Austin Projects & Construction

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by LiveattheOasis

Does anyone have any pics 360, AMLI or the Monarch up to date? I have been in Dallas the past three weeks and am sorely missing the continued rise of these buildings.

There is a live webcam of the construction site of 360 here:
http://novare.oxblue.com/austin360/index.html

I have several shots of the buildings you mention, from about a month ago. I plan to head down there again within the next week.

[crewer]

It's getting a little quiet in here lately, so I thought I'd throw a few things out to get the conversations rolling. I was back in Austin last week for the first time since last August and came across some stuff I wanted to ask everyone about.

One observation that I thought might be worthy of a little dialogue is the Long Center. Has anyone noticed the fascade going up around the top of the building? I swear, either they're using recycled panels from the previous domed roof, or they are purposely trying to keep that hideous Palmer Auditorium roof color scheme alive in our minds forever. Any thoughts?

I was also curious to know if anything is moving with that big new urbanist project on North Lamar near Airport Blvd. I drove by it, and it looks like the old factory or chemical plant is gone (it was dark, so I couldn't tell for sure). Anyone have updates on that?

I spent some time at the Triangle project which I've followed since the whole thing was first proposed to the local neighborhood associations years ago. I'm very mixed about the project, but I'll hold my opinion until the next round of construction is complete that will bring in more retail (something that it is painfully lacking right now). I did, however, make a point to check out some of the apartments. Told the apartment consultant that I was moving back soon and wanted to check them out. He took me through 4 models ranging from traditional designs to loft-like ones. They weren't bad for apartments, thought I thought the hallways were a little cold with their polished (and cracked) concrete floors. Noisy, too, I bet when tenants are staggering home at 2 in the morning.

I did ask him who made up the majority of the renters. He said it was very diverse. But when I talked with people more closely involved with the project, I learned that the vast majority of renters were UT students. I'm wondering if that is something we can expect in downtown housing as well? (Obviously parents these days are willing to fork out a lot more for their children's housing than my parents did.) If UT students can manage the $1800 a month or more for apartments at the Triangle, my guess is that they'll be eager to grab up units in the new apartment buildings (or condo rentals) throughout downtown.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by crewer

...One observation that I thought might be worthy of a little dialogue is the Long Center. Has anyone noticed the façade going up around the top of the building? I swear, either they're using recycled panels from the previous domed roof, or they are purposely trying to keep that hideous Palmer Auditorium roof color scheme alive in our minds forever. Any thoughts?

Yep, you're assumption is correct. They're panels from the old Palmer Auditorium and I too, think it's pretty disgusting! That project just keeps getting worse and worse. At one point, Austin was going to have a world-class performing arts center. But, that's no longer going to happen - at least at the Long Center.

Originally Posted by crewer

...I was also curious to know if anything is moving with that big new urbanist project on North Lamar near Airport Blvd. I drove by it, and it looks like the old factory or chemical plant is gone (it was dark, so I couldn't tell for sure). Anyone have updates on that?

That's Crestview Station; a $100+ million, 73-acre TOD being developed by Trammell Crow/CBRE & Stratus Properties. It's slated to have approximately 150,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space, 600 apartments & condos, and 500 single-family "row-house" homes. Prices for the condos and homes are expected to range from the mid-$100,000s to the mid-$200,000s.

Currently, the developers are in their 12 to18-month-long environmental remediation phase. Once this is complete, construction will begin.

Marketing Materials

[GoldenBoot]

I think Crestview Station is supposed to have at least part of the retail, office and residential construction sometime in 2008.

[AustinBob]

I know this sounds crazy because I also thought the green roof on Palmer was ugly, but I kind of like the look of the tiles on the Long Center. Acutually, I think it's going to turn out okay. Let's hope at least.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by AustinBob

I know this sounds crazy because I also thought the green roof on Palmer was ugly, but I kind of like the look of the tiles on the Long Center. Acutually, I think it's going to turn out okay. Let's hope at least.

I agree! I think it is a really interesting choice..... and it was a re-cycle!

Like how the pattern works into the glass as well!

[crewer]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Yep, you're assumption is correct. They're panels from the old Palmer Auditorium and I too, think it's pretty disgusting! That project just keeps getting worse and worse. At one point, Austin was going to have a world-class performing arts center. But, that's no longer going to happen - at least at the Long Center.

Well I checked it all out, and sure enough, you're right on about that fascade. This is from the Long Center's website:

Reflecting the environmentally conscious nature of Austin, the Long Center has incorporated the philosophy of "adaptive re-use" in many aspects of its construction. By reusing portions of the old Palmer Auditorium, including one of the largest stage houses in Texas, Nelsen Architects and Zeidler Partnership Architects have dramatically lowered construction costs to less than $280 per square foot (versus a national average for most performing arts venues of $560-$1,120 per square foot).

Of the approximately 44 million pounds of debris removed from the old Palmer Auditorium site, 97.6% has been recycled. This includes 500 tons of the original steel returning as part of the new 1,300-ton steel infrastructure; wood panels being reused in the AT&T Education Rooms; glass from the old curtain wall returning as elegant, fused glass panels to commemorate Founders' Society donors; marble partitions from the old restrooms becoming counters in the new restrooms, and 60,000 square feet of aluminum roof panels returning as metal shingles on the sides of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation Hall.

For Austin, the Long Center project achieves immediate historical significance, drawing from the legacy of the old Palmer Auditorium (legacy????) to create a stunning new community performing arts center.

I know some of you on here are liking it, which is cool. But what bugs me is that the most hideous characteristic of the Palmer Auditorium that everyone complained about was the roof. No one could ever figure it out. It looked like it was in various stages of patching, and the colors were gross. So to think they would take those same roofing panels and incorporate it into the sides of the Long Center is pretty shocking to me.

That said, I will say that in close examination, the panels do look better there than on the roof. (I'm thinking they did some work to the panels to clean them up a lot, etc.) But I still think something more aesthetically pleasing could have been utilized.

[MichaelB]

Interesting discussion about the old palmer. I was not born in Austin, but moved here 20 years ago. One of the first buildings I thought was really cool was the old Palmer. I know I was not alone. While faded, I thought the roof was really interesting. I think the creative recontextualizing of the materials is commendable. I also know that I need to wait and see the finished out effect to understand the true impact. But.... I love the idea! I think the way the color of the tiles is being brought into the glass has a lot of potential as well. Again I stress "potential"..... hard to see what a suit will look like from just a sleeve!

[MichaelB]

Anybody have info on these rumors?:

Travis house (Guadalupe and 18th) and the apartments behind it have been sold to a developer to build a hotel?

The Whitley company downtown austin property (and some adjacet property) has been sold to a mixed use developer......?

Anyone else hear anything?

[Kropotkin]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Anybody have info on these rumors?:

Travis house (Guadalupe and 18th) and the apartments behind it have been sold to a developer to build a hotel?



Anyone else hear anything?

I've heard from some plumbers I know at Harper Plumbing (across the street from Travis House) that the place has been rumored to be set for demolition/development for some time, but no specifics.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

I've heard from some plumbers I know at Harper Plumbing (across the street from Travis House) that the place has been rumored to be set for demolition/development for some time, but no specifics.

Hummmm. I have two friends who have apartments in the building behind it that tell me it has all been sold and no leases are being renewed. Kicking a lot of long term residents out. "They" (the developers) have been after Dod and Duck as well! OK, that;s where I might have to throw myself in front of a bull dozer!

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

..."They" (the developers) have been after Dog and Duck as well! OK, that;s where I might have to throw myself in front of a bull dozer!

I'll join you! Maybe they'll give us a pint or two for our bravery?!?

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I'll join you! Maybe they'll give us a pint or two for our bravery?!?

Sounds good to me!

[pyropius]

Not the Bark and Quack!

[StoOgE]

Ah, the dog and duck. Back when I worked in that part of town (Wells Fargo tower and 15th and Guad) I spent way too many happy hours there. I dont think they will move, but even if they did I think they could easily replicate the dog and duck at another location (similar to Cedar Street) downtown.

Besides, they also own Billys on Burnett (Burnett and Hancock) that is every bit as cool.

I wouldnt worry about the Dog and Duck going away any time soon.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Ah, the dog and duck. Back when I worked in that part of town (Wells Fargo tower and 15th and Guad) I spent way too many happy hours there. I dont think they will move, but even if they did I think they could easily replicate the dog and duck at another location (similar to Cedar Street) downtown.

Besides, they also own Billys on Burnett (Burnett and Hancock) that is every bit as cool.

I wouldnt worry about the Dog and Duck going away any time soon.

Do you know if they own the land they are on? That would at least make it their choice........

[Kropotkin]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Do you know if they own the land they are on? That would at least make it their choice........

406 W 17th (Dog and Duck) has changed hands; the deed date is 04272006 and is owned by "Headington Armory Partners LP."

This owner also has 1708 Guadalupe as of 07282005.

Travis House, 405 W18th is owned by Travis Hotel Group, since 2003.

Often there are delays in the records updating on Traviscad, so I wonder if Headington Armory has acquire this property. That'd leave only 2 segments of a full square unaccounted for.

I'm not holding my breath given that LaVista on Lavaca "broke ground" in late September. Still, the UT Conference Center and what is becoming a "museum district" is all feeding into perhaps more incentive to develop the northern edge of official downtown.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

406 W 17th (Dog and Duck) has changed hands; the deed date is 04272006 and is owned by "Headington Armory Partners LP."

This owner also has 1708 Guadalupe as of 07282005.

Travis House, 405 W18th is owned by Travis Hotel Group, since 2003.

Often there are delays in the records updating on Traviscad, so I wonder if Headington Armory has acquire this property. That'd leave only 2 segments of a full square unaccounted for.

I'm not holding my breath given that LaVista on Lavaca "broke ground" in late September. Still, the UT Conference Center and what is becoming a "museum district" is all feeding into perhaps more incentive to develop the northern edge of official downtown.

Interesting info. .... yeah< I was "told" (by one of the residents in the apts behind the Travis house..... via the ex-management company) that one developer was trying to put together the entire block. Interesting to note that a good bit of the block accross the street from Travis house is also for sale.... Hummmm.

In general.... this is the last frontier for development in the CDB.... it will happen... only a matter of time.....

As for LaVista , there was actually a survey crew out there this week.... just when I would have sworn that was totally dead. (Actually I have mixed views on the project. It is butt ugly...... but I live in Cambridge and don;t want to go thru the "neighborhood negotiations" agian..... I don;t think we would fare as well with how many units loose their view of the Capitol! Selfish, I know.)

[DTAustin]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Anybody have info on these rumors?:

Travis house (Guadalupe and 18th) and the apartments behind it have been sold to a developer to build a hotel?

The Whitley company downtown austin property (and some adjacet property) has been sold to a mixed use developer......?

Anyone else hear anything?

Core samples were drilled in the alley between the Whitley building and the Railyard a few weeks ago. I heard Whitley is about to be sold at a high price, but as of a few weeks ago the deal wasn't completed. There isn't any adjacent properties that are really available unless the Railyard is selling, or the Rio Grand is closing. The building across third street is probably not for sale an occupied by a marketing firm.

[Kropotkin]

Originally Posted by DTAustin

Core samples were drilled in the alley between the Whitley building and the Railyard a few weeks ago. I heard Whitley is about to be sold at a high price, but as of a few weeks ago the deal wasn't completed. There isn't any adjacent properties that are really available unless the Railyard is selling, or the Rio Grand is closing. The building across third street is probably not for sale an occupied by a marketing firm.

It'd be notable if Railyard sells, because, as a condo, I believe it will require 70% of the owners to agree. That rares happen. However, given the demand for density and right price, anything is possible. It's certainly a very desirable location for a high rise.