AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 355

Downtown_Austin · #**7081** Posted **Jan 18, 2010, 1:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickelplate

I like how the Four Seasons is filling in the top portion with glass. I know the render showed it but it is good to see it materialize.

It's a shame they won't cover up the elevator/mechanical towers.

UrbanTrance · #**7082** Posted **Jan 18, 2010, 5:33 PM**

I was just comparing land areas of cities and I am surprised I failed to see how much smaller Austin's is compared to other Texan and Sunbelt cities. This a reason to Austin's interest going more into downtown?

KevinFromTexas · #**7083** Posted **Jan 18, 2010, 9:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downtown_Austin

It's a shame they won't cover up the elevator/mechanical towers.

+1.

I mostly like this building, but am not crazy about the balconies (but can live with them). My main gripe at this point is them allowing those fugly mechanical towers to be visible. I know the reason why the mechanical towers aren't covered. It's because the main roof area is an amenity deck with the pool and they wanted it to be open air (without a roof over it). But what I wish they had done was at least build a shell around those mechanical towers creating a stepped up roof above the main roof in which the mechanical towers could be enclosed. Then they could wrap that in glass and maybe even light it at night. They could have done that and still had the main roof/amenity deck be open air.

By the way, I was downtown last night and didn't notice the lights on at Four Seasons Residences. I didn't have a good view of it, but were they really off?

KevinFromTexas · #**7084** Posted **Jan 18, 2010, 9:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice93

I was just comparing land areas of cities and I am surprised I failed to see how much smaller Austin's is compared to other Texan and Sunbelt cities. This a reason to Austin's interest going more into downtown?

I think our area now is at about 250 square miles. I'm not sure that our relatively small area (compared to other Texan and sunbelt cities) has anything to do with the vibrancy of downtown. I'm sure some will argue it does though. Austin's downtown has mostly always been vibrant and active. It's a place that Austinites love, even those who aren't crazy about urbanity still love downtown. It's fun, relatively safe, very active and there's a lot to do. Still though, there's a lot more that we could and should have downtown. We don't have department stores or a mall like some other cities. We do have a grocery store, but it's mostly a high end healthier food store. What we really need is a full service grocery store like HEB. And while Austinites love their local businesses (I do too of course), it would be nice to have some national chains for everyday needs stuff. I think we're building up to that though.

Scottolini · #**7085** Posted **Jan 18, 2010, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

or a mall like some other cities. We do have a grocery store, but it's mostly a high end healthier food store. What we really need is a full service grocery store like HEB. And while Austinites love their local businesses (I do too of course), it would be nice to have some national chains for everyday needs stuff. I think we're building up to that though.

An indoor mall is fine for a suburban location, not downtown. I'll take retail on the streets, a la 2nd St.

Whole Foods can be quite reasonable for most of your grocery needs. They have their own label, and it's very competitively priced. An HEB would be great for your Charmin, Old Spice, and disposable razors, though. You do have CVS at 5th and Congress that can work for items like those.

Target was going to build a store in the late 90s as part of an earlier design of a project where Whole Foods now stands. I can't imagine if it was considered viable then, that it wouldn't be a slam dunk now. Target already has experience opening in downtowns, so hopefully they're still considering downtown Austin.

KevinFromTexas · #**7086** Posted **Jan 18, 2010, 9:51 PM**

Yeah, I do too. Just saying that we lack those kind of things that most other downtowns have. We don't have harsh winters here, so it doesn't make sense to worry with an indoor mall. And I agree, they're mostly yuck.

LoneStarMike · #**7087** Posted **Jan 19, 2010, 12:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

+1.

By the way, I was downtown last night and didn't notice the lights on at Four Seasons Residences. I didn't have a good view of it, but were they really off?

I don't know about Sunday night, but Saturday night they were definitely off. I walked right by and it was the first thing I noticed.

crewer · #**7088** Posted **Jan 19, 2010, 3:19 AM**

Not to change the subject, everyone, but can someone tell me what the status is of SOCO condo complex near the intersection of Congress Ave. and Ben White? Is it finished and selling out?

Oh, wait a minute. In reviewing their website, it looks like it's gone rental.

nixcity · #**7089** Posted **Jan 19, 2010, 3:24 AM**

^Yea, its been done for a while. I think there is one more ground floor retail space available and I'm sure there are still some units open.

Jdawgboy · #**7090** Posted **Jan 19, 2010, 3:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by crewer

Not to change the subject, everyone, but can someone tell me what the status is of SOCO condo complex near the intersection of Congress Ave. and Ben White? Is it finished and selling out?

Yes those condos are complete now. It is a massive complex with storefronts facing congress with condo's above then they have another large mass of apartments behind it. Its interesting to see it as you drive up Congress toward Ben White (290/71) because it is so massive and is the largest thing in that area.

KevinFromTexas · #**7091** Posted **Jan 19, 2010, 3:32 AM**

They're actually working on the last section now. Everything along Congress and up on the hill though is complete and open for business. There is one last section under construction. I was by there yesterday, but I wasn't paying much attention to it. I should have grabbed a photo of it.

TonyAnderson · #**7092** Posted **Jan 19, 2010, 7:15 AM**

Stunning pics Tom

OU812 · #**7093** Posted **Jan 19, 2010, 6:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Yeah, I do too. Just saying that we lack those kind of things that most other downtowns have. We don't have harsh winters here, so it doesn't make sense to worry with an indoor mall. And I agree, they're mostly yuck.

Yeah but we have very harsh summers. Not to mention they seem to last about 3/4ths of the year.

Me personally I like indoor malls primarily for the climate control aspect. But yeah they can be rather sterile and cookie cutter. If I was a mall developer I'd figure out a way to make the inside more outdoor-like while of course retaining the air conditioning for the summer. But that would probably jack up the rents higher than they already are though.

One thing that should be mandatory for any new large big box development downtown: parking garages! It's so much more pleasant to park in a shaded garage to stay out of the heat (and rain) then walk a tunnel to the store. The Galleria's in Dallas and Houston have this type of a setup, plus most other mega malls in big cities.

NormalgeNyus · #**7094** Posted **Jan 19, 2010, 10:14 PM**

it would be cool if we had malls like the ones in vegas with each one having a different theme.

StoOgE · #**7095** Posted **Jan 20, 2010, 1:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NormalgeNyus

it would be cool if we had malls like the ones in vegas with each one having a different theme.

Yeah, I'm going to have to go with no on that one.

Vegas is Vegas. It's fun. But keep it in Vegas.

Scottolini · #**7096** Posted **Jan 20, 2010, 3:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OU812

Yeah but we have very harsh summers. Not to mention they seem to last about 3/4ths of the year.

Come on, let's try to avoid perpetuating myths. Austin has great weather for most of the year. October-April is usually beautiful. There may be some sporadic cold weather spread about in that stretch, but I can't imagine complaining too much.

That leaves about five months that could be described as hot, but only a couple of months that I would describe as harsh. Besides, between AC, shade, and water, what's the big deal? Even during the epic 09 summer, many evenings I could be found sipping on a cold beverage on a covered patio. With fans and a mister, it's downright comfortable even in August.

KevinFromTexas · #**7097** Posted **Jan 20, 2010, 3:29 AM**

I love summer nights here. They make putting up with hot summer days worth it.

JACKinBeantown · #**7098** Posted **Jan 20, 2010, 5:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gardensoul

Still the best view of downtown.

ivanwolf · #**7099** Posted **Jan 20, 2010, 5:21 AM**

Wow I was playing on Google Maps and thought to myself that the image looked really new. Its very new like Austonian is topped out and even the Federal Courthouse is started. I have seen some June '09 Aerials but these on Google are newer. They must have done them. Check them out and see if you can narrow down the date any.

hookem · #**7100** Posted **Jan 20, 2010, 6:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanwolf

Wow I was playing on Google Maps and thought to myself that the image looked really new. Its very new like Austonian is topped out and even the Federal Courthouse is started. I have seen some June '09 Aerials but these on Google are newer. They must have done them. Check them out and see if you can narrow down the date any.

Thanks for the tip! Sure enough, it looks like both the aerial and streetview images are 2009. I did some major landscaping projects, so I'm pretty sure I can date the aerial pics to Nov '09. Street view looks a little to be a few months earlier... Austonian floor count appears to be in the 40s... HOWEVER, I did see what I think was the street view car on Mopac just a week or so ago. Was a black beetle or prius or something with the spherical camera globe mounted on top. So they may still be updating things.