AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Well I would like to. Do I just sign up on their site to be able to do that?

Yes, and you need to have a source to cite I believe.

[Digatisdi]

I was thinking about what part of Downtown I'd like to see redeveloped most, and honestly what comes to mind is the cluster of four drive-through banks on 5th between Rio Grande and Nueces. I understand that the IBC Plaza is also a drive-through bank but it's got a lot more going on and it feels more vibrant while the Sovereign, ABC, CitiBank(?), and BB&T branches just feel like concrete wastelands, especially after 6pm. I'm pretty sure there's CVC restrictions on most, if not all of the sites but they're really pretty awful right now.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by Digatisdi

I was thinking about what part of Downtown I'd like to see redeveloped most, and honestly what comes to mind is the cluster of four drive-through banks on 5th between Rio Grande and Nueces. I understand that the IBC Plaza is also a drive-through bank but it's got a lot more going on and it feels more vibrant while the Sovereign, ABC, CitiBank(?), and BB&T branches just feel like concrete wastelands, especially after 6pm. I'm pretty sure there's CVC restrictions on most, if not all of the sites but they're really pretty awful right now.

Redeveloped? You should have seen that corner about 5-10 years ago, before those buildings were built. Those projects were also some of our first private-sector Great Streets projects. At least all of the buildings address the corner and tuck the drive-throughs behind. And yes, all of those sites are limited by a Capitol View Corridor. You couldn't build much more than you see there today.

How dare you threaten or iconic Financial District! I'm going to start a preservation committee today, before this goes any further.

[jngreenlee]

Anyone here in Real estate?

So my wife and I first lived together in the Milago and loved it. The location, the calm coolness of not being the tallest tower, etc. Currently we have two small kids and are living out of town to save up money for early retirement. When we retire in 5-10 years, getting in one of these new towers would be great.

Anyhow, this is just background to my main question. If one took a ratio of avg high-rise condo $/sqft, versus avg close-in SFH $/sqft, do you all think the ratio will be high immediately and taper off as we get 5-10 years out?

Some factors that cause me to think this could be the case:

• Explosive growth today tapering off, but staying positive
• "New car factor" of new condos wearing off
• Better land use close-in, more options to choose from

[Digatisdi]

Originally Posted by H2O

Redeveloped? You should have seen that corner about 5-10 years ago, before those buildings were built. Those projects were also some of our first private-sector Great Streets projects. At least all of the buildings address the corner and tuck the drive-throughs behind. And yes, all of those sites are limited by a Capitol View Corridor. You couldn't build much more than you see there today.

How dare you threaten or iconic Financial District! I'm going to start a preservation committee today, before this goes any further.

Honestly I can deal with the ABC and CitiBank buildings, but the Sovereign and especially the BB&T are just not good uses of the land.

Though I also wouldn't mind the cluster of surface parking lots on the eastern central part of downtown going as fast as possible.

[drummer]

It'd probably be something like "Live Music Capitol of the World Bowl", haha.

[The ATX]

This off topic thread is all over the place.

[the Genral]

Picking up from the off topic posts about old Austin on the Library thread... the only things I truly miss but could feasible be revised are the drag boat racing on Town Lake and raft races during Aquafest. My welcome to Austin moment and how freaking cool is this city came in the early 80's when Outlaw Blues was filmed here and we had two buildings downtown worth noting, one tall brass one and one taller black one, and the unbelievably fun raft races. I'm not at all sentimental, so I got over the demise of the AWH and City Collossium, among other things, but I truly miss Aquafest and the raft race. Being from near NYC, I secretly wished Austin would grow into what its becoming today. After the frumpy, stumpy first boom, I never thought I'd see the days we are seeing now. Count me in as one of the old timers who would rather live in today's and future Austin, than past Austin.
You're right hillcountry, this thread is all over the place.

[airwx]

Here's the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office's summary of Austin's climate: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/ewx/c.../ausclisum.pdf
That should work as a source.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by airwx

Here's the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office's summary of Austin's climate: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/ewx/c.../ausclisum.pdf
That should work as a source.

Cool thanks. I saw that link going through different sites and thought that I could use that for citation.

[SkyPie]

I've long considered the AT&T buildings as two of the most hideous buildings in downtown Austin. When walking by the brick building I noticed the the alley side had some interesting details that I'd never noticed before. I looked under the honeycomb concrete and all of the windows that are covered with the concrete lattice work have the same or similar detail. It's a shame that what was once a decent looking building was transformed into the monster it is today. Also, I've never noticed that the top floors look like they were added on after the building was built. Maybe one day the building will be restored...

4-12-2015

Alley view:


Street view:

[The ATX]

I never noticed that building before. But my god, it's a prison.

[LoneStarMike]

I have and I agree - it's hideous. I never noticed that the upper floors look they they were added at a later date, though. Good eye, SkyPie.

[KevinFromTexas]

Years ago when my folks had AT&T for our phone service, I'd go downtown with my dad to that building to pay the phone bill. That was before the days of doing it at your grocery store.

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Years ago when my folks had AT&T for our phone service, I'd go downtown with my dad to that building to pay the phone bill. That was before the days of doing it at your grocery store.

And before the days of mail, and even the Pony Express, apparently.

[drummer]

When you posted that, I initially wondered if the concrete latices over the windows were an attempt at aesthetically-pleasing bars over the windows for security or something (a major fail), but then I noticed your picture in the alley doesn't have this. That tells me that they serve no purpose whatsoever. It's a prison, indeed - I agree with Hill Country.

[austlar1]

I think the building mostly housed (and still houses??) banks of switching equipment. Not too many people worked in this "prison", but the original two or three story building probably once housed lots of telephone operators directing calls on banks of switchboards.

[LoneStarMike]

Here's some old photos from the Portal to Texas History.

Back then it was known as the Southwestern Bell Building.




http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/675...res/?width=930




http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/675...res/?width=930




http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/675...res/?width=930




http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/675...res/?width=930

The first three photos are from 1950 & 1951. The last one is from 1961.

[sammyk]

Looks like most AT&T Central Offices...bland, windowless fortress type building.

[SkyPie]

Those pictures are great LoneStarMike. Thanks for finding and sharing.