AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II - Page 72

KevinFromTexas · #**1421** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 11:00 PM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/pr...ld-evolve.html

Quote:

How Austin's innovation district could evolve
Jan 16, 2015, 5:00am CST

Chad Swiatecki
Staff Writer-
Austin Business Journal

What if Sematech had stayed in Austin forever?

That kind of business muscle is what's being talked about by local leaders as they look to the northeast section of downtown Austin and the proposed innovation district around the under-construction Dell Medical School.

JoninATX · #**1422** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 6:23 AM**

The sidewalks around the JW Marriott are now open, I drove by there tonight and saw people taking pictures at the hotel and what not. Also while traveling towards downtown I stopped near Highland Mall and notice Rackspace is finally developing that hideous white wall building. They currently have scaffolds around the whole building.

Tech House · #**1423** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/pr...ld-evolve.html

I'm perplexed, how could an innovation district arise in an area that is mostly owned by the State of TX and medical facilities? It would make sense if it were just a matter of it being a biotech & medical innovation zone, but that function is already coming into place via the Dell Med Center. What else is available for transformation in that part of the city?

Novacek · #**1424** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 6:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech House

I'm perplexed, how could an innovation district arise in an area that is mostly owned by the State of TX and medical facilities? It would make sense if it were just a matter of it being a biotech & medical innovation zone, but that function is already coming into place via the Dell Med Center. What else is available for transformation in that part of the city?

Mostly owned by the state of Texas? East of San Jac (obviously the Capital complex isn't the innovation district) the state is a minority landowner. Mostly just a few blocks with some parking garages (which keep coming up as redevelopment opportunities through PPP).
http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/c...ains-traction/

Tech House · #**1425** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 12:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novacek

Mostly owned by the state of Texas? East of San Jac (obviously the Capital complex isn't the innovation district) the state is a minority landowner. Mostly just a few blocks with some parking garages (which keep coming up as redevelopment opportunities through PPP).
http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/c...ains-traction/

Ah, I see. Thanks for the link to the impactnews.com article, it was a lot more detailed. Also, I was thrown off by the map that accompanied the other article, as it gave the general impression of including the area north of the capitol.

This is an exciting concept, and it's very encouraging to read that there's talk of redeveloping those blocks that are dominated by massive parking garages. Those structures have made the entire area feel like a dead zone for at least as long as I've lived here (24 years.) Also, I often fail to comprehend just how much can be crammed into a few intensively utilized city blocks, so when I only saw several blocks where a zone can be created, I was quite unimpressed. But now I'm impressed, a fact which everyone from the mayor to the governor will be so relieved to know.

KevinFromTexas · #**1426** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 1:18 AM**

There's little point in making Waterloo Park an inviting place if it's bordered by huge parking lots. I like going downtown a lot, but there are still a lot of areas of downtown I dislike a lot.

The ATX · #**1427** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 3:13 PM**

The emerging projects poster was updated. But I don't notice any significant changes from the December update:

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/DowntownAu...r_2014_dec.pdf

tie_guy · #**1428** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 5:46 PM**

Does anybody know what's going on at that recently demolished lot on Riverside? I think the address is 300 E Riverside.

The ATX · #**1429** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 10:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tie_guy

Does anybody know what's going on at that recently demolished lot on Riverside? I think the address is 300 E Riverside.

It's mid-rise (~7-stories) apartments.

deerhoof · #**1430** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 10:55 PM**

It's called University House

http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...west-ca/njr8y/

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bl...ks-ground.html

Tech House · #**1431** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 11:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

It's mid-rise (~7-stories) apartments.

In that location, every north-facing apartment from the second floor up is going to have a fantastic view, which makes me wonder, are these going to be "luxury" apartments, ordinary (yet still very expensive), or a combination? And do you know if it includes "affordable" units? While I'm being pesky, do we have a page for it yet, and are there renderings? Do you know if there is life on any of the moons of Saturn or Jupiter, and if so, how many Starbucks locations are there so far? I think that covers it.

GoldenBoot · #**1432** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 11:33 PM**

Did anyone notice the proposal for Block 188 (the hotel/residential portion of the Green redevelopment)? It's #11 on the Emerging Projects list.

Not sure how up-to-date it is...or if Trammell Crow is still working with The KOR Group. But, this is on KOR's website.

Looks pretty cool...

wwmiv · #**1433** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 11:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Did anyone notice the proposal for Block 188 (the hotel/residential portion of the Green redevelopment)? It's #11 on the Emerging Projects list.

Not sure how up-to-date it is...or if Trammell Crow is still working with The KOR Group. But, this is on KOR's website.

Looks pretty cool...

That is an awesome building. They're calling it "Austin Proper" which I think is a really interesting name. Also, I'm really liking the faux tress design on the northern and southern sides of the tower. That's a design feature that isn't currently present in the Austin skyline. Frankly, the vernacular of this building is entirely not present in the Austin skyline and I'm looking forward to it being built.

Unfortunately, it's (yet again) 35 stories and appears to be around ~30-50' taller than the office building that's just starting construction a block east of that lot, which is 400'. So... it'll probably be similar height to North Shore.

Tech House · #**1434** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 11:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Did anyone notice the proposal for Block 188 (the hotel/residential portion of the Green redevelopment)? It's #11 on the Emerging Projects list.

Not sure how up-to-date it is...or if Trammell Crow is still working with The KOR Group. But, this is on KOR's website.

Looks pretty cool...

Cool indeed -- it looks fantastic! Is that adjacent to, and immediately west of, 500 W Second?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Unfortunately, it's (yet again) 35 stories and appears to be around ~30-50' taller than the office building that's just starting construction a block east of that lot, which is 400'. So... it'll probably be similar height to North Shore.

But we probably don't want too much height that close to the lake, given that too much height would block the view of the higher structures that will be built just to the north? I like the effect that has been created so far in the Austin skyline of staggered and stair-stepped height, making it possible to see innumerable aspects of the skyline without there being any awkwardly tall and out-of-place skyscrapers on the edges.

2nd Street is going to look dramatically urban and nothing like its old self, not that it doesn't already. I love just walking around that area for the sights and urban ambiance, and it's only going to get better!

KevinFromTexas · #**1435** Posted **Jan 22, 2015, 12:21 AM**

Wow, very nice!

http://www.thekorgroup.com/propertie...n-proper.shtml

resansom · #**1436** Posted **Jan 22, 2015, 12:24 AM**

Very nice - that's one of the nicest looking buildings that I've seen being planned (or already built) for Austin. Here's one more image from the the Kor Group site:

midtownstarbucky · #**1437** Posted **Jan 22, 2015, 12:26 AM**

there is a face-lift going on... and it's kinda cool

tie_guy · #**1438** Posted **Jan 22, 2015, 2:11 AM**

Whoa. That building is stunning. So unexpected yet appealing. I want this built yesterday.

lzppjb · #**1439** Posted **Jan 22, 2015, 5:25 AM**

That looks sick!

JoninATX · #**1440** Posted **Jan 22, 2015, 6:12 AM**

I was thinking that this 250 room at Austin Proper, could be that 21C Hotel that has recently emerged back from the dead.