AUSTIN | Aloft Austin & Element Hotel Downtown | 328 FEET | 31 FLOORS | Complete - Page 9

tie_guy · #1 Posted **Nov 6, 2014, 11:02 PM**

Whoops! It now reads that it's postponed "at the request of the applicant" until December. >=[

ahealy · #2 Posted **Nov 7, 2014, 4:36 AM**

austlar1 · #3 Posted **Nov 7, 2014, 6:09 AM**

I wonder whether White Lodging is getting cold feet now that the Fairmont project is being built. I sure hope not.

Spaceman · #4 Posted **Nov 8, 2014, 3:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austlar1

I wonder whether White Lodging is getting cold feet now that the Fairmont project is being built. I sure hope not.

When will the new council take office? Could it be before this Dec. date?

GoldenBoot · #5 Posted **Nov 8, 2014, 9:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austlar1

I wonder whether White Lodging is getting cold feet now that the Fairmont project is being built. I sure hope not.

White Lodging does not get cold feet...And if they did, Manchester would not be the ones to provide the chill.

White Lodging is very good at crossing their "T's" and dotting their "I's." Thus, I think it may be safe to assume they are tying up a loose end or two (which may include a bit more lobbying).

austlar1 · #6 Posted **Nov 9, 2014, 6:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

White Lodging does not get cold feet...And if they did, Manchester would not be the ones to provide the chill.

White Lodging is very good at crossing their "T's" and dotting their "I's." Thus, I think it may be safe to assume they are tying up a loose end or two (which may include a bit more lobbying).

Sounds good to me.

KevinFromTexas · #7 Posted **Nov 8, 2014, 5:32 AM**

No, they take office in January. But these guys better hurry up. That is their deadline.

airwx · #8 Posted **Nov 13, 2014, 5:13 PM**

http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories...ode-amendment/

Quote:

Downtown hotel zoning shifts to code amendment
After almost a year of going through the zoning change process, including trips to four different commissions and winning initial approval from City Council, developers of the Aloft Austin & Element Hotel are now seeking an amendment to the Land Development Code and giving up on their zoning case.

Apparently city council can't adjust the overlay in a zoning case, despite having done it a handful of times in the past.

This little bit sounds like good news:

Quote:

The next-door neighbor, home to the Hideout Theatre, had a valid petition against the zoning change. The group worried that construction would drive away business. However, the valid petition is now moot.

Suttle and Rusthoven both said that Jeff Howard, the attorney for the Hideout, had notified them by email that he would not oppose the code amendment. Suttle said he and Howard were still in the process of finalizing an agreement to mitigate the construction’s impact on the theater.

GoldenBoot · #9 Posted **Nov 13, 2014, 11:38 PM**

This might actually make it easier to pass. I know Suttle and he's extremely good at getting what his clients want.

JoninATX · #10 Posted **Dec 12, 2014, 9:27 AM**

Quote:

c14-2013-0158 - 7th and congress hotel - approve second and third readings of an ordinance amending city code chapter 25-2 by rezoning property locally known as 619 and 621 congress avenue (lady bird lake watershed) from central business district (cbd) district zoning to central business district-central urban redevelopment (cbd-cure) combining district zoning. First reading approved on october 16, 2014. Vote: 7-0. Owner: Finley company (tim finley, vp). Applicant: Matt frankiewicz. Agent: Armbrust & brown, pllc (lynn ann carley). City staff: Lee heckman, 512-974-7604. A valid petition has been filed in opposition to this rezoning request.

withdrawn?
http://austintexas.gov/council_meeti...tion_notes.cfm

airwx · #11 Posted **Dec 12, 2014, 3:34 PM**

I believe they withdrew the zoning case, Item 145 because they were able to get the code amended for the Congress Avenue combining district, Item 201.

427MM · #12 Posted **Dec 12, 2014, 8:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by airwx

I believe they withdrew the zoning case, Item 145 because they were able to get the code amended for the Congress Avenue combining district, Item 201.

You got it. They were the last items heard by the outgoing Council and at around 130am this morning 201 passed. Council then called back up the previously tabled zoning case and didn't take action as it was no longer needed.

I'm super stoked about this project. Off-street surface parking on Congress has got to go. My condo on e. 6th faces north and this will be the first bldg of this boom that I will see rise from my balcony (though I suspect I'll see the UT Regents' bldg too). These projects sure are promising for a Compact and Connected ATX

austlar1 · #13 Posted **Dec 12, 2014, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427MM

You got it. They were the last items heard by the outgoing Council and at around 130am this morning 201 passed. Council then called back up the previously tabled zoning case and didn't take action as it was no longer needed.

I'm super stoked about this project. Off-street surface parking on Congress has got to go. My condo on e. 6th faces north and this will be the first bldg of this boom that I will see rise from my balcony (though I suspect I'll see the UT Regents' bldg too). These projects sure are promising for a Compact and Connected ATX

Just curious, do you know how the voting went on this change? Did Tovo and Morrision vote "no"? When do you think construction will get underway for this project. I am excited to see it happening.

airwx · #14 Posted **Dec 12, 2014, 9:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austlar1

Just curious, do you know how the voting went on this change? Did Tovo and Morrision vote "no"? When do you think construction will get underway for this project. I am excited to see it happening.

I stayed up watching the meeting just for this item. It was 7-0.

The ATX · #15 Posted **Dec 12, 2014, 11:13 PM**

Maybe I'm a little slow here, but is this a done deal?

airwx · #16 Posted **Dec 13, 2014, 1:59 AM**

I don't think this is a done deal yet, but I'll defer to those here that know much more than I do about the process. I don't know if the parking and loading area variances are approved yet?

austlar1 · #17 Posted **Dec 13, 2014, 5:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by airwx

I don't think this is a done deal yet, but I'll defer to those here that know much more than I do about the process. I don't know if the parking and loading area variances are approved yet?

Yes, I wish somebody could provide accurate information about the overall status of this project. Is it a "go", or are there other legal hurdles to clear?

427MM · #18 Posted **Dec 13, 2014, 5:41 AM**

As I understand it--it's a go! The rest of their issues are to be handled administratively (which is normally a sign of a well-functioning city). The project manager says they plan to break in March

The ATX · #19 Posted **Dec 13, 2014, 6:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427MM

As I understand it--it's a go! The rest of their issues are to be handled administratively (which is normally a sign of a well-functioning city). The project manager says they plan to break in March

That clears it up - almost. That "as I understand it" still leaves some ambiguity.

Spaceman · #20 Posted **Dec 13, 2014, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

That clears it up - almost. That "as I understand it" still leaves some ambiguity.

It's Austin, the capital of ambiguity...Any other city would have the cranes there on Monday morning.