AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[urbancore]

I wonder if there will be a outcry from the public. "Don't erase our history"

[Echostatic]

I doubt anyone will care about removing the Pinnacle building. ACC Pinnacle is a different matter - I've seen plenty of Nextdoor complaints about the moving of classes to other, much further away ACC campuses. They might want to include some ACC space in whatever gets built on the site.



I live pretty close to Pinnacle, so I'm interested to see what gets built here. The two US290 connections provide a lot of throughput for cars, and Project Connect has a proposed MetroRapid stop at the site. Oak Hill Parkway will help traffic around here significantly as well.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by Echostatic

Would be a shame. That building isn't exactly pretty, but it's pretty much the only tall building for miles and miles in Southwest Austin. They could at least redevelop the massive surface parking lot surrounding the tower.

Yeah, we live in South Austin, and there's even a fleeting view of it from one street in our neighborhood. There are several good views of it along William Cannon Drive, which is one of main streets we take in and out of our neighborhood. The views down William Cannon west of West Gate before you get to Brodie in the evening can be beautiful with the sunsets, plus the building poking up on the horizon. It's a unique sight for sure, and I would absolutely miss it.

I don't know why they wouldn't consider gutting it and turning it into dorms. One of the issues they said was that the elevators were too small for the coming of going of students between classes, but as a dorm, I would think the traffic would be sporadic enough that it would ease the problem.

[427MM]

Much of what we on here love about development--reduced parking, efficient use of space, housing/jobs along transit, and the like are choked out by our 35 year old land use code. Many on city council are trying to help replace it but we have some over the top NIMBY's on there who hate the idea of lower income people or renters changing the character of their expensive suburban-form neighborhoods. Here is a good write up diving into it. https://www.texasobserver.org/the-fight-to-make-austin-affordable-housing/

[Sigaven]

The Iron Bear (gay bar downtown) will be moving to the former Austin Ale House at 6th and Lavaca. I thought I remember a thread or post on this forum awhile back that indicated this corner could be redeveloped.

I'd say this is a win for this corner since it's another older brick warehouse building with some character that will be preserved for the next little while at least. Plus it's a win for gay nightlife here since the Bear will now be two blocks closer to 4th street!

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by 427MM

Much of what we on here love about development--reduced parking, efficient use of space, housing/jobs along transit, and the like are choked out by our 35 year old land use code. Many on city council are trying to help replace it but we have some over the top NIMBY's on there who hate the idea of lower income people or renters changing the character of their expensive suburban-form neighborhoods. Here is a good write up diving into it. https://www.texasobserver.org/the-fight-to-make-austin-affordable-housing/

thanks for posting.

In Zilker, since they could never get away using the word "gentrify", they use the code word..."character". All aging white people boomers/former hippies, talking about "character". Makes me sick.

BTW, Jeff Jack owns a duplex, yet fights against those type uses. He also converted his garage into a room without permits and was forced by the city to revert it a few years ago-someone turned in a code violation. All this as he sat on the BOA board as the 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 Chairman.
Why was that never covered by any press at all? My guess is people are scared of him
These guys are all "progressives" but they sure 🞵🞵🞵🞵 don't act like it. I think they would fit right in with our current Executive in Chief.

JJ and the ZNA act like they own our neighborhood, they know best for homeowners and their property. I've caught them trespassing on my home site while under construction, taking pics no less. Errr. I'm putting up a scrimmed privacy fence on my new one with "no trespassing" signs.

The ANC (Austin Neighborhood Council) is this 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 organization that should have ZERO power. Its the same 20 people swapping roles, voted in by the same 1000 people who show up to meetings to vote. Then the city council gets to blame decisions on the ANC. Kitchen has said to my face "well the ZNA reps the people of Zilker, so I listen to them". Forget that the ZNA is not a real representation of the people of Zilker at all, it is minority rule over the majority. Renters/small business owners don't show up to meetings and vote.

The council is scared shitless of 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 these fools off. They will lose their seat. The council abdicates their job to the ANC.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

The Iron Bear (gay bar downtown) will be moving to the former Austin Ale House at 6th and Lavaca. I thought I remember a thread or post on this forum awhile back that indicated this corner could be redeveloped.

I'd say this is a win for this corner since it's another older brick warehouse building with some character that will be preserved for the next little while at least. Plus it's a win for gay nightlife here since the Bear will now be two blocks closer to 4th street!

That's great news! Not only will it be closer to 4th, but will help revitalize the gap between east and west 6th Street which may help boost pedestrian traffic that has dwindled. If only the Belmont space would be used as a club like it was designed to be as opposed to a rental event space (I really feel those should be banned DT or at least regulated to what can be used as a rental event space). Foot traffic will increase once the Indeed Tower and Food Hall are completed as well as 6X.

[427MM]

Might be good to challenge the "character" they are referring to. Blocking people from living in high opportunity areas with the hope of protecting the "physical character" of the neighborhood is done so at the expense of our "social character". Our people. Our neighbors. Please allow more people to live closer to their work, family and friends.

Physical Character--(architectural) typically ~50+ year old single family track homes located in prime areas near the city central where the land alone is often $500,000+, only affordable to top ~20% of income earners

Social Character--(people/Austinines) all income earners, living under 35 year old land development code that forbids most diversity in housing types driving displacement

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by 427MM

Might be good to challenge the "character" they are referring to.

Funny you should mention this. After a long ZNA meeting, Jeff Jack and I sat and argued till 1am about this exact point.

For JJ/others this is not about “architecture”. To which I said, “well then if it’s not about architecture, it’s about people”. Which he would just deny and continue to say character is how a place makes you feel.

I’ve taken now to just thanking him/them publicly at meetings for the work they’ve done to artificially increase (IMO) the value of the homes I’ve built and sold. What I can build at $225/ft, I’ll sell for damn near $700/ft. And I’m not a developer! That is insane.

They don’t care, they will never concede, the young won’t stand up....it will never change.

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

The Iron Bear (gay bar downtown) will be moving to the former Austin Ale House at 6th and Lavaca. I thought I remember a thread or post on this forum awhile back that indicated this corner could be redeveloped.

I'd say this is a win for this corner since it's another older brick warehouse building with some character that will be preserved for the next little while at least. Plus it's a win for gay nightlife here since the Bear will now be two blocks closer to 4th street!

The Ale House building was recently purchased by a developer that also bought the Belmont building. So it is probably only a matter of time before those sites are redeveloped. Who knows when that may be, but if they are leasing to a new tenant, it will likely be a ways off still.

[We vs us]

AISD HQ on 1111 W. 6th to become a 4 story mixed use office building.

Schlosser Development Corp. said Wednesday that it plans to redevelop the Austin school district’s existing headquarters site in downtown Austin with a mix of office and retail space.

The 2.7-acre tract at 1111 W. Sixth St., west of Baylor Street, currently consists of five buildings with offices, apartments and underground parking. The Austin Independent School District is selling the property to Schlosser Development for $36.5 million.

The new project is called 1111 West Sixth and is being designed by Austin-based Nelsen Partners.

As part of the new development, all but one existing building will be torn down -- a four-story building with about 70,000 square feet of space that Schlosser Development will renovate with three levels of office space atop a ground-floor lobby.

In addition, a four-story building will be constructed on the site’s north side that will have 109,000 square feet of space in all -- 85,300 square feet of office space above 23,700 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The building, which will face West Sixth Street, will be anchored by the McGinnis Lochridge law firm, Schlosser Development said.

The existing underground parking garage will be expanded, Schlosser Development said.

Demolition of four smaller buildings on the north half of the site is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2020, said Vince Salas, a Schlosser Development spokesman. Construction on the new building and renovation of an existing larger building on the site’s south side will follow, Salas said.

https://www.statesman.com/business/20191...ject-planned-for-aisds-headquarters-site

[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by We vs us

AISD HQ on 1111 W. 6th to become a 4 story mixed use office building.



https://www.statesman.com/business/20191...ject-planned-for-aisds-headquarters-site

These renderings look very disappointing. This site has so much potential, yet they are deciding to leave one of those ugly brick buildings and the parking lots that surround it? Sidewalk interaction with the new building also appears to be nonexistent.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

These renderings look very disappointing. This site has so much potential, yet they are deciding to leave one of those ugly brick buildings and the parking lots that surround it? Sidewalk interaction with the new building also appears to be nonexistent.

That's Schlosser for you.

[clubtokyo]

Does anyone know what crane is for near 183 and 45 I think?

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Does anyone know what crane is for near 183 and 45 I think?

That's my hood. There's lots of construction going on near there -- 620/Parmer area, but nothing that needs a crane, so far as I know.

I'll swing by there this weekend and see what I see.

[427MM]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

These renderings look very disappointing. This site has so much potential, yet they are deciding to leave one of those ugly brick buildings and the parking lots that surround it? Sidewalk interaction with the new building also appears to be nonexistent.

NIMBYism at work. The height limits there ensure what we get is much less than what we want/deserve/need. Perhaps one day we'll stop electing NIMBYs to uphold status quo?

[sammyk]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Does anyone know what crane is for near 183 and 45 I think?

Are you thinking 183/360? The Porsche dealership?

[clubtokyo]

Originally Posted by sammyk

Are you thinking 183/360? The Porsche dealership?

Oh I bet that’s it! Isn’t supposed be like 6 stories?

[paul78701]

Endeavor buys Aussie's restaurant site just south of downtown Austin
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/...ys-more-land-just-south-of-downtown.html

Looks like they plan to eventually redevelop this and the Zax's property together.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Oh I bet that’s it! Isn’t supposed be like 6 stories?

Yep, it's about that. May actually end up being pretty imposing from that little rise.

I checked up on 183/45, and there's nothing really crazy happening up there. There's a six story Springhill Suites going in next to the Main Event near Anderson Mill and 183, but that's it. Not really crane material.