AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Here's the CVC coverage on the block. Travis County property records indicated that WCC still owns the site.

Ran into someone behind this. Potential sale or JV with WCC for LZR. He mentioned the oak tree and two towers-which makes me think the banks will be cleared as well.

[Dariusb]

Originally Posted by SawWasSJElk

Is there a maximum height that buildings in Austin can reach due to FAA regulations? I understand the city has no height restrictions downtown and height is somewhat limited by FAR caps.

With the news that the Hudson Yards developer is eyeing a ground lease on the parking lot to the north of the Austonian (which is supposedly zoned for 1.3 million square feet, though I'm not sure where that figure came from), I wouldn't be surprised if Austin got another supertall. So how tall, theoretically, could it be?

Good question. I'd be interested in the answer myself.

[kingkirbythe....]

Avenue Lofts Sold in Fourth Major Downtown Austin Condo Buyout

https://austin.towers.net/avenue-lofts-sold-in-fourth-major-downtown-austin-condo-buyout/

Downtown Austin condo community Avenue Lofts has sold to local real estate developers Wilson Capital, according to the firm. This five-story, 38-unit building at 410 East Fifth Street, originally built as state offices in 1943 and adapted for condo use in the late 1990s, has been recently marketed as a prime location for new tower development — its 0.8-acre half-block site is unconstrained by Capitol View Corridors or other height restrictions, with a potential floor area ratio of 25 to 1 allowing a new building of approximately 883,000 square feet.

[StoOgE]

I don't know how I feel about this one.

[Maximusx1]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

Avenue Lofts Sold in Fourth Major Downtown Austin Condo Buyout

https://austin.towers.net/avenue-lofts-sold-in-fourth-major-downtown-austin-condo-buyout/

Downtown Austin condo community Avenue Lofts has sold to local real estate developers Wilson Capital, according to the firm. This five-story, 38-unit building at 410 East Fifth Street, originally built as state offices in 1943 and adapted for condo use in the late 1990s, has been recently marketed as a prime location for new tower development — its 0.8-acre half-block site is unconstrained by Capitol View Corridors or other height restrictions, with a potential floor area ratio of 25 to 1 allowing a new building of approximately 883,000 square feet.

One little idea/improvement I'd like to see with this one is to include some extra parking for the fire station across the street so that the current fire station parking lot can go back to being part of Brush Square Park.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

Avenue Lofts Sold in Fourth Major Downtown Austin Condo Buyout

https://austin.towers.net/avenue-lofts-sold-in-fourth-major-downtown-austin-condo-buyout/

Downtown Austin condo community Avenue Lofts has sold to local real estate developers Wilson Capital, according to the firm. This five-story, 38-unit building at 410 East Fifth Street, originally built as state offices in 1943 and adapted for condo use in the late 1990s, has been recently marketed as a prime location for new tower development — its 0.8-acre half-block site is unconstrained by Capitol View Corridors or other height restrictions, with a potential floor area ratio of 25 to 1 allowing a new building of approximately 883,000 square feet.

Does this buyout include the single family home structure or no?

[427MM]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

I don't know how I feel about this one.

Would be amazing to legalize this form of housing all over Austin. Instead, we'll likely see the folks who fight such development also fight to protect this. I just can't.

[KevinFromTexas]

I'd rather have the Avenue Lofts. There are a lot of other lots that are either empty or less significant that could and should be redeveloped first. I'd rather raze the Marriott one block over next to Brush Square and redevelop it first. Not to mention that pretty much everything between 7th & 11th on the east side of downtown makes up what is the nastiest part of downtown.

[dilliam]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I'd rather have the Avenue Lofts. There are a lot of other lots that are either empty or less significant that could and should be redeveloped first. I'd rather raze the Marriott one block over next to Brush Square and redevelop it first. Not to mention that pretty much everything between 7th & 11th on the east side of downtown makes up what is the nastiest part of downtown.

The CVCs are to blame for the low amount of development between east 7th and 11th. It's a bloodbath when you look at the map.

[Echostatic]

And people why that part of downtown is so underdeveloped...

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Echostatic

And people [wonder] why that part of downtown is so underdeveloped...

But they have great views of the Capitol.

[austin242]

It's a shame that the convention center isn't over there. Maybe they could eventually do a property swap. A new convention center and new development. Win win.

[myBrain]

The CVCs for 35 have always made the least sense to me. I mean sure, you're often sitting still in traffic, but in principle your eyes should be on the road, not swooning over the capitol.

[JollyvilleJ-Rad]

Originally Posted by myBrain

The CVCs for 35 have always made the least sense to me. I mean sure, you're often sitting still in traffic, but in principle your eyes should be on the road, not swooning over the capitol.

I've thought the same ever since I learned about CVCs as a teen - these in particular encourage distracted driving on a dangerous highway. I'm not opposed to CVCs in general as I think they create a very unique effect on the skyline, especially as buildings get taller and create the view-canyons, and the capitol building has a lot of significance in the history of the city and state. While I don't agree when my older extended-family bemoan the changing fabric of the city, I do empathize when they fondly remember the capitol as the largest and most prominent structure that identified the city (my grandmother used to ride a pony into town from her aunts house in Travis Heights back in the 30's and loved the old view of the granite).

I'm not thrilled with TxDOT's overall plans for I-35, but I hope the elimination of those CVCs downtown and on the upper deck are a priority for the city and local leaders. I doubt the "preservationists" in Amarillo and East Texas are going to be in favor, but that seems to be a lot of land for potential (much-needed) density and a step in the direction of increased road safety.

[StoOgE]

I would *love* if the I35 burial gets rid of those CVCs but something tells me that there will be reasons we can't.

[zrx299]

Just get rid of the CVCs all together. It's a useless outdated concept. Skyscrapers already block most people's views from the streets and sidewalks.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by zrx299

Just get rid of the CVCs all together. It's a useless outdated concept. Skyscrapers already block most people's views from the streets and sidewalks.

The CVCs don’t protect views of the dome from downtown sidewalks, so this perspective and reasoning is really beside the point.

The CVCs largely protect views from I-35, parks, and historically important sites in addition to a few places that create unique and impressive vistas (The Pfluger pedestrian bridge, for instance). Getting rid of the ones on I-35 should not speak to whether we get rid of the others.

[JollyvilleJ-Rad]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

The CVCs don’t protect views of the dome from downtown sidewalks, so this perspective and reasoning is really beside the point.

The CVCs largely protect views from I-35, parks, and historically important sites in addition to a few places that create unique and impressive vistas (The Pfluger pedestrian bridge, for instance). Getting rid of the ones on I-35 should not speak to whether we get rid of the others.

100%

[KevinFromTexas]

Oh, I'm well aware of the CVCs in that area, and I have no beef with them for the most part, save for the I-35 ones since I-35 can die a bloody death, but I'm more commenting on the quality of what was built there under those corridors. And before economic metrics is used as an argument for why we can't have quality there, let's not forget that the Avenue Lofts happened there long ago.

It's just that the argument usually goes to what we could gain, which is great and is a legitimate need (more housing, etc) but there's also the issue of what we might lose. I'm no nimby, but I'd rather raze mediocre buildings nearby and let the unique ones - such as the Avenue Lofts, continue to be.

As for the CVCs, I've already said before that I'm good with them, but there are some that make no sense and it also makes no sense if the governments trusted with maintaining them aren't maintaining them. Since we also have tree ordinances protecting large trees, of which some block the view of the dome, some attention should be paid.

[scraperwill]

By June/July there will be at least 5 towers >590’ newly under construction