AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II - Page 309

We vs us · #**6161** Posted **Jun 28, 2019, 6:00 PM**

We've had this discussion at least once before, and I think we might've agreed at the time that something else sounded better. West Capital or something.

I drive through it on my way home pretty regularly, and it seems kinda Midtown-y to me, not sure why. Maybe it's that the buildings seem "mid" size to me -- an order of magnitude less dense than downtown.

KevinFromTexas · #**6162** Posted **Jun 28, 2019, 9:31 PM**

Our vet is at 51st & Duval. Not so much there, but I do get the sense that just a little farther west of there is "very central". Specifically, the area around Guadalupe and 45th to 50th or so feels very much like "midtown" even if it isn't officially designated that way. You certainly understand from a geographic perspective that you really are in the middle of the guts of the city. I say that, because from my perspective as someone who has always lived in South Austin, anything north of 290 is definitely North Austin.

the Genral · #**6163** Posted **Jun 29, 2019, 12:02 AM**

https://youtu.be/reSSvOnQEr8

Webster defines downtown as the lower part of a business center in a city or town.
From my recent visit, I would put downtown from 9th street to 2nd and all points east and west from I35 to Lamar.
I always preferred the naming of boroughs in NYC, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Midtown is the central portion of Manhattan, Downtown Manhattan is the southernmost part of Manhattan also known as Lower Manhattan. Upper Manhattan is the northern most region of Manhattan. Not sure the same designation can be applied to Austin, but by considering the densest parts of Austin's "downtown" this certainly could apply with the boundaries totally debatable. Perhaps 2nd to 7th or 8th, downtown, 8th or 9th to 12th midtown, and upper 12th to (I'm not sure where). Capitol District, SOCO District, East Austin District, Campus District just to throw out a few names. Yeah this is basically just rehashing previous discussions on this topic.

austlar1 · #**6164** Posted **Jun 29, 2019, 7:39 PM**

Does anybody have good information regarding apartment rental absorption rates for central Austin. There seems to be a lot of advertising for downtown and near downtown rentals in both high rise and mid rise buildings, some of the advertising hints at special offers and very low move in costs. Is this just a seasonal thing, or is it possible that we might be approaching a point where there is just too much product on the market?

hequals2henry · #**6165** Posted **Jun 29, 2019, 10:21 PM**

Does anyone have any updates on The District in Round Rock? It's the Domain-like planned development that's got approved at the intersection of i35 and 45.

KevinFromTexas · #**6166** Posted **Jun 30, 2019, 6:45 AM**

There's a new FAA permit for a 240 foot tower crane on East 24th Street on the UT Campus just south of the new engineering building. The work schedule is from 7/12/19 to 9/12/20.

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external...10005460&row=8

The ATX · #**6167** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 3:03 AM**

Endeavor has raised $300 million for future projects according to the ABJ.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...or-future.html

Concerning the Post Office block:

Quote:

Another example is Endeavor acquiring the former downtown U.S. Post Office at 510 Guadalupe St. several years ago. While there’s been speculation a high-rise will be constructed on the site, Endeavor Principal Jamil Alam said in an email that there no current plans for the property.

We vs us · #**6168** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 4:22 AM**

I just ... find that exceptionally hard to believe.

urbancore · #**6169** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 1:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

Endeavor has raised $300 million for future projects according to the ABJ.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...or-future.html

Concerning the Post Office block:

Then sell it bruh.

And if memory serves, they’ve owned it a LOT longer than a few years. Try at least a decade.

edit: I think memory doesn't serve. Wasn't it Novare that bought it all those years ago? Either way, sell it or develop it.

We vs us · #**6170** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 1:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbancore

Then sell it bruh.

And if memory serves, they’ve owned it a LOT longer than a few years. Try at least a decade.

You know, it's actually weird to me that they'd own something like that and sit on it for so long. As much as anything, it's out of character for Endeavor, which is a really active developer. If it were Nate Paul, it would be frustrating as hell but would make sense. That's what he does. But Endeavor's clearly not in the game to make money on appreciation alone. They develop things.

StoOgE · #**6171** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 11:41 PM**

Looks like merck has informed Austin and the state they won't be coming to Austin. Not sure why, may be incentive related.

The ATX · #**6172** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 12:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Looks like merck has informed Austin and the state they won't be coming to Austin. Not sure why, may be incentive related.

They already set up an IT office here a while back. They are backing out of the incentive deals because they don't plan on hiring the number of people needed to trigger the incentives.

Urbannizer · #**6173** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 4:06 PM**

So I'm currently at the library and noticed they put up fencing around the parking lot across Cesar Chavez. A second set of fencing is also stacked in front of the Seaholm Intake building, is this a go?

the Genral · #**6174** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

So I'm currently at the library and noticed they put up fencing around the parking lot across Cesar Chavez. A second set of fencing is also stacked in front of the Seaholm Intake building, is this a go?

Could it be in preparation of the 4th of July Fireworks to keep people away?

Urbannizer · #**6175** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

Could it be in preparation of the 4th of July Fireworks to keep people away?

Yeah that's it, figured that out thanks to the 803 stop there being closed.

Urbannizer · #**6176** Posted **Jul 9, 2019, 6:40 PM**

Aura Thirty2 | University Park, 3233 Harmon Ave

Sigaven · #**6177** Posted **Jul 9, 2019, 7:39 PM**

Is that the big empty lot across from Sabina? I wonder how they're going to address the I-35 frontage. I bet they'll stick the parking garage there.

gabetx · #**6178** Posted **Jul 9, 2019, 11:48 PM**

The thing I hate about these apartment buildings is the large footprint they take up and the very limited streetscape interaction they produce. It makes for a very pedestrian unfriendly area and discourages walkability.

If they would add in a corner store, pharmacy, boutique gym, barber shop, small restaurant/ bar, or something to promote any sort of pedestrian traffic, these would be a lot better.

enragedcamel · #**6179** Posted **Jul 9, 2019, 11:51 PM**

Enough mid-rises already. We need more high-rises...

atxsnail · #**6180** Posted **Jul 10, 2019, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabetx

The thing I hate about these apartment buildings is the large footprint they take up and the very limited streetscape interaction they produce. It makes for a very pedestrian unfriendly area and discourages walkability.

If they would add in a corner store, pharmacy, boutique gym, barber shop, small restaurant/ bar, or something to promote any sort of pedestrian traffic, these would be a lot better.

I'd be happy with a few more pedestrian walkways/paseos so we don't always have to walk all the way around these things.