AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 44

jgouger · #**861** Posted **May 31, 2007, 8:19 PM**

360 / 71 / 183 / 35 a loop??? Huh?? I've always thought it was called "the square"

Ahh another one of the many things that "Keeps Austin Weird"

360 is moving along very nicely, they have completely glassed several floors and are applying the cladding to the parking garage. On a side note, the Austin Ballet building is having the final touches added on now, and Austin Music Hall is a giant pile of rebar, brick and asbestos! They've torn down all of it and are cleaning up now.

Saddle Man · #**862** Posted **May 31, 2007, 8:53 PM**

/\/\/\ good one

crewer · #**863** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 1:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tildahat

Speaking of mismanaged, has any one else been participating in, following the Mueller "Pioneer" process?

I'm not, but I heard from a friend who is. He said he was 83 in a lottery for 50 homes. He may have a chance since some will opt not to buy, but he told me that the home prices go up $1,500 in blocks of ten homes. So if he manages to get moved up into the 41-50 group of buyers, he'll pay $6,000 more than those in the first group of ten.

ivanwolf · #**864** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 4:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tildahat

Speaking of mismanaged, has any one else been participating in, following the Mueller "Pioneer" process?

I almost tried for one of those homes, but after seeing how they ran the website with lack of info and just over all lack of preparadness and info in the info center for everything I decided to wait till they get it down better in the next few phases. They had so much time to prepare yet it seemed like they did everything last min.

GoldenBoot · #**865** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 6:04 AM**

31-story apartment tower under way on downtown's eastern edge

By Shonda Novak
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
June 01, 2007

Construction has started on Legacy@Town Lake, a 31-story luxury apartment tower that is the latest high-rise to break ground amid downtown Austin's residential building boom.

Legacy Partners Residential Development Inc., based in Foster City, Calif., is building the 187-unit project at Rainey and Cummings streets.

The company is not disclosing the cost of the project, which it is developing in partnership with BlackRock Inc., a major New York-based investment management firm.

Legacy@Town Lake is due to open in September 2008, said Spencer Stuart Jr., a senior vice president and partner. Rents are expected to range from $1,330 to $6,930, with the average rent projected to be $2,298. Those rents could be revised based on market conditions at the time leasing begins in mid-2008, Stuart said.

Units will range from 659 square feet to 2,876 square feet. The project will include a 265-car garage.

Other apartment projects under construction downtown include AMLI Residential Properties Trust's 18-story, 232-unit complex on Second Street between Guadalupe and San Antonio streets, and Phoenix Property Co.'s complex at the former Goodwill site near West Fifth Street and North Lamar Boulevard. In addition, several condominium towers are under way, with scores more planned in and around downtown.

A national trend toward urbanization is driving residential demand in the urban cores of cities such as Austin, where the downtown residential market has rising rents and occupancy rates, Stuart said.

"We expect this demand to increase over the next 10 years and perhaps even longer," Stuart said. "With the strong job and population growth in Austin, we forecast a significant need for more urban dwelling units of all types and in all price ranges."

Nine Legacy units will have below-market rents for tenants who make 80 percent or less of the city's median income, depending on family size.

Legacy did not seek zoning changes or variances from the city for its project. Instead, it redesigned its project to comply with the city's waterfront development rules, which require projects to sit at least 150 feet from Town Lake, said Matt Mathias, founder of Matt Mathias & Co., an Austin-based real estate brokerage. Mathias represented Legacy in acquiring the land for the project.

Legacy entered the Austin market last year with the acquisition of the Riata apartment community in far Northwest Austin. Legacy has upscale apartment projects in other states including California, Arizona, Colorado and Washington.

[email protected]; 445-3856

HiRyzr · #**866** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 12:28 PM**

tildahat · #**867** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 1:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by crewer

I'm not, but I heard from a friend who is. He said he was 83 in a lottery for 50 homes. He may have a chance since some will opt not to buy, but he told me that the home prices go up $1,500 in blocks of ten homes. So if he manages to get moved up into the 41-50 group of buyers, he'll pay $6,000 more than those in the first group of ten.

Yeah one builder, Standard Pacific (way above my price range) initially said 330-400 on pricing, then the first 10 will have 2 homes at 335 and then 8 at 401. And after that they will ALL be over 400. So exactly 2 houses within the original price range people used to pick a builder. And people can't switch builders. Fiasco is too kind a word for the process.

The other problem has been "The Gap", i.e. if you qualify for affordable houses (we barely did, got 147 out of 179 for 31 places but won't qualify for phase 2) the prices are pretty good. But go from 79.99% to 80.01% of median income and prices jump 100K. So the whole 80% to 120% of median income group is mostly SOL. And the least expensive market priced houses have the fiercest competition outside of the affordable. It's one thing for downtown condos to turn into havens for the rich only - they are private developments after all - but this was public land which was promised to be for all income levels and I see it rapidly becoming as exclusive as any neighborhood in Austin.

tildahat · #**868** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 1:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanwolf

I almost tried for one of those homes, but after seeing how they ran the website with lack of info and just over all lack of preparadness and info in the info center for everything I decided to wait till they get it down better in the next few phases. They had so much time to prepare yet it seemed like they did everything last min.

Yeah, it was mind boggling how disorganized the whole process was run. But hey they've only had 10+ years to plan it!

jgouger · #**869** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 9:33 PM**

FYI the cranes are being dismantled on AMLI II this weekend.

KevinFromTexas · #**870** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 10:24 PM**

The Austonian statistical facts about the building - how it stacks up in Texas.

Yesterday I was adding the heights for The Austonian and also adding the statistical facts for the building. I knew The Austonian would be big news, but I hadn't quite realized all the details until I started to look.

First, some of you may know that buildings have their heights listed according to their design. Spires, domes, crowns, and any rooftop structure that is part of the design of the building is included in its official height. Antennas, flagpoles, signs, air conditioning units, or any other type of rooftop structure that isn't part of the design of the building, is not included in its height.

As for the statistical facts about how The Austonian ranks. It's quite exciting.

First of all, not only will it be the tallest in Austin by 120 feet, (beating 360 Condominiums), but also the tallest in Texas outside of Houston and Dallas. The Austonian will be the tallest all residential building in Texas, and guess what building it will beat to get that title...360 Condominiums, also in Austin. I had also known that 360 Condominiums in Austin was big news, and that it would rank high in residential buildings in Texas. But I hadn't realized that it would actually be the new tallest all residential building in the state. The current tallest all residential building in Texas now is the Mercantile Building in Dallas which is an old office building that has been turned into condos. That building is 523 feet to the spire and 430 feet to the roof. 360 Condominiums in Austin will be 563 feet tall to the spire and 472 feet to the roof.

The Austonian joins Dallas' new Mandarin Oriental Dallas & Residences as one of two skyscrapers in Texas over 600 feet that will have residential uses. The Mandarin Oriental Dallas & Residences also contains a hotel component, but The Austonian is all residential, making it the tallest all residential in the state, and at 33 feet taller than the Mandarin Oriental & Residences, tallest building in Texas with any residential.

KevinFromTexas · #**871** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 10:25 PM**

Cool news on The Legacy. Now we need the Hotel Van Zandt to breakground!

G Lee · #**872** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 10:52 PM**

The 360 webcam is back.
Check out the panned out shot at 11:58am
I haven't learned how to post pictures here.

KevinFromTexas · #**873** Posted **Jun 1, 2007, 11:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by G Lee

The 360 webcam is back.
Check out the panned out shot at 11:58am
I haven't learned how to post pictures here.

Yes. Apparently we have a forumer here who works with Oxblue, the company who operates these web cams. Check it out. They say the reason was they repositioned the camera.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=131408

Webcam link:
http://novare.oxblue.com/austin360/

Here are some screenshots of the 360 webcam.

Panned out, (image at 11:58 am from today).

Strayone · #**874** Posted **Jun 2, 2007, 2:20 AM**

^ love that pano view, I wonder if they plan to offer a rotation of various views, maybe this had something to do with being down for so long. Anyway I also noticed earlier that the cam was working again...niice!

GoldenBoot · #**875** Posted **Jun 2, 2007, 6:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

The Austonian statistical facts about the building - how it stacks up in Texas.

Yesterday I was adding the heights for The Austonian and also adding the statistical facts for the building. I knew The Austonian would be big news, but I hadn't quite realized all the details until I started to look.

First, some of you may know that buildings have their heights listed according to their design. Spires, domes, crowns, and any rooftop structure that is part of the design of the building is included in its official height. Antennas, flagpoles, signs, air conditioning units, or any other type of rooftop structure that isn't part of the design of the building, is not included in its height.

As for the statistical facts about how The Austonian ranks. It's quite exciting.

First of all, not only will it be the tallest in Austin by 120 feet, (beating 360 Condominiums), but also the tallest in Texas outside of Houston and Dallas. The Austonian will be the tallest all residential building in Texas, and guess what building it will beat to get that title...360 Condominiums, also in Austin. I had also known that 360 Condominiums in Austin was big news, and that it would rank high in residential buildings in Texas. But I hadn't realized that it would actually be the new tallest all residential building in the state. The current tallest all residential building in Texas now is the Mercantile Building in Dallas which is an old office building that has been turned into condos. That building is 523 feet to the spire and 430 feet to the roof. 360 Condominiums in Austin will be 563 feet tall to the spire and 472 feet to the roof.

The Austonian joins Dallas' new Mandarin Oriental Dallas & Residences as one of two skyscrapers in Texas over 600 feet that will have residential uses. The Mandarin Oriental Dallas & Residences also contains a hotel component, but The Austonian is all residential, making it the tallest all residential in the state, and at 33 feet taller than the Mandarin Oriental & Residences, tallest building in Texas with any residential.

Let's broaden the scope a bit...The Austonian, if it ends up being built and is taller than T.Stacy’s proposal for Fifth & Congress, will be the tallest residential tower in the Southwest. In addition, it may become the tallest residential tower in North America, west of the Mississippi River, if the following are not built or are altered to lower heights: Park Fifth - L.A. (proposed at 820’), Trump - Denver (proposed at 715’), and Club Renaissance - Las Vegas (proposed at 705’).

With regards to 360...I'm trying to remember the reason why Novare/Andrews Urban redused the spire's height from 108.5' to 90.5'? Would someone be able to help refresh my memory?

Thanks!

KevinFromTexas · #**876** Posted **Jun 2, 2007, 8:27 PM**

I looked into the possibility of taller towers. There are a few possible ones.

Proposed:

Surrey, British Columbia has the King George Tower proposed at 900 feet and 81 floors. It contains condominiums and a hotel. End date: 2009

Denver. The Four Seasons Hotel Tower - I've also seen 752 feet for this building. That height is to the spire, it's only 565 feet to the roof. The end date is listed as 2007, and it hasn't started construction yet.

Sacramento. Capitol Grand Tower - 701 feet with 56 floors. The end date is 2007, but it hasn't started construction yet.

But right now, that's it. There's another 48-story tower proposed in LA, but it doesn't look like a contender.

Dale · #**877** Posted **Jun 2, 2007, 8:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Let's broaden the scope a bit...The Austonian, if it ends up being built and is taller than T.Stacy’s proposal for Fifth & Congress, will be the tallest residential tower in the Southwest. In addition, it may become the tallest residential tower in North America, west of the Mississippi River, if the following are not built or are altered to lower heights: Park Fifth - L.A. (proposed at 820’), Trump - Denver (proposed at 715’), and Club Renaissance - Las Vegas (proposed at 705’).

With regards to 360...I'm trying to remember the reason why Novare/Andrews Urban redused the spire's height from 108.5' to 90.5'? Would someone be able to help refresh my memory?

Thanks!

Trump Denver is, I believe dead. Ditto Club Ren. The Austintonian would appear to be safe for now.

GoldenBoot · #**878** Posted **Jun 2, 2007, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I looked into the possibility of taller towers. There are a few possible ones.

Proposed:

Surrey, British Columbia has the King George Tower proposed at 900 feet and 81 floors. It contains condominiums and a hotel. End date: 2009

This building was originally proposed in October 2005. It has never been approved by the City of Surrey (a Vancouver suburb) and it seems that the development may now consist of two 40-story towers.

Denver. The Four Seasons Hotel Tower - I've also seen 752 feet for this building. That height is to the spire, it's only 565 feet to the roof. The end date is listed as 2007, and it hasn't started construction yet.

The info you have was for the 50-story, original design. It's has been redesigned and now consists of 45 stories and rises about 640' to the tip of the spire. Highest occupied floor is roughly 480' up

Sacramento. Capitol Grand Tower - 701 feet with 56 floors. The end date is 2007, but it hasn't started construction yet.

It's 771' to roof/965' to tip of spire...I believe this one is still going through the city's approval process.

But right now, that's it. There's another 48-story tower proposed in LA, but it doesn't look like a contender.

Yes, I believe it's the Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Residences. If so, it will be in the 600'-640' range.

I'm not sure about TRUMP Denver or LV's Club Ren being dead... Even if the Austonian can lay claim to the title - it should only be for a short time.

KevinFromTexas · #**879** Posted **Jun 2, 2007, 9:22 PM**

Interesting. Where in the world do you find this stuff out? I'd love to know.

Strayone · #**880** Posted **Jun 2, 2007, 10:47 PM**

Nice bit of research guys, when and if they break ground on The Austonian, I will pop a cork of some good bubbly. This has been the one project that I wish to be built. I love the location and that pocket of 2nd st. and Congress will become noticeably dense, Kevin you mentioned breaking ground in the summer, so it shouldn't be to long before we know for sure.