AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by FrankLloydLeft

This is funny to see as a friend of mine close to Bunkhouse mentioned they feel they're losing cool points with Austin. So a Standard finally coming to town makes sense as something "fresh" from that group.

Honestly, they're not a bad brand, but for Austin, they sure do play it safe relative to what they could be doing to stand out. Even architecturally, the Magdalena ( their first non-Lambert/acquired property ala Carpenter) feels more profit-oriented than anything else. Multiple people have said it looks like an apartment building.

Hoping the standard brings something new to the city, especially if they build something new.

The Magdalena was so disappointing. It's almost like the architect and designers had never been to a hotel before.

[Urbannizer]

Downtown Austin’s ‘Lawyer District’ Showing Signs of Life at 10th and West

While we’re not expecting the creation of a new downtown district overnight, there’s some promising plans currently in motion that could take us a few small steps in that general direction. A rezoning passed earlier this month by Austin City Council at its May 4 meeting for 707 West 10th Street, a collection of law offices occupying a three-story former residence dating back to 1901 at the southwest corner of West 10th Street and West Avenue, could be big for the area — the zoning change takes the 0.23-acre property from General Office (GO) to Downtown Mixed-Use with a Conditional Overlay (DMU-CO) limiting the height of any development here to 60 feet.

The purpose of the rezoning is to allow the property’s new owner, an LLC connected with local developer LV Collective, to adapt the existing building into a mixed-use project that could contain residential or hotel uses along with a cocktail lounge on the ground floor, as described in the rezoning application. The developers even scored the approval of the Old Austin Neighborhood Association for the rezoning — despite its Board of Directors stating that bars are typically not an “acceptable” use for the area — by agreeing to limit the size of the cocktail lounge to under 1,000 square feet.

[FrankLloydLeft]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

First thought I had was.... .yep... no more Liz. Sad. I believe it was her cashing out and moving on. But.... that was just hearsay.

Yeah what she did with the San Jose is something I've yet to see really replicated with taking out the parking lot to make it a lush garden.

She's still doing other stuff with MML Like the St Vincent and the 3D printed rooms coming to El Cosmico, but she for sure could breathe new life into the scene here. More so now since we have bigger brands carving out their sections of Austin. Having a new and unique spot would help counter that.

[FrankLloydLeft]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

The Magdalena was so disappointing. It's almost like the architect and designers had never been to a hotel before.

I wouldn't be surprised if they convert to apartments for 4300 a month.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by FrankLloydLeft

I wouldn't be surprised if they convert to apartments for 4300 a month.

rumor has it ace hotel chain was looking purchasing it

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by FrankLloydLeft

This is funny to see as a friend of mine close to Bunkhouse mentioned they feel they're losing cool points with Austin. So a Standard finally coming to town makes sense as something "fresh" from that group.

Honestly, they're not a bad brand, but for Austin, they sure do play it safe relative to what they could be doing to stand out. Even architecturally, the Magdalena ( their first non-Lambert/acquired property ala Carpenter) feels more profit-oriented than anything else. Multiple people have said it looks like an apartment building.

Hoping the standard brings something new to the city, especially if they build something new.

OMG. I nearly jumped out of my seat catching up on this news!!!! I used to work for them...I think opening a Standard hotel here will be a very VERY wise move.

In addition to working for them, my fav hotel of all time was The Standard WEHO. So many great memories. They really know how to run a hotel. WHERE?!!?!?!?!??!?

I also dream of a Virgin Hotel and Ritz here...

[FrankLloydLeft]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

rumor has it ace hotel chain was looking purchasing it

Purchase and tear it down, right? I'm convinced they found a luxury college apartment plan lying around west campus and just built that. It's not hideous or anything. It's just uninteresting. Like it could be the flagship Home2Suites

[FrankLloydLeft]

Originally Posted by ahealy

OMG. I nearly jumped out of my seat catching up on this news!!!! I used to work for them...I think opening a Standard hotel here will be a very VERY wise move.

In addition to working for them, my fav hotel of all time was The Standard WEHO. So many great memories. They really know how to run a hotel. WHERE?!!?!?!?!??!?

I also dream of a Virgin Hotel and Ritz here...

My hope is Standard rounds up a list of some great hidden mid century builds and does what they did with WeHo. Or if we're lucky, do something monumental like the one over the Highline. Maybe standing above Waller Creek?


Why can I see Ritz coming in and taking over the Omni Barton Creek

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by FrankLloydLeft

My hope is Standard rounds up a list of some great hidden mid century builds and does what they did with WeHo. Or if we're lucky, do something monumental like the one over the Highline. Maybe standing above Waller Creek?


Why can I see Ritz coming in and taking over the Omni Barton Creek

I wish! Just got word from my former colleague it'll be on S. 1st

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by ahealy

I wish! Just got word from my former colleague it'll be on S. 1st

Is this the Standard you're talking about?

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Is this the Standard you're talking about?

Yep! No idea exactly where on S. 1st yet tho. Likely new construction.

[FrankLloydLeft]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Yep! No idea exactly where on S. 1st yet tho. Likely new construction.

Isn't there something coming in around South 1st and Barton Springs rd? I could see it being apart of the South Central Waterfront stuff

[We vs us]

All of that's really interesting. Beyond the waterfront district, I don't think of S 1st as having the kind of density that a hotel like the Standard would want. S. Congress, yes absolutely. But S. 1st is still kind of a shaggy dog at this point.

[Urbannizer]

Duncan Park

[Urbannizer]

Here’s How the State Bar Plans to Adapt This Historic Downtown Building

The long saga of the Bartholomew-Robinson Building at 1415 Lavaca Street could find its next gear this summer, as the property’s new owners at the State Bar of Texas move forward with plans to expand its headquarters, currently located next door, into the historic 1880s building at the southeast corner of West 15th and Lavaca Streets in downtown Austin a stone’s throw from the State Capitol grounds. Here’s how the organization describes its vision — a sort of oasis for lawyers, if you will:

The bar’s plans include preserving and restoring the historic structure and constructing a new, three-story building on the same property.

The new building would include a large theater and mezzanine on the a first floor, smaller conference rooms and workspaces on the second floor, and a meeting space and outdoor reception area on the third floor overlooking the Texas Capitol. The building would provide workspace for lawyers visiting downtown Austin as well as space for the State Bar and other legal groups to host continuing legal education, conferences, and other meetings.

[valhalla]

That's one of the most unremarkable historical buildings I've seen. Looks like a stage set for a high school theater production.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by valhalla

That's one of the most unremarkable historical buildings I've seen. Looks like a stage set for a high school theater production.

Seriously can't believe this is the one that gets saved and everything else gets ripped out.

[ATX2030]

This is being built across the street.

https://www.tfc-ccp.org/

[lzppjb]

And we're back.

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Duncan Park

Wow, They are moving fast. I usually take off for my west Austin drone shots from where those bulldozers are on the hill.