Convention Center Expansion Updates - Page 28

The ATX · #**541** Posted **Sep 13, 2024, 3:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by randalls

What was their proposed timeline to begin demo on the convention center?

The permits don't have that info yet, but it's supposedly set to start immediately after SWSX 2025.

resansom · #**542** Posted **Sep 13, 2024, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

The site plan for Demo of the current 14 acre CC site was filed today. This site plan includes excavation. A second site plan will be filed for the new CC.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...ertyrsn=198372

I must have missed the announcement - so they are completely re-building the CC? Was the new design ever posted?

jalapenokettlechips · #**543** Posted **Oct 2, 2024, 8:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by resansom

I must have missed the announcement - so they are completely re-building the CC? Was the new design ever posted?

This is not a final plan (released in 2021) but its the current vision as far as I know.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/xv1q576...ng_Studies.pdf

H2O · #**544** Posted **Oct 4, 2024, 1:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalapenokettlechips

This is not a final plan (released in 2021) but its the current vision as far as I know.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/xv1q576...ng_Studies.pdf

Except that they are no longer doing it in phases, keeping parts of the facility open while they rebuild. That makes me think the overall plan will be different. They must have developed a plan that would be more efficient to completely demolish and rebuild than try to phase it.

WestAustinite · #**545** Posted **Oct 4, 2024, 3:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

Except that they are no longer doing it in phases, keeping parts of the facility open while they rebuild. That makes me think the overall plan will be different. They must have developed a plan that would be more efficient to completely demolish and rebuild than try to phase it.

Agreed. I'm sure they did the math and figure out they could shorten the construction time by a year or more by demolishing the entire structure. Imagine how much faster they could rebuild I-35 if they did not need to allow traffic to continue flowing!

ILUVSAT · #**546** Posted **Oct 4, 2024, 8:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

Except that they are no longer doing it in phases, keeping parts of the facility open while they rebuild. That makes me think the overall plan will be different. They must have developed a plan that would be more efficient to completely demolish and rebuild than try to phase it.

I believe the CVB curated a coalition of large hotels and other venues in an effort to keep some events in Austin while construction is ongoing.

The ATX · #**547** Posted **Oct 17, 2024, 6:06 PM**

Plans to include residential or hotel towers in the new CC have been scrapped:

https://communityimpact.com/austin/s...redevelopment/

AusTex · #**548** Posted **Oct 18, 2024, 2:14 AM**

OK, 2034 restrictions for a new hotel due to the agreement with the Hilton.

No residential for current, what ever reasons, OK.

Bigger convention floor space as a result...Plus.

Now show us the design and the cost estimate. Waiting. Hopeful.

The ATX · #**549** Posted **Oct 18, 2024, 2:16 PM**

The designs will be available in either late '24 or early '25 according to the CI article.

Jdawgboy · #**550** Posted **Oct 18, 2024, 4:05 PM**

I Don't care if they scrap the attached highrises if it means we get an even larger convention center, just as long as they still incorporate stores, restaurants, music venues and better connections to the Waterloo Greenway and Rainey Street, as well as Red River/6th all while reconnecting both 2nd and 3rd streets to Red River. It's a win win IMO. There are bound to be new highrises planned around the CC at some point anyway, but we need the CC district to be activated, hopefully both day and night.

We vs us · #**551** Posted **Oct 18, 2024, 5:20 PM**

They keep not doing their due diligence on the Hilton contract and investment structure, and its frankly embarrassing. Even more so because the Hilton is managed by the ACE board, kissing cousins to the CC management. If you'll remember, there was a similar hold up in the process a couple of years ago. They had to restructure the Hilton debt so that losing the CC didn't trigger a default. But -- they had to actually DISCOVER that along the way. They had to actually TRIP over it, rather than engage with their stakeholders, including the ones that are city owned.

Gah. It's just so frustrating.

Though, I will say it's illuminating that that noncompete is there. First, all told it's a 50 (!!) year blackout period, which makes me wonder if it coincides with the date the Hilton's debt will be retired. Either way it plainly underestimated the level of success the city would see when it was built back in 2004 or whenever. So bully for us. But also holy cripes, that's a clause that needs to be renegotiated.

I'm interested now to see if the Western Parcels -- which were hot to trot for office development during COVID, but are now super quiet -- will pivot into hospitality uses. If the city can't build a new hotel, it's up to the private markets, and those blocks are still prime spots.

atxsnail · #**552** Posted **Oct 18, 2024, 6:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I Don't care if they scrap the attached highrises if it means we get an even larger convention center, just as long as they still incorporate stores, restaurants, music venues and better connections to the Waterloo Greenway and Rainey Street, as well as Red River/6th all while reconnecting both 2nd and 3rd streets to Red River. It's a win win IMO. There are bound to be new highrises planned around the CC at some point anyway, but we need the CC district to be activated, hopefully both day and night.

It'd be nice if they could just drop a new downtown HEB onto the top floor and call it a day. Instant activation.

GoldenBoot · #**553** Posted **Oct 18, 2024, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTex

Bigger convention floor space as a result...

I didn't see where that is the case. One would assume that removing the two towers from the plan would leave available area for more exhibition space. However, the article did not say that was going to be the case.

Also, with the axing of the two towers - I believe that will significantly increase the chances of a hotel and residential on the 99 Trinity site.

SproutingTowers · #**554** Posted **Oct 19, 2024, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTex

Bigger convention floor space as a result...Plus.

Not surprised if more space is going to be added where after Austin announced a rebuild of the convention center other Texas cities have announced expansions/renovations for their own.

The ATX · #**555** Posted **Oct 20, 2024, 6:31 PM**

I would prefer that more space be added to the CC than having two towers at one end of the site. There is a lot of competition amongst CCs and exhibit space is a key metric, and this will be the last CC expansion for decades. There are a lot of sites surrounding the CC with no height limits, so it will eventually be surrounded by skyscrapers.

gillynova · #**556** Posted **Oct 24, 2024, 8:02 PM**

drummer · #**557** Posted **Oct 25, 2024, 6:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

I would prefer that more space be added to the CC than having two towers at one end of the site. There is a lot of competition amongst CCs and exhibit space is a key metric, and this will be the last CC expansion for decades. There are a lot of sites surrounding the CC with no height limits, so it will eventually be surrounded by skyscrapers.

Agreed.

drummer · #**558** Posted **Oct 25, 2024, 6:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillynova

It looks so squat and incomplete from this angle.

H2O · #**559** Posted **Feb 22, 2025, 8:52 PM**

AIA Austin Urban Design Committee is hosting The New Austin Convention Center: UncoventionalATX a special presentation and panel discussion unveiling the design for the new convention center on Wednesday Feb 26, 2025 11:30 - 1:30 at the Joe C Thompson Conference Center at UT.

https://calendar.aiaaustin.org/event...ention-center/

Speculator · #**560** Posted **Feb 24, 2025, 3:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

AIA Austin Urban Design Committee is hosting The New Austin Convention Center: UncoventionalATX a special presentation and panel discussion unveiling the design for the new convention center on Wednesday Feb 26, 2025 11:30 - 1:30 at the Joe C Thompson Conference Center at UT.

https://calendar.aiaaustin.org/event...ention-center/

Austin has a chance to build something special. I've searched the LMN and Page sites and don't see anything to write home about. I hope the city doesn't whiff on this one. Anyone seen any leaked renderings?