Austin | Block 185/Google Tower #2 | 594 Feet | 35 Floors | Complete

[WestAustinite]

Originally Posted by freerover

I'm not sure the area will look better when all the buildings lack power. Downtown needs substations. New one coming in soon on in Rainey district on East Ave.

I wish they would sell that current downtown substation block and use the money to move it 1/3 mile west to 3rd and Baylor St. There is a 6 acre plot (Tips Iron & Steel site) there along the train tracks across from the Amtrak station that sits directly under the main transmission lines feeding downtown.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by WestAustinite

I wish they would sell that current downtown substation block and use the money to move it 1/3 mile west to 3rd and Baylor St. There is a 6 acre plot (Tips Iron & Steel site) there along the train tracks across from the Amtrak station that sits directly under the main transmission lines feeding downtown.

About half of the cost of moving the substation would be in extending the underground ductbanks that leave the substation to power downtown. A location nearby the current one is paramount in keeping the price down, so Tips is one of the few options still available. The high voltage lines along 3rd are only one of three circuits that feed into the substation. The feeds from the south and west would have to be extended there as well. The cost of the Tips site might not be that much less expensive than the value of the current substation land unless they only purchased a portion of it (or sold the rest) and downsized the footprint with GIS (Gas Insulated Substation) equipment. Twenty years ago the substation land was not worth as much as the cost of relocation (even to the site of the Independent, which AE already owned), but it may be nearing it now, especially if they were able to shrink the footprint to reduce land cost of a new site.

[myBrain]

Great pics!

Hoo boy this one's about to start looking crazy!

[Syndic]

Originally Posted by myBrain

Great pics!

Hoo boy this one's about to start looking crazy!

It really is.

This thing gets smaller the higher it goes so construction seems to be speeding up.

[drummer]

^^ Although that may be the only ideal angle of 3rd and Shoal.

[the Genral]

Thanks for doing that Tyrone Shoes. I'm too lazy to go back into the thread for a reminder. Those pics show just how important this is going to be for anchoring and improving that plateaued cluster. A true, tall iconic building down by the lake at almost 600 ft tall. Who would have thunk it, even just 5 years ago. But really, they/I only needed 6 more feet!

[Urbannizer]

Austin Boardwalk by Dagonite, on Flickr

[ILUVSAT]

^^^Outstanding pic! Thanks for sharing.

[Armybrat]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

^^^Outstanding pic! Thanks for sharing.

Seconded!

[the Genral]

It is quite a nice picture. Austin is a pretty city for sure. 301 Congress always seems to pop its head up in so many different angles, and it goes without saying how the Quincy is an excellent gap filler that from that angle continues the uninterrupted flow of downtown.
And I love the water and both shorelines especially the gathering places. Amazing that there are only 4 or 5 buildings in that pic that were there during the first building boom and those 2 people sitting on the rocks were probably not born when only those few buildings dominated the skyline so they can't even compare how far we've come like some of us earler settlers can.

[ThyPiGuy]

Taken in last couple of days. This thing is going to dominate the skyline from Auditorium Shores.

[Echostatic]

Looks like the first office level is underway!

[corvairkeith]

[KevinFromTexas]

That stretch of Cesar Chavez needs attention, especially now.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

That stretch of Cesar Chavez needs attention, especially now.

It's a campground along the river between City Hall and Congress. Since I work in that area, I have noticed a lot of the early morning joggers doing their jogging in the street instead of going through the campground.

[Urbannizer]

atx by John Gusky, on Flickr

[gillynova]

[urbancore]

i need to dial back my enthusiasm on this one.

I feel like I'm setting myself up for disappointment. Never had a tinder date, but I've heard some horror stories from buddies. I hope that the result will live up.

I really hated the Independent crown, and now I freaking love it....I see each night peaking over the pecan tree in my back yard and it makes me smile. The lighting team killed it.

I want the Sail to inspire me...I want it to draw us back downtown...I want it to force local architects to contend with it....I want it to cajole Cristopher Cross out of retirement to sing at the Grand Opening....I want to make sweet, sweet........reservations at the Michelin 3-Star bbq restaurant destined for the Sail.....I want to set up my easel on top of Doug Sahm Hill and paint a masterpiece of her gracious curve.

Anyone got an easel I can borrow?

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by urbancore

i need to dial back my enthusiasm on this one.

I feel like I'm setting myself up for disappointment. Never had a tinder date, but I've heard some horror stories from buddies. I hope that the result will live up.

I really hated the Independent crown, and now I freaking love it....I see each night peaking over the pecan tree in my back yard and it makes me smile. The lighting team killed it.

I want the Sail to inspire me...I want it to draw us back downtown...I want it to force local architects to contend with it....I want it to cajole Cristopher Cross out of retirement to sing at the Grand Opening....I want to make sweet, sweet........reservations at the Michelin 3-Star bbq restaurant destined for the Sail.....I want to set up my easel on top of Doug Sahm Hill and paint a masterpiece of her gracious curve.

Anyone got an easel I can borrow?

I don't think any of us will be disappointed with this one. I'm already impressed with what's already done. I like the slant back. The arch of the "sail" will be unlike any other structure we have, and if its lit...boner!. Did I just say that??? Ewww, an Ahealy moment there! I hate the Indy crown by day, love it by night. I can't get on board with how cheap it looks. I HATED the Molar, now I like it. I tend to be quick to judge, then regret it later, but not always. WeWork on Barton Springs....drove by it the other day, still hate it, always hated it from conception to completion, wish they had practiced safe group designing before that Igor was conceived, but at least its mostly hidden until you're on it. This will be the masterpiece down by the river and a good target for brush and canvas. Btw, didn't know you painted. I also didn't know there would be a BBQ in it. What are they going to do about all the smoke? And a pet peeve of mine just happened, I swear I just saw 3 My Pillow commercials while typing this post. I'll go on record that even though I have a My Pillow, I can't stand Mike Lindell and his stupid over played commercials. Maybe his products would be cheaper if he didn't spend so much money advertising for a decent product but not the best pillow you'll ever sleep on. I don't think I gained even an extra 30 seconds of sleep with it. Maybe he's not getting the word of mouth publicity, so he has to keep paying for air time to get his one and dones to stay in business, but I digress...thought I was on Facebook for a second.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by the Genral

I also didn't know there would be a BBQ in it. What are they going to do about all the smoke?

Yep, Cristopher Cross will be the pitmaster.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMkIuKXwmlU