AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[jbssfelix]

Originally Posted by The ATX

I didn't realize that was the Grove site. I would have thought it would be further along by now.

Not when you have to fight through every minute level of bureaucracy at every step because there's someone at each level still trying to kill it.

[427MM]

The unsustainable sentiment of "don't change Austin" and the hope to protect central city single family homes from change certainly seems to play a role in the broken culture in city departments that work in the development process. Hope our new city manager and some new council members can help lead us to a healthier dialogue. Let's stop working to make development difficult/expensive.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by 427MM

Hope our new city manager and some new council members can help lead us to a healthier dialogue. Let's stop working to make development difficult/expensive.

I used to hold out hope. That’s why I founded Friends of Zilker in 2012. I am proud of of FOZ, but I think the ability to easily persuade the masses without evidence or competence, presents a massive uphill battle for the truth.

I mean, they (ANC) want less competent people on planning commission. Great, if let’s out lay people on medical boards while we are it. Want to build a rocket to Mars? Cool, Jim -a truck driver from Toepeka- has a few concerns. Now that I think about it, the Dems could learn a few tricks from the relentless misinformation from the ANC.

I’m not a conspiracy guy, if fact I loathe those dudes, but I can’t help to think something else is going on. Either that, or those running things are dumb and bored.

[Texas Jeff]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Here's the CVC map from the Planning Commission backup file. Also, the proposal for the new building is for only 180K sq ft of office space (and 18K sq ft retail).

Those CVC's are pretty worthless because of UT's stadium development and tree growth around the LBJ library since the CVC's were created.

I walked over to the LBJ Library plaza to see what I could see of downtown from the CVC ... the answer is nothing except a bit of the Frost building. You might be able to see a bit more from LBJ's office at the top of the library, but is that worth lowering the height of a downtown buidling? You can see the capitol from UT's parking garage on the east side of the stadium, but the Independent (to me) is more impressive now than the capitol building.

I also tried driving down Red River to look for the capitol dome as you head southbound on RR. You can see a bit of it over the upper deck, but just for a second.

There is a pretty good view of the capitol from the street right in front of UT's Rec Sports Center and there may be a great view from any new south end zone construction at the stadium, but IMHO these CVC's should be revisited since they don't add much value.

A new building with a public floor providing a nice view of the capitol would be better than a glimpse here or there from old vantage points, in my opinion.

[Maximusx1]

Not sure how to look into it, but there is fencing up around the BB&T bank at 5th and Nueces. I think someone here said their was a CVC determination for that block. There are great big trees in the middle of that block and everyone loves La Zona Rosa and Mellow Johnny's BUT the quarter block that the BB&T sits on is alomst as big as the lot that 5th & West sprouted from.

I'd love to add a tower on that lot to add to the 5th street canyon effect. Anyone know whats up on that lot?

[Riverranchdrone]

Just seen on one of my drone pages that besides 600 guadalupe, there is another big tower being planned. A drone operator did a job, "architectural VR and promotional imaging work" for two towers that were close to 900 ft. He could not go into detail on the other tower.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

Just seen on one of my drone pages that besides 600 guadalupe, there is another big tower being planned. A drone operator did a job, "architectural VR and promotional imaging work" for two towers that were close to 900 ft. He could not go into detail on the other tower.

Can you provide a link to the "drone pages"? I suspect this would be the Post Office block.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Maximusx1

Not sure how to look into it, but there is fencing up around the BB&T bank at 5th and Nueces. I think someone here said their was a CVC determination for that block. There are great big trees in the middle of that block and everyone loves La Zona Rosa and Mellow Johnny's BUT the quarter block that the BB&T sits on is alomst as big as the lot that 5th & West sprouted from.

I'd love to add a tower on that lot to add to the 5th street canyon effect. Anyone know whats up on that lot?

I posted about a CVC filing for the Sovereign/Horizon bank across the street a few months ago. A quote in that filing said the owner wants to build as tall as possible. But apparently plans changed because that CVC filing was aborted shortly after it was filed.
I can't find a CVC filing about the BB&T site, but it sure seems like there was some news about that site earlier this year.

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Can you provide a link to the "drone pages"? I suspect this would be the Post Office block.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Aust..._comment_reply

[The ATX]

This could be what's going on with one of the BBT Bank buildings. That half of the block actually has/had two BBT bank buildings. Banks change there names a lot and the building at 601 W. 5th (the stone building in the Streetview shot) had a recent internal demo permit filed as Guarantee Bank as part of a remodel.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...ertyrsn=715917

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Can you provide a link to the "drone pages"? I suspect this would be the Post Office block.

Just curious -- what makes you think it's the Post Office block?

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

Just seen on one of my drone pages that besides 600 guadalupe, there is another big tower being planned. A drone operator did a job, "architectural VR and promotional imaging work" for two towers that were close to 900 ft. He could not go into detail on the other tower.

That's interesting. I had to join that page to read that. He indicates one of those is 600 Guadalupe, but is being mum on the 2nd one. I do remember George Blume specifically mentioning that height isn't everything and something to the effect that someone else could be working on a 900 foot building that would eclipse their height.

We've already seen the renderings for the failed/cancelled Gensler design at Block 185 and had someone else say it likely won't crack 400 feet. So, as The ATX suggested, that really only leaves the post office site. I suppose there could be another location for a tall building, but that's where I've always assumed we'd see something tall.

[We vs us]

That's fair . . . just by process of elimination alone you get the Post Office block.

I may have to start a thread where we do an inventory of un- or underused lots in the CBD so we know what's left on the table to play around with.

[KevinFromTexas]

The guy did say look for it to be on an underutilized lot north or south of the river. Now, I doubt we'd see a 900 foot building south of the river, so he was probably just throwing that in there. I would think the Post Office site would be the one. Of course, there are others.

[The ATX]

The post office site has been a leading candidate for a tall tower for at least 10 years - especially since Endeavor owns (owned?) it. Now that the courthouse block is spoken for, the P.O. site is suspect #1. BUT, nobody thought the Extended Stay block with a historical building would be the site of a tallest proposal. So there could be other dark horses out there. The 600 Guad project was first uncovered by the commercial drone shots and a CVC filing. We must be vigilant.

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

So, as The ATX suggested, that really only leaves the post office site. I suppose there could be another location for a tall building, but that's where I've always assumed we'd see something tall.

What about that block that has the State Parking Garage with the chilling plant? I don't think any of that block is in a Capitol View Corridor.

The chilling plant s basically in the southeast corner of the garage. How much of that parking garage could be torn down without affecting the chilling plant?

[wwmiv]

Post Office is obviously a candidate, as is the State Garage, but also:

Is there anything proposed for the parking lot SE of 7th and San Jacinto?

Is the old La Zona Rosa building historical designated? Even if it is, can the facade be integrated into a new structure? What if the rest of that BB&T block has been assembled except for the residential structure in the NW quadrant?

There's the tower that IBC had been rumored to build next to their office tower. I wonder if that could end up seeing some height.

If we want to take the "south of the river" thing seriously, then I'd assume that Hyatt Regency is developing an adjacent condo tower fronting South Congress.

[wwmiv]

I've said it for awhile and I'll say it again:

Most of downtown is (A) designated historic, (B) already maximally developed, (C) already in the private development pipeline, (D) spoken for for all practical purposes by public projects like the CC convention or the Medical School or by master planned developments like the Statesman lot, or (E) is obstructed by a CVC.

There aren't many more lots left for a tower of any height (let alone this height, in fact the lack of lots is probably why we're now seeing these taller buildings), and it was wrong to assume that there were no users who had speculated about a major tower at 600 Guadalope given the contraints above. In fact, myself, Kevin, ATX, and others had done so in the distant past.

Cut and capping interstate 35 would not only revolutionize downtown by reconnecting it to the eastside grid, but also because it will open up a whole new area of downtown for highrise redevelopment that is currently filled with parking lots because so many CVCs will become functionally obsolete.

These restrictions to development are also fundamentally alterring other areas of town by also making them more densely built to soak up that excess demand at a lower price point, like the Domain/Broadmoor, Highland, SoCo, S. Lamar, St. Elmo, and East Riverside.

[The ATX]

A demo permit was filed yesterday for this house across the street from the county jail. There's no CVC, but I don't expect anything too exciting to happen on a smallish lot across from the jail.

Permit:
https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...ertyrsn=164894

Streetview:

[trilliondollarted]

Anyone know anything about 44 East Ave. Heard a rumor of a 40+ story building being proposed there. Also noticed there was a tree study submitted a few weeks back

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...ertyrsn=805989
Would like to evaluate trees on site in context of potential redevelopment.