Austin | The Republic | 710 Feet | 47 Floors | U/C - Page 6

MichaelB · #**101** Posted **Mar 22, 2011, 10:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I'm republishing this list here:

Sam.Biscoe@co.travis.tx.us
Cheryl.Brown@co.travis.tx.us
melissa.velasquez@co.travis.tx.us
Cheryl.Aker@co.travis.tx.us
josie.zavala@co.travis.tx.us
ron.davis@co.travis.tx.us
feli.chavez@co.travis.tx.us
Sue.Spears@co.travis.tx.us
Deone.Wilhite@co.travis.tx.us
sarah.eckhardt@co.travis.tx.us
peter.einhorn@co.travis.tx.us
loretta.farb@co.travis.tx.us
joe.hon@co.travis.tx.us
Karen.Huber@co.travis.tx.us
Garry.Brown@co.travis.tx.us
Lori.Duarte@co.travis.tx.us
michael.nalick@co.travis.tx.us
Margaret.Gomez@co.travis.tx.us
Edith.Moreida@co.travis.tx.us
Norma.Gonzales@co.travis.tx.us

We should email them all and push for three things:

1) ground level retail or some other decent interaction with the street.
2) mixed-use in the actual tower.

most importantly:

3) -decent- (better yet, outstanding) materials/finishing/cladding/etc. on the tower.

I do encourage folks to write. I wrote Biscoe early on and he actually wrote back. Who knew.

KevinFromTexas · #**102** Posted **Mar 23, 2011, 1:27 AM**

Email sent.

To make the process easier, you can copy and paste the entire email list and send only one email to them all.

KevinFromTexas · #**103** Posted **Apr 20, 2011, 1:55 PM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...r-1417854.html

Quote:

Travis County looking at public-private partnership for new courthouse
Commissioners hope to reduce public cost by building a multipurpose facility downtown.

By Suzannah Gonzales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Published: 8:58 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Travis County took an early step Tuesday toward a possible public-private partnership for a civil courthouse planned for a downtown lot the county bought late last year.

Travis County commissioners voted 3-2 to solicit ideas from developers for such a partnership. Involving a private developer in the project could diminish the public cost of the courthouse project slated for the block south of Republic Square Park, at the edge of a growing entertainment, retail, dining and condo district. The arrangement could likely bring retail, office space or other uses to the block.

Doing so would keep one of the best, most tax-producing lots on the tax rolls, Dietz said. The county expects that 550,000 square feet of space would be needed for the courthouse through 2035. Dietz said 1.9 million square feet can be built on the lot.

wwmiv · #**104** Posted **Apr 20, 2011, 2:03 PM**

Biscoe was pushing to sell half the block for total private use, and then develop their half in a partnership. This article doesn't mention that, so I'm hesitant to assume that it is still the case.

1.9 million sq. ft.? That's gigantic. If they go for anything near that (even without selling half the block) this building is going to be at least 800 feet tall.

KevinFromTexas · #**105** Posted **Apr 20, 2011, 2:04 PM**

http://impactnews.com/central-austin...new-courthouse

Quote:

Commissioners Court approves funds for new courthouse

By Joe Olivieri
Thursday, 14 April 2011

At its April 12 meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved construction funding and discussed building operations regarding the new courthouse and administrative offices at 700 Lavaca Street.

The court approved an additional $1,775,588 for work on the lower level and first two floors. The cost was comprised of $906,600 in architectural and engineering fees, $600,000 in cafeteria costs and $268,988 related to other projects.

The court hired Lawrence Group/GSC Architects for professional architectural and engineering services for $899,100.

The court approved $345,000 for furniture costs for the new building. Staff noted that the county reuses furniture if it is in good shape.

electricron · #**106** Posted **Apr 20, 2011, 9:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

http://impactnews.com/central-austin...new-courthouse

Is there any drawings floating around? I'm having a hard time visualizing what's being planned. How many stories? If the County doesn't find a partner, will they just build a shorter tower? Are we even talking about the same building?

Jdawgboy · #**107** Posted **Apr 20, 2011, 11:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricron

Is there any drawings floating around? I'm having a hard time visualizing what's being planned. How many stories? If the County doesn't find a partner, will they just build a shorter tower? Are we even talking about the same building?

No drawings yet. Unknown how many floors at this point and we are talking about the same lot.

KevinFromTexas · #**108** Posted **Apr 21, 2011, 1:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricron

Is there any drawings floating around? I'm having a hard time visualizing what's being planned. How many stories? If the County doesn't find a partner, will they just build a shorter tower? Are we even talking about the same building?

That article was also talking about 700 Lavaca, which is a 15-story office building the county purchased this year for some county offices.

The only floor number we've heard so far for the courthouse is 17 floors. But we are thinking it'll probably be taller than that given the fact that they're wanting 550,000 square feet plus combining it with some commercial office space and retail.

electricron · #**109** Posted **Apr 21, 2011, 4:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

That article was also talking about 700 Lavaca, which is a 15-story office building the county purchased this year for some county offices.

The only floor number we've heard so far for the courthouse is 17 floors. But we are thinking it'll probably be taller than that given the fact that they're wanting 550,000 square feet plus combining it with some commercial office space and retail.

One would think the existing 15 story skyscraper should have enough square feet for everything Travis County needs. Don't any of you think two 15 story plus office towers may be one too much?

KevinFromTexas · #**110** Posted **Apr 21, 2011, 4:37 AM**

Anyone know how many square feet the other major urban counties in Texas use? I would think Austin is proportionate to them.

KevinFromTexas · #**111** Posted **Apr 26, 2011, 6:25 PM**

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...r_project.html

Quote:

County issues debt for projects, including buying downtown lot

By Suzannah Gonzales | Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 11:14 AM

Travis County commissioners today approved the sale of $49.5 million in bonds, issuing debt to pay for previously-approved projects, such as the purchase of a downtown lot for a proposed new civil courthouse.

Three commissioners voted yes, Commissioner Ron Davis abstained and County Judge Sam Biscoe was absent. Davis said in an affidavit that his son has a substantial interest in a business entity related to the matter.

The bonds include $22.5 million for the downtown lot; $4.1 million for a portion of a new financial system; $3.7 million for road improvements, $3 million for renovation projects at 700 Lavaca St. and $1.8 million for parks and open space, according to the county’s budget director Leroy Nellis.

KevinFromTexas · #**112** Posted **May 24, 2011, 8:01 PM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...e-1493979.html

Quote:

Proposed courthouse project attracts international interest in private partnership

By Suzannah Gonzales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Updated: 6:14 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Published: 9:40 p.m. Monday, May 23, 2011

Travis County hasn't yet decided whether to collaborate with a private company to build the new civil courthouse, planned for a downtown lot steps from the lake and the burgeoning Second Street entertainment district.

But the project already has attracted potential suitors from across the globe.

County officials have met with nearly 40 representatives of about 20 development firms interested in working on the project, including some with offices in New York, Sweden and Canada.

"They all expressed keen interest," County Judge Sam Biscoe said. "The bottom line was: Keep us in mind. We are interested in working with you."

KevinFromTexas · #**113** Posted **May 25, 2011, 12:36 AM**

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...e_vote_on.html

Quote:

Commissioners postpone vote on courthouse

By Suzannah Gonzales | Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 03:59

Travis County commissioners today did not vote on the new civil courthouse that’s planned for a downtown lot on the edge of a burgeoning entertainment district.

Commissioners were scheduled to discuss how to proceed with the courthouse project, and whether to solicit outside expertise to help them review developers’ proposals for a public-private partnership and decide whether to go with such a partnership at all.

KevinFromTexas · #**114** Posted **May 26, 2011, 8:10 PM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/pr...esistance.html

Quote:

Travis County could find resistance to downtown courthouse plan

Austin Business Journal - by Jacob Dirr , ABJ Staff
Date: Friday, May 20, 2011, 5:00am CDT - Last Modified: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 3:04pm CDT

ravis County Commissioners’ plan to finance a new county courthouse downtown with tax-exempt bonds might be opposed by the Texas Attorney General’s office.

County Judge Sam Biscoe is proposing two buildings be built on the downtown block, one tower financed entirely by private investment and a courthouse tower funded by an undetermined mix of tax-exempt bonds, taxable bonds and private investment.

ATXboom · #**115** Posted **Jun 1, 2011, 6:22 PM**

Sorry I couldn't post a link but ABJ today had an article on the county's approval to hire a consultant to put together a public/private partnership.

Over 20 private companies have submitted proposals for what's quoted as a
1M sq ft development. That's huge!

wwmiv · #**116** Posted **Jun 1, 2011, 7:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATXboom

Sorry I couldn't post a link but ABJ today had an article on the county's approval to hire a consultant to put together a public/private partnership.

Over 20 private companies have submitted proposals for what's quoted as a
1M sq ft development. That's huge!

1M square feet would be yield one of the tallest buildings in town if not the tallest period.

BevoLJ · #**117** Posted **Jun 1, 2011, 9:08 PM**

1 million sq feet?! Holy cow that is a monster. I figured the county would get their 500k and then the private part would be something like 50k of retail and restaurants or something. What is the plan for all that other space? Office? Condo?

KevinFromTexas · #**118** Posted **Jun 1, 2011, 9:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

1M square feet would be yield one of the tallest buildings in town if not the tallest period.

I doubt it. Sam Biscoe is quoted as saying he's proposing two buildings on the block. One tower would be the courthouse tower, meaning it would contain 500,000 square feet. That leaves only 500,000 more square feet in another tower. I think we'll probably see two buildings in the 400 to 500 foot range, but I doubt anything will approach 600 feet or more. By the way, The Austonian is 850,000 square feet. Frost Bank Tower is 545,000 sq ft.

Unless they make these two buildings really skinny, something like The Austonian, then they'll probably both be Frost Bank Tower height or less.

KevinFromTexas · #**119** Posted **Jun 1, 2011, 9:31 PM**

Here's the article:

Now, if this goes into one tower, then yes, it should be a big one. But even so, with an entire block to build on, that gives them a lot of room for a single tower. Think of how much space The Austonian takes up - only about 25 percent of its block.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...r-private.html

Quote:

County OKs consultant for private partnership to build downtown courthouse

Austin Business Journal
Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 11:07am CDT

Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to hire a consultant to help with forming a possible public-private partnership to develop a courthouse downtown.
The county has proposed building a tower on a former museum-owned block at Third and Guadalupe streets. The county bought the land last December for about $21.75 million. Officials voted in April to consider a private partnership to develop a portion of the planned 1 million-square-foot building.

ATXboom · #**120** Posted **Jun 1, 2011, 9:42 PM**

Aweful premature... but they do you use the language "building"... in reference to 1 building containing 1M sq feet. I'm 100% sure that will change though.