East Austin Developments

[corvairkeith]

The Arnold is making some progress.







The office building is getting windows and looking a little less like a parking garage.





I found some new renderings on their facebook page.





https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-A...17342531921013

On the other side of the tracks the old warehouse at 5th and Chicon is now gone making way for more condos.



East Side Station Apartment project looks to be about topped out. I'm curious about what kind of exterior finish it will have since I haven't been able to find and renderings for it.

[The ATX]

I don't know if this has been posted yet, but a site plan was filed yesterday for City Line at MLK - a TOD apparently. None of the constant flow of east side projects seem to stand out to me, so I don't keep track of them.

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11408230

Here's a rendering:

http://www.citylineaustin.com/about.html

[aqibtalib]

Is this really the best we can do in terms of TOD density? Surely there is demand for more multifamily units in transit-accessible places like MLK no?

[_Matt]

Originally Posted by aqibtalib

Is this really the best we can do in terms of TOD density? Surely there is demand for more multifamily units in transit-accessible places like MLK no?

Are you calling for more quantity of projects or greater density in this individual project? I'm sure we will see many more of these slowly filling in areas of the east side, except for those occupied by affordable housing. I really hope we find a way increase density of the existing low density affordable housing so there is a cohesive neighborhood. Otherwise there are going to be patches of low density housing breaking up neighborhoods.

Optimistically, in the 5-year time frame there is going to be quite an urban neighborhood from E. 6th up to Airport with some clusters around each red line stop. Originally I didn't see the benefit of building the red line on the east side, but it's becoming apparent as development follows transportation. Those who are tragically dead set on the urban rail "locally preferred alignment" should take note.

Sorry for getting slightly off topic. If you haven't driven around south/central East Austin, I'd recommend a bike tour for viewing new density slowly creeping in around Manor and MLK.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by _Matt

Are you calling for more quantity of projects or greater density in this individual project? I'm sure we will see many more of these slowly filling in areas of the east side, except for those occupied by affordable housing. I really hope we find a way increase density of the existing low density affordable housing so there is a cohesive neighborhood. Otherwise there are going to be patches of low density housing breaking up neighborhoods.

Optimistically, in the 5-year time frame there is going to be quite an urban neighborhood from E. 6th up to Airport with some clusters around each red line stop. Originally I didn't see the benefit of building the red line on the east side, but it's becoming apparent as development follows transportation. Those who are tragically dead set on the urban rail "locally preferred alignment" should take note.

Sorry for getting slightly off topic. If you haven't driven around south/central East Austin, I'd recommend a bike tour for viewing new density slowly creeping in around Manor and MLK.

Or ride MetroRail to experience all the construction happening around it.

[aqibtalib]

Originally Posted by _Matt

Are you calling for more quantity of projects or greater density in this individual project? ... If you haven't driven around south/central East Austin, I'd recommend a bike tour for viewing new density slowly creeping in around Manor and MLK.

I'm calling for greater density in each of these projects in the TOD districts. Instead of 2-3 story buildings I'd like to see some 5-6 story (or greater) buildings. It just seems like a wasted opportunity, and the demand is clearly there.

I take the RedLine to work from MLK to Kramer every day and see how much demand there is for this service, despite its high fare.

[drummer]

Last time I was in Austin I visited some friends who live on Manor. It is really impressive, little by little. I like the feel of the area.

[drummer]

I agree, but I also think that a lot of these developments are at least steps in the right direction. There's just the danger of the most prime spots losing out to shorter, less dense developments, of course. However, it has to start somewhere and I think what's happening isn't the best, but it's certainly not terrible.

[verybadgnome]

Does anyone know the limits for TOD zoning? I couldn't find much but did get this from a city report:

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Overlay District
The initiation of a station area plan establishes a transit-oriented development area surrounding Capital Metro commuter rail stations. While the station area plans are being developed, property surrounding each rail station is zoned with the TOD overlay district, which increases density around the rail station. All of the property covered by the plan is zoned TOD, with the uses and site development standards specified in the Station Area Regulating Plan.

I would love to see 100 footers near the stations tapering off as you get farther away.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

Does anyone know the limits for TOD zoning? I couldn't find much but did get this from a city report:

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Overlay District
The initiation of a station area plan establishes a transit-oriented development area surrounding Capital Metro commuter rail stations. While the station area plans are being developed, property surrounding each rail station is zoned with the TOD overlay district, which increases density around the rail station. All of the property covered by the plan is zoned TOD, with the uses and site development standards specified in the Station Area Regulating Plan.

I would love to see 100 footers near the stations tapering off as you get farther away.

Here's the document for Crestview. I imagine there's similar ones for the other stations.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/npzd/Austi...in_regplan.pdf


Looks like no 100-footers. 60 feet base, more with "development bonuses". Probably the most they could get without fighting the NA.

[_Matt]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Here's the document for Crestview. I imagine there's similar ones for the other stations.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/npzd/Austi...in_regplan.pdf


Looks like no 100-footers. 60 feet base, more with "development bonuses". Probably the most they could get without fighting the NA.

I see TODs like the Crestview station as being the most useful zoning innovation at this point. They take concepts being used in the big PUDs like Mueller and the Grove at Shoal Creek and actually apply them to walkable destinations. Downtown and Domain (and the PUDs) should really take note and incorporate more transit into their designs rather than it being an after thought. If the Red Line went
straight down the center of Mueller or Domain, their neighborhood plans would make a lot more sense. Hopefully MetroRapid can be used to fill in where we couldn't do this with light or urban rail.

Edit: Oh yeah, the old neighborhoods around Seattle are basically TODs based on old streetcar connectivity and those are some of the most walkable non-CBD neighborhoods in America.

[Digatisdi]

In the case of the Domain I think there was a NIMBY-ish issue where people didn't want the MetroRapid going down Domain Drive and that's why it stops on Alterra next to Le Cordon Bleu's parking lot which I feel could've been avoided if there was some kind of transit plan more integrated into the development.

[KevinFromTexas]

Site plan for the East Austin Hotel

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...otel_PLANS.pdf

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Site plan for the East Austin Hotel

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...otel_PLANS.pdf

I guess this is a new site plan? They got shot down not too long ago by the CC because of NIMBY pissing and moaning.

[verybadgnome]

I was over at my new dentist at Corazon and noticed lots of work being done in the Saltillo tract. I'm assuming this is the beginning of the project to relocate the rail track to the southern portion of the parcel.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

I was over at my new dentist at Corazon and noticed lots of work being done in the Saltillo tract. I'm assuming this is the beginning of the project to relocate the rail track to the southern portion of the parcel.

Hopefully this means the project will be moving forward after being stalled for a couple years. This is a huge project - 800 apartments and retail including a full service grocery store.
This proposed grocery store is relatively close to the one proposed up the road at One Two East. I would be pleasantly surprised if both get built as full service 70-80K sq. ft. stores as proposed.

[corvairkeith]

Lots of progress on the Arnold lately.













Not so much visible progress happening on the other side of the tracks.

[KevinFromTexas]

Site plan posted for a mixed use project at 1701-1707 East MLK.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...0Use_PLANS.pdf

[KevinFromTexas]

Earth retention plans for 310 Comal. This is the redevelopment at 4th & Comal at what used to be the Habitat Restore.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...stem_PLANS.pdf

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Earth retention plans for 310 Comal. This is the redevelopment at 4th & Comal at what used to be the Habitat Restore.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...stem_PLANS.pdf

Site plan for 310 Comal Street.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...reet_PLANS.pdf