Austin | 305 S. Congress | 6 Towers - 215'/295'/365'/375'/445'/525' | Proposed - Page 5

wwmiv · #1 Posted **Apr 13, 2015, 5:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

It's a stretch, but they could always do a sort of stage on a small barge or something and just bring it out when it's needed so there's not a bandstand/stage there all the time.

You could do it like San Antonio's riverwalk stage.

_Matt · #2 Posted **Apr 13, 2015, 5:34 PM**

I'd be a fan of integrating shade into the area without blocking the skyline view. Perhaps they could take cues from the shade building used in the domain.

_Matt · #3 Posted **Apr 13, 2015, 9:22 PM**

I've never understood the desire for setbacks around Town Lake. What's the rub with height right along the water's edge? Maybe I've just never experienced negative effects. Looks awesome in Chicago.

Cloud92 · #4 Posted **Apr 13, 2015, 10:09 PM**

Pretty sure someone spent a lot of time in trying to prevent that from ever happening

Tech House · #5 Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 10:04 PM**

Here is a flyer regarding an upcoming presentation about waterfront development and the South Shore district, by a world-renowned expert on the subject: http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/def...out4_flyer.pdf

Hopefully one or more of us will be able to attend and report back to the group.

KevinFromTexas · #6 Posted **May 24, 2015, 6:29 AM**

I can't see over the paywall, but the American-Statesman has a new article on this.

http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...bird-la/nmKGw/

Quote:

City has grand development vision for Lady Bird Lake’s south shore
6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 2015 | Filed in: Business

As development jumps across Lady Bird Lake from downtown, Austin city leaders and developers have a chance to work collaboratively to do something special near the south shore waterfront.

Time will tell how the area evolves. But at least the city, seizing on what it calls an “historic opportunity to plan ahead,” is working on a vision for how an area on the cusp of major change could be transformed into a lively new district, with benefits for the community at large.

The ATX · #7 Posted **May 24, 2015, 10:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I can't see over the paywall, but the American-Statesman has a new article on this.

http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...bird-la/nmKGw/

Try this link:

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/busi...3948020.735742

Tech House · #8 Posted **May 26, 2015, 5:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

Try this link:

Thanks. I love this paragraph:

"Currently, the city paints a fairly dismal picture of the area. It is marred by poor public access, limited public green space, vast parking lots and aging, auto-oriented development. The wide, busy streets aren’t conducive to walking, biking or mass transit, and the surface stormwater runoff creates water-quality issues for Lady Bird Lake, the city says."

Every word of it is true, and it makes one realize that it would be nearly impossible to do anything with the South Shore that would fail to improve it, short of maybe a large fracking operation, oil refinery, or open-pit mine. It's exciting to imagine what may transpire in that zone, and how it will interact with the lake and downtown.

The ATX · #9 Posted **Sep 4, 2015, 4:25 PM**

KXAN has a story with video about the South Shore vision. This is a looooooooooooooooooooooooooong term plan.

http://kxan.com/2015/09/03/new-beaut...ront-unveiled/

Tech House · #10 Posted **Sep 4, 2015, 5:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

KXAN has a story with video about the South Shore vision. This is a looooooooooooooooooooooooooong term plan.

http://kxan.com/2015/09/03/new-beaut...ront-unveiled/

What I got from the video is that we're farther away from anything happening in the South Shore district than any of us ever imagined. One by one, the property owners will redevelop their properties, and the city will provide incentives for beautification, greenery, and walkability. That's about it. Did I miss anything?

wwmiv · #11 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 5:22 AM**

Let us all remind each other of the full potential of this area:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...VM&usp=sharing

If there were another east/west connection with a real signature bridge here and meaningful connective integration with an expanded East Avenue between there and to (and with) I-35? OMG that'd be amazing. It'll never happen, though.

lzppjb · #12 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 5:31 AM**

Love the idea of a Cummings Street bridge.

wwmiv · #13 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 6:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Love the idea of a Cummings Street bridge.

Right? That would serve so many transportation interests if tied into a broader I-35 connection framework via East Avenue. It would alleviate Cesar Chavez at Rainey. It would alleviate traffic on Riverside. It would provide more access east/west generally. It would make getting into and out of Rainey significantly easier. There are so many plusses here.

I'd totally have it be two lanes in each direction with some signature arch design with architectural flair with lighting at night and a large pedestrian component and have it directly connected thru to interstate 35 as two lanes in each direction with some ingenious intersection configuration at the interstate itself to account for the elevation of the preexisting configuration (such as a roundabout from northbound I-35 to westbound East Avenue underneath the highway).

AustinGoesVertical · #14 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 7:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Let us all remind each other of the full potential of this area:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...VM&usp=sharing

If there were another east/west connection with a real signature bridge here and meaningful connective integration with an expanded East Avenue between there and to (and with) I-35? OMG that'd be amazing. It'll never happen, though.

Wow. I'm sold. This would be incredible and for it to be a signature bridge would be an even bigger plus. This area has so much potential. I like the idea of Crystal Lagoons being there, but then again to have it be more of an extended grid would be ideal as well.

What I'd love to see is mixed used density, with as always, some height. I imagine a point tower right near the waterfront that's sort of a balancing focal point with the Austonian. Even if the rest of the towers are 20-40 stories or midrises, I'd like to see a signature tower out of this. Whatever they do, I hope it's interesting. If this land is just divided up into spec office, like 8 or so 5th and Colorado type towers (15-20 stories), I'll be really disappointed.

wwmiv · #15 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Wow. I'm sold. This would be incredible and for it to be a signature bridge would be an even bigger plus. This area has so much potential. I like the idea of Crystal Lagoons being there, but then again to have it be more of an extended grid would be ideal as well.

What I'd love to see is mixed used density, with as always, some height. I imagine a point tower right near the waterfront that's sort of a balancing focal point with the Austonian. Even if the rest of the towers are 20-40 stories or midrises, I'd like to see a signature tower out of this. Whatever they do, I hope it's interesting. If this land is just divided up into spec office, like 8 or so 5th and Colorado type towers (15-20 stories), I'll be really disappointed.

It'll be VMU. I doubt anything more than 15 stories. There's also that Austin has historically disliked taller structures closer to the waterfront, and although idk if this area is zoned in that way, but I doubt anything tall is gonna get build net to the water.

Personally, I actually like the height requirement stepping back away from the river where they already exist and, if they don't already apply here they should.

drummer · #16 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 9:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Let us all remind each other of the full potential of this area:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...VM&usp=sharing

If there were another east/west connection with a real signature bridge here and meaningful connective integration with an expanded East Avenue between there and to (and with) I-35? OMG that'd be amazing. It'll never happen, though.

I agree with everything here - including (sadly) the part that it'll never happen. At least not any time soon. I'm sure MACC would have a field day with that, by the way, haha...boxed in by two bridges (in their eyes). Of course, one of the two, to appease them, could be designed with the Hispanic culture in mind? I think that'd be kinda cool, actually.

That said, I do love the idea of establishing a significant grid there, and if that's done further connectivity (if anything else, a wide bike/pedestrian bridge) would do wonders. I think there would need to be another vehicular bridge, though...at least one.

KevinFromTexas · #17 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 6:42 AM**

That would be awesome.

drummer · #18 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 12:58 PM**

Interesting:

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/o...14-2016/nqMYs/

wwmiv · #19 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 10:24 PM**

Note: I've revamped that google map with a lot more detail. Make sure you click on the overlays, I always include descriptions of what I'd do and usually why.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...VM&usp=sharing

hereinaustin · #20 Posted **Feb 13, 2016, 11:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Note: I've revamped that google map with a lot more detail. Make sure you click on the overlays, I always include descriptions of what I'd do and usually why.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...VM&usp=sharing

I've always imagined something closer to the Domain in terms of walkability and ground floor retail throughout, except with 12+ story buildings at every single block. I would also hope for a mix of residential and commercial. I'd also love for there to finally be some proper high density micro-apartments in the 300sqft range with lots of built-in storage + a murphy bed.