Austin | Domain/North Austin - Page 124

We vs us · #**2461** Posted **Sep 16, 2022, 8:50 PM**

Looks like a stretch of single story retail stores if you look on Streetview. Hard to tell where the "garage" portion of the current usage is. Either way, it's not hard to see why adding a few more stories in the interior of the Domain might be a good strategy.

Novacek · #**2462** Posted **Sep 16, 2022, 11:16 PM**

It's odd, as Domain Blvd was built just a few years ago as part of Domain Northside.

My guess, it's a typo and they meant Domain Dr.

11700 Domain Dr is approximately the location of the older and shorter (only 2 stories?) parking structure.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4038...7i16384!8i8192

Novacek · #**2463** Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 1:44 PM**

Up at the planning commission, bumping NBG-CMU-Gateway to 12:1 FAR and 420 feet.

https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/do....cfm?id=392792
https://www.austintexas.gov/citycler...tings/40_1.htm

I'm all for it, but that means they rally need to bump up the TOD zones as well. They'd now be shorter, less dense, which is just stupid.

We vs us · #**2464** Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 1:53 PM**

Worthwhile cover story from ABJ on the Domain (and environs') future:

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...main-next.html

paul78701 · #**2465** Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 5:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

Worthwhile cover story from ABJ on the Domain (and environs') future:

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...main-next.html

I don't know a single person who refers to the Domain as our second downtown. I find it annoying that the media keeps pushing that narrative as if everyone does.

drummer · #**2466** Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 6:14 PM**

I don't know what the majority of folks say, but I do have a lot of friends who call it the second downtown - many of them work there. Granted, they usually say "The Domain, which has kinda become the second downtown" or something of that nature. Some of them are native Austinites like myself. I also know a lot of folks who don't add that qualifier.

clubtokyo · #**2467** Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 11:13 PM**

I hear second downtown all the time.

kingkirbythe.... · #**2468** Posted **Sep 24, 2022, 2:56 AM**

1. 'Hey, I want to go out to eat.'

2. 'Yeah, me too.'

1. 'Where should we go?'

2. 'I hear there's lots of good places in Second Downtown.'

1. 'Second Downtown? Do you mean the Domain?'

2. 'No. Everyone is calling it Second Downtown now.'

1. 'Isn't that a little confusing having two places in town called Downtown?'

2. 'That's why it is called SECOND Downtown.'

1. 'That still seems odd.'

2. 'Well, that's what they're calling it.'

1. 'Okay. Second Downtown it is. Let's eat!'

migol24 · #**2469** Posted **Sep 24, 2022, 4:03 AM**

The real second downtown is the drag. The domain is a shopping mall.

ILUVSAT · #**2470** Posted **Sep 24, 2022, 6:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

The real second downtown is the drag. The domain is a shopping mall.

You're joking, I hope.

The Drag lacks office space and less than half of the TSF of The Domain is dedicated to retail.

migol24 · #**2471** Posted **Sep 24, 2022, 7:04 PM**

The Domain is the real joke.

ILUVSAT · #**2472** Posted **Sep 24, 2022, 8:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

The Domain is the real joke.

To each his own...

the Genral · #**2473** Posted **Sep 24, 2022, 9:20 PM**

For those of us who remember when it was a sprawling IBM factory complex, I worked there, the transformation and repurpose of all that land is remarkable...to say the least.

migol24 · #**2474** Posted **Sep 24, 2022, 10:38 PM**

Don't get me wrong. It's better than nothing. But for the most part, there is really nothing culturally significant about it. Even the towers there look more like suburb towers.

I've taken friends there from San Francisco, Chicago, etc and they scoff at the idea that it gets called anything as a downtown. It looks like a shopping mall. Feels like a shopping mall.

I highly suggest everyone here to take the bus there and see how it feels walking there. For it to be a "downtown" it does a very poor job providing for pedestrians. People that drive there do not yield to pedestrians. It's a haven for suburbanites who rather not make the drive to downtown.

There's a few things there I do appreciate. The coffee shops... and a few restaurants. Thats it.

Even the people that work at Houndstooth have said the same about the Domain. There's nothing even remotely that speaks to the culture of Austin.

But sure, yeah... to each their own. Just call it for what it is.

the Genral · #**2475** Posted **Sep 25, 2022, 12:12 AM**

It is and will always be, an option. Every time I go there, there seems to be a good crowd of people having a good time and sections of the Domain are quite walkable. I never considered it a second downtown, but more of a destination stop. I like it and enjoy it, especially since it's much closer to my house. I would like to see some 30 to 35 story point towers in with the mix though but they are really not that necessary. I'm glad Austinites have the option to visit the Domain as we also have the option of visiting downtown. It keeps things....interesting.

migol24 · #**2476** Posted **Sep 25, 2022, 12:14 AM**

I would like for it to be more pedestrian friendly, not shut down so early and for them to get rid of all the big parking lots for me to really appreciate it.

For the most part, it caters to a specific brand. It's not a very diverse area. It's very yuppy and there is nothing specifically "cool" about it. All cookie cutter. I can see how it can be appreciated by the older crowd. It's fun in that sense. Great for families.

Riverranchdrone · #**2477** Posted **Sep 25, 2022, 12:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

1. 'Hey, I want to go out to eat.'

2. 'Yeah, me too.'

1. 'Where should we go?'

2. 'I hear there's lots of good places in Second Downtown.'

1. 'Second Downtown? Do you mean the Domain?'

2. 'No. Everyone is calling it Second Downtown now.'

1. 'Isn't that a little confusing having two places in town called Downtown?'

2. 'That's why it is called SECOND Downtown.'

1. 'That still seems odd.'

2. 'Well, that's what they're calling it.'

1. 'Okay. Second Downtown it is. Let's eat!'

But it does have some of the best restaurants in town.

Riverranchdrone · #**2478** Posted **Sep 25, 2022, 1:54 AM**

Regardless of what you call it. Second Downtown, Uptown. It is way more than just the Domain. Once everything is built out, it will be pretty comparable to the actual downtown Austin 20 - 30 years ago. It has freeways, public transportation, a bar area, some fine restaurants, museums, a pro sports team, high rises. Ignoring some minor things like a street network and traffic signals. Its is a centralized business district. A.K.A Downtown. It has a bigger urban area than any surrounding suburb.

Atom_Mirny · #**2479** Posted **Sep 25, 2022, 2:20 AM**

FWIW I helped someone move out of The Domain today and the movers just called it "downtown"

"man I don't know how y'all can stand to live downtown like that"

Syndic · #**2480** Posted **Sep 25, 2022, 6:56 PM**

Hmm, I expected to disagree with migol here (because I usually do) but I actually agree with them. I normally defend the Domain and Mueller pretty vehemently but I agree that the Domain is essentially a shopping mall modeled after an urban landscape.

The streets are private, not public. The whole thing is split -- The Domain and Domain Northside -- between two private firms. Until the city takes it over from these private firms, it cannot be a true downtown.

That said, the Domain has influenced development around it which is leading to it becoming a second downtown. We just need to keep in mind that it's on it's way to becoming a second downtown but it's probably a couple decades away from that. But the forces are at work. It's happening.