AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[kingkirbythe....]

A Hidden Railroad Relic Steams Toward Historic Status in Downtown Austin

https://austin.towers.net/a-hidden-railroad-relic-steams-toward-historic-status-in-downtown-austin/

In the shadow of the Independent, the downtown Austin condo tower taller than any other residential structure west of the Mississippi, you’ll find an unlikely relic of an unrecognizable past — the Third Street Railroad Trestle, an overgrown

[AusTxDevelopment]

Avenue Lofts are for sale. The sales brochure has a mock-up of what can be developed on the site. Towers had an article about the history of the Avenue Lofts: https://austin.towers.net/a-brief-history-of-downtown-austins-avenue-lofts/





Source: CBRE

[We vs us]

Wow!

[The ATX]

Nice. Visions are always awesome as is this one. But our tower proposals pipeline is already ridiculously huge, and I just want to see a lot more of them break ground. The three Rainey towers under scrutiny at CC today are some of the best candidates for the next ground breakings, and they may end up being cancelled or indefinitely delayed (as proposed).

[myBrain]

Could be pretty cool if we get a corridor of towers lining 6th. Especially if they have a good street level presence. That Avenue Lofts stretch is basically a dead zone.

Of course, if it's residential or hotel they better invest in sound mitigation. I'd prefer to see office here.

[KevinFromTexas]

I really like that design, though, I know it's no where near being definite.

Still, I would really hate to lose the Avenue Lofts. Austin doesn't have many examples of art-deco architecture. Heck, I think Miami Beach would be proud of a building like it. In fact, it's probably one of the most unique buildings on the whole east side of downtown, especially juxtaposed against all the new stucco hotels. Ironically, stucco is popular in Miami Beach.

[We vs us]

They’re definitely not marketing it with hospitality as one of the mixed uses. Sad, honestly... that’s a great parcel for a partial hotel use. Close to attractions, transit, the convention center...

[StoOgE]

The Avenue Lofts are a loss architecturally. I think its worth the discussion at least to preserve part of the facade.

This also feels like it needs to be office or hotel. No one is investing in sound proofing in this part of town and then the complaints start. I am all for more density in the area *and* I hate dirty 6th, but it is what it is and its part of the city.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

The Avenue Lofts are a loss architecturally. I think its worth the discussion at least to preserve part of the facade.

This also feels like it needs to be office or hotel. No one is investing in sound proofing in this part of town and then the complaints start. I am all for more density in the area *and* I hate dirty 6th, but it is what it is and its part of the city.

That part of the city doesn't currently support a lot of office space. I'm not sure why that is, but not hard to guess: a combo of heavy entertainment focus + the ARCH effect. Also CVCs get pretty prohibitive in that area, too, so new builds can be limited.

That said, I think the neighborhood would really benefit from a 9-5 worker cohort; I'm hoping whatever finally happens with the Carmelo's property the next block over brings some similar noise/funk.

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by We vs us

That part of the city doesn't currently support a lot of office space. I'm not sure why that is, but not hard to guess: a combo of heavy entertainment focus + the ARCH effect. Also CVCs get pretty prohibitive in that area, too, so new builds can be limited.

That said, I think the neighborhood would really benefit from a 9-5 worker cohort; I'm hoping whatever finally happens with the Carmelo's property the next block over brings some similar noise/funk.

I think the CC has a part to play as well. Hopefully a redone more friendly CC will open up that part of town a bit. It has a very "this isn't for locals" vibe right now, I think some offices would help with that by bringing in a less "we're here to learn about this years totally redone widget system and get drunk" crowd. I rarely wind up in that part of the city for any real reason.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

I think the CC has a part to play as well. Hopefully a redone more friendly CC will open up that part of town a bit.

I have a lot of optimism about the cc expansion process so far. That dead zone feeling you're talking about is real, but could really go away if they continue in the direction they've been headed in.

[The ATX]

Here's the full CBRE brochure for the Avenue Lofts site and another visionary rendering.

Brochure:
https://www.cbredealflow.com/handler/brochure.aspx?pv=Z-I9J549zUFsSziezRAUlAmFa8MtbCgtstb_4LAAB5w

Website:
https://www.cbredealflow.com/handler/mod...88R2pJ-6xvp2CXm3Nn4ioOwIgi0_DDgheBh#_top

[kingkirbythe....]

That would be a sweet tower for Austin. I’d love to see more towers that dial down the glass a little bit for some other materials (except stucco). It has just the right amount of 1980’s.

[Urbannizer]

Very nice concept. Reminds me of something in New York or Toronto.

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

Will this one have first floor retail or restaurant space?

No mention of retail unfortunately. A prime spot for it.

[myBrain]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

That would be a sweet tower for Austin. I’d love to see more towers that dial down the glass a little bit for some other materials (except stucco). It has just the right amount of 1980’s.

I could not agree more. I want to see more that brings in an earthy, naturalistic aesthetic.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Here's the full CBRE brochure for the Avenue Lofts site and another visionary rendering.

Brochure:
https://www.cbredealflow.com/handler/brochure.aspx?pv=Z-I9J549zUFsSziezRAUlAmFa8MtbCgtstb_4LAAB5w

Website:
https://www.cbredealflow.com/handler/mod...88R2pJ-6xvp2CXm3Nn4ioOwIgi0_DDgheBh#_top

wow wow wooow wwwoooowwww. I reallllly hope something like this pops up in the skyline over the blue glass mania.... can one of y'all hold my clown makeup set while I get my red squeaky nose?

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I really like that design, though, I know it's no where near being definite.

Still, I would really hate to lose the Avenue Lofts. Austin doesn't have many examples of art-deco architecture. Heck, I think Miami Beach would be proud of a building like it. In fact, it's probably one of the most unique buildings on the whole east side of downtown, especially juxtaposed against all the new stucco hotels. Ironically, stucco is popular in Miami Beach.

[KevinFromTexas]

Towers has an article on the Avenue Lofts. This first rendering was included with it, which we haven't seen yet.

What I notice about it is the podium/base which is better than average. The massing, the setbacks, and even the windows remind me of the One American Center.

I'm counting 44 floors in this first design versus the 54 floors that are listed on the 2nd one below. Honestly, I like this first one more than the 2nd one. Granted, the 2nd design reminds me a bit of 98 Red River (the facade), but I think it's less interesting than this first one.

https://austin.towers.net/downtowns-avenue-lofts-condos-hit-the-market-with-redevelopment-in-mind/

[ohhey]

That's a nice design. Great massing and fenestration. Looks much more classic and grown-up that anything else proposed or being build right now.