OK. now. (whew!) How do you see it developing? Do you think at some point demand will just outweigh risk? For me personally, it would. Just don't know how a majority of folks would deal with sidewalks lined with sleeping bags????? ( Not an uncommon sight at ARCH).
Thoughts?
My wife and I were in Seattle recently and they have a sizeable homeless population. My inferences from that beautiful city is that when the demand exists, the issues with homelessness fade into the background and the condos rise despite any reservations.
It is almost like people begin to accept that the homeless are part of the fabric of a DT, like echoing police sirens, pigeons, etc... (Not to diminish the humanity of the homeless - I tend to think I am always one or two life events from joining them...) Anyway, they become acceptable when the land is needed and they, like the residents, adapt to living side by side. The homeless know which buildings not to sleep in fron of and the residents know what park not to plan a picnic at...
My wife and I were in Seattle recently and they have a sizeable homeless population. My inferences from that beautiful city is that when the demand exists, the issues with homelessness fade into the background and the condos rise despite any reservations.
It is almost like people begin to accept that the homeless are part of the fabric of a DT, like echoing police sirens, pigeons, etc... (Not to diminish the humanity of the homeless - I tend to think I am always one or two life events from joining them...) Anyway, they become acceptable when the land is needed and they, like the residents, adapt to living side by side. The homeless know which buildings not to sleep in fron of and the residents know what park not to plan a picnic at...
I get it.... I think the two eventually blend. I live in the CBD so you expect homeless around. The effect around the Salvation Army is a bit unique in that there is a concentration of shelters. It will be interesting to see who will step up and take the risk! I agree that it will happen.... any thoughts as to which can make it work? Office, retail or housing? I think housing and retail accross the street from three shelters would be the most challenging.
I must say the one very positive effects of the shelters is that they create a great barrier to the clubs on red river and 7th! Keeps housing from pushing out the music!
Judge won't stop Intel shell demolition plans
Austin mayor wanted sale to be considered, but federal judge says delay is not acceptable.
By Kate Alexander
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, February 08, 2007
There will be no reprieve for downtown Austin's Intel Corp. shell, which is slated for demolition later this month to make room for a new federal courthouse.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin said today that the alternatives that were being proffered by Mayor Will Wynn and others would cause an unacceptable delay for the courthouse project.
Wynn had been lobbying to delay the Feb. 25 demolition, which was announced Tuesday, so that a different use could be discussed for the piece of prime downtown land. He said private interests would jump at the opportunity to buy that property for a high-rise development, and the federal government could use the money from that sale to find a more suitable location for the courthouse.
One such private offer came from the development team putting a mixed-use project on the downtown post office site. A $13 million offer was made by Novare Development LLC and Andrews Urban in January for the property. The federal agency overseeing the courthouse project rejected that offer earlier this week.
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okay, I thought by now we all know how to read lookingup's comments. what evergreen says is probably correct, but lookingup is not going to stop or anything, so why bother? i know there could be a worry with potential investors/buyers and such reading this forum, and that's a serious worry, but if novare were worried about this forum they would have a representative to curtail any errors or rumors. and if they don't, it's not our job to save them. and, lookingup should know by now his/her reputation on this forum. we can remind him, but that's wasted energy.
honestly, an architecture student here, i'm sickened by the novare tower design. it's cheesy and bad architecture on the wholev (you can't put lighted spires on a monster to make it beautiful) HOWEVER, eventhough the floorplans are small, they DO know somewhat how to arrange space for the individual unit, and I think the architect has done an okay job functionally. Even though the unit floorplan is small, it won't be awkwardly small... but I also think buyers are going to need to feel that space for themselves in order to realize that. now, i'm not one to care about all the financing bs that's talked about on here (that goes back and forth so much my head could spin), but I go with the assertion that Austin is a continually upward moving place, rapidly growing, with a lot of open-mindedness and people who like to try new things, and people who like to be in the middle of the action, and people who enjoy being fit, like to read, are educated, etc, people who would like to live in some type of development like this, but cannot afford it. I would REALLY like to see this forum open up to discussion of precedents where more affordable units were attained, and what Austin may or may not be able to do to make downtown/surrounding area a place for mixed income. Density and highrises cannot come at the expense of culture and vibrancy (the whole reason people move downtown could be lost if it turns into Dallas), but if the super-rich have their way, it's gone. I mean, there's some real issues to be thought about, and that's not "how high is this one? how high is that one?" but "what is really going on here? how is this going to affect austin going forward? what can be done to change that? how do we act on that?" Forums don't have to be passive information collectors; they can be avenues for change and activism. Austin's downtown is a steady thribing heart, especially at night; it should be the first and foremost goal to protect that.
I want to know if anyone has information on the I-35 mainlanes going underground thru central/downtown. That seems like a fantasy, but I know it's been seriously considered, and I think it would be an appropriate solution to the division (but then again, it also means easier invasion of the strong east austin culture).
Ok, folks. I've deleted a few posts that were off topic. If you want to argue about Novare, LookingUp, and New Century Living, then take it to your private messages or else go discuss it in the Skybar. This thread is for Austin's development, not the suspicion of shady dealings of either corporations or individuals.
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--TxDOT has prepared a schematic design of improvements to IH-35 through central Austin and it included depressing the main lanes of the highway from 11th street to just south of 1st street. You can see the schematic at : http://www.i35austin.com/schematics/35central4.pdf.
One major design constraint to depressing the roadway is the proximity of Waller Creek, which could leave its banks and flood the roadway in larger storms. To prevent this from happening, a diversion tunnel for Waller Creek is necessary. If the City of Austin builds the Waller Creek diversion tunnel they have proposed, this would help sove TxDOT's problem. Otherwise, TxDOT would have to build their own tunnel. (Maybe here is a chance for the City of Austin & TxDOT to work together???)
TxDOT is now about to update the IH-35 study, and I'm certain the segment through central Austin will be thoroughly reviewed.
More drive-by's this morning and afternoon (2/11/07) for your consumption. Can't go more than a week without changes downtown!
Mopacs, you are my lifeline to Austin! Sure do appreciate these updates in pictures. Living over a thousand miles away, I can only speculate how these projects are moving along. These images really bring it to life for me. Thanks!
I was looking over some of the existing buildings next to the new structures, and I have to say that the Austin City Lofts and the seven story Amli building are unimpressive. Initially I kind of liked the industrial look of these buildings, but after seeing all the renderings of the proposed structures, I think they pale in comparison. Austin City Lofts is okay looking from 5th Street, but the rear of it looks like an afterthought in design.
And, though I've mentioned this before, I still feel that the existing Amli building was a waste of air space. A whole city block structure with only seven stories in the hottest area of downtown just never made sense to me.
They should be raising the crane at The Monarch sometime next week I would think. It's only about 30 feet from the top floor now. Great job with the pics, Mopacs. I generally agree with you there crewer. Austin City Lofts isn't so bad, but the north side is a bit bland. And AMLI Downtown, the shorter 7-story building, is quite bland. I hate the grey concrete. it looks unfinished to me sometimes. Other than that it's a great project for the area minus the height. This is something that should be going up on South Congress or South Lamar, not in the heart of downtown however.
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Ok, folks. I've deleted a few posts that were off topic. If you want to argue about Novare, LookingUp, and New Century Living, then take it to your private messages or else go discuss it in the Skybar. This thread is for Austin's development, not the suspicion of shady dealings of either corporations or individuals.
On AMLI (original 2nd street location): it is interesting how my perspective on that building has changed. When it was planned it was the only thing being built for a long time. For me, it was before I discovered the forum and I only knew to watch the cities downtown develpopment site. I remember being disappointed in the design, but was thankfu to have something to watch being built!. My, that has changed!
Mopacs: WOW Dude! You are really working the downtown area alot these days! You know I walk it all the time... let me know if you want to do hit it some time..... and next time... check out the view from the location for Orsay (formerly Nexhes Oaks). That will be an interesting location.....
and speaking of Red River development: On Greystar/red river. That project seems to have slowed down. Just me?
Crewer... Part of the reason I do these photoshoots is to keep the out-of-towners updated and informed. These are exciting times and I know if I were out of town for more than a month, I'd be itching to see updates on these building as often as possible.
Michael...Thanks for the comments.I'm always up for hanging out too. My past few shoots were mostly "drive-bys", but on a Sunday morning, you can definitely cover some ground! I had the Sunday brunch buffet at Stubbs yesterday... dayam, that was some good sh*t!
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monarchs crane has actually been raised allready. It shows up from a distance with the other three now (it had been easy to miss previously)
I was just about to ask... From my vantage point (north of the University), what appears to be the Monarch crane is now clearly visible on the horizon. This must have ocurred either this morning or late yesterday afternoon/evening.
In my photos you can see that the crane was at its original height, as of 1:00pm yesterday.
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Austin City Council will hear debate about a proposal to put a 400-foot-tall tower near historic buildings.
By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
A 32-story residential tower planned to go behind Katz's Deli & Bar on West Sixth Street will be the focus of a battle Thursday at the Austin City Council.
The project is up for a rezoning vote on whether to allow CLB Partners to build a 400-foot-tall building at West Seventh and Rio Grande streets. A coalition that includes nearby residents and property owners says the tower would be out of scale with the area, which includes more than 30 historic buildings
But supporters say the site is appropriate for the kind of dense, high-rise downtown development city leaders are encouraging. The Planning Commission recently recommended capping the building's height at 120 feet, a move backed by the opposition group. The city's Design Commission supports a 400-foot structure, although it called for features that would complement the area's historic buildings.
The opposition group — Austin, Draw the Line — says it is concerned that the 400-foot high-rise would set a precedent for more skyscrapers in the area. "We're urging the citizens of Austin and the council to take planning seriously and consider the character of this really special part of downtown," said Katherine Jones, a coalition member and founder of Milkshake Media LP, an Austin-based branding and creative services agency.
Milkshake Media is across West Seventh from Ranch 616, a popular local restaurant that CLB plans to incorporate into its project. Ranch 616 has collected more than 250 signatures on a petition supporting the development, said Mike Blizzard, a representative of the property's landowner, Mike McGinnis.
Businesses that support the project include Waterloo Ice House, Waterloo Records, BookPeople, Hut's Hamburgers and Opal Divine's. In the opposition camp are the Austin Woman's Club and the Austin Heritage Society, Jones said. About 500 people have voiced opposition through a Web site launched two days ago, Jones said.
Opponents deluged City Council members with e-mail Monday, wreaking havoc on the city's computer server. Supporters also are mustering their troops. "The vast majority of nearby property owners, nearby local businesses and all the neighborhood associations that represent this area support the project because they believe it will be good for the area and good for the city," Blizzard said.
Neighborhood groups that support the project are the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association, Downtown Austin Alliance, Old Austin Neighborhood Association and West End Alliance, Blizzard said. Both sides are holding events tonight to organize support before the council public hearing and vote
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