AUSTIN | The Independent | 690 FEET | 58 FLOORS | Complete - Page 16

wwmiv · #**301** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 3:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

I agree, the lack of traffic is what will make the Independent attractive to live in. There will be less noise, because it is sort of isolated, while the new residential buildings at Greenwater will be sandwiched between Cesar Chavez and a bustling extension of 2nd Street. Ideally, they could replace the current pedestrian bridge with a much wider one that as you mentioned has some green space. Does anyone know what the deal is with the old wooden, abandoned train tracks that are next to it now. Will those ever be removed?

A) there's gonna be a lack of traffic on 3rd regardless of whether or not a bridge is built, because the street does not connect to Lamar and does not connect to 35. It's an empty corridor w/r/t cars regardless.

B) I imagine you'd get neighborhood opposition to removing the train tracks, which are very much in the "Keep Austin Weird" mentality. I personally love them and wish they would retrofit it as a pocket park a la the NYC high line park. If they build an auto bridge, I hope they keep the tracks by moving them slightly southward and maybe utilize them as a unique pedestrian bridge on that side of the road.

lzppjb · #**302** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 3:34 AM**

I think an auto bridge is inevitable.

lzppjb · #**303** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 3:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

B) I imagine you'd get neighborhood opposition to removing the train tracks, which are very much in the "Keep Austin Weird" mentality. I personally love them and wish they would retrofit it as a pocket park a la the NYC high line park. If they build an auto bridge, I hope they keep the tracks by moving them slightly southward and maybe utilize them as a unique pedestrian bridge on that side of the road.

I agree.

H2O · #**304** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 11:48 AM**

58 stories
694 feet
34th level is amenities
top 'cube' is mechanical
there is no longer an office component
3rd Street is more of a plaza with limited automobile access to the building
no new bridge on 3rd, but extensive trail improvements along the creek

smith_atx · #**305** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 2:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

58 stories
694 feet
34th level is amenities
top 'cube' is mechanical
there is no longer an office component
3rd Street is more of a plaza with limited automobile access to the building
no new bridge on 3rd, but extensive trail improvements along the creek

So it would beat The Austonian by 11 ft.

TXLove · #**306** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 3:39 PM**

Not that I am complaining, ok I am complaining, but if that is the correct height why couldn't they add 6ft. Maybe I could be the spire on this one and we will have Austin's first 700 footer

Tech House · #**307** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 4:37 PM**

So it will be the new tallest all-residential building west of the Mississipi. We'll have the top two, unless another city has topped the Austonian in the last year or two.

H2O, are your data definitive and final, or is it part conjecture, or just a current proposal that may change again?

AustinGoesVertical · #**308** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 6:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

58 stories
694 feet
34th level is amenities
top 'cube' is mechanical
there is no longer an office component
3rd Street is more of a plaza with limited automobile access to the building
no new bridge on 3rd, but extensive trail improvements along the creek

Where did you get this information? Are you sure that height includes the mechanical cube, because 58 stories at 12 feet, not even taking into the account the 1-1.5 ft separation between floors mentioned by WWMIV, would put this building at 696 ft. I'd be surprised if this building didn't have 12 ft ceiling heights. From the massing, the mechanical cube looks pretty substantial, so I'd assume that would add more pinnacle height. Plus, where would the penthouses be if not on the 58th floor?

Hmm... Still think this one winds up closer to the initial 750 ft projection.

wwmiv · #**309** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 6:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Where did you get this information? Are you sure that height includes the mechanical cube, because 58 stories at 12 feet, not even taking into the account the 1-1.5 ft separation between floors mentioned by WWMIV, would put this building at 696 ft. I'd be surprised if this building didn't have 12 ft ceiling heights. From the massing, the mechanical cube looks pretty substantial, so I'd assume that would add more pinnacle height. Plus, where would the penthouses be if not on the 58th floor?

Hmm... Still think this one winds up closer to the initial 750 ft projection.

This could very well have 10 foot ceilings for most of the floors, then.

hereinaustin · #**310** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 10:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

This could very well have 10 foot ceilings for most of the floors, then.

At the price point they are asking, I would be surprised if we only get 10' ceilings.

wwmiv · #**311** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 10:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hereinaustin

At the price point they are asking, I would be surprised if we only get 10' ceilings.

So would I. I've been assuming 12' for most of the units with 14' for some of the floors higher up.

AustinGoesVertical · #**312** Posted **Apr 4, 2015, 10:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hereinaustin

At the price point they are asking, I would be surprised if we only get 10' ceilings.

That's my thought process as well, but that's the only way the height could be the 694 ft stated above. With 12 ft ceilings, this one definitely clears 700' and maybe pushes 800 ft, depending on what is actually going on with that mechanical cube. Let's hope for the latter. I'm sure residents would much prefer living in what would truly be Austin's signature tower, not one that is a mere 11 ft higher than the Austonian.

the Genral · #**313** Posted **Apr 5, 2015, 12:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

That's my thought process as well, but that's the only way the height could be the 694 ft stated above. With 12 ft ceilings, this one definitely clears 700' and maybe pushes 800 ft, depending on what is actually going on with that mechanical cube. Let's hope for the latter. I'm sure residents would much prefer living in what would truly be Austin's signature tower, not one that is a mere 11 ft higher than the Austonian.

The developers seem to want to go big and tall or not at all, doesn't seem like bragging rights if you tell perspective residents that the tower they are interested in is taller than the Austonian by 20 regular hotdogs stacked end to end. I'll get on the 750' bandwagon mostly for wishful thinking, but also because I think they are looking to make an aesthetic and monumental statement to our skyline with this building. Just my opinion based on what they have been showing us so far.

GoldenBoot · #**314** Posted **Apr 5, 2015, 5:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hereinaustin

At the price point they are asking, I would be surprised if we only get 10' ceilings.

That would be my point. As much hooplah Kevin Burns is vomiting about this project, for it to have a smaller average floor-to-ceiling height than the Austonian would be pretty pathetic! If one want's to make a statement and be "Independent" in the Austin skyline, why are you building a structure roughly the same height as the next best thing? Make a stand! Be "Independent!" Hell, I'd rather live in the Austonian and be on Congress than tucked away on a dark corner of 3rd Street at the Independent (with no direct road access to downtown).

Man this is disappointing if true. I was really hoping for a 750+ footer. That would have made a real statement and could truly be proclaimed "Independent" in the Austin skyline. At the same height as the Austonian...there is nothing new (no matter what the design).

It may be decades before we see something surpass 700' should the Independent fail to do so. Waller Park Place will not, and there is nothing on any drawing board which would sniff the 700+' mark.

KevinFromTexas · #**315** Posted **Apr 5, 2015, 5:08 AM**

All along I never got the impression from the model that it would crack the 700 foot mark. I was sure it would be around the height of The Austonian, but not much more. It's still fairly early in the process, so who knows.

JoninATX · #**316** Posted **Apr 5, 2015, 5:24 AM**

Ok lets not get carried away here since we don't have the official height at this moment. This tower may indeed surpass the 700ft. mark, but for now we have to wait and see.

AustinGoesVertical · #**317** Posted **Apr 5, 2015, 5:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoninATX

Ok lets not get carried away here since we don't have the official height at this moment. This tower may indeed surpass the 700ft. mark, but for now we have to wait and see.

I guess it just depends on how credible the person who posted the 694 ft height projection is. They haven't defended it to this point so maybe it was their own speculation after all. Would be shocked if they charged 3,000,000+ for a unit with only 10 ft ceilings.

The ATX · #**318** Posted **Apr 5, 2015, 6:03 AM**

I don't know if anyone noticed it, but both the Independent and 70 Rainey have a price range per unit of 300K to 3 Million. If all things were equal with the floor plans, I would have a tough choice deciding between the two.

wwmiv · #**319** Posted **Apr 5, 2015, 6:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

I don't know if anyone noticed it, but both the Independent and 70 Rainey have a price range per unit of 300K to 3 Million. If all things were equal with the floor plans, I would have a tough choice deciding between the two.

70 Rainey (west facing) > Independent (south facing) > Independent (any other face) > 70 Rainey (any other face)

AustinGoesVertical · #**320** Posted **Apr 5, 2015, 6:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

I don't know if anyone noticed it, but both the Independent and 70 Rainey have a price range per unit of 300K to 3 Million. If all things were equal with the floor plans, I would have a tough choice deciding between the two.

I'd choose 70 Rainey because it will have an amazing view of the Lake and Downtown and is in a vibrant district. I have to say, I can't see many people choosing the Independent if it really will only have 10 ft ceilings. 70 Rainey looks like it'll have 12 ft ceilings based on how tall the rendering looks. The Independent was marketing itself as an icon, but it'll barely eclipse the height of the Austonian if the above poster is correct about the 694 ft height. A little disappointed honestly.

I'd be ecstatic if this was just coming out of the blue, but I really had my mind set on a tower that would finally break the 700 ft and 60-story barrier. Honestly thought it would flirt with 800' after looking at the massing.