AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

I feel like as someone who grew up with family owning a lot of ranchland out near Drip and Henly

I hate that the hill country is being eroded and "55 conservation" homesites are being built in currently undeveloped land.

The point of urbanism and density is stopping suburban and exurban sprawl into unique landscapes.

I guess its all inevitable but man I wish we could save more of the hill country from the sprawl and move more people closer in.

99% of developers do not give a single **** about any of that. It's sad.
All they care about is cut & run track home suburban garbage they can flip and profit from.

[enragedcamel]

I mean, you couldn't call it "dirty" sixth anymore then, right?

Anyway, there isn't anything particularly wrong with different parts of the city appealing to different groups of people, in my opinion. Calling the continued existence of dirty sixth a result of a "complete lack of vision" by city leaders is a bit sensationalist.

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Springdale Condos

400 condos with retail along Springdale

This view has some MCM vibes. Swap the modern cars with late '50s models and you'll have something that could easily have come from a magazine in 1962.

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

I mean, you couldn't call it "dirty" sixth anymore then, right?

Anyway, there isn't anything particularly wrong with different parts of the city appealing to different groups of people, in my opinion. Calling the continued existence of dirty sixth a result of a "complete lack of vision" by city leaders is a bit sensationalist.

We have different parts of the city that appeal to different groups now. Why not turn 'Dirty' into Austin's Lower Broadway? The city would cash in hand over fist from all the additional tourist money being spent. More people would want to visit, more conventions, etc.

Unless you prefer the current state of things and type of crowds that are there now. 🞵🞵🞵 fighting thugs and hoards of transients in what's generally supposed to be the tourist district should be an absolute embarrassment for the city. It's not wrong for us locals to want better.

[enragedcamel]

Originally Posted by zrx299

We have different parts of the city that appeal to different groups now. Why not turn 'Dirty' into Austin's Lower Broadway? The city would cash in hand over fist from all the additional tourist money being spent. More people would want to visit, more conventions, etc.

Unless you prefer the current state of things and type of crowds that are there now. 🞵🞵🞵 fighting thugs and hoards of transients in what's generally supposed to be the tourist district should be an absolute embarrassment for the city. It's not wrong for us locals to want better.

🞵🞵🞵 fighting thugs and transients? It has been a couple of years since I went there, but I certainly don't remember any such thing.

Here are some pictures of what the place looked like before the pandemic: https://6street.com/dirty-6th-street-famous-for-a-reason/

Maybe it's different now, though.

[migol24]

Haven't they already talked about changing 6th st? I'm pretty sure that's been thrown around here a lot. Making 6th st a more "family oriented" kind of place.

To each their own. I don't like 6th st now. And I still won't like it if they made it touristy like that. I mean, it kinda is already touristy.

[H2O]

Dirty 6th is the direct result of a complete lack of vision by Bob Woody. Other than for making money hand over fist selling shots to underage drinkers.

[Lobotomizer]

Wasn't there something posted recently about some major real estate company buying quite a bit of the property on "Dirty 6th"?

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Omg, I'm behind on my agenda-stalking. Didn't know Brazos Lofts was on the docket, too!

The Good Life Barber Shop moved from there last month. The plans for this site may be further along than anyone had realized.

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by migol24

Haven't they already talked about changing 6th st? I'm pretty sure that's been thrown around here a lot. Making 6th st a more "family oriented" kind of place.

To each their own. I don't like 6th st now. And I still won't like it if they made it touristy like that. I mean, it kinda is already touristy.

Why do so many "improvements" have to be "family oriented"? There's nothing wrong with non-family oriented improvements. Not everyone has children. Even people with children want non-children oriented places to go sometimes.

It doesn't need to be completely reinvented. It wouldn't really be 6th Street anymore if it was. It should remain an "entertainment district", but it shouldn't only serve one type of entertainment either. For it to be it's most prosperous and "healthy", it should be many things with many uses to many people (This includes shot bars that some of us might not go to).

As with many parts of downtown, more daytime usage would be helpful for sure. It would be nice to see of the live music venues that left come back in. The night market idea what was talked about before could be great if done right. I think a food hall that served breakfast, lunch, dinner, after 2am crowds could be wildly successful here. More artsy/non-music performance uses would be great (if they could be as popular Esther's anyway. A comedy club at the Ritz seems like a good step in that direction). Etc.

Also, it's been a tourist magnet for quite some time, I would never expect that to change. It's also been a magnet for the younger crowd since forever, there's no reason for that to change either.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by paul78701

Why do so many "improvements" have to be "family oriented"? There's nothing wrong with non-family oriented improvements. Not everyone has children. Even people with children want non-children oriented places to go sometimes.

It doesn't need to be completely reinvented. It wouldn't really be 6th Street anymore if it was. It should remain an "entertainment district", but it shouldn't only serve one type of entertainment either. For it to be it's most prosperous and "healthy", it should be many things with many uses to many people (This includes shot bars that some of us might not go to).

As with many parts of downtown, more daytime usage would be helpful for sure. It would be nice to see of the live music venues that left come back in. The night market idea what was talked about before could be great if done right. I think a food hall that served breakfast, lunch, dinner, after 2am crowds could be wildly successful here. More artsy/non-music performance uses would be great (if they could be as popular Esther's anyway. A comedy club at the Ritz seems like a good step in that direction). Etc.

Also, it's been a tourist magnet for quite some time, I would never expect that to change. It's also been a magnet for the younger crowd since forever, there's no reason for that to change either.

Yeah, I dunno. I don't disagree with you. But, really, I don't care. 6th St is just whatever to me.

edit:
actually, I shouldn't say that. 6th st has been a big money maker for me. We'll see what the future holds.

[kingkirbythe....]

Buyers have dibs on more than half of Four Seasons luxury condos planned for Lake Austin

https://www.statesman.com/story/business...f-four-seasons-luxury-condos/6970491001/

Just a few months after sales launched, potential buyers have reserved more than half of the luxury Four Seasons-branded residences planned for a high-profile cliff overlooking Lake Austin.

The sales pace for the units is another sign of the Austin region's continued rising real estate market, including the high-end segment, housing industry experts say.

The 179 residences in the Four Seasons project are due to break ground next year. Prices start at $4.1 million.

Reservations began in late September, and hit the half-way mark in just four months, said Eric Moreland, broker associate with Moreland Properties who is handling sales.

Officially named Four Seasons Private Residences Lake Austin, the condominium project will be located on one of the last undeveloped tracts overlooking Lake Austin. The 145-acre site is off Bridge Point Parkway and Loop 360, west of the Pennybacker Bridge.

[Echostatic]

I don't know if this rendering is new or not but it's new to me.

[The ATX]

The HLC approved Demo of Venue Lofts on consent. A vote on Demo of the Iron Bear building was postponed until the March meeting.

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Future of El Mercado Uptown uncertain following approval of demolition permit

El Mercado Downtown to close mid-March

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/a...x-el-mercado-closing-lavaca-st-location/

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by Echostatic

I don't know if this rendering is new or not but it's new to me.

It looks like it's leaking.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Echostatic

I don't know if this rendering is new or not but it's new to me.

I am obsessed with this project and want more high-concept / mixed-use / hill country development....with sustainability at the forefront. I wonder if we'll ever see a 30 floor tower somewhere out there someday.


Also, I think what Michael might be saying is that his neighborhood's smaller-older-grittier (maybe historic) structures are going fast for the bulldozer. While I don't fully agree with the sentiment, I hope whatever replaces it isn't a blue box....and if it is make it pretty!

[atxsnail]

Someone wants to build an indoor ski facility somewhere in Austin. Targeting 2025:

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2022/03/02/apline-x-austin-dallas.html

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

Someone wants to build an indoor ski facility somewhere in Austin. Targeting 2025:

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2022/03/02/apline-x-austin-dallas.html

It should have a retractable roof so it could be opened for that annual cold period we started having for a few days in February.

[We vs us]

Seen on my lunch walk -- an alcohol permit notice in the window of the former 2nd Bar and Kitchen, in the Austonion, on the corner of 2nd and Congress. Name of applicant: Fogo De Chao, A Brazilian Churrascaria.

It's a pretty impressive space for a chain . . . but made me wonder if there was something pushing them out of their lease near the CC (owned by World Class Capital, ahem). Or if they were just in search of greener pastures.