AUSTIN Metro Update Thread

[H2O]

Originally Posted by dilliam

When is the vote on this? Was it the council's decision to bring this to a prop vote? Seems like the city would be shooting itself in the foot and essentially killing the whole Northline project in the process.

Good question. I thought it was going to be on the November ballot, but wasn't.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by dilliam

When is the vote on this? Was it the council's decision to bring this to a prop vote? Seems like the city would be shooting itself in the foot and essentially killing the whole Northline project in the process.

Originally Posted by H2O

Good question. I thought it was going to be on the November ballot, but wasn't.

I don't live in Leander anymore so I can't speak to it with any local knowledge. I've just been following it and I really hope they don't shoot themselves in the foot, to dilliam's point. I have several friends who relied on the rail pre-Covid and some are beginning to use it more again with others planning to as office open up more and more. Not to mention Q2 Stadium, etc., and the later Broadmoor development for jobs...

[drummer]

Things continue to inch north...

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...tics-park.html

[Mopacs]

Huge project coming to Cedar Park

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...in-cedar-park/

In what was called “a once-in-a-generation development,” a $400 million complex featuring a convention center, hotel and 500,000-square-foot NFM store is coming to Cedar Park.

NFM, previously known as Nebraska Furniture Mart, will be the anchor of the 117-acre project located near the H-E-B Center on New Hope Drive between 183A and US 183. The company operates the three largest furnishing retail stores in the United States, Ben White, the city's economic development director, said.

The development will include a minimum 250-room hotel, a 30,000-square-foot convention center to be owned by the city, 250,000-square-feet of commercial space for tenants, a 500,000-square-foot NFM store and a 700,000-square-foot NFM warehouse.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Huge project coming to Cedar Park

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...in-cedar-park/

Good idea on the rebranding:

"Oh, I love your new furniture! Where did you get it?

"Yes, it is the latest style out of Nebraska!"

[drummer]

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Huge project coming to Cedar Park

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...in-cedar-park/

With the convention center, hotel, and other stuff (beyond the furniture store, that is), maybe they'll end up getting a Red Line stop just north of New Hope after all! It's been discussed on and off over the years - I used to live in that area.

I'm sure folks in those neighborhoods are going nuts on Nextdoor...

[We vs us]

Boy, "convention center" is doing a lot of work there. 30k square feet is about the size of the Fairmont's biggest ballroom. Nothing to sniff at, certainly . . . but also not really the economic driver that we all might expect attached to the term.

Also a 250 key hotel is pretty small. Smaller than the Omni downtown, or the Westin.

That said . . . the success of the Kalahari (and by all accounts it's been successful to date) really shows that demand for Austin is strong enough to overflow into the suburbs. And HEB center really is the right place to locate something like this.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Boy, "convention center" is doing a lot of work there. 30k square feet is about the size of the Fairmont's biggest ballroom. Nothing to sniff at, certainly . . . but also not really the economic driver that we all might expect attached to the term.

Also a 250 key hotel is pretty small. Smaller than the Omni downtown, or the Westin.

That said . . . the success of the Kalahari (and by all accounts it's been successful to date) really shows that demand for Austin is strong enough to overflow into the suburbs. And HEB center really is the right place to locate something like this.

True, the term "convention center" is used pretty loosely by a lot of towns and developments, but these relatively smaller ones are used all the time, especially by groups that don't need a larger space.

[JoninATX]

Silicon Valley tech manufacturer CelLink may put facility in Georgetown, sources say

By Justin Sayers and Kathryn Hardison
Austin Business Journal
Dec 13, 2021

CelLink Corp., a California-based manufacturer of circuits used in electric vehicles and other high-technology systems, is closing in on space in Georgetown in a move that could make the company the largest private-sector employer in the city.

While an agreement hasn't been finalized, the company is targeting roughly 294,000 square feet in Gateway35 Commerce Center to expand its operations, according to multiple sources.

CelLink could eventually employ 2,000 people in Georgetown.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...l-vehicle.html

[JoninATX]

ABJ posted a boom rundown about all the major projects happening in Wilco.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...nt-update.html

[drummer]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

ABJ posted a boom rundown about all the major projects happening in Wilco.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...nt-update.html

That's a great rundown. Thanks for sharing.

[drummer]

Large mixed-use development planned

Williams Drive project to replace Old McCoy Elementary property

BY KATHERINE ANTHONY

The former McCoy Elementary School property on Williams Drive — vacant since 2019 — will become the site of a mixed-use development of retail, medical, office and multi-family residences.

http://wilcosun.com/pages/121921williams.php


Another article with a few more details:
https://www.hellogeorgetown.com/comi...tial-property/


Looks like more somewhat urban development is coming to Georgetown along Rivery Dr. and Williams Dr. The bulk of the current development along Rivery Dr. is south of Williams, but this will be north of it. Evidently it's part of a larger plan to redevelop the Williams Dr corridor where it meets I-35 and Austin Ave.

While not truly urban in the way that we would define it, it's refreshing to see more thoughtfulness in suburban areas, as we've discussed before. I think Georgetown is doing pretty well with its downtown area and the Rivery area is promising in some respects. It will be interesting to see how this and the current Rivery district ties into the new Wolf Lakes Village, but I know it won't be a perfect, urban oasis in the suburbs. It will still be nice to have a new HEB to replace the current one at 35 and 29...

[drummer]

Council approves zoning for more multi-family housing near Downtown Round Rock

The zoning will allow for high density residential development that could include up to an eight-story-tall building and structured parking on 2.45 acres located north of McNeil Road and east of IH-35. The development will be the third phase of the City Centre development, with the first two phases consisting of office buildings.

https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/news/...wn-round-rock/

[Mopacs]

Big development for North Austin along 45 just east of Parmer. Wasn't aware this was in the works.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...ty-austin.html

...Developers said in a Jan. 31 announcement they have begun work on the 41-acre first phase of the project, which includes approximately 600,000 square feet of office space, three upscale apartment communities and some lifestyle retail.

Roadways and utilities are expected to be completed within six months. At full buildout, the property will include approximately 2.6 million square feet of class A office space; 200,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and community and cultural spaces; two hotels; thousands of upscale residences; and 30 acres of parkland. Pearson Ranch is expected to be fully complete in 10 to 15 years...

If you can't see past the paywall, there's some good renderings and a video at this link

https://inspiredevelopment.com/project/pearsonranch/

Metrorail runs adjacent to the development but not sure if a station would be in the long-term plans.

[Mopacs]

https://inspiredevelopment.com/project/pearsonranch/

[We vs us]

Wow, nice find. I pass this every once in awhile and have been wondering what they're doing with this open land. Clearly the answer is, filling it up with another mini-Domain.

[migol24]

Where the heck is Pearson Ranch?

[Maximusx1]

Originally Posted by migol24

Where the heck is Pearson Ranch?

Appears to be the northeast corner of the intersection of the Red Line and SH45

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by migol24

Where the heck is Pearson Ranch?

There's a large residential development, centered on Pearson Ranch rd, which connects Avery Ranch Blvd on the north with 45/620 on the south (about a block from where 620 splits off from 45). This development is to the south and west of that.

https://goo.gl/maps/qSDu4DgmDdHUJfeTA

[ahealy]

wow, you go RR! That's gonna be mighty nice once complete someday. Hopefully sooner than later...