AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[freerover]

I love Halcyon but that warehouse is pretty crappy looking. I don't see it and get inspired by the history. Redevelop it with surface, large pedestrian friendly sidewalks.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by freerover

I love Halcyon but that warehouse is pretty crappy looking. I don't see it and get inspired by the history. Redevelop it with surface, large pedestrian friendly sidewalks.

respectfully disagree. when I travel to any large city it is the texture and layers that make it interesting. And not just the glamorous historical buildings. But all the various styles.
It is exactly the reason I love that area.... they are warehouses... some funky, some not so..... .not the more elegant historical properties on Congress.

PLUS ....I LOVE That awkward probably 30s or 40s era crazy corner in front of Halcyon..,,, as many times as I have stumbled up or down it.
Why do we need all sidewalks to look the same?

Depth.... depth and texture. When you walk thru downtown everyday, look where your eyes go at street level. Look at how you see buildings in the different light and how light can... .and can't get to buildings. We have, at this point a very interesting landscape with plenty of opportunities for infill and replacement that also allows for the few historical properties we have left.

And if folks aren't that invested in downtown to either live here or function here often, then get here and experience it. I'm very concerned with our growing " mow it over" point of view I'm seeing here.

[The ATX]

This changes things. The pre-development tree assessment permit that started this discussion about the warehouse District had a change of address from 400-417 Lavaca to 400 W. 14th St. Nothing else was changed on the filing.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...rtyrsn=2018821

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by The ATX

We are going to see more and more demo in the future to make way for high-rise development as surface lots disappear. Also, I don't see the city expanding CBD zoning outside of its current boundaries which would take some re-development pressure of existing buildings.

This response isn't really just to you ATX. I know you are an advocate , but about the Trend I'm seeing in the "mow it down" mentality I see more and more on here.

Yes...we will find there is a limit at some point in developable space.....and still there has to be room left for texture,history, space and variety.
It all has to be considered lest we end up with a generic city.
I live, work and walk downtown everyday. I've invested and put my $$ where
my urban/density mouth is.
We can't preach for density and downtown housing but fail to see it as
a neighborhood and advocate for what makes a good neighborhood.
Those things come together.
TAKE THE QUALITY AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN AND
NO ONE will want to live here.
And then were are we with the Urban experience?
I'm asking that folks see this not as a video game where the reward it just taller buildings..... but really see the urban TEXTURE and vibe that is unique to Austin and consider what happens when that just becomes another city.
Austin will grow and I Love it. BUT the city has to guide that to maintain the unique quality that drew folks here in the first place.

[KevinFromTexas]

I'm good with the not so pedestrian friendly raised platform. I mean, it makes for a bit of a unique setting being that it's raised up above the street offering a different view than traditional blocks do. The only other area of downtown you see that is on the west side north of 12th Street where the blocks were above the street and still occupied by single family (but zoned commercial) businesses.

A pedestrian friendly environment doesn't or at least shouldn't only refer to the built form. There's more to it than that. You could argue that 6th Street is pedestrian friendly in its built form, but I wouldn't exactly call it pedestrian friendly to everyone who might be passing through. It's dirty and loud and the sidewalks aren't especially wide, but we all take it for what it is without a second thought about changing it.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

the city has to guide that to maintain the unique quality that drew folks here in the first place.

Yes! Absolutely. More government oversight. That's exactly what we all need. The city must be more up our anal sphincter's in telling us what to do - more nanny staters, please.

So, a couple of former warehouses are causing all this hoopla? And they are a symbol of Austin and they create a neighborhood feel? Come on man... Austin had very little "history" in its urban core. Most cities which grew as rapidly as Austin don't. Geez, we're not talking Boston or Philadelphia here. Heck, we're not even talking New Orleans. The former warehouses are simply nostalgic - with little to now historical value. If so, they would have already been deemed such by your historical commission.

People move to Austin for what it is - not what it was. And the reasons they move there are as varied and each sunset. However, nobody is going to move to Austin with the idea of changing it.

Please stop living in the past. Austin is now known throughout the world. It's no longer a secret little hideaway.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

more nanny staters, please.

What are you even talking about?

[lzppjb]

I'm for putting a tower there. But I'm also not opposed to have some overlay in the Warehouse District that requires some distinctive brick facades going up 1-3 stories and commercial space fronting the street for bars, clubs, etc.

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

I'm for putting a tower there. But I'm also not opposed to have some overlay in the Warehouse District that requires some distinctive brick facades going up 1-3 stories and commercial space fronting the street for bars, clubs, etc.

Exactly. I think we can have both things. Requiring ground floor retail that is open past 10PM as a component of the overlay would be great as well.

I think there are way to keep the fabric of the city intact while also not stifling growth.

The city has a duty to ensure that the city maintains the character that made it desirable in the first place and continues to ensure the city is livable and vibrant for the citizens. You don't want a Little Italy situation so you don't want to be too restrictive, but I think you can create entertainment district overlays that require new developments respects what the district is before they bought in.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Exactly. I think we can have both things. Requiring ground floor retail that is open past 10PM as a component of the overlay would be great as well.

I think there are way to keep the fabric of the city intact while also not stifling growth.

The city has a duty to ensure that the city maintains the character that made it desirable in the first place and continues to ensure the city is livable and vibrant for the citizens. You don't want a Little Italy situation so you don't want to be too restrictive, but I think you can create entertainment district overlays that require new developments respects what the district is before they bought in.

The problem is the city is not doing these things. I'm taking about replacing entertainment venues that existed before. The city doesn't require new buildings that are wiping out the old fabric to keep said venue space as part of new developments. This is a problem and I think it's time for the city to take a step back and examine how we are growing the urban core.

Sometimes slowing development can improve growth rather than stifle it. I am very tempted in considering to contact Ann Kitchen, Mayor Adler and Kathie Tovo regarding this issue. To at least explain that these new developments are not doing enough to incorporate venue space that they are taking out on some of these blocks. Maybe even find a way to meet them in person. I don't think its unreasonable to ask these developers to incorporate more than just retail or restaurant space, but include actual music venue/night club space as well.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I am very tempted in considering to contact Ann Kitchen, Mayor Adler and Kathie Tovo regarding this issue. To at least explain that these new developments are not doing enough to incorporate venue space that they are taking out on some of these blocks. Maybe even find a way to meet them in person.

AK will be at the ZNA meeting. You should come. She is pretty approachable. Stand around after the meeting and bend her ear. She gave me her cell and I text her a couple times a year. She is responsive and surprisingly reasonable which is tough for me to say after I signed the petition against her after the Uber fiasco. I think she has come a long way, she clearly sees the writing on the wall of what Austin will eventually be, as opposed to what it was. I think she wishes it wasn't so, but it is what it is.

In one of the last meetings, an old neighborhood progressive literally said "I would rather see 1 (one) million dollar home on one lot than 4 smaller $300k homes" on one lot, because $300k was not affordable. The entire room erupted in applause. Density is a four letter word in Zilker. In fact, the trend is more new single family and less 2 unit new-builds.

Monday, April 29, 2019
6:30-8:30 pm General Membership Meeting Zilker Elementary School
1900 Bluebonnet Ln

[urbancore]

BTW, the entirety of the urban core of Austin will be an exclusive "tony enclave" in the next 25 years. With or without increased density. Even a market correction of 50% won't stop it, (I would argue that would increase development as builders would buy cheaper tear downs in anticipation of a recovery) New home product in my neighborhood sells easily at $600/ft. Half of that price is still well beyond "affordable". This train left the station a long time ago, and nothing can stop it. I think Ann see this eventuality now.

There will be some winners and some losers. I followed Antones all around Austin. Sometimes your favorite places move/change/disappear. The demand for what makes Austin, Austin will stay strong and new exciting places/areas will develop. I remember when 4th Street was nothing but the Boat House and the Lizard Lounge...then came Mezzaluna and Cedar Street. Austin is a better, more vibrant, fun, exciting, inclusive, safe, prosperous, artistic, musical, LGBT community than it has ever been. It is not perfect, but it has NEVER been perfect. Austin has a LONG history of institutional racism, among other fucked up issues.

I fear the progressives may exacerbate the problem by not allowing increased density. And any attempts to reverse gentrification will yield little results in my opinion, as those displaced typically can not afford back into the neighborhood even with special programs. I know the Mueller developers have units for sale that "reserved" for "teachers, etc", but they struggle to sell them due to prices are still sky high for what they get (a 1200 sqft town home as opposed to a 2000 sqft house 5-10 miles east)

The cheapest I've ever seen this town was when apartments where over built in the 80's. My rent was lowered a couple times just to keep me from moving. "Overbuilding" is the only way to lower housing costs.

[The ATX]

This is a new hotel named River Street Hotel at 60 East Ave. This really completes Hotel Row. It's now Homewood Suites > Fairfield Inn and Suites > Cambria > Lady Bird Hotel > River Street Hotel.


ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...202019/190502/

[The ATX]

The River Street Hotel looks like it will take out Via 313 on Rainey Street since it spans the entire River St. side of the block. No word on how tall it is. The only permits filed are the usual pre-development ones for trees and CVC.

[StoOgE]

Rainy went from a poor neighborhood to a great nightlife spot to a tourist-focused hell in like 5 years.

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by The ATX

The River Street Hotel looks like it will take out Via 313 on Rainey Street since it spans the entire River St. side of the block. No word on how tall it is. The only permits filed are the usual pre-development ones for trees and CVC.

The Via 313 could easily move being that it's a food truck though. But Craft Pride won't be so easy to move. That's a shame.

The site plan makes it looks like there would be two buildings?

[lzppjb]

Javelina gone too?

[Armybrat]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Rainy went from a poor neighborhood to a great nightlife spot to a tourist-focused hell in like 5 years.

So what area is the go to hangout place now (not Domain or South Congress)?

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Armybrat

So what area is the go to hangout place now (not Domain or South Congress)?

West 6th for bros and their ilks. Eastside for hipsters (although I see a lot of normies out there).

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

West 6th for bros and their ilks. Eastside for hipsters (although I see a lot of normies out there).

Near-Eastside is getting kind of touristy. Probably Holly is the spot at this point?