AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[Urbannizer]

809 Congress Ave

Full demo planned for redevelopment.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/...bgyn5nVEcNvXw_aem_AI-xP-Nmhn7__CFMk5WhGg

[Urbannizer]

Mexic-Arte scores Downtown lifeline at Austin History Center

With its Congress Avenue building headed for demolition, the Mexic‑Arte museum just landed a crucial downtown lifeline. On thursday, austin city leaders signed off on a temporary relocation plan that will move the museum into the austin history center while its longtime home is torn down and rebuilt.

The deal keeps mexic‑arte in the downtown mix and is designed to let the nonprofit keep rolling out exhibitions, classes, and community programs while construction is underway. City documents say the move is meant to safeguard the collection and preserve the museum’s spanish‑language and community programming during the renovation.

As outlined by the city of austin, the council approved a 36‑month lease with an optional 12‑month extension for roughly 12,072 rentable square feet at the austin history center at an annual lease rate of $100. Under the agreement, mexic‑arte will not pay operating expenses, but it will cover janitorial and security costs for after‑hours events and follow the austin public library’s fee schedule. The lease also requires yearly reporting on exhibitions, tours, and educational programming while the downtown site is being reconstructed.

[foreverrushing31]

Is the 419 Congress demo part of the same project as the museum redevelopment James from Towers reported on two years ago?

[Urbannizer]

Yep it's the same project. Towers had renderings of the building but the design has changed a bit since then.

https://www.exigoarch.com/cultural-center-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2

[The ATX]

Cool. I still liked that old hamster wheel design more.

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Yep it's the same project. Towers had renderings of the building but the design has changed a bit since then.

https://www.exigoarch.com/cultural-center-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2

That is like the only good art museum on Congress.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

That is like the only good art museum on Congress.

Well, aside from The Contemporary (which is more of a gallery / venue), it's the only thing close to a museum on Congress.

[Armybrat]

Half of Congress itself is a museum, particularly if some of the facades were restored to original surfaces.

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Well, aside from The Contemporary (which is more of a gallery / venue), it's the only thing close to a museum on Congress.

I HATE The Contemporary. Last time I went, it had like 3 little gallery rooms. I would not call that a museum. Sorry for the rant.

[Mopacs]

Would be great if a museum district could someday develop along and near the capitol mall, expanding on the Blanton and Bullock museums. If I recall there were some very early discussions of setting aside ground floor space in at least one of the new state office buildings.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Would be great if a museum district could someday develop along and near the capitol mall, expanding on the Blanton and Bullock museums. If I recall there were some very early discussions of setting aside ground floor space in at least one of the new state office buildings.

There was a plan floated in the State Leg to establish the Texas Music Museum on the ground floor in the building directly across the mall from Bullock. But it was killed by a FW Rep and a Houston Rep. The FW Rep didn't want competition for a private music museum in his district. The Houston Rep wanted the State Music Museum to be located in Houston. He decided it was better to have no museum than one located in Austin.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

I HATE The Contemporary. Last time I went, it had like 3 little gallery rooms. I would not call that a museum. Sorry for the rant.

Yes...I recall arthouse beginning to suck after the rebrand to contemporary. It is literally a tiny gallery and events space. I feel the same about Laguna Gloria or Umlauf. Both offer very little actual art and more instagram bait crap.

The Capitol Complex would be the best spot for a sub arts district.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by Armybrat

Half of Congress itself is a museum, particularly if some of the facades were restored to original surfaces.

no it is not lol

[Sigaven]

I think the Booth Estate is the next good candiate for a quality art museum here in Austin - I think he wants to turn his estate and collection into a museum once he passes. Sorta like the McNay in SA.

[LiveattheOasis]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

I think the Booth Estate is the next good candiate for a quality art museum here in Austin - I think he wants to turn his estate and collection into a museum once he passes. Sorta like the McNay in SA.

I'm pretty sure he's committed the actual space off 2222 to become the museum when he's no longer with us. It will be special.

[texastarkus]

Originally Posted by LiveattheOasis

I'm pretty sure he's committed the actual space off 2222 to become the museum when he's no longer with us. It will be special.

PHOTOS: A look inside the Booth estate
Austin American-Statesman
Feb 13, 2020
For those wanting to see just what is being discussed....
click HERE

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by texastarkus

PHOTOS: A look inside the Booth estate
Austin American-Statesman
Feb 13, 2020
For those wanting to see just what is being discussed....
click HERE

Can't fking wait

[Urbannizer]

Palace Laundry

[wwmiv]

I’m surprised that anyone is building a new construction low rise in Rainey with such nice materials. One would think that that lot will end up with a high rise sooner rather than later.

(It’s a beautiful design, too, which will be a loss whenever it gets replaced with said high rise.)

And I, too, with the Mexic-Arte museum went with the Aztec calendar wheel design, which was simply world class.

[Urbannizer]

Tru By Hilton