Three Towers; 1,000+ homes; Downtown Rainey District

[StoOgE]

Austin has a housing crisis. These are in the CBD. Mass transit is coming.

Build places for people to stay. Manhattan like density in the CBD sound like *exactly* where it should be. Sorry, live downtown and complain about density aint it.

[Syndic]

Rainey is fine. Build big buildings, hopefully without parking garages, and all will be well. I don't get all the hand-wringing about needing a plan. It's like a few blocks. What do you need a big comprehensive plan for? And what can you even do? It's fine. People who don't like it over there will easily be able to avoid it. We should ignore these peoples' criticisms.

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Again, a massive investment in high capacity transit literally in the neighborhood, which passed last year.

Cool cool, a transit stop.

A single rail station -- while awesome -- won't ameliorate the traffic. The largest cities, with much more extensive transit systems than Austin is building, still need grids that connect, and strategies for dealing with car traffic.

I'm sorry to be such a pessimist but I don't think we've quite reckoned with what a boom in Rainey -- as opposed to quarantine in Rainey -- is going to look like, or how dense we're actually building (Which is good! it's great! but we have to get faster at solving these evolving challenges because the market is going to overwhelm us).

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Cool cool, a transit stop.

A single rail station -- while awesome -- won't ameliorate the traffic. The largest cities, with much more extensive transit systems than Austin is building, still need grids that connect, and strategies for dealing with car traffic.

I'm sorry to be such a pessimist but I don't think we've quite reckoned with what a boom in Rainey -- as opposed to quarantine in Rainey -- is going to look like, or how dense we're actually building (Which is good! it's great! but we have to get faster at solving these evolving challenges because the market is going to overwhelm us).

Good. Keep voting for expanded transit in this city and improved land use codes.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Cool cool, a transit stop.

A single rail station -- while awesome -- won't ameliorate the traffic. The largest cities, with much more extensive transit systems than Austin is building, still need grids that connect, and strategies for dealing with car traffic.

I'm sorry to be such a pessimist but I don't think we've quite reckoned with what a boom in Rainey -- as opposed to quarantine in Rainey -- is going to look like, or how dense we're actually building (Which is good! it's great! but we have to get faster at solving these evolving challenges because the market is going to overwhelm us).

Not just "a transit stop". a huge, multi-billion dollar investment in a transit system. So that many/most of those who live in Rainey can take transit to their work, and so that many/most of those who visit Rainey have a feasible option to take transit to there. And those that choose to drive instead can deal with traffic.

Plus it's not only the transit, but the bridge will provide a bike/pedestrian connection south.

You can't fix traffic. If you make it way easier to drive there, then that many more people will just drive.

[427MM]

A huge amount of these homes are to be built without parking though I know acting like a real city will scare some. I live downtown without a car but was forced to buy a parking spot because it came with the home--dumb. These towers will take years to build, any needed changes can be planned/worked on, but to vote no on these would be a huge loss for Austin. Sadly, I'm told CM Tovo is helping the downtown residents that are opposed.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Cool cool, a transit stop.

A single rail station -- while awesome -- won't ameliorate the traffic. The largest cities, with much more extensive transit systems than Austin is building, still need grids that connect, and strategies for dealing with car traffic.

I'm sorry to be such a pessimist but I don't think we've quite reckoned with what a boom in Rainey -- as opposed to quarantine in Rainey -- is going to look like, or how dense we're actually building (Which is good! it's great! but we have to get faster at solving these evolving challenges because the market is going to overwhelm us).

A transit stop? How extremely disingenuous.

[drummer]

Growing pains. It's scary to some to give up the "freedom" of a car. When I lived in China for the first several years I didn't own a car. We finally got a car for our family but still only used it when we were leaving the city proper for any reason. I put gas in it once per month on average.

Moving back to the States and living in the suburbs has been a huge change for us, and honestly we find ourselves missing the density, walkability, and convenience of Asia. Not all of our time there was in mega cities either, but we still made it work - even with kids! It's just a challenge for those who have never experienced it. It's understandable, but we have to make a transition at some point. Novacek is absolutely right on this point:

You can't fix traffic. If you make it way easier to drive there, then that many more people will just drive.

[ATX2030]

I just don't see the CoA giving up millions in future tax revenue. Skyscrapers, with their small footprints, generate huge amounts of money for the city coffers and that can't be dismissed.

[427MM]

Originally Posted by ATX2030

I just don't see the CoA giving up millions in future tax revenue. Skyscrapers, with their small footprints, generate huge amounts of money for the city coffers and that can't be dismissed.

NIMBYism is rooted in ignoring the greater good

[drummer]

Originally Posted by 427MM

NIMBYism is rooted in ignoring the greater good

[ohhey]

You guys are being way to hysterical about this. Rainey needs a lot of infrastructure work - more than a new transit station years down the line. The city has been dragging its feet on the issue for years. There's clearly room for a compromise here that would be for the betterment of all sides. Specifically, the city council can simultaneously approve the proposed density and funding for accelerated improvements to streets, sidewalks, trails, etc.

I'm pretty sure the Rainey neighborhood association is savvy enough to know you always start a negotiation asking for more than you really want/need.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by ohhey

You guys are being way to hysterical about this. Rainey needs a lot of infrastructure work - more than a new transit station years down the line. The city has been dragging its feet on the issue for years. There's clearly room for a compromise here that would be for the betterment of all sides. Specifically, the city council can simultaneously approve the proposed density and funding for accelerated improvements to streets, sidewalks, and trailsKeep the density.

I'm pretty sure the Rainey neighborhood association is savvy enough to know you always start a negotiation asking for more than you really want/need.

[Syndic]

Hahaha, I worked downtown for a few years. I saw everything. I can't imagine someone who chooses to live downtown is opposed to crowds, demonstrations, or street closures. Unless you're still attempting to get around by car?

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Syndic

Hahaha, I worked downtown for a few years. I saw everything. I can't imagine someone who chooses to live downtown is opposed to crowds, demonstrations, or street closures. Unless you're still attempting to get around by car?

It not about 'Opposing" at all.Didn't say that. It's understanding the conversation is more than "build build build". And working downtown isn't the same as living/investing. You can walk away form the issues... or drive away. ;-)

[TexasPlaya]

Originally Posted by ohhey

You guys are being way to hysterical about this. Rainey needs a lot of infrastructure work - more than a new transit station years down the line. The city has been dragging its feet on the issue for years. There's clearly room for a compromise here that would be for the betterment of all sides. Specifically, the city council can simultaneously approve the proposed density and funding for accelerated improvements to streets, sidewalks, trails, etc.

I'm pretty sure the Rainey neighborhood association is savvy enough to know you always start a negotiation asking for more than you really want/need.

Originally Posted by MichaelB

It not about 'Opposing" at all.Didn't say that. It's understanding the conversation is more than "build build build". And working downtown isn't the same as living/investing. You can walk away form the issues... or drive away. ;-)

Yea I go to Rainey St about every other year now and the buildings are getting nicer but the environment and infrastructure isn't.

Texas builds first and worries about the side walks and traffic later.... which isn't without it's positives.

[MichaelB]

SO how many of you experts on urbanism actually have invested in downtown Austin... live here... and experience the real time issues that come with lack of planning, transportation, homelessness, crowds, demonstrations, street closures. etc. ? Speaking of the greater good... if the first thing you say is its not affordable , then you should be the first to ask for affordable housing to be built at a greater than 5% rate, which is what is proposed on the new housing on Rainey. If you don't force most developers to benefit the city they profit from, they will only benefit themselves.

[JAM]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

SO how many of you experts on urbanism actually have invested in downtown Austin... live here... and experience the real time issues that come with lack of planning, transportation, homelessness, crowds, demonstrations, street closures. etc. ? Speaking of the greater good... if the first thing you say is its not affordable , then you should be the first to ask for affordable housing to be built at a greater than 5% rate, which is what is proposed on the new housing on Rainey. If you don't force most developers to benefit the city they profit from, they will only benefit themselves.

All great points. Been living city center since the last century in some of the biggest cities in the world. guess what, they are nice, but they have problems. We should avoid those problems.

Been living in downtown Austin for almost 2 decades. Been living on Rainey since it used to be scary to walk down the street after 10pm. Been waiting for that train to show up for 2 decades now. probably be another two decades. been waiting for a side walk the whole time too. been waiting for a street w/o potholes that whole time too. I used to get hassled by the cops for walking in the park after 10, now they let people camp there permanently. someone needs to be in charge of trash pickup for some of these tents!

I don't like these buildings w/o parking spots. Like it or not, THIS metro is car centric. even if the owner/tenant doesnt have a car, their friends do, and then they take up parking spots. the rich ones who still keep a car just buy a parking spot nearby. Then all the people who cant afford to live downtown but work downtown cant find a parking spot. the ladies like a parking spot close to their work - especially with our new big city problems you mentioned. have you seen all the cars circling and vulturing for a parking spot on Rainey. There are more now than ever. even with all of our fabulous new means of transportation, including all those scooters blocking the sidewalks - if that is what you want to call them!

[427MM]

Originally Posted by JAM

I don't like these buildings w/o parking spots. Like it or not, THIS metro is car centric.

Strongly disagree with you here. We know how much we’re changing the planet and the largest contributors to these changes and we have to be able to live more sustainably. My mortgage includes a $30k parking space that I don’t use. The majority of my friends who come into town do not bring their own vehicle and if they do they are on their own as I’m not going to worry about their carbon machine. Forcing each and every home to have a car is how we remain a car centric place, evolving into something better is how we give the future a chance.

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by 427MM

Strongly disagree with you here. We know how much we’re changing the planet and the largest contributors to these changes and we have to be able to live more sustainably. My mortgage includes a $30k parking space that I don’t use. The majority of my friends who come into town do not bring their own vehicle and if they do they are on their own as I’m not going to worry about their carbon machine. Forcing each and every home to have a car is how we remain a car centric place, evolving into something better is how we give the future a chance.

We need to move the city away from being as car centric as it is. I have concerns about parking availability downtown, but I also think the abundance of parking downtown is causing people to not take mass transit because of convenience.

I *do* think Austin is less than a decade away from the central part of the city being good enough to not need automobiles. If you work *and* live along the route of the new light-rail lines I think you could achieve an automobile-less life and we would see an uptick in services like Car2Go for weekend trips.

Its a chicken and the egg problem for sure, and I think Austin is going to hit a density peak in the next 10 years that will get us there in parts of the city.