AUSTIN | Waterline | 1,034 Feet | 73 Floors | T/O - Page 4

KevinFromTexas · #1 Posted **Sep 18, 2013, 9:09 PM**

I understand that because of the layout of the site that not every building can front the street. I'm more just hoping that because one of their buildings doesn't face a a street and the other two have one or more sides that do not, I'm just hoping they don't carry on with that theme to the sides that do face the street. And really, even for the sides that don't face the street, I'm hoping they still include a lot of retail. That little circle driveway thing bugs me. I'd rather that space be used as an urban plaza with retail uses bordering it.

jngreenlee · #2 Posted **Nov 13, 2013, 6:01 PM**

What's going on with this one? Any updates?

The ATX · #3 Posted **Nov 14, 2013, 7:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jngreenlee

What's going on with this one? Any updates?

Permit requests are being filed. Here's one of them:

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11048802

bigdogc · #4 Posted **Nov 14, 2013, 8:05 PM**

From above link:
"April 2014...Removal of all sidewalk along Cesar Chavez and replacing with Great street. "

MightyYoda · #5 Posted **Nov 14, 2013, 8:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdogc

From above link:
"April 2014...Removal of all sidewalk along Cesar Chavez and replacing with Great street. "

That sounds promising. With how much pent up demand exists in the condo market, I don't think they could afford not to go ahead and build the project.

KevinFromTexas · #6 Posted **Nov 14, 2013, 10:35 PM**

By the way, I've seen the elevations, and it looks like neither of the buildings will be taller than about 480 feet. I say "about" because the elevations didn't show the mechanical penthouse height, and I still haven't measured it out yet.

lzppjb · #7 Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 6:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

By the way, I've seen the elevations, and it looks like neither of the buildings will be taller than about 480 feet. I say "about" because the elevations didn't show the mechanical penthouse height, and I still haven't measured it out yet.

Are there going to be 2 bldgs around 480? While not quite as exciting, that would still put two W hotels right next to each other in what is becoming a very dense area. I think it'd still look pretty cool.

KevinFromTexas · #8 Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 1:51 AM**

Utilities.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...E%20LAYOUT.pdf

MightyYoda · #9 Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 5:24 PM**

I wonder if they aren't going taller because it seems the most demand is in the mid-range market vs Austonian ultra-luxury level condos. They may go the same route as Seaholm and go a bit more "affordable" and try to sell out all their condos ASAP to take advantage of market demand. All conjecture obviously.

GoldenBoot · #10 Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 5:33 PM**

What a huge disappointment this project has become.

KevinFromTexas · #11 Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 11:27 PM**

No, in fact, one of the buildings is only 418 feet by my measurements, and the other is 465 feet. Of course, that could change I guess.

Also the designs of these have grown on me a bit, but I'm sort of confused about their arrangement since they don't take advantage of their designs. The tallest tower's most interesting side will face away from Lady Bird Lake. It'll face north with the shorter office building standing in front of it. Also diagonal to these buildings across Cesar Chavez will be the Fairmont Hotel. So the most interesting side of the taller building will be obscured from most angles. It just seems backwards.

kingkirbythe.... · #12 Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 12:15 AM**

It reminds of two things.

1. New York, Las Vegas. Like an attempt to represent an entire skyline of buildings mashed into one building.

2. Hotels, the board game.

the Genral · #13 Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 9:09 AM**

I really like these mini clusters and don't mind the height. I agree with you Kevin on the good side of the tallest facing the opposite direction to where it could be. The designs are unique to Austin, and I like the colors on the facades. I hope they get built simultaneously as opposed to in phases so there is no chance of one or more getting cancelled. Aside from the tallish Fairmont, I'd prefer to see anything taller than 600 ft closer to the center of downtown as opposed to the edges. These will seem tall enough when viewed from I35, and even more impressive since they are clustered. The whole package looks big city to me.

wwmiv · #14 Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 9:31 AM**

I hate the designs with a passion. They're straight from Sim City.

the Genral · #15 Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 6:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I hate the designs with a passion. They're straight from Sim City.

Its interesting how far apart we are on our opinions about the design of these buildings. I actually used to play Sim City and 'designed' a few masterpieces I would have loved to see in our skyline. These DO look like something straight from Sim City

But I wish some of our weaker architectural disasters did too, Ashton, 4 Seasons, Whitley, ect...
I like everything about this project...the grouping, size, shapes, color, texture, location, and purpose. They are anything but bland, and I hate bland...with a passion.

lzppjb · #16 Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 6:04 PM**

I'm not a huge fan of the current renderings. I see what wwmiv is saying. I've never played Sim City, but they do look like CGI buildings from a 1990's futuristic movie or something.

I am giving this like a 20% chance that they actual buildings end up looking like this rendering.

hookem · #17 Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 7:37 PM**

I dislike those "tower group" projects as well. But in recent memory, how many projects have really been completed that way (other than in maybe Vegas)? Seems like they also use that multi-building thing now to allow "phases" of construction and then usually only the first building happens. The other parts of the lot get sold off or built up later in a different way from the initial design.

20-30 years ago, though, it was a different story. Would hate for something like the Renaissance center in Detroit to happen here... even if it is on a shorter, smaller scale.

GoldenBoot · #18 Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 10:43 PM**

I still have a hard time thinking the Sutton Company can pull this project off...

DoubleC · #19 Posted **Nov 21, 2013, 3:58 AM**

I like the design and I'm fine with the height. You can never have enough glass boxes!

Personally I'd rather have the taller buildings closer towards the center of downtown than right up close. The Legacy for example, is a good example of what I'm not fond of, though I'm not saying I don't like the Legacy. It should have been put just a bit farther Northwest if possible, or switched locations with the Shore.

Spaceman · #20 Posted **Nov 21, 2013, 6:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I still have a hard time thinking the Sutton Company can pull this project off...

I agree!!