AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 76

ATXboom · #**1501** Posted **Sep 11, 2007, 3:42 PM**

Drive the future of downtown Austin development! Take the ROMA survey below...

http://www.downtownaustinplan.com/survey.html

crewer · #**1502** Posted **Sep 12, 2007, 11:40 AM**

Hey all,
Man, having this thing down has been an issue. You are all my lifeline to Austin development since I'm hardly going to read about it in the Washington Post.

I was back in Austin last weekend for a short stay and spent some time out on Lake Travis water skiing with friends. Had a great time out there, but man, was I shocked and, frankly, sickened by the lakeside development. Lake Travis was always my refuge from Austin when I wanted to relax. I used to love the tranquility of it and the undisturbed views of the serene green hills surrounding the lake. But now it's disappearing fast, and there seems to be no stopping it.

What the Hell is it with people who just can't appreciate the beauty of a place without having to build their damn McMansion right in the middle of it? Hills that would seem impossible to build on are being blasted and stripped of vegetation so some ass can stake claim to a view while destroying everyone else's.

Austin is quickly losing one of it's most treasured jewels.

Jdawgboy · #**1503** Posted **Sep 12, 2007, 7:54 PM**

I agree but unfortunatly I don't think Austin has much of a say on development around the lake. I really think the region as a whole needs to tackle this issue especially cities that are along the lake like Lakeway and Lago Vista ect.... Or Lake travis will be just another lake surrounded by Urban expanse...

KevinFromTexas · #**1504** Posted **Sep 12, 2007, 9:47 PM**

Thank you, crewer. That's why I fully support all the highrises in downtown and try and explain it to my folks and friends that there has to be an alternative to building in the hills and raping the land. I'm not against development of course, but I think the Hill Country should be off limits for major building. I'd love to see more density to the south and east, especially east with two main arteries running in the area (a third if you count 183). Plus with 130 coming about and the future expansion of SH-45. Not only that, but you do have the Colorado River running very near Highway 71.

Dragonfire · #**1505** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Thank you, crewer. That's why I fully support all the highrises in downtown and try and explain it to my folks and friends that there has to be an alternative to building in the hills and raping the land. I'm not against development of course, but I think the Hill Country should be off limits for major building. I'd love to see more density to the south and east, especially east with two main arteries running in the area (a third if you count 183). Plus with 130 coming about and the future expansion of SH-45. Not only that, but you do have the Colorado River running very near Highway 71.

I agree, but no one wants to build these nice houses south and east of Austin because it's not hilly and thus there aren't any good views. However, I place most of the blame on the towns out there, like Lakeway, Jonestown, and Lago Vista, because it seems all they care about is more money from development and don't care about the environment (which is ironic considering it's the environment preventing any infrastructure improvements out there).

We can expect to see a lot of development along the 130 corridor now that the road is open from IH-35 in Georgetown down to SH 71, and thus there's an easy way to get to ABIA. There was an article about business along 130 one one of the news sites (can't remember whether it was KVUE, KXAN, or KEYE...), and it takes 35 minutes on 130 from Georgetown to the airport. It's also like $4.50 one way, but it's worth it IMO.

KevinFromTexas · #**1506** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 3:29 AM**

I realize those places have nothing interesting to offer as far as views go, but they could have amenities that are interesting enough to attract people. Besides, along US 290 east of Austin and even along Texas 71 east of Austin there are some decent views of the hills off in the distance and even of downtown in a few odd places.

RobDSM · #**1507** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 2:37 PM**

Wanting to live on the lake, on the highest hilltop, right on the beach, next to the greenbelt, in the penthouse on top of the newest condo tower (that now blocks the older tower's view)--this will always happen. There's nothing that can be done about it. Yeah, it looks terrible, but it's not our land. People are always moving to the best new place, and after they get there and they've got their piece of it, nobody else can have it. The rich folks in West Austin and beyond have been doing this for some time now.

Lake Travis is an urban lake, and nothing can stop that now. Cities should be more proactive and purchase land around natural areas while it's still cheap to preserve their beauty for the future.

ATXboom · #**1508** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 4:05 PM**

Yeah... this is not a big shocker living in a booming city.

Amazing the change over the past 10 years... Travis is now an urban lake... you have to go to LBJ, Inks or Buchanon to get away now

...I was amazed at how many mansions and wineries were on LBJ 2 weeks ago!

Personally I like to look at all the massive mansions from the lake. Some are just over the top huge.

Jdawgboy · #**1509** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 5:57 PM**

Actually there are some nice views of downtown Austin from the East/Southeast part just past the Airport you can see the entire skyline from up on that ridge and I think that would be a good area for some development if people want to have views.

Strayone · #**1510** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 9:30 PM**

A friend who has a great view on L. Travis near Carlos and Charlies says some large condo development will swallow up a good portion of his view across to devils cove, but he says the other part will be left as is and he'll take the good with the bad.

Mopacs · #**1511** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 2:37 AM**

It appears that the retail leasing effort is underway by CRBE for the first 2 floors of the Austonian. There will be approx 20,000 sq ft of retail, primarily facing Congress Ave, and some along 2nd St.

Here's the leasing flyer:
http://www.cbre.com/NR/rdonlyres/D79...onianFlyer.pdf

KevinFromTexas · #**1512** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 9:28 PM**

21 Rio breaks ground tomorrow. (Thanks Greg).

Their website below with a rendering of the tower. (21 floors, and 220 feet last we heard).
http://21rio.com/

mars-man · #**1513** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 10:03 PM**

I posted this in another thread but wanted to put it here as well to help get the word out...

If you haven't heard, the city is open to suggestions of what to permanently name Town Lake Park, now that "Town Lake" is an anachronism. After visiting the park and experiencing its extraordinary downtown views — captured brilliantly by KevinFromTexas and others — I vote for Skyline Park. Simple and to the point.

Cast your vote at http://www.cityofaustin.org/parks/namingform.htm

LiveattheOasis · #**1514** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 11:18 PM**

Wow I am really glad to see 21 Rio going up, that seemed like it was dead in the water. Was this the first you had heard about it in a while Kevin?

Oh and I voted for Skyline Park as well, good call on the name.

KevinFromTexas · #**1515** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 11:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveattheOasis

Wow I am really glad to see 21 Rio going up, that seemed like it was dead in the water. Was this the first you had heard about it in a while Kevin?

Greg had mentioned on the forum about 2 weeks ago that they were planning on breaking ground soon. I also saw on a list of projects in the works in the Statesman a project that was listed in West Campus as being "22 stories". I take that as meaning 220 feet, since the building had been listed at that height before and 21 floors. But yes, this thing had been quiet for a while. I really feel like this is the first true major project in West Campus considering it'll be twice the height of every thing else there with the exception of The Castilian (which is 237 feet tall).

And I'm not really sure about a name for the park. The skyline is definitely prominent there, and the name fits it for that reason.

WestAustinite · #**1516** Posted **Sep 18, 2007, 1:38 PM**

Not sure if this has already been posted, but the COA revised the emerging projects map on Sept 7.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/downloads/emerging_poster_sept07.pdf

NYC_Longhorn · #**1517** Posted **Sep 18, 2007, 8:02 PM**

I voted for Waterloo Park... I think it's a good combination of the park's elements as well as preserving Austin's past. Whadyathink? I'm tired of everything being named the "Johnson T. F. Albertson Park in association with the John Q. H. McNeely Lake"... :-)

GoldenBoot · #**1518** Posted **Sep 18, 2007, 8:37 PM**

Austin already has a "Waterloo Park"...It's at 12th and Red River.

KevinFromTexas · #**1519** Posted **Sep 18, 2007, 11:34 PM**

I actually like the sound of Town Lake Park better than anything else, of course that wouldn't make much sense in the future since the lake has been renamed. And anyway, you can just barely see the water from the park anyway. Skyline Park is a good fit considering the view, but I'm not sure I like how it sounds.

andrew.A..T..X · #**1520** Posted **Sep 18, 2007, 11:49 PM**

^Yeah I agree, but I really don't think that many people will call it Lady Bird Lake. Its been town lake for so long its just kinda weird calling it Lady Bird lake