Austin Projects & Construction - Page 59

Mopacs · #**1161** Posted **Jun 4, 2006, 3:41 PM**

Here are a few updated construction shots around Downtown taken yesterday (6/3/06):

The Shore

Demolition of exsiting building(s) is almost complete:

AMLI II Construction Site from San Antonio St:

360/Novare

Monarch/ZOM site -
everything is cleared and ready-to-go:

UT Conference Center and Hotel -
Lavaca at MLK:

The Triangle -

Mixed-Use/Urban center on Guadalupe at Lamar confluence. Photos taken from the retail district along 47th Street, near the Mandola's Italian Market courtyard:

crewer · #**1162** Posted **Jun 4, 2006, 4:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Here are a few updated construction shots around Downtown taken yesterday (6/3/06):

UT Conference Center and Hotel -

Totally missed that one, Mopacs! What conference center? Have renderings been posted? If so, I'm afraid I was out of the loop.

KevinFromTexas · #**1163** Posted **Jun 4, 2006, 5:43 PM**

There really haven't been any details on the size of the UT Hotel & Conference Center. They wanted 250 hotel rooms and I want to say they've increased it to 300 rooms. Anyway they never really said anything about the height though. We were sort of tenatively saying ~10 floors maybe? It's a fairly small lot isn't it? I haven't been up there in a while and never really payed much attention to the size of the lot.

Strayone · #**1164** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 3:01 AM**

Hi there, I have been following this forum and thread since I did a google search of the proposed Stacey condo tower back in late 2005 and then was linked to this thread. I really enjoyed following the various prognostications, and hopeful predictions, and finally chose to stop being a spectator. This is a very exciting time for Austin as I've witnessed by reading the very informed views found here. I am very impressed with the photoshopped view of Austin that has been continuously updated. Amazing how the Frost tower just blends in, no longer would its 2 year run of dominating the skyline continue. I am of the mindset if even a portion of the proposed projects is built it will be a great addition to the skyline. I moved here in 1985 just before the hotel /office boom put 10+ cranes up in downtowns core. Would'nt that be a sight to see again! Only this time it would be significantly taller cranes. I gotta say I have my fingers crossed for 360 to be the first of the bigs to come to fruition, but it seems I get the sense even some of the posters here are'nt sure it is truelly underway. I have seen the work site and wonder would they put up those billboards and have a crew there if it wasn't truelly underway? We went 20+ years without a new tallest (Frost) so it actually shocks me if we would suddenly have as many as 5 new taller buildings! Anyway I'm rambling, just wanted to say hi to ya all, Thanks The Strayone

Mopacs · #**1165** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 3:08 AM**

Welcome aboard Strayone! Good to see our Austin representation grow here in the forum. I too agree that if only a 1/3rd of the proposed projects become reality, I will be very happy. And as I"ve said in previous posts, I would gladly trade 5 or 6 smaller projects, for just one or two super Talls, such as T-Stacy and the 200 Congress conceptual plan. Time will tell....

Jdawgboy · #**1166** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 3:12 AM**

Oh 360 is going to happen no doubt about it at all, but I do agree that some on here are a bit skeptical. While I agree that not all projects will happen I do believe half of the proposals will be built. Not only that but even if some of these don't happen, we seem to continue to hear new projects ever month or two anyways. So if one falls through sooner or later we will hear of other new projects its not going to end anytime soon yet.

greenbelt · #**1167** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 3:43 AM**

welcome strayone.

Mopacs · #**1168** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 4:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Not only that but even if some of these don't happen, we seem to continue to hear new projects ever month or two anyways. So if one falls through sooner or later we will hear of other new projects its not going to end anytime soon yet.

And then there are projects like the Four Seasons Residences, which were all but cancelled, come back to life years later. So even if 60 percent don't make it, there's always a chance at least a few could be resurrected years later. The demand will continue to go up, even if at slow and steady paces.

Strayone · #**1169** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 5:01 AM**

Can't help it had to check the thread again, this is going to get habit forming. I've perused the skyscraperpage site a bit and it seems that the Austin thread or should I say Austin seems to be a hotbed of probable projects compared to many other cities, I haven't noticed near the activity in the San Antonio thread or even Houston or Dallas, and the local news, print etc. has stories very often, is this an indication of Austin being ripe for this developement? It's obvious density will be the future, San Fran. Seattle and of course New York, and don't forget Vancouver and other foriegn cities caught on years ago, albeit due to land constraints, but is our city actually going to find the knowhow to get this plan in place at a quicker pace than other larger cities in the state. It sure would be admirable if Austin became a frontrunner in idealic city growth no matter the pace that we were capable of attaining.

crewer · #**1170** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 11:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strayone

...I haven't noticed near the activity in the San Antonio thread or even Houston or Dallas, and the local news, print etc. has stories very often, is this an indication of Austin being ripe for this developement? It's obvious density will be the future, San Fran. Seattle and of course New York, and don't forget Vancouver and other foriegn cities caught on years ago, albeit due to land constraints, but is our city actually going to find the knowhow to get this plan in place at a quicker pace than other larger cities in the state.

Not meaning to downplay the Skyscraper threads, but I wouldn't necessarily base the amount of development in other Texas cities on what is posted on their threads. I think the Austin thread is a true exception, and I say this only because I've seen the number of massive projects going up in the Dallas metroplex (developer sites, not the SkyscraperPage Forum). Austin pales in comparison.

Houston has been throwing up massive developments all over the place, but the big difference is that you have clumps of satellite "downtowns" around Houston. The core downtown region has been getting a massive amount of infill just south of the city with lowrise developments. But the number of highrise condos going up around the Galleria and Medical Center has been pretty impressive.

Though I'm excited to see all the new developments going up in downtown Austin, I'm a little concerned that it could be too many too late. With rising interest rates and the feds starting to put pressure on the mortgage industry for overqualifying buyers, I have a feeling we're going to see only a few of the projects really make it. Fortunately the ones that are the most likely to go up are in areas where Austin desperately needs infill. Also, we have a fair number of those buildings that will be multi-use. That might help to keep a project alive, even if the downtown condo market becomes saturated, as it has in so many US cities.

KevinFromTexas · #**1171** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 8:18 PM**

Welcome aboard Strayone. And oh yes, this forum is quite addictive. 6/7 years for me and counting!

Anyway I think part of the activity that we see on this forum by the Austin crowd also has to do with how sociable this city is. Go downtown, go to the park, restaurants, clubs anywhere and people are always selling hello, giving a nod or even just a smile. I think this is partly where Austin's "small town feel" label comes from. People here don't exactly act as if they're in a big city.

Jdawgboy · #**1172** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 8:58 PM**

By the way just to let people know they have been tearing down the old ready Ice plant. I went by there lastnight and its all rubble now so soon we should see construction in that area. Also looks like another lot was being cleard down 8th or 9th I cant remember wich one I was looking down and noticed it. Ill need to take pics next month.

Strayone · #**1173** Posted **Jun 5, 2006, 9:14 PM**

I couldn't agree more I come from the Fargo/Morehead area in the far north Ha, I have lived in Minneapolis and Seattle for brief periods but nowhere not even in parts of Minnesota due you find the amicable natures and attitudes you find here in the heart of Texas. P.s. lets not let the secret get out too much more. My mother was down visiting years ago and as she was in the parking lot of my sisters condo some stranger offered to carry her luggage up. She was'nt used to this and was a bit wary, but ablidged the fellow. Yeah the feel here is great, I don't think a couple a big buildings will hurt. I was on the highrise thread, or maybe the under construction thread for 360 earlier and the blownup picture makes me giddy, Wow, that is a gorgeous building, sleek, regal, and get aload of those balconys, I calculated 157 balconys on the one side, thats alot of plants. Thanks for the welcome Stray

Mopacs · #**1174** Posted **Jun 6, 2006, 12:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

By the way just to let people know they have been tearing down the old ready Ice plant. I went by there lastnight and its all rubble now so soon we should see construction in that area. Also looks like another lot was being cleard down 8th or 9th I cant remember wich one I was looking down and noticed it. Ill need to take pics next month.

Yep, KLBJ-AM ran a piece on the demolition of the old ice plant yesterday. According to the story, there have been several owners with their own plans on redevelopment...none of which came to fruition. Looking forward to the pics.

MichaelB · #**1175** Posted **Jun 6, 2006, 11:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

There really haven't been any details on the size of the UT Hotel & Conference Center. They wanted 250 hotel rooms and I want to say they've increased it to 300 rooms. Anyway they never really said anything about the height though. We were sort of tenatively saying ~10 floors maybe? It's a fairly small lot isn't it? I haven't been up there in a while and never really payed much attention to the size of the lot.

Here is the link to the new UT Hotel/conference center..... It will be 6 stories tall. They have quite a large hole going there! The parking will be under the structure!

http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/execed/confcenter.asp

http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/execed/images/center2.jpg

MichaelB · #**1176** Posted **Jun 6, 2006, 11:10 PM**

Question: Do any of you guys that work for the city know the status of "La Vista at Lavaca" I know they just went through another round of zoning issues last week or so. I hear it went well..... until the end when the city attached another stipulation of some kind about street level retail. (They are already planning a restaurant at street level)....... anyone know any details?

KevinFromTexas · #**1177** Posted **Jun 6, 2006, 11:10 PM**

Hmm, 6 floors. I had sort of suspected that we'd see something shorter. That's still not that bad. I thought they might end up going shorter with it. That view of the UT Tower when you're coming down Guadalupe would have been lost all together if anything tall had been built there. I know that's not something that's very important, or shouldn't be when considering highrises but in this case because it's the UT Tower and the hotel will be part of UT it doesn't surprise me and I'm ok with it. Anyway it will still add some density and bring more pedestrians there.

MichaelB · #**1178** Posted **Jun 7, 2006, 5:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Hmm, 6 floors. I had sort of suspected that we'd see something shorter. That's still not that bad. I thought they might end up going shorter with it. That view of the UT Tower when you're coming down Guadalupe would have been lost all together if anything tall had been built there. I know that's not something that's very important, or shouldn't be when considering highrises but in this case because it's the UT Tower and the hotel will be part of UT it doesn't surprise me and I'm ok with it. Anyway it will still add some density and bring more pedestrians there.

I am glad for the height at that location. I agree I would not want to loose the view of the tower coming up Lavaca. As for pedestrians....well....UT once again choose to ignore the city (and the city government). The hotel will ignor MLK... It will face University Dr..... no retail or even restaurant/coffee....anything on the MLK side. (They say too many site requirements. We all know it is just blatant lack of consideration or desire! ) So.....it will bring folks into the neighborhood..... but will not bring the neigborhood into the development. Ironically it is a center for the school of business.... and what a poor business model it seems to represent......

KevinFromTexas · #**1179** Posted **Jun 7, 2006, 6:25 AM**

Wow, I hadn't realized that. I still need to read up on it more. Oh well, their loss, heh, there's plenty of other businesses in the area that will gain from the activity. It's just a shame that it won't contribute to the neighborhood much itself.

MichaelB · #**1180** Posted **Jun 7, 2006, 6:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Wow, I hadn't realized that. I still need to read up on it more. Oh well, their loss, heh, there's plenty of other businesses in the area that will gain from the activity. It's just a shame that it won't contribute to the neighborhood much itself.

Yes, indeed..... I do think Lake/Flato has done a decent job on the desgin considering the parameters. From what I can tell it will do a better job of being a contemporary version of the UT "masterplan" than most of the recent UT buildings have done. Maybe they can set a new benchmark for the poor unfortunate regents to see! Can't be worse than the "Bland"-ton! (sorry, I have great contempt for the process that brought the Blanton about..... as if it is not evident!)