AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics - Page 125

KevinFromTexas · #**2481** Posted **May 24, 2021, 3:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

The thing we need the most right now is a world-class aquarium, IMO. It would be a great mix of environmental education and family-friendly entertainment.

Yep. I've wanted an aquarium for a long time. I'd also like to see a better natural history museum. The one on the UT Campus is really too small. I haven't been there in about 30 years, but I know it hasn't changed.

An aquarium, though, would be awesome.

wwmiv · #**2482** Posted **May 24, 2021, 4:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Yep. I've wanted an aquarium for a long time. I'd also like to see a better natural history museum. The one on the UT Campus is really too small. I haven't been there in about 30 years, but I know it hasn't changed.

An aquarium, though, would be awesome.

A large scale aviary sortof functioning as the bird equivalent of an aquarium would be locally appropriate as well, what with our peacocks and warblers and all. We have some of the highest biodiversity of birds in North America, also with a large number of endemic and threatened/endangered wildlife.

An aquarium could likewise have exhibits on freshwater fish, including newts and salamanders and other local aquatic wildlife other than just fish.

heliophobicdude · #**2483** Posted **May 24, 2021, 4:58 AM**

Random Austin skyscraper meme: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeWwNBt2/

drummer · #**2484** Posted **May 26, 2021, 9:08 PM**

These south Austin condos aren’t open yet and they’re already sold out

Quote:

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Station at St. Elmo, set to break ground in August 2021, has already sold out of its planned 132 condos.

Investors Legacy Communities and Legacy Performance Capital say they held a virtual sales launch event this month for the units, ranging from the mid-$200,000s to over $600,000.

They completely sold out in five hours, according to their press release.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/thes...eady-sold-out/

Woah dang.

freerover · #**2485** Posted **May 26, 2021, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

These south Austin condos aren’t open yet and they’re already sold out

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/thes...eady-sold-out/

Woah dang.

It's a great investment. The Southern terminus of a world class train system.

H2O · #**2486** Posted **May 27, 2021, 2:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

It's a great investment. The Southern terminus of a world class train system.

At least until they build the extension south. Not just because it will no longer be the terminus. There will be a retaining wall for the ramp up to the elevated section right in front of all that new development going in around St. Elmo. I'm not saying it will be a major impact on value for upper level units and those not facing Congress, but it will have an impact on the streetscape quality.

drummer · #**2487** Posted **May 27, 2021, 8:07 PM**

FYI - Google Earth Pro has updated images for most of the Austin area. Date is currently showing 3/25/2021

gillynova · #**2488** Posted **May 27, 2021, 8:27 PM**

Still getting an old 3D view on Google Maps :\

Echostatic · #**2489** Posted **May 27, 2021, 10:01 PM**

The new Earth Pro imagery is great. Maps 3D View is usually a few years behind, but it's much more of an endeavor for Google so it makes sense.

enragedcamel · #**2490** Posted **May 29, 2021, 12:44 AM**

Hey, how come there hasn't been much development in the St. Johns/Coronado Hills area? It's the perfect location in terms of accessibility (intersection of I-35, 183 and 290) and within close proximity to both downtown and the domain. I'm pretty surprised no one has bought up huge chunks of land to re-develop it.

wwmiv · #**2491** Posted **May 29, 2021, 2:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

Hey, how come there hasn't been much development in the St. Johns/Coronado Hills area? It's the perfect location in terms of accessibility (intersection of I-35, 183 and 290) and within close proximity to both downtown and the domain. I'm pretty surprised no one has bought up huge chunks of land to re-develop it.

It is actually quite isolated and much of the land area is devoted to city, county, state, and social services that depresses underlying land value. It also has a significant amount of residual social stigma vis-a-vis the homeless and drugs. It just has not yet reached that tipping point where it is “decent enough” - or has some cultural value outweighing the negative aspects - in the public consciousness to warrant developers cashing in. Nobody wants to live there, no matter how close it may be.

the Genral · #**2492** Posted **May 31, 2021, 7:58 PM**

I decided to take a road trip to dt today. From Round Rock, Mopac, to 1st St. to Congress Ave to Oltorf, to I35 N to West 290 to Burnet Rd then back to Mopac. Construction everywhere. The density along Rainey is big city. Lots of angles showing the canyons of dt depending where you look. There were 1000s of people everywhere. Don't know if it was because it was lunch time, around 1pm or the holiday or both, but it was like there was a festival going on. The Domain was rocking also. The glass cladding covering the garage on the Domain's tallest looks amazing, long vertical glass panels. Something I always found odd, probably just me, but most buildings look taller from a distance then when I get closer to them. Just a twinge disappointing in person.

KevinFromTexas · #**2493** Posted **May 31, 2021, 10:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

FYI - Google Earth Pro has updated images for most of the Austin area. Date is currently showing 3/25/2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillynova

Still getting an old 3D view on Google Maps :\

Only the 2D imagery has been updated, not the 3D imagery.

At least, not yet. You have to turn off the 3D buildings to see the 2D imagery.

drummer · #**2494** Posted **Jun 1, 2021, 1:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Only the 2D imagery has been updated, not the 3D imagery.

At least, not yet. You have to turn off the 3D buildings to see the 2D imagery.

Yep, but still cool to see developments taking shape. I hate it when I hear of new stuff and I look it up only to see imagery that's a year or more behind. Stuff changes so quickly here, that matters!

papertowelroll · #**2495** Posted **Jun 1, 2021, 2:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

It is actually quite isolated and much of the land area is devoted to city, county, state, and social services that depresses underlying land value. It also has a significant amount of residual social stigma vis-a-vis the homeless and drugs. It just has not yet reached that tipping point where it is “decent enough” - or has some cultural value outweighing the negative aspects - in the public consciousness to warrant developers cashing in. Nobody wants to live there, no matter how close it may be.

I mean, there has been plenty of price appreciation in that area, just like everywhere else. It just started from a slightly lower place than some of it's neighbors. University Hills has definitely had a huge amount of gentrification in just the last 5 years or so.

The schools in these areas are probably the biggest anchors.

KevinFromTexas · #**2496** Posted **Jun 1, 2021, 6:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Yep, but still cool to see developments taking shape. I hate it when I hear of new stuff and I look it up only to see imagery that's a year or more behind. Stuff changes so quickly here, that matters!

Yeah, still pretty cool. I can see my new shed I built last summer now on Google Earth! It's also still good for seeing the Red River alignment and the true footprints of some new buildings.

paul78701 · #**2497** Posted **Jun 1, 2021, 7:52 PM**

At the northeast corner of 5th and Guadalupe, the Chase bank drive-thru appears to now be closed. I guess we'll soon find out if the rumor of HEB building out the bottom floor of that building is true.

drummer · #**2498** Posted **Jun 2, 2021, 6:03 PM**

Garth Brooks to play Studio 6A farewell shows in Austin, tickets start at $2,500

Quote:

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Studio 6A, the longtime home of the Austin PBS music series Austin City Limits, is going out in style.

Country music superstar Garth Brooks will play two “intimate” shows July 20 and 21 to help send off the stage at the University of Texas at Austin. Austin PBS is moving to a modern, state-of-the-art broadcast studio at Austin Community College’s Highland campus in 2022.

https://www.kxan.com/entertainment-n...start-at-2500/

Edit: I cross-posted this onto the Highland Mall Redevelopment thread. Probably a better place for this.

ahealy · #**2499** Posted **Jun 4, 2021, 8:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul78701

at the northeast corner of 5th and guadalupe, the chase bank drive-thru appears to now be closed. I guess we'll soon find out if the rumor of heb building out the bottom floor of that building is true.

um what?

drummer · #**2500** Posted **Jun 11, 2021, 2:10 PM**

Ok, it's official. We have a house in Georgetown. I'm officially a property owner of a small - read: kinda tiny - piece of U.S. soil after being overseas for so long. (Ignore the details about something with a bank and a mortgage, please.)

So I formally want to say, "Yes, in my backyard." But not really IN my backyard...it's quite small, and I need a place for my kids to play since we don't have a neighborhood park....

But seriously, can a guy get a few good restaurants and a grocery store within walking distance in the burbs, please? Just glad I could afford something in this crazy market.