AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 32

atx001 · #**621** Posted **May 1, 2007, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strayone

Every time I see a picture of The Four Seasons it seems as though the top flares out a bit, like the balconies are progressively getting bigger as they go up to the top floor, I may be just imagining this, but I actually would like to see ot flare some. Anyone else see this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by OfCourse

Yessum. I think that's part of the reason why I like it. If it didn't look like it flared, I wouldn't find it appealing. Or interesting at all.

360 · #**622** Posted **May 1, 2007, 10:48 PM**

Kevinb, can you post price info on east facing units?

Jdawgboy · #**623** Posted **May 1, 2007, 11:00 PM**

I was in downtown today and I noticed they put up a billboard sign up at Second and Congress with a picture of the Austonion. At the top it says opening in 2009. Also they have billboard signs up now at the Four Seasons Site too.

Strayone · #**624** Posted **May 2, 2007, 12:51 AM**

LOL - yeah atx001 that is a lot of Flare.. er Flair! I'm actually thinking it is an optical illusion perspective placement um thinger like MichaelB stated, I can't seem to find a different rendition, this is a minimalist sketch on their site. Doesn't seem to have much flare as well as much flair.

arbeiter · #**625** Posted **May 2, 2007, 1:04 AM**

I love Frost but my gawd it just seems too squat. It looks pretty bad at street level, which is nearly as important as the crown. It needs to be about 20 stories taller. But, hindsight

ivanwolf · #**626** Posted **May 2, 2007, 1:25 AM**

Four Seasons, I downloaded the floor plans and if you look at them they only cover floors from 16-27, those floors have corner balconies of 16'x16'. So I would bet that the lower floors are smaller floor plans and smaller balconies. If you look at the side view the balconies look half the width, so I would say they are 8'x8'. So as to your thoughts on the flairing, I would agree that it does look like that because of the balconies change in size.

GoldenBoot · #**627** Posted **May 2, 2007, 5:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I was in downtown today and I noticed they put up a billboard sign up at Second and Congress with a picture of the Austonion. At the top it says opening in 2009. Also they have billboard signs up now at the Four Seasons Site too.

Yes; exciting news!! The Four Seasons and the W brands must protect their persona. Thus, they would never put their name on a project unless they really and solidly feel like the project will come to fruition! There is a reason they are in the upper echelon of hotels and highly coveted by so many cities.

As for the Austonian, I really hope this one works. It's being developed by a local, but ambitious developer...

crewer · #**628** Posted **May 2, 2007, 7:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Yes; exciting news!! The Four Seasons and the W brands must protect their persona. Thus, they would never put their name on a project unless they really and solidly feel like the project will come to fruition! There is a reason they are in the upper echelon of hotels and highly coveted by so many cities.

The Four Seasons had a sign up with their name on it for the previous project that went south.

tildahat · #**629** Posted **May 2, 2007, 2:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Yes; exciting news!! The Four Seasons and the W brands must protect their persona.

Seems like any brand called "W" has some serious issues these days...

Mopacs · #**630** Posted **May 2, 2007, 2:37 PM**

Question for those in the know...

I have asked this in other threads... From today's 360 webcam, there appears to be a significant, triangular object at the edge of the 17th floor terrace. Does anyone know what this is?

Wide view, 18th floor underway... the object in question is at the right.

GoldenBoot · #**631** Posted **May 2, 2007, 4:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tildahat

Seems like any brand called "W" has some serious issues these days...

Funny, I don't remember stating that the "W" brand had any issues?!? Come-on fellas; you know what I mean. Brands like the Four Seasons, W, St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, etc. are not going to stick their necks out there and announce “risky” projects. As a consumer, how would you look upon a company which seemed to regularly “cry wolf?”

Yes, Crewer, you are correct. The Four Seasons did announce an Austin project back in 1999. However, it’s “failure” to materialize was neither the fault of the Four Seasons nor of the former developer. It was the economy! Remember the “Tech Bust” which lasted from late 2000 through 2002? In fact, 20-25% of the 128 units were already under-contract when the original project was “put on hold.” In case you were wondering, the financial institution that was financing the project required 30% of the units to be sold before they were going to release funds for construction.

The Four Seasons never took their eyes off downtown Austin (more specifically, the site in which the old project was to be developed). When Post Properties and Ardent Residential acquired the site from the former developer, they immediately began management negotiations with the Four Seasons.

jgouger · #**632** Posted **May 2, 2007, 4:51 PM**

Hmmm... It looks like a concrete shaper of some sorts. They may be shaping the walls for the terrace pool with it?

I think this was asked earlier, but does anyone know what the site prep working going on in the background of that shot is for?

Also, Kelso wrote a very funny commentary about the Austonian in light of the "self-flushing doggie toilets"

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/05/01/1kelso.html

StoOgE · #**633** Posted **May 2, 2007, 5:19 PM**

Guys, Austin just got some MONUMENTAL news.

Bigger than Stacey, bigger than the Austonian..

ESPN2HD on Time Warner!

Mopacs · #**634** Posted **May 2, 2007, 5:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgouger

Hmmm... It looks like a concrete shaper of some sorts. They may be shaping the walls for the terrace pool with it?

I think this was asked earlier, but does anyone know what the site prep working going on in the background of that shot is for?

Also, Kelso wrote a very funny commentary about the Austonian in light of the "self-flushing doggie toilets"

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/05/01/1kelso.html

Gotcha...thanks. I was just curious seeing as the renderings all indicated a flat terrace. The site prep work behind the building is the Seaholm property. I dont know if this in any way associated with the redevelopment of the property. Could be some early prep work... anyone know?

By the way, I found some updated renderings of Altavida apartment tower on their website. I'm really liking the design of this building...very sleek:

http://www.altavidaaustin.com

This is the street level perspective, from 2nd street. Should blend in nicely with the adjacent 2nd St district retail and residential buildings.

Front view from Town Lake. Very very nice

AustinGuy · #**635** Posted **May 2, 2007, 5:50 PM**

Are there any firm numbers for how many new apartment units are being built in the downtown area? I know we have AMLI 2, Altavida, the Monarch, the new project where Poke-E-Joes was... any others? It will be interesting to see if these new units (plus new condos put up for rent by individual owners) can all command the $2/sq ft that AMLI 1 is getting.

MichaelB · #**636** Posted **May 2, 2007, 6:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Guys, Austin just got some MONUMENTAL news.

Bigger than Stacey, bigger than the Austonian..

Ok..... I'll bite.... what, what??????

Mopacs · #**637** Posted **May 2, 2007, 6:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

I do like how the texture of the suface changes on the way up! It will be interesting to see what the crown is like (Hey Mopacs!)

Oh yeah, Hello to you too!

Stooge... dont leave us in suspense!!! Now granted, more HD Sports programming is almost as monumental in my book too!

MichaelB · #**638** Posted **May 2, 2007, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Oh yeah, Hello to you too!

:

Stoooooooge, Stooooooge, Stooooooge!!!!!!

KevinFromTexas · #**639** Posted **May 2, 2007, 7:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Stoooooooge, Stooooooge, Stooooooge!!!!!!

"Hey you guys!" The kid on the couch with the magazine is Sean Astin.

Haha, classic. Yes, I was a kid of the 80s.

• Video Link

Anyway, sweet renderings of Altavida there. I love this building, one of my favorites for sure.

GoldenBoot · #**640** Posted **May 2, 2007, 7:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGuy

Are there any firm numbers for how many new apartment units are being built in the downtown area? I know we have AMLI 2, Altavida, the Monarch, the new project where Poke-E-Joes was... any others? It will be interesting to see if these new units (plus new condos put up for rent by individual owners) can all command the $2/sq ft that AMLI 1 is getting.

There are more than 3,000 apartment units either under construction, approved or proposed for the vicinity around Austin's CBD. Prices seem to be ranging from $1.80 to $2.30 per SF. Most of these projects, if all built, should be available for move-in by late 2010.