AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 404

nixcity · #**8061** Posted **Nov 3, 2010, 1:24 PM**

Yes, way to go Austin! I was really worried about whether or not it would pass and was closer then I think it should have been but at least it made it. Now, hopefully the economy will look better in time for the next major transportation project which should be a light rail line.

nixcity · #**8062** Posted **Nov 3, 2010, 1:24 PM**

Oh, and did they ever estimate how many jobs would be created by this proposition?

hookem · #**8063** Posted **Nov 3, 2010, 4:10 PM**

I'm so glad it passed. I was certain that it was doomed because of the general environment during this election. Turnout was high, and people were mad at the government.

But it will be so worth it. Whatever money we've spent in the past on the Ladybird Lake trail, Pfluger Bridge, etc has paid off in my mind. Austinites DO use these things, and in they do it in droves!

StoOgE · #**8064** Posted **Nov 3, 2010, 4:28 PM**

Super happy it passed. Lady Bird Lake, Waller Creek and 3rd street are my favorite parts of it.

Future 6th street and Guadalup/Lavaca changes are also huge for downtown.

If we could get the Power Plant/Green Water Treatment development to take off sooner rather than later downtown will be a much nicer place than it is now.

Also a big fan of the bike/road changes on the East side and the improved connections heading into East Austin from downtown.

Hopefully the I35 plans they are talking about includes taking out a lot of entrance and exit ramps downtown. Were I in charge the only on/off downtown would be Ceasar Chavez and 15th/MLK. Probably close several of the ramps on the lower deck as well would really speed up traffic flow through downtown.

Mopacs · #**8065** Posted **Nov 3, 2010, 4:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Great photos Kevin! Been quite awhile since I've seen downtown from that perspective...at least since the Austonian and W have gone up. Stunning!

Jdawgboy · #**8066** Posted **Nov 3, 2010, 7:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

I don't want to pretend to be the voice from the planet gay...there are many opinions out there....... but, for me:
One of the things that I have always liked about Austin is that I don't feel compelled to go to a gay club if I want to go out. Because Austin has been such an open city, it changes the demand. Yeah, I like to hit the bars with "my peoples" now and then..... but I don't have to. I;d just as soon hang out at Beerland. Many older and more conservative cities developed gay neighborhoods/ghettos out of survival needs. Ultimately I think it is a good thing that we don't have the same need. It becomes more of a choice here.... not a necessity. I like the variety and the mix. As I tell people: This whole town is one big gay neighborhood!. Guess I feel that way about many of the bars here as well. I get that once upon a time the dance scene mostly originated in the gay clubs, But I don't think that is the case anymore. OK... part of that may be sad... but just another stereotype going by the wayside.

Great points that you have made and yes the dance scene is not in the gay clubs as it is more so in the "straight" or as you could say very blended as far as straight or gay people that go to them. Austin is much more integrated than other cities and that is a good thing. I rarely go to the gay clubs myself here and tend to go where the good dance music is

Yea I am glad about the bond package passing, its IMO one of the only highlights of election night as I am a liberal and really was disgusted with even watching any coverage.

nixcity · #**8067** Posted **Nov 3, 2010, 9:10 PM**

^Yea, I guess the dems were supposed to fix eight years of ruin in less than 2 years. Crazy how quickly people forget. Maybe if we cut taxes for the rich then everything will work out, I don't understand how people can't see how flawed this way of thinking is. When rich people have more money they either keep it or invest it, they don't add jobs. Trickled down economics has been tried and failed every time. 1880's, 1920's, 1980's, and again during W's years in the 2000's.
Sorry, last night has me quite upset too.

KevinFromTexas · #**8068** Posted **Nov 3, 2010, 11:06 PM**

I'm really surprised the transportation bond passed. The Eanes school district had three bond proposals and all three were voted down. Of course, as they said on the news, every transportation bond that has been proposed in Austin since 1992 has passed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Hopefully the I35 plans they are talking about includes taking out a lot of entrance and exit ramps downtown. Were I in charge the only on/off downtown would be Ceasar Chavez and 15th/MLK.

Yes! I've been saying this for years. There are way too many entrance and exit ramps on I-35 through downtown. It creates really bad bottlenecks and slows traffic. As soon as you get to and away from that stretch, the speed picks up and the traffic flows again. The other thing is with Metro Rail now crossing under I-35, it seems like a really bad idea to try to add more traffic to the access road where cars would be required to stop and wait for the train to pass. They at least need to take out the exit ramp(s) nearest to the train tracks. I'd hate to think of what would happen if a train was to break down on the tracks across the access road. Cars exiting I-35 on those ramps would create a hellish traffic jam on I-35, not to mention cars coming down those steep ramps would create a dangerous situation.

Downtown_Austin · #**8069** Posted **Nov 4, 2010, 11:14 AM**

Yesterday I noticed a thin strip of changing color lights on the W. Has anyone seen this at night? It's located middle of the building, near the hotel-residential threshold. In the photo below you can see faint green lines. That's them. They were changing from red, to blue, to green, etc...

spw1965 · #**8070** Posted **Nov 4, 2010, 12:34 PM**

I'm glad you brought this up. I did notice it early Tuesday morning while I was out jogging around the trail before sunup. The long, horizontal light was changing colors in an odd pattern which, in my opinion, looked a little dated, like something from the 1980's. I hope they were just doing some testing and that the final lighting scheme is more subdued. It was actually a little annoying.

ahealy · #**8071** Posted **Nov 4, 2010, 3:32 PM**

My pal Matt took this last month. I do think they're still testing it all out.

WAustinResident · #**8072** Posted **Nov 4, 2010, 4:19 PM**

speaking of which, i was doing some number crunching. The statesman article said they had 84 of 159 under contract and it was printed in mid September. Here is a line from Stratus, the developers quarterly statement, " As of July 30, 2010, we had 81 of the 159 condominium residences under contract."

So that means from August to early september when they sourced the info, they pulled 3 contracts or, or 3 a month.

that should mean they should be at around 96 under contract when they start opening the building, or over 60%, which in this economic environment and for the high price, plus compared to the other buildings is quite commendable.

Obviously this is looking at a limited amount of data, but I've learned with new construction that more people buy when they can actually see the unit vs having to deal with it conceptually.

Downtown_Austin · #**8073** Posted **Nov 4, 2010, 6:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spw1965

I'm glad you brought this up. I did notice it early Tuesday morning while I was out jogging around the trail before sunup. The long, horizontal light was changing colors in an odd pattern which, in my opinion, looked a little dated, like something from the 1980's. I hope they were just doing some testing and that the final lighting scheme is more subdued. It was actually a little annoying.

Ditto all of that.

MichaelB · #**8074** Posted **Nov 4, 2010, 6:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downtown_Austin

Ditto all of that.

I sure wish I could remember all the conversation I had with someone working on the W while on the new back patio of RAIN last week. But I know he said it was not a rainbow! LOL! But something that should be rather sophisticated. I'll take notes next time!

BTW: The new back patio of Rain is a great place to see the W and Austonian from.... Alley entrance... shhhh!

BevoLJ · #**8075** Posted **Nov 5, 2010, 1:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downtown_Austin

Ditto all of that.

My Google reader today has a story from your blog about Austin's kick ass condo sells for Oct. that I really want to read, but the past few hours I have been periodically checking your blog page and I can't get it to work for some reason. Anyway that you might be able to post it here?

Downtown_Austin · #**8076** Posted **Nov 5, 2010, 1:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

My Google reader today has a story from your blog about Austin's kick ass condo sells for Oct. that I really want to read, but the past few hours I have been periodically checking your blog page and I can't get it to work for some reason. Anyway that you might be able to post it here?

sorry 'bout that. it should be back up.

BevoLJ · #**8077** Posted **Nov 5, 2010, 1:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downtown_Austin

sorry 'bout that. it should be back up.

Working great, you rock! Thank you.

WAustinResident · #**8078** Posted **Nov 5, 2010, 12:30 PM**

Here are some pics from inside my unit at the W last week. They are really moving along.

http://picasaweb.google.com/tbates1/TheWAustinUnderWayJCSUnit?feat=directlink#

nixcity · #**8079** Posted **Nov 5, 2010, 1:12 PM**

Wow, what amazing views!

WAustinResident · #**8080** Posted **Nov 5, 2010, 2:59 PM**

I think I call them almost everyday with questions on when I can move in. Hopefully if I bug them so much they will work faster.

The view is amazing I haunt been there personally since august.