AUSTIN | 70 Rainey | 419 FEET | 34 FLOORS | Complete

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by resansom

Looks like we have a winner in the "Ugliest Parking Podium" category...

** 405 Colorado has joined the chat.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by mtb_jeremy

Actually Geraldine was hit and killed by a car, from all the new traffic/people on the street.

I thought I heard different but you're right. Well that sucks! I guess I read what the intentions of the neighbors were but were not acted on in time. Welcome to the forum but your first post made me sad, I came across her many times. We actually had a few running loose in our Round Rock neighborhood a while back until they were presumably killed by either coyotes or foxes. I still have their little pecker marks in my front door....beaks that is... for those of you who needed clarification.

[The ATX]

From Page.


https://www.instagram.com/p/BxhnaWqlvf6/

[myBrain]

That's awesome. Looks like they recreated an Austin bungalow backyard on the podium.

Gotta say I am impressed with this building. Something about the aesthetics just screams "Austin" to me. Modern, rustic, and a little bit funky.

[clubtokyo]

I agree, it’s one of my favorite condo buildings.

[Jdawgboy]

My only gripe is the concrete portion of the tower looks unfinished and also really looks like it's old and battered when it rains.

[MightyYoda]

On the subject of vines, Virginia creeper is one of the best natives if you want something to be covered with thick green vegetation in full sun in a hurry.

[the Genral]

http://click.bizjournals.com/o02k800Wy0035U37HYWPLx0

From Austin Biz Journal today. The best views in town imo. The amenity deck with all the plants and greenery is on the 10th floor and wraps around the building so views of the city can be seen from all sides. And the 14 degree twist is to enhance the views. This is where I would choose to live if I was looking for a place downtown and I wasn't so poor.

[myBrain]

Originally Posted by the Genral

http://click.bizjournals.com/o02k800Wy0035U37HYWPLx0

From Austin Biz Journal today. The best views in town imo. The amenity deck with all the plants and greenery is on the 10th floor and wraps around the building so views of the city can be seen from all sides. And the 14 degree twist is to enhance the views. This is where I would choose to live if I was looking for a place downtown and I wasn't so poor.

I agree. Many of the amenity decks of our other highrise residentials look pretty sterile, and not much better than any of the recent midrises around town. The way this emulates a backyard, I could actually see myself using and enjoying it.

[enragedcamel]

I've never understood why these amenity decks are build so close to the ground, as opposed to near the top of the building, where the views will be much better, and it will be a lot cooler as well due to the breeze, as well as the distance from the super-heated concrete and asphalt on the ground.

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

I've never understood why these amenity decks are build so close to the ground, as opposed to near the top of the building, where the views will be much better, and it will be a lot cooler as well due to the breeze, as well as the distance from the super-heated concrete and asphalt on the ground.

Um... because you can sell a penthouse condo for exponentially more than an amenity deck would intangibly bring in.

Also, a lot of cities have limits on how high a pool can be. Chicago being one that jumps out in my mind.

[enragedcamel]

Originally Posted by zrx299

Um... because you can sell a penthouse condo for exponentially more than an amenity deck would intangibly bring in.

Fine, so allocate the top floor to a penthouse condo.

You can still have your amenity deck five to ten floors below it.

Also, a lot of cities have limits on how high a pool can be. Chicago being one that jumps out in my mind.

Does Austin have such limitations?

[fromCAtoTX]

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

Fine, so allocate the top floor to a penthouse condo.


Does Austin have such limitations?

I doubt it. The Four Seasons Residences pool is on the 32nd floor. That’s the top floor, btw, and it’s entirely an amenity floor. They bill the floor below it — the highest private floor — as the “Penthouse” floor.

I’m not sure of the financial tradeoff, but it’s certainly possible that the loss of revenue from selling a top floor penthouse is made up in the increase in value to every other unit because of the top floor amenities.

[KevinFromTexas]

I would assume that most buildings, especially those that are the most exposed to the river, would be discouraged from having high outdoor public spaces. The wind is an issue high up and it could render some of those spaces unusable on a real windy day. I know that during particularly windy days they will close the observation deck at the Tower of the Americas in San Antonio, and even when they don't, it's windy enough to make me take my hat off so it doesn't go flying off. Also, the Omni Bayfront Hotel in Corpus Christi has a public balcony on the 20th floor facing the bay, and it was incredibly windy up there. Windy enough that it was difficult to stand and was a bit disorienting. I remember the door was hard to swing open.

[Geckos_Rule]

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/lo...c-cc41fe511de6

Looks like owners in this building are suing the developer over shoddy construction. Among the thing's they're alleging are "uneven floors, bowed walls and corroded water fixtures."

This is interesting to me, since my building neighbors this one -- and 70 Rainey looks incredibly well-built, at least from a distance. Anyone been inside these to know if they're as poorly constructed as the lawsuit claims?

[H2O]

Originally Posted by Geckos_Rule

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/lo...c-cc41fe511de6

Looks like owners in this building are suing the developer over shoddy construction. Among the thing's they're alleging are "uneven floors, bowed walls and corroded water fixtures."

This is interesting to me, since my building neighbors this one -- and 70 Rainey looks incredibly well-built, at least from a distance. Anyone been inside these to know if they're as poorly constructed as the lawsuit claims?

I have been inside (just prior to final completion) and the building looked great. There were some issues with the pool deck that needed to be redone after move-ins started that probably annoyed some people. My take on it is there is one person with an axe to grind for some reason, and talked some others into supporting his lawsuit.

[KevinFromTexas]

I remember looking at the construction photos here that the floors seemed uneven, but I (and others) took that as being an optical illusion. Uneven floors or not, 70 Rainey is one of my favorites no doubt.

[drummer]

I haven't read into this beyond this thread - is the claim that the discrepancies are widespread throughout the building or at a few locations? Either way, are there not quality checks by the developer throughout a project of this scope? Just curious - those of you with more familiarity of this industry may be able to speak to that.

[IluvATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I remember looking at the construction photos here that the floors seemed uneven, but I (and others) took that as being an optical illusion. Uneven floors or not, 70 Rainey is one of my favorites no doubt.

The uneven floors are likely where 2 Separate concrete pours meet up and cause a bump that usually gets jackhammered down to match. If it wasn’t, then the bumps are felt especially through carpet.

[Tornado]

flintco was the GC on this one, correct? I would think they would have all the supporting documentation, QC checks, etc to back up how the building was constructed.