AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[NYC_Longhorn]

Wow, it's really something to hear about all of the delays going around. My mom had to move her move-in date back at the Bridges a couple of times... very difficult and frustrating... Then she really lucked out when two obese, asthmatic, 60 year+, smokers moved her in... the move took almost 10 hours for a two bedroom!
On the flip side (no pun intended) I'm currently living in a prewar co-op that my wife and I renovated here in New York... I got a great contractor, designer, and highly recommended movers... it all cost me... and even with all of that... there still were multiple delays, tiles didn't look right... wanted to change x,y,z... and I wanted to kill everyone involved twenty times for being so damn difficult. I can't imagine being the contractor for a large building... I've gained a whole new respect for good contractors and the workers. It's amazing how hard it is to get good work done even this day in age. Everytime I watch those flip my house shows, I'm always amazed at how hard it is to find a competent contractor...

It's also interesting because here in New York, there are a few crane accidents every year where people die or get hurt (see BofA and Trump SoHOdebris), there are always a few veteran workers getting killed fixing the subways every couple of years... it reminds me of those statistics like, "80 people died building the Hoover Dam"... You'd think they'd have this thing down to science but it's still all a grind. Now that I'm in my place... We're so happy with the work and it was worth it, but NOTHING on earth seems as frustrating as waiting to move into a place you've put SO much money in! I had total control over the project and still had to postpone my move date two times! Hang in there you guys! You'll get in and it will be great once you're in.

[DTAustin]

Originally Posted by priller

We just heard today that our move-in date for the Sabine is pushed back another 3 weeks. Reason: quality not up to par on the already finished floors. They've replaced the contractor with a new one. They say they want to make sure the remaining floors are done right. I certainly hope that's the case.

Fortunately we were able to change the move-out date at our current apartment. Whew!

I do know one thing, I will be going over our condo with a fine-toothed comb once we get to do our inspection. All this talk of shoddy workmanship is making me nervous.

I'd take it as a good sign that they are dealing with the floors before you move in. They could have not said anything and left it up to you to figure out the floors weren't up to par. It is probably costing them some money to bring in a new contractor to redo and complete the project.

Definitely go over everything with a fine tooth comb BEFORE you close, and don't close until any problems are fixed. If you close before it is fixed, it can be very difficult to force the developer to fix the problems.

[ivanwolf]

Honestly I think the little point on 360 is just to small to make a difference. I expected something with a little more girth to it on top of the steel fame that looked like a good start to what could have been a nice point. I think its just not noticeable enough.

I noticed that the crane on 360 did not move at all today. I expected it to do some work even after the point was up, but i guess that point was really the end to the crane use. Now we just have to wait till they start to take it down.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by priller

We just heard today that our move-in date for the Sabine is pushed back another 3 weeks. Reason: quality not up to par on the already finished floors. They've replaced the contractor with a new one. They say they want to make sure the remaining floors are done right. I certainly hope that's the case.

Fortunately we were able to change the move-out date at our current apartment. Whew!

I do know one thing, I will be going over our condo with a fine-toothed comb once we get to do our inspection. All this talk of shoddy workmanship is making me nervous.

Photos.... have your camera with you on the walk thru. Document issues so no one can say you did it on move in (hint!)

[priller]

Good ideas, guys, I will definitely take your advice.

[Kevinb]

Some updated progress photos taken from the 360:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/seaholm/progress.htm

[Jdawgboy]

I would assume it wouldnt be too long before they took the crane down. They closed the street that goes infront of it down and cleard all that area from the building right nearly up to the garage across the street.

[zx14]

wouldnt they put the glass on the spire before they take the crane down?

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by zx14

wouldnt they put the glass on the spire before they take the crane down?

Not sure. They may build some scaffolding around it for that. Back when they did the Frost Bank Tower they took the crane down before some of the glass was finished in the crown too. I have a photo of the crane lowered about midway down the building with glass still missing in the crown.

At any rate right now with this weather, they won't be taking the crane down. On KVUE this afternoon Mark Murry showed their tower cam atop their tv tower in West Austin. The camera is about 1,000 feet up and the catwalk on the tv tower was covered with icicles. So 360's crane may also have some ice on it. No matter what the temperature is doing on the ground, 500 or 1,000 feet up it's always colder. I've heard stories of people in highrises seeing snow outside their windows hundreds of feet off the ground but going down to street level only to have rain falling.

[crewer]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I've heard stories of people in highrises seeing snow outside their windows hundreds of feet off the ground but going down to street level only to have rain falling.

That is true. I remember seeing snow flurries at the top of Sears Tower in April when the ground level temperature was in the 50's.

[OfCourse]

Now that 360 and Monarch have topped out.

[Blakesalot!]

Latest Austonian Construction Report (with photos):

http://www.theaustonian.com/pics/2008-01-11_Austonian_Report_17.pdf


All posted construction reports can be found here:

http://www.theaustonian.com/construction.php

[priller]

I took the excellent photo by OfCourse and added these buildings (from left to right) -- W, Altavida, Austonian, 21c, Four Seasons.

[JGFrisco]

Great picture...but can you add Spring to it?

[RobDSM]

Originally Posted by priller

I took the excellent photo by OfCourse and added these buildings (from left to right) -- W, Altavida, Austonian, 21c, Four Seasons.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by JGFrisco

Great picture...but can you add Spring to it?

I think Spring would be about halfway outside of the frame to the left. Sort of infront of Whole Foods, but only half visible. Legacy @ Town Lake would be somewhere to the right of The Shore on the right side of the pic.

[priller]

Actually the Spring building wouldn't show up at all in this pic. It's just outside the left edge.

But I look at this photo now and think Austin is really starting to look like a big city. The Austonian is going to be huge!!

[Mopacs]

Update... 360's crane is coming down this A.M.

http://novare.oxblue.com/austin360/index.html

[Strayone]

Hey Priller...Wow!

[Blakesalot!]

Latest Austonian Construction Report (January 19th):

http://www.theaustonian.com/pics/2008-01-19_Austonian_Report_18.pdf