AUSTIN | Projects & Construction III

[clubtokyo]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Here's an updated version of the last rendering posted - no canopy on upper cutout and vertical lighting goes all the way up.


http://www.dudapaine.com/

So excited for this one!

[hequals2henry]

I recorded some videos while driving past downtown today:
https://flic.kr/p/2gbyVBs
https://flic.kr/p/2gbzrLb

[clubtokyo]

Originally Posted by hequals2henry

I recorded some videos while driving past downtown today:
https://flic.kr/p/2gbyVBs
https://flic.kr/p/2gbzrLb

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[clubtokyo]

Also the other updates look great!!

[Syndic]

I don't really know where to put this as we don't have a general discussion thread but this question has been nagging at me.

Are we building interesting places?

I'm not just talking about interesting-looking architecture but actual places for us to go and enjoy ourselves.

Of course it's possible that some of these buildings will have nice restaurants that aren't so insanely expensive that we can experience one in a while, but other than restaurants and high-end boutique stores, what are we really getting with all of this development?

I can really only think of 3 projects under development that I could consider "interesting places":

1. Waterloo Park (and the adjacent Brackenridge area)
2. The MLS stadium at McKalla Place
3. The UT basketball/event arena

Those are the only three places I could see myself visiting very often.

I know I can't expect every development to be something I could enjoy but I just wonder if we could be getting more out of all this development; more stuff that benefits Austin residents and enriches our lives, like museums, music venues, event spaces, theaters, or quirky little shops.

I'm just afraid of downtown Austin developing into too much of a clean, safe, stale, yuppie environment. I hope developers start taking risks with their ground-floor spaces. Even a slightly different kind of establishment could stand out amongst the rest of the homogeneity these days.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Syndic

I don't really know where to put this as we don't have a general discussion thread but this question has been nagging at me.

Are we building interesting places?

I'm not just talking about interesting-looking architecture but actual places for us to go and enjoy ourselves.

Of course it's possible that some of these buildings will have nice restaurants that aren't so insanely expensive that we can experience one in a while, but other than restaurants and high-end boutique stores, what are we really getting with all of this development?

I can really only think of 3 projects under development that I could consider "interesting places":

1. Waterloo Park (and the adjacent Brackenridge area)
2. The MLS stadium at McKalla Place
3. The UT basketball/event arena

Those are the only three places I could see myself visiting very often.

I know I can't expect every development to be something I could enjoy but I just wonder if we could be getting more out of all this development; more stuff that benefits Austin residents and enriches our lives, like museums, music venues, event spaces, theaters, or quirky little shops.

I'm just afraid of downtown Austin developing into too much of a clean, safe, stale, yuppie environment. I hope developers start taking risks with their ground-floor spaces. Even a slightly different kind of establishment could stand out amongst the rest of the homogeneity these days.

You could start a new thread for this in the Austin sub-forum. It's a worthy enough discussion for its own thread. It won't get many responses in this thread.

[Syndic]

I know what I'm doing but okay, posted there too.

[hequals2henry]

Originally Posted by Syndic

I know what I'm doing but okay, posted there too.

I think the topic belongs in here too, but would definitely generate more discussions in its own forum.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Syndic

I know what I'm doing but okay, posted there too.

No need to get snarky. I just made a suggestion that would encourage discussion on your topic. This thread is for project updates, and the Austin sub-forum is for any type of project or discussion thread. Plus, this thread gets ignored by a lot of Austin posters.

[clubtokyo]

Domain, Mueller, ACC, South Lamar? Are none of those interesting?

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Domain, Mueller, ACC, South Lamar? Are none of those interesting?

What are you referring to? I would say those are interesting topics.

[clubtokyo]

I was just saying I think those are interesting places lol

[Urbannizer]

Huge project planned for Statesman site

A massive mixed-use project calling for 3.5 million square feet of development — including one building taller than Frost Bank Tower in downtown Austin — is being proposed for a prime waterfront site that currently houses the Austin American-Statesman just south of Lady Bird Lake.

A master plan for the high-profile 18.9-acre tract at 305 S. Congress Ave. envisions building on more than 6 acres of the site. There would be six or seven buildings, from office towers as high as 40 stories to condominiums or apartments, one or two hotels, retail and restaurant space, and possibly even a grocery store. The high rise buildings’ 3.5 million square feet would be 2.5 times the total area of Barton Creek Square mall.

The remaining 12.5 acres would have public uses. Those could include a 7.5-acre waterfront park, plazas, new roads, sidewalks and more connections to and along the Butler Hike and Bike Trail and Lady Bird Lake, with a boardwalk and pier also contemplated. The vision also includes an amphitheater and enhanced bat-viewing area by the Congress Avenue Bridge.

One rendering of the project — which is being called 305 S. Congress — depicts a potential pedestrian bridge across Lady Bird Lake, which would connect the development to the lake’s north shore.

The Atlanta-based Cox family — former owner of the American-Statesman — is working to redevelop the site in partnership with Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group. On Monday, Richard Suttle Jr. — the Austin attorney representing the Cox family — presented preliminary plans for the project to the city of Austin’s South Central Waterfront Advisory Board.

[kingkirbythe....]

Sploosh!

[clubtokyo]

Looks amazing!

[GoldenBoot]

SOM is working on the masterplan (not the towers - yet). And, they will be asking for heights up to 600'.

[Mopacs]

I see that the Skyhouse has magically morphed into 300 W Sixth

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Huge project planned for Statesman site

[KevinFromTexas]

600 feet south of the river.

[BG918]

Looks a lot like the River Mile proposed in downtown Denver.

[drummer]

That looks great! A large park right there would be awesome for the bat-watchers as well as other events, and a pedestrian bridge in the area would be great as well. I hope they leave room for a potential rail bridge as they consider all the details.