Austin | The Republic | 710 Feet | 47 Floors | U/C - Page 9

the Genral · #**161** Posted **Aug 19, 2012, 11:43 PM**

I think this would be a great location for a new Post Office.

The ATX · #**162** Posted **Dec 24, 2012, 8:36 PM**

Travis Co. will eventually do something downtown.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...-than-1/nTdsy/

KevinFromTexas · #**163** Posted **Feb 14, 2013, 1:11 AM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...ouse-pr/nWMzj/

Quote:

Posted: 5:13 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013
Commissioners seeking consultant for courthouse project

By Farzad Mashhood
American-Statesman Staff

Travis County commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to seek proposals for a consultant to help manage the financing and construction of a planned civil courthouse in downtown Austin. It was the first action commissioners have taken related to the project since hearing a commissioner-appointed panel’sreport on it in August.

The courthouse, a half-million square-foot tower to be built on a parking lot at West Third and Guadalupe streets, is estimated to cost $340 million.

KevinFromTexas · #**164** Posted **Feb 14, 2013, 9:35 PM**

This is unrelated to the civil courthouse.

Here is the county's master plan page.
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/facilitie...dy/default.asp

This PDF shows some scenarios for the master plan of the criminal justice complex. One of the buildings is shown as 271 feet tall.
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/facilitie...refinement.pdf

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...e-build/nWN29/

Quote:

Posted: 8:24 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013
STATESMAN EXCLUSIVE: GOVERNMENT SPENDING
Travis County may consider $60 million office building downtown

By Farzad Mashhood
American-Statesman staff

Travis County will likely consider building a $60 million office building near the county criminal and civil courthouses downtown, which would include courtrooms, prosecutors’ offices, retail space, a crime lab and underground tunnel connecting it to the main justice complex.

The plans submitted to the county show a 130,000-square-foot office building on the northeast corner of West 11th and San Antonio streets with 140 underground parking spaces. Building mock-ups show 3,500 square feet for the Texas PTA, the state parent-teacher association that operates out of a building currently on the county-owned lot.

The ground floor would include 1,500 square feet of retail space and 15,500 square feet of office space that could be leased to a private entity

KevinFromTexas · #**165** Posted **Feb 25, 2013, 8:44 AM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...house-a/nWYbN/

Quote:

Posted: 4:22 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
Travis County slow in deciding on new courthouse as key questions remain unanswered

By Farzad Mashhood
American-Statesman Staff

More than eight years after their first public discussions about building a new civil courthouse, Travis County commissioners have spent about $24 million on the effort, mostly to buy expensive downtown land.But they have yet to decide how — and more importantly, whether — to build a new courthouse.

County commissioners appear to be stymied in part by how to finance construction for what might be the county’s costliest project ever, a proposed 17-story, 500,000-square-foot tower south of Republic Square Park. Judges and outside consultants have urged the commissioners to build it with a private partner, which would somewhat limit the county’s financial responsibility.

The county anticipates issuing $205 million in bonds with a partnership, or about $340 million in bonds without one.

A county report estimates it would cost about $343 million if built with a private partner and $339 million if not. For both scenarios, the tax burden in 2020 for the owner of an average-value home would be $61 to $71 annually, according to county documents.

KevinFromTexas · #**166** Posted **Feb 27, 2013, 9:28 AM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...w-court/nWbMR/

Quote:

Updated: 9:28 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 | Posted: 9:28 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013
Commissioners decide to put spending for new courthouse before voters

By Farzad Mashhood
American-Statesman Staff

Travis County commissioners decided unanimously Tuesday that voters should have to approve what is estimated to be upwards of $340 million in spending for a new civil courthouse.

Commissioners did not say when they would hold the bond election, but Margaret Gómez said November would be too soon.

The courthouse is planned for the northwest corner of Third and Guadalupe streets.

MightyYoda · #**167** Posted **Feb 27, 2013, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...w-court/nWbMR/

So expect something in that lot around 2020.

the Genral · #**168** Posted **Feb 27, 2013, 9:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyYoda

So expect something in that lot around 2020.

I appreciate your optimism...

MightyYoda · #**169** Posted **Feb 27, 2013, 11:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

I appreciate your optimism...

To be fair, that much money should be put before voters. However, I see a similar time frame to the federal courthouse for this project.

KevinFromTexas · #**170** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 5:38 AM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...lding-f/nW3LC/

Quote:

Updated: 12:03 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2013 | Posted: 12:03 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2013
TRAVIS COUNTY
Travis County to consider a $38.5 million building for court-related offices

By Farzad Mashhood
American-Statesman Staff

Travis County commissioners are expected to weigh a $38.5 million plan to build a 170,000-square-foot office building downtown for the district attorney’s office and other court-related departments.

The new office building would be on the northeast corner of West 11th and San Antonio streets, across the street from the county justice complex that includes civil and criminal courts, the jail and prosecutors’ offices. The new building would relieve overcrowding, officials say.

MichaelB · #**171** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 8:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...lding-f/nW3LC/

Oh wise sages of the forum... any idea why they would not combine this need with the new courthouse? Porximity? ( as is who needs to be next to whom?) Why not just make one taller larger property?

Jdawgboy · #**172** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 9:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Oh wise sages of the forum... any idea why they would not combine this need with the new courthouse? Porximity? ( as is who needs to be next to whom?) Why not just make one taller larger property?

Well this wise and soon to be older (starting tomorrow) sage will try to use his magic wand (not that wand!!!)

to make the county combine the projects to make one taller building.

Jdawgboy · #**173** Posted **Mar 25, 2013, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Opps I actually meant this

KevinFromTexas · #**174** Posted **Mar 26, 2013, 4:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Oh wise sages of the forum... any idea why they would not combine this need with the new courthouse? Porximity? ( as is who needs to be next to whom?) Why not just make one taller larger property?

My guess is this building is for the criminal court related departments only, where as the civil courthouse they're planning near Republic Square Park will have no criminal court related uses. So yes, proximity. I think they're simply wanting to keep those two (civil and criminal) separate.

Has anyone been around the criminal justice center? It's a jail. There are a lot of bums hanging out there. I know someone who works there, and they say the wives/girlfriends of inmates always hang around there. It's not exactly the most friendly environment for someone who is only there for some civil dispute.

LoneStarMike · #**175** Posted **Mar 27, 2013, 3:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Has anyone been around the criminal justice center? It's a jail. There are a lot of bums hanging out there.

Lovely. I haven't been there, but will be soon. I have a jury summons and the judge's courtroom is on the 9th floor of that building. I can hardly wait.

KevinFromTexas · #**176** Posted **Mar 27, 2013, 7:21 AM**

^It's one of the reasons they're wanting to move the main library. There are always homeless people hanging around the entrance. They've never bothered me, though. I tend to be a little unreachable on my bike, and then when I am stopped I'm usually locking up my bike with a U-lock and steel cable.

KevinFromTexas · #**177** Posted **Apr 29, 2013, 6:40 PM**

This says the new planned Travis County office building will be 7 floors and have and will have 130,000 square feet. It's planned for the northeast corner of West 11th & San Antonio Streets.

As debt rises, Travis County considers new downtown office building

KevinFromTexas · #**178** Posted **May 7, 2013, 11:42 PM**

Funds approved for the 7-story county office building at the northeast corner of West 11th & San Antonio Streets. This says it'll be built in the next year and a half to 3 years.

Travis County commissioners approve downtown office building for court offices

KevinFromTexas · #**179** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 5:24 AM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/l...g-metho/nY2TJ/

Quote:

Posted: 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, 2013
CONTINUING COVERAGE: NEW COURTHOUSE
Travis County commissioners approve building method for new courthouse

By Farzad Mashhood
American-Statesman Staff

Travis County commissioners decided Tuesday to take a more familiar route for building a $300 million courthouse downtown, rejecting the advice of judges and consultants who lobbied for a private-financed model that could have been a tough sell to voters.

Commissioners unanimously agreed to pursue the long-discussed project with what is called a “design-build” approach, meaning the county will eventually hire a team of architects and builders to design and build the civil courthouse. A bond election to ask voters to approve financing the project is expected in 2014 or later.

KevinFromTexas · #**180** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 4:06 PM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bl...ign-build.html

Quote:

Jul 24, 2013, 7:27am CDT
Travis County picks 'design-build' route for courthouse over P3

Sarah Drake
Contributing Editor-
Austin Business Journal

Travis County commissioners will take a different route to build the more than $300 million civil courthouse in downtown Austin, choosing to hire architects and builders in what is called a "design-build" approach.

County officials may begin accepting bids for the 500,000-square-foot tower project just south of Republic Square Park in a few months.