AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[masonh2479]

Originally Posted by Armybrat

A Gulfstream G650 is one of the few corporate jets that can attain .925 Mach speeds.
Has a range of 7,000 NM and costs about $60,000,000 “green”.

Imagine being rich enough where buying a $60,000,000 dollar jet doesn't make you lose sleep or even dent your wealth. I lose sleep thinking about buying a $70,000 dollar car! Pretty soon the 650 won't be the top dog with the 700 nearing introduction to service, might see an upgrade relatively soon. https://www.gulfstream.com/en/aircraft/gulfstream-g700/

[Dale]

Is there a photo thread ? I’m particularly interested in how Austin is shaping up at street level. I’ve read fairly recent and somewhat depressing arguments about the state of 6th Street and Congress Avenue.

[masonh2479]

Originally Posted by Dale

Is there a photo thread ? I’m particularly interested in how Austin is shaping up at street level. I’ve read fairly recent and somewhat depressing arguments about the state of 6th Street and Congress Avenue.

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=167841

[gillynova]

Originally Posted by Dale

Is there a photo thread ? I’m particularly interested in how Austin is shaping up at street level. I’ve read fairly recent and somewhat depressing arguments about the state of 6th Street and Congress Avenue.

Dirty 6th is still... dirty haha. But West 6th, 2nd street and Congress Avenue are totally fine imo

[myBrain]

Originally Posted by Dale

Is there a photo thread ? I’m particularly interested in how Austin is shaping up at street level. I’ve read fairly recent and somewhat depressing arguments about the state of 6th Street and Congress Avenue.

Hmmm, Congress? i'd say Congress is more than fine, probably the best it's ever been. Maybe you're thinking South Congress? In which case the "problem" would be too much success - gentrification that's putting pressure on local businesses. But while there might have been a few painful losses, I think that's definitely overblown -- I was just there yesterday and I think that the new developments have made it a better, more rounded experience than ever.

6th's (by which I assume you mean Dirty 6th) problem is the over-concentration of shot bars aimed at the college crowd. Unfortunately, Covid wiped out a few of the key tenants that brought in different demographics (Alamo Drafthouse, Easy Tiger). But largely it's the same problem its had for years, which is too many drunk young people concentrating together. One silver lining is that the blocks around 6th are starting to see new development (like the Thompson hotel) that should hopefully start bringing in a different crowd.

[ahealy]

This is kinda on subject with street level interaction....

How long do y'all suspect it'll take for our outer thoroughfares to become more urban with mixed-use projects popping up? I'm specifically thinking of Parmer out by where I live. Every time I drive between 35 & MoPac it just seems like such a wasted opportunity for lots of little dense housing/retail devs, especially with everything happening out on W. Parmer.

[lonewolf]

unfortunately quite a while. (as in >10 years). whereas traditionally these dense projects would happen organically. eg one successful store is launched someone builds adjacent and this repeats again and again resulting in creation of a district.

nowadays they are centralized, master planned ventures for a multitude of reasons. this results in them taking much longer to build (as in they wont start until the need/density has been established)

[drummer]

I would say that there will be pockets before it affects corridors. It's already beginning to happen in some areas, but it's fabricated through master-planned efforts as lonewolf said.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by ahealy

This is kinda on subject with street level interaction....

How long do y'all suspect it'll take for our outer thoroughfares to become more urban with mixed-use projects popping up? I'm specifically thinking of Parmer out by where I live. Every time I drive between 35 & MoPac it just seems like such a wasted opportunity for lots of little dense housing/retail devs, especially with everything happening out on W. Parmer.

Considering Parmer is home to a diverging diamond intersection on one end and it's effectively a 60+ mph highway up to and past Mopac, I'd say not in our lifetimes for that stretch of the road. I think more density might come in the way of a few texas donut apartments replacing the garden-style ones there. Perhaps the best we could hope for would be an urban village-style node in the shopping center where Fry's used to be. But that would still be very suburban and almost certainly inward-facing b/c of the location. Walking along Parmer is intensely unpleasant. So is biking, even with the wide shoulders and empty sidewalks.

Is there actual dense, urban-style development happening on W Parmer? I'm not familiar with anything there that isn't completely suburban in design.

Braker Ln has a much better shot at getting better street interaction but it's not going well so far.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by atxsnail

Considering Parmer is home to a diverging diamond intersection on one end and it's effectively a 60+ mph highway up to and past Mopac, I'd say not in our lifetimes for that stretch of the road. I think more density might come in the way of a few texas donut apartments replacing the garden-style ones there. Perhaps the best we could hope for would be an urban village-style node in the shopping center where Fry's used to be. But that would still be very suburban and almost certainly inward-facing b/c of the location. Walking along Parmer is intensely unpleasant. So is biking, even with the wide shoulders and empty sidewalks.

Is there actual dense, urban-style development happening on W Parmer? I'm not familiar with anything there that isn't completely suburban in design.

Braker Ln has a much better shot at getting better street interaction but it's not going well so far.

Well, there is Jefferson Center, but it is definitely a bit of an anomaly. But I agree, with the high speed nature of Parmer, similar development is unlikely.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4679...7i16384!8i8192

[drummer]

Yeah, I don't know any on Parmer specifically. I was speaking more generally of suburban/urban developments in general. Parmer / Ronald Reagan even has some proposed overpasses at some roads in the distant future, so they're definitely treating it as the significant highway that it is - lanes, speed limit, and all.

[We vs us]

I've been thinking about this a lot, but in the context of Burnet from Q2 north through the Domain/Broadmoor. How do you make a high capacity high speed surface road and urbanize it? By which I mean, slow it down, cut it more often for street grid connection, and prioritize pedestrian crossings and bike lanes, etc. Parmer and Burnet aren't exactly apples/apples -- Parmer's got a higher capacity, obviously, and is leaning into its Significant Connector role -- but the question is generally the same.

[H2O]

That is essentially what the 2016 Corridor Bond is aiming to do, at least where there are sufficient funds to do it right. Between the corridor investments and private development, Burnet will eventually get there, but it will take some time.

[ahealy]

Great points, y'all. Does anyone have an example of a 50 mph corridor with dense housing in TX? Surely it's common in larger cities, I just can't think of one off the top of my head.

I mean, Lamar does have that lovely new foundation communities dev that just opened close to Parmer. I think that stretch of N. Lamar is something to look out for. There have been quite a few niche little restaurants coming around as of late and the empty lots are huge. Again, being selfish here, but I would love to see better pedestrian engagement along Lamar/Parmer.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Great points, y'all. Does anyone have an example of a 50 mph corridor with dense housing in TX? Surely it's common in larger cities, I just can't think of one off the top of my head.

I can't imagine there are many, and I don't know if that's something we should be striving for. Density should be walkable, and walking along roads with cars going 50+MPH is scary.

[txtriathlete]

Random question, but does anyone happen to know who took over the Penthouse floor of the Frost Tower since Nate Paul & World Class Capital moved out of there in 2019? Just curious as to who is officing in that prime location these days.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

I can't imagine there are many, and I don't know if that's something we should be striving for. Density should be walkable, and walking along roads with cars going 50+MPH is scary.

Right right. Do you think that may be attainted by slowing down portions of Parmer/North Lamar to 40?

[kingkirbythe....]

Taking a winter dip in one of Texas' legendary swimming holes

https://www.mysanantonio.com/lifesty...s-16794869.php

Much has been written about Barton Springs and its summertime quintessence — its powerful, healing iciness in a warming world. “How can you survive in the August Austin heat?” is a question lobbed at me every year, mostly by coastal elites (my friends in New York and Los Angeles).

Simple. I drag my sorry self down to Zilker Park multiple times each week, burn my body to a crisp on the sloped south lawn that abuts the springs, and, when I can no longer handle the cruel sun, drop into the chilly abyss. It feels cold, yes, but that coldness feels cleansing, for some reason. This is a realistic amelioration of human suffering when the temperature rises above 100 degrees and stays there for three months, as it did for a total of three months 2011.

But Barton Springs, popular as it is between spring break and the end of summer — mid-October or thereabouts, in Austin — is open year-round. When the temperature dips down toward freezing, though, it has to be empty, right? Who in their right mind would decide to warm up in a 68-degree body of water? I decided to find out, despite the fact that 12 hours before, it was sleeting at my house.

[kingkirbythe....]

What's the deal with all the Ohio billboards in Texas?

The story behind all those Ohio billboards in Austin

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/lo...y-16800857.php

If you’ve driven (or sat in gridlock) on one of Austin’s many overpasses in the last year, you’ve likely seen some bright red billboards with curious messages. They declare that Austin is over, and that Ohio exists.

...

Austin is not alone in Ohio’s denigration of its fair city. Drivers as far-flung as Los Angeles and New York City have been bombarded by towering red signs that seem to take aim at any region that isn’t a landlocked state wedged between Pennsylvania and Indiana. Though JobsOhio has tested the campaign in a variety of markets, the main focus has been Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, Boston, and Chicago.

[kingkirbythe....]

Aaw. Sad.

Fire at Texas French Bread Ravages Storefront
Beloved restaurant was housed in a building rich with music history

https://www.austinchronicle.com/dail...es-storefront/

Iconic Austin mainstay Texas French Bread completely destroyed by late-night fire

https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio...t?oid=28078515