AUSTIN | Shoal Creek Walk | 219 FEET | 15 FLOORS | COMPLETE - Page 7

drummer · #**121** Posted **May 26, 2015, 11:52 PM**

Here's a Flickr photo thread that has a bunch of pictures from the 1981 Memorial Day flood. At the top, it says:

"May 24, 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of Austin's Memorial Day Flood when 13 people lost their lives and damage across the city was estimated at $35.5 million."

https://www.flickr.com/photos/austin...7626196677382/

MTM-ATX · #**122** Posted **May 27, 2015, 10:41 PM**

3 stories of underground parking... When I meet with Schlosser a few years back to look at some preliminary plans, I asked how they intended to protect cars and people in an underground parking garage. They responded that there would be an emergency "Submarine" door at the parking entrance that would be sealed off during high risk flooding events. There is a similar door (all be it much smaller) at Austin City Lofts on the other side of Shoal Creek. This door is between the pool and first floor. Their pool was flooded and assume they closed it off prior to the flood.

I do like that they will be providing an ADA compliant access ramp from 6th St down to the SC trail.

Jdawgboy · #**123** Posted **May 28, 2015, 8:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech House

Going out on a limb with a wild guess, I think there would be more difficulty tunneling near Shoal Creek because it's rockier, whereas the Waller zone is almost ideal for tunneling with softer material. It's also hard to imagine voters approving bonds for a second tunnel, although there are some deep pockets with a vested interest in not seeing a repeat of Memorial Day 1981, when the water was substantially higher.

Where is the weather thread referenced by Hill Country? I'm watching from afar, in relatively dry Seattle (which has received about a foot LESS precipitation than Austin thus far in 2015.) I spent at least 2 hours online last night, ogling video, stories, and images of what is transpiring in Texas. What happened in Wimberley is tragic, entire neighborhoods virtually erased as if by a Cat 5 tornado or hurricane, and potentially several lives lost (haven't seen updates on the missing dozen.)

There is a big difference when comparing Waller and Shoal Creeks and that is Shoal Creek is a much longer creek with a larger collection basin. Waller begins not too far north of UT and while it can get pretty bad when flooding it would be difficult for it to get as bad as Shoal Creek can get.

The city could start by adding native riparian species and build big rain gardens along the creek that could catch large amounts of urban runoff rather than it being dumped directly into the creek. The rain gardens would help to slow the flow although they won't be able to handle massive amounts of water. Having a tunnel would go a long way in helping the flood problems of Shoal.

AustinGoesVertical · #**124** Posted **May 28, 2015, 6:39 PM**

Has this project been approved by the city yet? When the rendering went up on a sign on the site, I thought a groundbreaking would happen soon. Now nothing for months. What effect will the recent flooding have on this project? Is there any portion of the design aimed at alleviating flooding concerns, like a retaining wall around the creek.

atxdweller · #**125** Posted **May 28, 2015, 7:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Is there any portion of the design aimed at alleviating flooding concerns, like a retaining wall around the creek.

From talking with my own building management, my understanding is that property owners can't do anything to alter water flow in the floodplain, because this just makes it worse for someone else. Even fences next to the creek have to be designed to collapse so they don't impede water flow if it floods.

I have a really hard time seeing the city approving any commercially feasible plan in light of what I saw on Monday. Especially not with multiple stories of underground parking. No way, at least not for what a developer would be willing to spend to make it watertight.

Maybe Schlosser should create a food truck mecca there, since they've been evicted from most other DT locations.

KevinFromTexas · #**126** Posted **May 28, 2015, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by atxdweller

Maybe Schlosser should create a food truck mecca there, since they've been evicted from most other DT locations.

That's kind of a neat idea. A sort of extension of the market district. I was watching a show last week about Port Aransas, and something I'd forgotten is that you can bring your fish you've caught to a restaurant, and as long as they're cleaned and fresh, they'll cook it for you. So going with that idea, it would be neat to have a food truck capitalize on the idea that you could go to Whole Foods across the street, pick your food and then have one of the food trucks cook it for you. It wouldn't exactly be fast food or convenient in that way, but you could get some really well cooked high quality food made for you so you don't have to make a mess in your own kitchen.

The ATX · #**127** Posted **Jun 15, 2015, 8:33 PM**

The site plan was approved and released today. The elevations and building details have not been added to the release yet.

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11268506

KevinFromTexas · #**128** Posted **Jun 25, 2015, 3:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

The site plan was approved and released today. The elevations and building details have not been added to the release yet.

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11268506

They added the rest of the files today, but the links aren't working for some reason.

Quote:

Error from display:\\COACD.ORG\DFS\PIERIMAGES\SitePlan\2012\SP-2012-0036C(R1)_1\SPL-SP-2012-0036C(R1)_1~011.TIF (The system cannot find the path specified)

The ATX · #**129** Posted **Jul 10, 2015, 5:00 PM**

The link to the site plan attachments has been fixed. I went through all 66 files, and there are no elevations. But there is this drawing (page 19) with the heights of the three buildings:

15-stories, 208'
5-stories, 60'
Parking Garage, 54'

KevinFromTexas · #**130** Posted **Jul 11, 2015, 4:12 PM**

Well at least we have that height. I'm betting, though, that it's the height only to the main roof since they don't prohibit mechanical penthouses from exceeding height variances, and I've noticed they rarely get counted anyway. So it may be another 10 feet taller or so.

loonytoony · #**131** Posted **Aug 17, 2015, 10:16 PM**

Saw some surveyors out there today. Hopefully this project is still on track.

JoninATX · #**132** Posted **Aug 18, 2015, 12:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by loonytoony

Saw some surveyors out there today. Hopefully this project is still on track.

More than likely they'll be starting construction soon.

AustinGoesVertical · #**133** Posted **Aug 25, 2015, 10:53 PM**

The site appears to have a new fence around the perimeter with another sign that says "available 2017". I was gone all Summer, but live in the area and the torn up parking lot is no longer filled with weeds, but gravel now. All that seems to be standing are the light poles. There's a small bulldozer on site, so I feel like this one is entering site prep stage.

The ATX · #**134** Posted **Aug 26, 2015, 2:54 PM**

This should be getting underway pretty quickly. Two tower cranes are planned to go up in September:

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11405989

drummer · #**135** Posted **Aug 27, 2015, 12:57 AM**

Are there any renderings of this one or just the site plan above?

KevinFromTexas · #**136** Posted **Aug 27, 2015, 4:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Are there any renderings of this one or just the site plan above?

This is the most current one we know of. It could end up being a decent building, despite being a box.

ivanwolf · #**137** Posted **Aug 27, 2015, 3:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

This is the most current one we know of. It could end up being a decent building, despite being a box.

Well box on the north west side but the south east side is curved, correct? So it should be kinda nice and different.

KevinFromTexas · #**138** Posted **Aug 27, 2015, 8:17 PM**

I'm not sure it will be curved. The plan above seems to show a footprint that steps back at right angles, rather than a curve. The curve that shown there is a fire lane between the two buildings. That side of the building will be largely hidden from view anyway by the adjacent 5-story building and the parking garage.

drummer · #**139** Posted **Aug 27, 2015, 11:54 PM**

I agree with Kevin - it seems like there are setbacks rather than a curve on the site plan. Even so, that's better than a straight up rectangle. I do remember the rendering now. At the time, folks were unhappy with the steps up to the sidewalk.

paul78701 · #**140** Posted **Aug 28, 2015, 6:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

I agree with Kevin - it seems like there are setbacks rather than a curve on the site plan. Even so, that's better than a straight up rectangle. I do remember the rendering now. At the time, folks were unhappy with the steps up to the sidewalk.

I believe the raised sidewalk is unavoidable due being in a flood plain. All of the buildings along there have that issue and use raised sidewalks. The Monarch, Cirrus Logic building, Austin City Lofts...