Domain/North Austin Development Updates

[drummer]

^^ I've wondered about those trees myself. Perhaps good candidates for said park around the beautiful retention pond?

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Mopacs got a drone! Awesome.

I especially like this one with downtown showing up on the horizon between two buildings.

Sure did! I'll try and post more in the future.

[Novacek]

Potentially upzoning the "Domain Point" property on the council agenda next meeting. Item 101.

http://www.austintexas.gov/department/city-council/2019/20190808-reg.htm

https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=324108

To TOD Gateway (same as Broadmoor).

I wonder how brandywine feels about that (they pay for a new station, and other properties get upzoning for free)?

[atxsnail]

https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/commercial/brandywine-realty-trust-austin-texas-broadmoor-schuylkill-yards-philadelphia-train-station-20190729.html

I read an article about Brandywine that was interesting. It had a good deal of info about Broadmoor. Here are some quotes (emphasis mine):

Sam Houston, a partner with Austin-based developer and consultant HPI Real Estate Services & Investments, said Brandywine has earned a reputation for owning high-quality offices in sought-after locations, but that it’s also known for a reluctance to take risks relative to other players in the fast-growing market.

For example, Brandywine broke ground in March on its first project in Austin’s downtown — a 200,000-square-foot glass tower atop about a dozen stories of parking known as 405 Colorado — only after closing in on a deal to sign international law firm DLA Piper as an anchor tenant.

Others wouldn’t have waited for such an agreement to start construction, wagering that pressing demand for high-end offices in the city center would make the building easy to fill, Houston said. But he said Brandywine’s risk-aversion is not atypical among developers used to slower-growth markets, such as Philadelphia.

This explains the pretty slow pace on its projects.

It has since worked with officials in Austin to have the campus’ land-use regulations loosened to permit 6 million square feet of development, divided roughly evenly between homes and offices. Also planned are more than 20 acres of parkland, about 380,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, and nearly 250,000 square feet of hotel space.

It is designing the site’s first building, a 350,000-square-foot office tower that it plans to begin marketing later this year.

The most transformative aspect of the project could be one drawn from its rail-adjacent Schuylkill Yards playbook: the train station’s relocation to Broadmoor’s eastern edge from a site farther south at a cost of about $12 million. Brandywine, along with surrounding community stakeholders, are working through details on funding the station.

Jan Buchholz had something similar about the timing of the first building. She said that and the first phase of multifamily could break ground early next year.

I'm still curious who they are talking to about funding the rail station.

[KevinFromTexas]

FAA permit for a 350 foot tower crane at the Domain. The coordinates are 30° 23' 38.85" N 97° 43' 21.09" W, which shows it being the Domain Office Tower IV location.

It lists the work schedule as 09/01/2019 to 10/01/2021.

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/sea...=displayOECase&oeCaseID=412792062&row=12

[murfnut]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

FAA permit for a 350 foot tower crane at the Domain. The coordinates are 30° 23' 38.85" N 97° 43' 21.09" W, which shows it being the Domain Office Tower IV location.

It lists the work schedule as 09/01/2019 to 10/01/2021.

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/sea...=displayOECase&oeCaseID=412792062&row=12

That is really odd, what is this extra crane for and why such an early start date.
here is what I found for locations:


Start, Lat, long name, height

09/01/19 30 23 38.85 98 43 21.09 Leibherr 316 350
12/24/19 30 23 38.97 97 43 19.24 DT IV 319
10/14/19 30 23 41.30 97 43 18.13 DT III 330
🞵🞵/🞵🞵/🞵🞵 30 23 41.76 97 43 22.33 Bowen 215
11/28/19 20 23 33.84 97 43 25.79 DT III 274

I do know they are trying to expedite Towers III and IV , maybe this is part of the process

[SteveRick]

Does anybody know what's happening with the Apple HQ2 project in Robinson Ranch. Dirt doesn't seem to be moving a bit there.
They stated that they are planning to get the first 5k employees by first quarter of 2021. But at this pace I don't see that happening why is there such a big delay to get the approval?

[freerover]

Originally Posted by SteveRick

Does anybody know what's happening with the Apple HQ2 project in Robinson Ranch. Dirt doesn't seem to be moving a bit there.
They stated that they are planning to get the first 5k employees by first quarter of 2021. But at this pace I don't see that happening why is there such a big delay to get the approval?

The site plan was only approved a month ago. Now they can set dates for contractors to start and apply for permits.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by murfnut

That is really odd, what is this extra crane for and why such an early start date.
here is what I found for locations:


Start, Lat, long name, height

09/01/19 30 23 38.85 98 43 21.09 Leibherr 316 350
12/24/19 30 23 38.97 97 43 19.24 DT IV 319
10/14/19 30 23 41.30 97 43 18.13 DT III 330
🞵🞵/🞵🞵/🞵🞵 30 23 41.76 97 43 22.33 Bowen 215
11/28/19 20 23 33.84 97 43 25.79 DT III 274

I do know they are trying to expedite Towers III and IV , maybe this is part of the process

I'm not sure. I'd forgotten there was already a permit for a crane for DT IV. I would have assumed this latest permit was for a crawler crane to install the tower crane with, but the permit page lists it as a tower crane. Unless it's a typo.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by SteveRick

Does anybody know what's happening with the Apple HQ2 project in Robinson Ranch. Dirt doesn't seem to be moving a bit there.
They stated that they are planning to get the first 5k employees by first quarter of 2021. But at this pace I don't see that happening why is there such a big delay to get the approval?

There's been increased utility stuff happening along Parmer, along with a full resurfacing from Mopac up past the Apple campus main road at Dallas.

It's definitely in motion.

[SteveRick]

Good to know. Hope they could keep up with their promised timeline !!! Though I ain't looking forward to the traffic!!!

[murfnut]

Originally Posted by We vs us

There's been increased utility stuff happening along Parmer, along with a full resurfacing from Mopac up past the Apple campus main road at Dallas.

It's definitely in motion.

I suspect the resurfacing is not related to Apple. They are stopping right at the county line (Travis vs Williamson) and the new Apple campus will be just on the other side in Williamson County. Also they are about to start the next stage of Parmer resurfacing, Mopac to I35.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by murfnut

I suspect the resurfacing is not related to Apple. They are stopping right at the county line (Travis vs Williamson) and the new Apple campus will be just on the other side in Williamson County. Also they are about to start the next stage of Parmer resurfacing, Mopac to I35.

Yes, you're correct. I paid a little more attention on my way home yesterday, and it definitely does end at the Williamson County line, right before Dallas Dr.

I don't think the Parmer stuff is directly Apple related but it's related to increased traffic for sure. The resurfacing also widened the shoulders, so when they restripe it they'll feasibly get an extra turn lane or two out of the deal.

[eskimo33]

Originally Posted by SteveRick

Does anybody know what's happening with the Apple HQ2 project in Robinson Ranch. Dirt doesn't seem to be moving a bit there.
They stated that they are planning to get the first 5k employees by first quarter of 2021. But at this pace I don't see that happening why is there such a big delay to get the approval?

There is a rumor (from a source that I trust) that they found previously unknown caves on the site. If this is true, the delay makes sense; as either there is some sort of redesign happening or they are trying to figure out a mitigation strategy.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by eskimo33

There is a rumor (from a source that I trust) that they found previously unknown caves on the site. If this is true, the delay makes sense; as either there is some sort of redesign happening or they are trying to figure out a mitigation strategy.

What delay? They just got site approval. Who goes from PR approval to construction in 30 days?

[eskimo33]

Originally Posted by freerover

What delay? They just got site approval. Who goes from PR approval to construction in 30 days?

It is called not doing design by review, they had their site plan (for the most part) figured out before they submitted it.

On a different topic, I wondering how much HB 3167 will change development patterns.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by eskimo33

It is called not doing design by review, they had their site plan (for the most part) figured out before they submitted it.

On a different topic, I wondering how much HB 3167 will change development patterns.

Yea but they don't know what is going to come up in city review and how long it'll take them to work out those issues. It would be irresponsible to schedule construction without plan review approval.

[The ATX]

An AULCC filing today is for the removal and burying of a lot of overhead utility lines at the Broadmoor site.


ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/AULCC_2019/FY2019/AULCC%20Agendas%202019/190815/PLAN/

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by eskimo33

On a different topic, I wondering how much HB 3167 will change development patterns.

The city whines about the "Shot Clock" bill but they have always been capable of meeting the 30-day deadline, they even admit it in the linked article. They just didn't want to change the status quo. Austin Monitor: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2019/06/shot-clock-bill-resets-development-review-time/

[Mopacs]

The towers of the Domain as seen from the southern end of Georgetown (plus a glimpse of the Independent)