg
http://media.bizj.us/view/img/112327...n-tower-iv.jpg


Dallas-based Stonelake Capital Partners owns 33 acres at the south end of The Domain, the massive mixed-use development that’s becoming known as Austin's second downtown. The property is on the opposite end of The Domain from the tall office towers being developed by TIER REIT Inc. and Endeavor Real Estate Group LLC. Stonelake Managing Partner Kenneth Aboussie said this week there is “no definitive timeline” to break ground on Domain Tower IV or Domain Tower II, which was announced early last year. He said Stonelake has seven buildings planned for its 33-acre property dubbed The Domain | South End District. Only three of those buildings are complete or under construction. Four of them are currently being designed, Aboussie said. Stonelake and HPI Real Estate Services Investments are development partners on the office buildings. Stonelake has partnered with Streetlights Residential on apartment buildings in the south end district. While much of the construction remains on the drawing board, groundbreaking is expected this year on at least two buildings: Domain Tower III and The Bowen, a 340-unit, 20-story residential tower, Aboussie said. The buildings are next to each other along Altera Parkway on the northern edge of Stonelake’s property. Austin Business Journal previously reported that Domain Tower II and III would be between eight to 10 stories high and about 300,000 square feet each. Aboussie said Domain Tower III is still being designed and declined to go into detail about the size of the building. For the second and third towers, expect design similar to the original Domain Tower a 310,000-square-foot, 11-story building that has been entirely leased by the jobs website Indeed Inc., John Kiltz, founder of Stonelake Capital. Meanwhile a boutique office building with about 40,000 square feet, Domain Place, is under construction at the north end of Stonelake’s property, behind the Flatiron apartment building, Aboussie said. Stonelake will occupy 10,000 square feet at Domain Place for its Austin office while HPI is marketing the remainder of the building to prospective tenants, he said. The building is expected to be available for occupancy this fall. Construction on the 364-apartment Flatiron is nearly complete, Aboussie said. The first units will be delivered in March. Additionally, construction on Domain Tower is complete and the high-rise is up for sale, Aboussie said. Andrew Levy with HFF in Dallas has the assignment. The Domain is the second-most expensive office market in Austin behind the Central Business District

[murfnut]

FYI, I pulled the info from the view source

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by murfnut

http://media.bizj.us/view/img/111000...renderings.jpg
http://media.bizj.us/view/img/112327...n-tower-iv.jpg


Dallas-based Stonelake Capital Partners owns 33 acres at the south end of The Domain, the massive mixed-use development that’s becoming known as Austin's second downtown. The property is on the opposite end of The Domain from the tall office towers being developed by TIER REIT Inc. and Endeavor Real Estate Group LLC. Stonelake Managing Partner Kenneth Aboussie said this week there is “no definitive timeline” to break ground on Domain Tower IV or Domain Tower II, which was announced early last year. He said Stonelake has seven buildings planned for its 33-acre property dubbed The Domain | South End District. Only three of those buildings are complete or under construction. Four of them are currently being designed, Aboussie said. Stonelake and HPI Real Estate Services Investments are development partners on the office buildings. Stonelake has partnered with Streetlights Residential on apartment buildings in the south end district. While much of the construction remains on the drawing board, groundbreaking is expected this year on at least two buildings: Domain Tower III and The Bowen, a 340-unit, 20-story residential tower, Aboussie said. The buildings are next to each other along Altera Parkway on the northern edge of Stonelake’s property. Austin Business Journal previously reported that Domain Tower II and III would be between eight to 10 stories high and about 300,000 square feet each. Aboussie said Domain Tower III is still being designed and declined to go into detail about the size of the building. For the second and third towers, expect design similar to the original Domain Tower a 310,000-square-foot, 11-story building that has been entirely leased by the jobs website Indeed Inc., John Kiltz, founder of Stonelake Capital. Meanwhile a boutique office building with about 40,000 square feet, Domain Place, is under construction at the north end of Stonelake’s property, behind the Flatiron apartment building, Aboussie said. Stonelake will occupy 10,000 square feet at Domain Place for its Austin office while HPI is marketing the remainder of the building to prospective tenants, he said. The building is expected to be available for occupancy this fall. Construction on the 364-apartment Flatiron is nearly complete, Aboussie said. The first units will be delivered in March. Additionally, construction on Domain Tower is complete and the high-rise is up for sale, Aboussie said. Andrew Levy with HFF in Dallas has the assignment. The Domain is the second-most expensive office market in Austin behind the Central Business District

Nice. One of those is the building elevations for the Domain Tower IV. It shows the "building max height" as 308 feet to the main roof parapet, but there's also a mechanical screen above that which appears to be 10 feet tall as compared to the lower floor heights. That would put that height at 318 feet. That elevation is also showing that there will be an "integral linear LED light" on the main roof.

[Urbannizer]

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/d...ationtoinv.htm

Domain D & G





Domain 3 & 4

[chinchaaa]

I can't place this. Where exactly in the Domain would this go? They're talking about a 5 acre parking lot.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

I can't place this. Where exactly in the Domain would this go? They're talking about a 5 acre parking lot.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/d...ontoinv009.jpg

The big lot at the corner of Altera and Esperanza, where the capmetro 803 stop is.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

I can't place this. Where exactly in the Domain would this go? They're talking about a 5 acre parking lot.

I had the same question initially, but found some maps from the same ppt presentation:

[clubtokyo]

Build all of it! The domain needs one tower that is like 500-600 to signal it's 2nd downtown status IMO.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Build all of it! The domain needs one tower that is like 500-600 to signal it's 2nd downtown status IMO.

Not allowed by current zoning, even with bonuses, even next door to rail (in either the Domain or Broadmoor).

[Mopacs]

We had some good views of the Domain last week as we descended into the city:





The future site of the Austin FC stadium/Mckalla Place is visible to the right





From left-to-right: Domain 11, Domain 12 and Domain 8. The blue crane for Domain 10 is visible behind 12.



Edit: Another perspective from our plane as we departed from Austin. The first few floors of Domain 10 are visible in this shot (center-right). Broadmoor campus is at the bottom.

[the Genral]

The aerials are great, but I will never consider the Domain a 2nd downtown again. Not because there are no skyscrapers, or decently tall buildings, its the whole layout, lack of straight line street grids. From the air it kind of looks haphazarded. I like the Domain, but it is no downtown, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. It has some style, but no character, no historic value. It looks like a grouping of buildings placed within the confines of a repurposed property best viewed from street level. And it is an island surrounded by 3 major roads so it won't take long before is built out. A few 300 footers would be nice and may sway my opinion but probably not. I guess parking garages are the new substitute for surface parking lots and only marginally better visually. There's certainly a shit ton of available parking at the Domain. Great incentive for everyone to drive on in for a visit.