Austin Projects & Construction

[StoOgE]

The shore is a nice looking building. It'll really help the new "waterfront" part of downtown.

[Jdawgboy]

Double post...Look down...

[Jdawgboy]

They have started demolishing the existing building on the site of the Shore I just drove by there 20 min ago and there is alot of activity going on.

Also they have pulled the fence down around the 360 site and have started clearing the lot.

[crewer]

I heard that the new building at 2nd and Congress was presented to the city today, and that it is a very impressive building. Has anyone seen or heard? Any renderings out there to post?

[StoOgE]

the original rendering is back on their website if that means anything.

[greenbelt]

Originally Posted by crewer

I heard that the new building at 2nd and Congress was presented to the city today, and that it is a very impressive building. Has anyone seen or heard? Any renderings out there to post?

wonder if it's the same building that was on their web site?

[StoOgE]

that rendering that was pulled from their website is BACK on their website now. Makes me think its likely what they showed the city. May or may not be final design, but I think its close to final.

[LiveattheOasis]

Well showing it to the city can only be a good sign for the project I should think.

[KevinFromTexas]

Anybody else find it funny how they don't show the very top of that tower? Like maybe there's a spire or something hiding up there?

I actually really like that tower. The base is great, the shaft too. And the top is growing on me. I like the overhang/rim at the top.

And I checked their site, but I didn't see the rendering. Does anyone else have that link with the rendering?

[Mopacs]

Amazingly, There's talk of yet another high-rise on Congress Avenue..this time at the NE corner at E 2nd Street. This is directly across the avenue from the proposed 700-foot Congress Avenue Condominiums. The development is just speculation at this point, but definitely noteworthy! This would result in the displacement of an Austin restaurant institution, "Las Manitas" at 211 Congress. See article from tomorrow's statesman:

http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/05/26lasmanitas.html

---------------------

Development may displace Las Manitas

Finley Co. says it's in talks with a developer, but stressed no deal has been finalized.

By Shonda Novak, Claudia Grisales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, May 26, 2006

Another downtown high-rise could be destined for Congress Avenue, one that could displace the beloved Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, along with folk-art store Tesoros and bilingual day care Escuelita del Alma, where parents already are mobilizing to save the school.
The potential mixed-use project would take up most of the block on the east side of Congress between Second and Third streets on land owned by the Finley Co.

The company is in talks with a developer, Vice President Tim Finley confirmed Thursday, but he emphasized that no deal has been struck. He didn't identify the developer.

"This is a prime piece of property our company has owned for about 20 years," Finley said. "We have been assembling it for future development all these years, and when the time is appropriate, I think the property should be developed."

Cynthia Perez, who owns Las Manitas, at 211 Congress Ave., with her sister Lidia Perez, said a high-rise at the site would be "unfortunate." The lease for the Austin institution, which has been frequented by Laura Bush and actress Meg Ryan, expires at the end of the year.
"You can't print what I think," Cynthia Perez said. "Everything is for sale in Austin right now."

Finley said numerous developers have approached the company over the years, "and that continues to this day."
With more than a dozen downtown residential and mixed-use projects planned, "downtown is obviously hot," Finley said. But, he added, "whether or not we will have a deal at this location is unknown at this time."
The Perez sisters opened the Tex Mex eatery in 1981. They also helped start La Escuelita del Alma next door to provide affordable day care for their workers.

In a letter to parents this week, the school's director said the landlord told the day care it is a "very strong possibility" its lease won't be renewed when it expires Dec. 1, citing talks with an investor who would buy the block and build a high-rise.

Dina Lopez, the day care's director, said every effort will be made to find a new home for the school and its 125 children, many of whose parents work downtown. She and a core group of parents plan to meet today to strategize about options.

"All of my investment is in this building," Lopez said. "I don't have any funds for starting all over somewhere else. I really don't want to close the business down."
Displacing Las Manitas "would be tragic for Austin," said Michael O'Brien, an Austin photographer who has frequented the restaurant since his first visit in 1989.

O'Brien shot photos of Las Manitas as part of a $6 million advertising campaign for a North Texas insurance company that began running last month in dozens of major publications, including the Wall Street Journal and People Magazine.

Because of its prime downtown location, however, it's "inevitable and certainly desirable" that the Finley property be redeveloped, said Michael Knox, a city official who works on downtown projects.

[atx001]

^I'm not 100% sure about this, but isn't there a surface lot behind those stores at that location? If there is, it would be nice to see some integration of the existing buildings with a new one.

I have also wondered what would be the fate of those old buildings adjacent to the Children's Museum? If they remained they would add some nice character to the 2nd street district.

[KevinFromTexas]

^ Yes, there is a surface parking lot behind those buildings, along Brazos.

As for the other side of Congress along 2nd Street, I'm not going to miss those buildings. They're falling apart. The children's museum itself will stay. But the older buildings will likely go. Really though I'm not sure what to think, because I look at the rendering for that tower and I don't see it taking up even half of that block. It looks so slender. Still they seem to be saying it's at 2nd & Congress. That would make sense, being along 2nd Street for the prestige. I definitely want to see care taken with keeping as many of the older smaller buildings as possible when possible. That's one of the things that had made Congress Avenue so unique to this point is skyscrapers and 1880's era buildings coexisting on the same block. I don't want that to go away.

[jmanh]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

^
I definitely want to see care taken with keeping as many of the older smaller buildings as possible when possible. That's one of the things that had made Congress Avenue so unique to this point is skyscrapers and 1880's era buildings coexisting on the same block. I don't want that to go away.

I agree that the older smaller buildings provide needed character to Congress Ave. They provide a link to the past. A Congress Ave. that has only modern glass and steel structures would lack that uniquely Austin feel.

Also, Las Manitas is more than a restaurant -- it's an Austin institution. It's quasi-dumpiness is a key part of it's charm. So, I find it difficult to imagine what the restaurant would be like if it were relocated.

[greenbelt]

Originally Posted by jmanh

I agree that the older smaller buildings provide needed character to Congress Ave. They provide a link to the past. A Congress Ave. that has only modern glass and steel structures would lack that uniquely Austin feel.

Also, Las Manitas is more than a restaurant -- it's an Austin institution. It's quasi-dumpiness is a key part of it's charm. So, I find it difficult to imagine what the restaurant would be like if it were relocated.

As of now, Austin seems to have a strong belief on maintaining the past (that will never change).
I can't see outside developers coming in and taking over. Keeping the old (whenever possible), and mixing in the new is best.

[GoldenBoot]

The façades of the old, run-down buildings next to the Children's Museum will be incorporated into Benchmark's Congress Condominium project.

As for the buildings on the east side of Congress (between 2nd & 3rd Streets), it is still up-in-the-air. The developer is in discussions with his consultants and more than likely, the façades of the buildings may be included in the development. As for Las Manitas, there are basically two options as to what will happen – 1) the developer will help them relocate, or 2) a new Las Manitas will be integrated into the project.

As for the height, it's not going to be in the range of T. Stacy's or Benchmark's proposals.

[KevinFromTexas]

^ I'm sort of glad to hear that the 2nd & Congress project on the east side won't be as tall. That would be kind of odd having two 700 footers right across the street from each other. Maybe not in other cities but in Austin until we get more density and height that would look odd.

[StoOgE]

Hopefully its still ~450 feet. Im getting greedy

[GoldenBoot]

At this point, I don't even think the project will crack 400'. Most likely in the 275'-375' range.

[StoOgE]

tell them StoOgE said to go taller. Not that I have power or know what Im doing. But taller.

[Jdawgboy]

Id be surprised if the city government wouldn't want something taller or at any rate denser. I would say the building should at least be closer to the 25 story mark. I just don't think they should place a 15 story building on congress so far from the Capital. Especially at that location.