Mueller Area Development Updates - Page 16

KevinFromTexas · #**301** Posted **Sep 2, 2014, 11:10 PM**

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news...3581740.735478

Quote:

Exploring a towering piece of Austin history

Posted: 3:11 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014

By Ben Wear - American-Statesman Staff

The old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport tower, squat and defiantly homely in its Jetsons-era, blue-on-blue design, has sat among weeds in East Austin for years now behind a tall, wrought-iron fence, hosting trespassing barn owls rather than air traffic controllers.

Even now, 15 years after the last plane took off from Mueller and more than a decade since the terminal and other airport facilities around the tower were reduced to rubble and hauled away, no one knows quite what to do with the 90-foot-tall monolith.

Weaver said it is highly unlikely that the building, with just a single staircase and a nonfunctioning elevator inside, will ever be opened to the public.

M1EK · #**302** Posted **Sep 14, 2014, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

I don't think you should get into debates about revisionist history. You are the master of alternative 'what-if' scenarios that are impossible to prove or disprove. There is a reason why the Stratus land swap was not pursued. If you knew anything about land development fiscal impact, you would know that Circle C style sprawl development rarely covers its own cost of providing services. In contrast, higher density, mixed-use development can not only cover its costs, it often generates a surplus.

This is really all you need to know to assess credibility.

Stratus did not propose low-density Circle-C style suburban development on that tract. I suspect H20 knows this, and yet led you to believe that's what they would have done, because it makes his argument look better.

Also apply to actors like SecretAgentMan.

There's a reason guys like this stay anonymous - they're consultants and political operatives and not enamored with the precise truth but really really good at shading it.

Syndic · #**303** Posted **Sep 14, 2014, 9:03 PM**

_Matt · #**304** Posted **Sep 16, 2014, 12:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news...3581740.735478

The article raises the question of re-use, but fire code prevents it from being occupied by the general public.

The article also mentions that birds have taken over and it has become an aviary of sorts. I say go with that and turn it in to an urban garden and aviary. Might need to open it up a bit, reinforce the structure, add soil, plant some native vines.

I'm imagining something like this:

M1EK · #**305** Posted **Sep 22, 2014, 2:19 PM**

I've paid attention the last week or two and have driven by the Fresh Plus parking lot during PM rush (ranging from 4:45 to 5:45 PM) about 6 times during that span.

The highest usage I saw was about 50% of spots filled. The typical is about a third.

The anonymous coward is feeding you nonsense, people.

aqibtalib · #**306** Posted **Sep 22, 2014, 8:38 PM**

I was riding my bike near Mueller on Saturday and took a pic of the new cycletracks on what I believe is Tilley Street (?). Pretty rad.

SecretAgentMan · #**307** Posted **Sep 23, 2014, 2:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by M1EK

I've paid attention the last week or two and have driven by the Fresh Plus parking lot during PM rush (ranging from 4:45 to 5:45 PM) about 6 times during that span.

The highest usage I saw was about 50% of spots filled. The typical is about a third.

The anonymous coward is feeding you nonsense, people.

All that tells me is that very few people shop regularly at Fresh Plus. Why would they when they can shop at Central Market, HEB Hancock, or HEB Mueller (yummy BBQ, growlers to go and live music)? Fresh Plus is a neighborhood convenience grocery, and not a particularly good one. Any pseudonymous bully that actually set foot in Fresh Plus could tell you that.

H2O · #**308** Posted **Sep 23, 2014, 11:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aqibtalib

I was riding my bike near Mueller on Saturday and took a pic of the new cycletracks on what I believe is Tilley Street (?). Pretty rad.

Yes, Tilley. I see you corrected yourself already. It is not to be confused by Tillery, which is also nearby.

_Matt · #**309** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 12:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgentMan

All that tells me is that very few people shop regularly at Fresh Plus. Why would they when they can shop at Central Market, HEB Hancock, or HEB Mueller (yummy BBQ, growlers to go and live music)? Fresh Plus is a neighborhood convenience grocery, and not a particularly good one. Any pseudonymous bully that actually set foot in Fresh Plus could tell you that.

They have great sandwiches at the deli. When I lived on Windsor I would go by the Fresh Plus on W Lynn all the time. Very fresh ingredients that didn't taste mass produced.

The ATX · #**310** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 12:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Matt

They have great sandwiches at the deli. When I lived on Windsor I would go by the Fresh Plus on W Lynn all the time. Very fresh ingredients that didn't taste mass produced.

That is exactly what this thread needs. Some lighthearted brevity to quell the disparaging innuendo and conspiracy theories.

Syndic · #**311** Posted **Sep 25, 2014, 3:57 AM**

Speaking of all those new roads, I saw that they were all paved last week and decided to drive on all of them. They're already building houses out there:

H2O · #**312** Posted **Oct 11, 2014, 12:08 PM**

More on the 'Diamond Building' in the Mueller Town Center.

http://www.muelleraustin.com/uploads...ng-mueller.pdf

M1EK · #**313** Posted **Oct 30, 2014, 8:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgentMan

All that tells me is that very few people shop regularly at Fresh Plus. Why would they when they can shop at Central Market, HEB Hancock, or HEB Mueller (yummy BBQ, growlers to go and live music)? Fresh Plus is a neighborhood convenience grocery, and not a particularly good one. Any pseudonymous bully that actually set foot in Fresh Plus could tell you that.

We go to the Fresh Plus about once every other week. It's not our primary store, because we're too far to walk to it regularly (and once you drive, you tend to drive to bigger stores, which is why places like this have a hard time surviving). I did, however, use the Fresh Plus in Clarksville nearly exclusively for a decade, on foot.

To characterize it as a convenience grocery is highly misleading.

Syndic · #**314** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 9:59 PM**

The last parcel of Mueller went before the planning commission recently and (I'm guessing) was approved. Sorry so small. You can find the bigger version here.

Syndic · #**315** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 7:24 PM**

Model of Mueller:

Apparently, it's now 40% complete. And progressing rapidly. I still hate that the developers felt the need to insulate Mueller from the less-affluent surrounding area with parks as a (racist) buffer. I hope someday they get rid of those parks and develop them.

KevinFromTexas · #**316** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 7:40 PM**

Man, those signs on the model had me fooled for a second thinking there were some skinny midrises planned. Boo.

The bordering parks don't feel racist, but I do dislike the sort of cutoff feel of Mueller. It doesn't interact with anything. My biggest gripe is it's a total waste of a missed opportunity with basically no meaningful density. It's a big yawn for me, and I doubt I'll ever visit the place (still haven't).

Syndic · #**317** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 7:46 PM**

I definitely recommend going to check it out. It's an important development in Austin, whether you agree with the way it was developed or not. It's still an incredibly cute neighborhood that you would enjoy living in.

KevinFromTexas · #**318** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 7:51 PM**

Yeah, the houses look like a development that was developed near us a few years ago. I actually do like that neighborhood. I was just hoping for a little more height and density at Mueller for some more variety. That looks like it could be in Round Rock, not 3 miles from Downtown Austin.

Syndic · #**319** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 7:57 PM**

It's denser than you think, Kevin. Go look at it.

wwmiv · #**320** Posted **Jan 17, 2015, 7:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndic

It's denser than you think, Kevin. Go look at it.

It's houses on smaller lots. When Kevin was talking about density, he meant entirely full of VMU.