AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 34

GoldenBoot · #**661** Posted **May 4, 2007, 5:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Interesting. I'm going to have to send them an email asking for the heights. When I did my model of the tower at 780 feet, that did seem a bit tall for the renderings...

I think I may have found why there is a 20' difference...

Notice the "mechanical penthouse" in the crown of this May 2006 rendering:

Now compare it to these early 2007 renderings...It's missing...

There's your 20'; I think. If so, what was their thought process behind its removal? I'd still e-mail them (Ziegler Cooper) and try to confirm...

GoldenBoot · #**662** Posted **May 4, 2007, 1:51 PM**

Now that I think about it, didn't the original plan call for a 48-story, 700' building? If so, I would assume that since they added 7 stories to the tower, that it’s height should have increased to somewhere between 780’ (~14.17’/floor) and 802’ (~14.58’/floor)?!? This brings the 780' back into question...

MichaelB · #**663** Posted **May 4, 2007, 4:21 PM**

Question: I heard again lastnignt from a second source that "Dog and Duck" was sold and is slated for a highrise. Anyone have any info on this or the hotel that is to replace the Travis House.... these properties are practically side by side. Also the 60's building accross the street that was an art gallary no longer has a forsale sign on it? Lots happening in the north end of downtown. Info?

Jdawgboy · #**664** Posted **May 4, 2007, 5:45 PM**

Glad you liked them JackinNYC I will try to get some shots from the westside this weekend.

I was about to say huh to 680 feet for the Austonian. That would really suck if it was only 680 feet after all this time thinking we would have a 700 footer but at 55 stories and the origional announcment that was to be 700 feet at 48 stories, that wouldn't sence unless the floor to cealing ratios were really tiny.

Yea I also was wondering what the deal is with the Marriott Hotel, I have not heard anything on that in awhile...

ivanwolf · #**665** Posted **May 4, 2007, 10:54 PM**

Spring has sprung

a friend of mine said the demolition at the Spring site has started, i drove by after work and to my amazement he was right, the east half of the building has been demoed, but as of about 5pm the purple west part was still up.

so let the next big tower rise and Spring out of the ground. (cheesy i know)

AustinGuy · #**666** Posted **May 7, 2007, 3:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanwolf

Spring has sprung

a friend of mine said the demolition at the Spring site has started, i drove by after work and to my amazement he was right, the east half of the building has been demoed, but as of about 5pm the purple west part was still up.

There are some pictures available of the destruction on Austinist:

http://www.austinist.com/archives/2007/05/07/snapshots_urban_development.php

Mopacs · #**667** Posted **May 7, 2007, 4:29 PM**

I have a few more updates from this past weekend (5/6). Kind of a dreary day:

Austonian site... new sign

The base...

Full...

Another wide shot

Altavida Hole

The Shore

Monarch...23 floors down, 6 to go (plus crown).

360... not much changed in past week.

Crane growing...

JACKinBeantown · #**668** Posted **May 7, 2007, 6:57 PM**

Nice update.

SkyHigh · #**669** Posted **May 7, 2007, 7:37 PM**

The Austonian is gonna be SWEET

Jdawgboy · #**670** Posted **May 7, 2007, 7:52 PM**

They did raise the crane alittle bit for 360 but Im sure they are going to raise it up higher. Your right Mopacs, they havn't done alot with 360 this past week for some reason.

ATXboom · #**671** Posted **May 7, 2007, 10:19 PM**

Hotel, condos could rise on Dean Keaton
Austin Business Journal - 2:57 PM CDT Monday, May 7, 2007by A.J. MistrettaStaff writer
Print this Article Email this Article Reprints RSS Feeds Most Viewed Most Emailed
An Austin real estate company wants to build a mixed-use tower on East Dean Keaton Street that would bring a hotel and condos to the north side of the University of Texas campus.

Lakequest Enterprises Inc. is seeking city approval of a planned development area for the property it owns at 924 and 926 E. Dean Keaton that is now the site of two 1960s-era apartment complexes. Current zoning allows for building height of up to 60 feet, but the developer wants permission to build up to 150 feet. At that height, the Riverfield project would include approximately 185 hotel rooms and 85 condo units. The request is currently before the city Planning Commission.

The development team has met repeatedly since January with members of the Eastwood Neighborhood Association to discuss the project, says Carl Kernodle, principal with consulting group KPG Real Estate Development Direction, who is representing Lakequest. Kernodle says the neighborhood is on board with most components of the project, but there is still some concern over height.

"We've been working with them throughout the design process and determined what the community would be interested in," Kernodle says. "Our goal is to go in with the neighborhood to show the city that they are with us on the project."

Dana Twombly, president of the Eastwood Neighborhood Association, agrees that discussions with the developer have been productive. "They have come in and tried to work with the neighborhood in the proper fashion," she says, adding that the neighborhood group embraces the architecture, green building principles and limited number of condos that Lakequest is proposing.

Twombly says the neighborhood is open to a height increase, but wants to keep the project within 120 feet, not the 150 feet the developer is proposing. With continued discussions she says she expects the two sides will reach some agreement on height.

It's unclear at this point how big the individual condo units will be or at what price they will be marketed, Kernodle says. Much of that will depend on what the building height ends up being.

Kernodle says the site's location makes it ideal for a hotel that could cater to visitors to the UT campus, the nearby St. David's hospital and other businesses north of downtown. He says with student housing dominating on one side and I-35 on the other, there are very few areas around the edge of campus where a hotel would make sense. The developers have not locked down a hotel operator and are still interviewing several companies.

Meanwhile, East Avenue Investment Group, the developer behind the transformation of the nearby Concordia University campus into a mixed-use development, is also planning a hotel component. But Kernodle says that project is likely to be a little more high-end than what Lakequest is planning.

The Concordia site could have buildings reaching higher than 150 feet, but Twombly says those structures would be close to I-35 and likely on the east side of Red River Street. The Riverfield site is on the west side of Red River, and she says there is concern that by endorsing the height extension the neighborhood group could be setting a precedent for other taller structures.

Kernodle says if the project continues as scheduled, a ground breaking could occur sometime around the beginning of next year. The Bee Caves office of Living Architecture & Construction Management Inc. is handling the design of the project.

Mopacs · #**672** Posted **May 8, 2007, 3:28 PM**

360's Crane is now visible from many angles. Its a very hazy day, but you can clearly make out the crane on the left now (next to the Castillian). Monarch is on the far right. The cranes are fairly even in height.

Wide View

Here's a few miscellaneous from last week

UT DKR Memorial Stadium expansion

MichaelB · #**673** Posted **May 8, 2007, 5:30 PM**

[QUOTE=Mopacs;2821797]360's Crane is now visible from many angles. Its a very hazy day, but you can clearly make out the crane on the left now (next to the Castillian). Monarch is on the far right. The cranes are fairly even in height.

Hey Mopac, are these from your office or the roof of your office.... or will you get in trouble if you tell us these are from the roof?

In any case I vote we make you the official forum photographer/"documentarian"!

But really folks, walked into 360 center to compare the model to the progress. The lovely woman said they only have 70ish units left out of 400ish. Not bad if that is a real #! (not just sales hype! ya know?) She also said there was no official announcement of retail or restaurants. Hum, I thought we had heard leaks on here? Anybody?

I will also once again ask if anyone has heard any news on the sale of "Dog and Duck"? I have heard from two sources now that it has been sold?????

GoldenBoot · #**674** Posted **May 8, 2007, 7:11 PM**

Has anyone else noticed the small billboard CLB Partners has erected at the site of their proposed 7th & Rio Grande tower (it’s sitting atop the one-story office building)? If so, did you also notice that the sign mentions a "34-story” building and not the originally proposed 32-story structure?

Also, the following images may be new renderings of the 36-story, W Austin Hotel & Residences!?!

It looks as if the height may have increased... The building is more of a point tower now.

jgouger · #**675** Posted **May 8, 2007, 8:53 PM**

I had a chance to go to the sales center for the Austonian the other day, and was extremely impressed! Their sales center features a model with floor-to-ceiling windows, a built in entertainment center, NE view, model bathroom and kitchen. Of anything there, I was the most impressed by the kitchen. The kitchen is huge and features floor-to-ceiling cabinetry! The cabinets are custom by Scavolini (http://www.scavolini.com) and have ease-in-ease out drawers and gliders on all of the cabinets. They also have Sub-Zero appliances with molded panels.

AustinGuy · #**676** Posted **May 8, 2007, 9:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgouger

I had a chance to go to the sales center for the Austonian the other day....

Did they have a price list available?

big W · #**677** Posted **May 8, 2007, 9:42 PM**

Great list of proposals for you guys down in Austin. As a Texan collegue of mine said, best city in Texas with San Antonio second. By the way how dense is it down there as these pics show quite a dense city?

Strayone · #**678** Posted **May 8, 2007, 11:51 PM**

^ Your friend is right, now about the density, we don't have Edmonton's but wer'e working on it.

jgouger · #**679** Posted **May 9, 2007, 1:15 AM**

Yes they did. I was looking at the 1 bedroom model that was approx 1250 sq ft, and it started at $550k for a lower floor and close to $700k for a "skyline" floor. Interestingly enough the penthouses are built to suit. You purchase an entire floor plate (approx 8,400 sq ft) and they will build it out as you want to. I didn't even bother asking how much the penthouses will cost. Its one of those things where if you have to ask its probably out your price range

AustinGuy · #**680** Posted **May 9, 2007, 1:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgouger

Yes they did. I was looking at the 1 bedroom model that was approx 1250 sq ft, and it started at $550k for a lower floor and close to $700k for a "skyline" floor.

Wow, 1250 sq ft one bedroom is huge! Is that the smallest unit they have at the Austonian?