AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II - Page 333

enragedcamel · #**6641** Posted **Jan 28, 2020, 4:32 PM**

So I walked from 10th and Rio Grande down to 4th St last night around 9 PM, and I was stunned by how... dead... our downtown is in the evenings.

I think the only people I ran into were a couple of guys waiting in line at a gyro food truck that I passed by.

Even the 6th and Rio Grande intersection didn't have any traffic.

I know it was a Monday evening and all, but I really really hope our downtown gains more vibrancy. I'd love to see more food trucks and 24/7 coffee shops for example.

Urbannizer · #**6642** Posted **Jan 28, 2020, 5:17 PM**

Crane going up for 1155 Barton Springs

The ATX · #**6643** Posted **Jan 28, 2020, 6:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Crane going up for 1155 Barton Springs

It's been what, ~12 years in the making?

zrx299 · #**6644** Posted **Jan 28, 2020, 8:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

So I walked from 10th and Rio Grande down to 4th St last night around 9 PM, and I was stunned by how... dead... our downtown is in the evenings.

I think the only people I ran into were a couple of guys waiting in line at a gyro food truck that I passed by.

Even the 6th and Rio Grande intersection didn't have any traffic.

I know it was a Monday evening and all, but I really really hope our downtown gains more vibrancy. I'd love to see more food trucks and 24/7 coffee shops for example.

You're looking for vibrancy at 9pm on a Monday night?
Lofty expectations...

More condos and apartments with middle-class friendly pricing would help, but I'm in no way advocating for artificial rent controls.

Need more supply, instead of building million+ dollar units for the ultra wealthy to park money into as a second home that sits dark 90% of the time. Those do absolutely nothing for the critical mass of live here/work here/play here crowd needed to fulfill your vision of 24/7 activity.

enragedcamel · #**6645** Posted **Jan 28, 2020, 8:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrx299

You're looking for vibrancy at 9pm on a Monday night?
Lofty expectations...

More condos and apartments with middle-class friendly pricing would help, but I'm in no way advocating for artificial rent controls.

Need more supply, instead of building million+ dollar units for the ultra wealthy to park money into as a second home that sits dark 90% of the time. Those do absolutely nothing for the critical mass of live here/work here/play here crowd needed to fulfill your vision of 24/7 activity.

I'd love to have neighborhoods like The Mission in our downtown.

mostly_afk · #**6646** Posted **Jan 28, 2020, 8:35 PM**

so. any idea where the atari hotel will go? downtown? or domain?

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/retro-lodg...-cities-including-seattle-san-francisco/

papertowelroll · #**6647** Posted **Jan 28, 2020, 10:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

I'd love to have neighborhoods like The Mission in our downtown.

Nowhere in Austin is San Francisco (or ever will be), but try east 6th or Rainey?

Jdawgboy · #**6648** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 1:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

So I walked from 10th and Rio Grande down to 4th St last night around 9 PM, and I was stunned by how... dead... our downtown is in the evenings.

I think the only people I ran into were a couple of guys waiting in line at a gyro food truck that I passed by.

Even the 6th and Rio Grande intersection didn't have any traffic.

I know it was a Monday evening and all, but I really really hope our downtown gains more vibrancy. I'd love to see more food trucks and 24/7 coffee shops for example.

I'm not sure I necessarily agree here. It's not very busy on Monday's normally. In fact Monday is the quietest of the week with Tuesday evening a close second. But despite that considering 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago... DT is definitely more active on Monday's and Tuesdays than they once were (again take it in the context that Mondays are normally quiet). Also the area you walked along Rio Grand between 10th and 4th is not exactly a bustling part of DT even on the weekends, except the area between 6th and 4th, so that area isn't a good measurement compared to Congress Avenue, E 6th 2nd Street, Red River, Rainey.

Jdawgboy · #**6649** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 1:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mostly_afk

so. any idea where the atari hotel will go? downtown? or domain?

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/retro-lodg...-cities-including-seattle-san-francisco/

Would rather have it DT.

clubtokyo · #**6650** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 3:17 AM**

Downtown for sure

The ATX · #**6651** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 4:20 AM**

Out by the airport if it looks like the Phoenix rendering.

KevinFromTexas · #**6652** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 6:41 AM**

I was just thinking of COTA since the design of those red lines on the hotel reminds me of the observation tower at COTA.

hookem · #**6653** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 7:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mostly_afk

so. any idea where the atari hotel will go? downtown? or domain?

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/retro-lodg...-cities-including-seattle-san-francisco/

As a classic video game collector, and being old enough to remember Atari in it's heyday... this is the coolest thing ever. Hope it's downtown. Would be cool if Classic Game Fest could be held there, but it's probably too big now.

I may have to visit all of them.

austin242 · #**6654** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 4:29 PM**

I was thinking something more like this for Austin.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http...IQjRxqGAoTCLi_2oudqecCFQAAAAAdAAAAABCCAQ

We vs us · #**6655** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 4:38 PM**

Man, it's just so kitschy. It feels completely disposable, like it should actually be a pop up hotel that evaporates after a 3 month run.

Since it's not, I vote for the I35 service road, just south of the Ben White interchange.

hookem · #**6656** Posted **Jan 29, 2020, 5:35 PM**

After looking at their website, I’m thinking this is not going to happen. There is no hospitality experience in any of the groups involved, no funding mentioned, and kind of a nebulous Spring “break ground” for the first one in Phoenix. Plus are themed hotels even viable today? Seems like even Vegas is moving away from those. Investors would be skeptical.

Having seen many failed attempts since the 90s to revive the Atari Brand in some way or another, I’m thinking this is a rendering and a dream.

Sigaven · #**6657** Posted **Jan 30, 2020, 4:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrx299

You're looking for vibrancy at 9pm on a Monday night?
Lofty expectations...

More condos and apartments with middle-class friendly pricing would help, but I'm in no way advocating for artificial rent controls.

Need more supply, instead of building million+ dollar units for the ultra wealthy to park money into as a second home that sits dark 90% of the time. Those do absolutely nothing for the critical mass of live here/work here/play here crowd needed to fulfill your vision of 24/7 activity.

Also, Rio Grande isn't a very bumpin' street. You basically walked through a quiet neighborhood near downtown...so of course it's gonna be dead lol. There's definitely vibrancy downtown, just not Rio Grande.

urbancore · #**6658** Posted **Jan 30, 2020, 5:03 PM**

208 W 4th St is under contract...its 2 buildings with Cedar Street Courtyard between them. It has 25/1 FAR possibility. The current leases expire 2027. It will be interesting to see what is done with this place. These buildings are gorgeous. I've spent a TON of time at Cedar Street, Saba, and Malaga...back in the day.

427MM · #**6659** Posted **Jan 30, 2020, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrx299

You're looking for vibrancy at 9pm on a Monday night?
Lofty expectations...

More condos and apartments with middle-class friendly pricing would help, but I'm in no way advocating for artificial rent controls.

Need more supply, instead of building million+ dollar units for the ultra wealthy to park money into as a second home that sits dark 90% of the time. Those do absolutely nothing for the critical mass of live here/work here/play here crowd needed to fulfill your vision of 24/7 activity.

With you 100%! The new land development code will help with this much to the chagrin of the outspoken NIMBYs. Eliminating suburban-oriented compatibility and outdated on-site parking requirements will allow for much more attainably priced housing--something Austin's housing-deniers are losing their sh*t over. Let's hope we get it passed and implemented ASAP.

We vs us · #**6660** Posted **Jan 30, 2020, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbancore

208 W 4th St is under contract...its 2 buildings with Cedar Street Courtyard between them. It has 25/1 FAR possibility. The current leases expire 2027. It will be interesting to see what is done with this place. These buildings are gorgeous. I've spent a TON of time at Cedar Street, Saba, and Malaga...back in the day.

Does it include the Trulucks building?

I have to assume you'd need at least a full quarter block to build up to the max FAR.