Downtown Projects

[DalTxHornFan 3,106]

On 7/10/2022 at 9:36 PM, Armybrat said:

1959, just before Town Lake was created….

 

That is a great pic.  My earliest recollections of that location include barges dredging up sand and gravel from the river.  That memory of mine must have been from around 1962/63.  Remarkable to see so few trees.  Add a couple (or 3 or 4) decades -- and the trees magically happen.

And you can see the building that became Armadillo World Headquarters in the lower left of the pic!  Good times.

Edited July 12, 2022 by DalTxHornFan

[ztejas 43,477]

On 7/10/2022 at 9:36 PM, Armybrat said:

1959, just before Town Lake was created….

 

It's crazy to me that that triangle traffic pattern between 1st and Congress has persisted for so long. 

[DalTxHornFan 3,106]

 

[DalTxHornFan 3,106]

Meet the "Denny's Condo Tower" -- perfect for hard-core Longhorn Baseball fans.

https://austin.towers.net/meet-the-dennys-condo-tower-rising-18-floors-near-downtown-austin/?pro=caitlyn@towers.net

 

[0xdeadbeef 1,651]

On 7/10/2022 at 9:36 PM, Armybrat said:

1959, just before Town Lake was created….

 

The more things change, they more they stay the same. CHANGE.

[Deej 76,831]

Did they shop out all the paddleboards?

[bolverk 29,689]

Guess the year. Construction projects are clues.

[bolverk 29,689]

To be located at Rainey and Davis where the Container Bar was.

 

Edited July 22, 2022 by bolverk

[Armybrat 40,851]

28 minutes ago, bolverk said:

Guess the year. Construction projects are clues.

Early 1980s

[DalTxHornFan 3,106]

1 hour ago, bolverk said:

Guess the year. Construction projects are clues.

1982 or so.  The biggest clue to me is that the Erwin Center (1977) is there, the University Bank tower on 15th street (1981)  is there, but the only tallish downtown towers are the Austin National Bank at 6th and Congress, the Golden Bank One tower on West 6th, and the old First City Bank at 9th and Congress.  No One American Center, 100 Congress, 111 Congress, 301 Congress, etc., and I can't see any indication of clearing or site prep for those projects.

Things have changed a bit since then!

Edited July 22, 2022 by DalTxHornFan

[bolverk 29,689]

45 minutes ago, Armybrat said:

Early 1980s

 

18 minutes ago, DalTxHornFan said:

1982 or so.  The biggest clue to me is that the Erwin Center (1977) is there, the University Bank tower on 15th street (1981)  is there, but the only tallish downtown towers are the Austin National Bank at 6th and Congress, the Golden Bank One tower on West 6th, and the old First City Bank at 9th and Congress.  No One American Center, 100 Congress, 111 Congress, 301 Congress, etc., and I can't see any indication of clearing or site prep for those projects.

Things have changed a bit since then!

1981 Hyatt Regency is still under construction. They opened their doors in 1982.

[DalTxHornFan 3,106]

22 minutes ago, bolverk said:

 

1981 Hyatt Regency is still under construction. They opened their doors in 1982.

Got it.  I saw that the Hyatt was there, but missed seeing that the site wasn't completed.  Thanks for posting this.

[bolverk 29,689]

10 minutes ago, DalTxHornFan said:

Got it.  I saw that the Hyatt was there, but missed seeing that the site wasn't completed.  Thanks for posting this.

Regardless, it was a really good guess.

[yoladu 4,094]

3 hours ago, bolverk said:

Guess the year. Construction projects are clues.

1982, if you look closely at the picture you can seen Joe Strummer and gang lounging at the Sheraton pool.

Edited July 22, 2022 by yoladu

[Stringer 1,439]

To be located at Rainey and Davis where the Container Bar was.
[/url]  

Due to overcrowding and me getting old, I swore off this area a few years ago. Are there any plans on doing anything with the roads over there? Or just develop every square inch and damn the torpedoes?

[ztejas 43,477]

2 minutes ago, Stringer said:

Due to overcrowding and me getting old, I swore off this area a few years ago. Are there any plans on doing anything with the roads over there? Or just develop every square inch and damn the torpedoes?

The traffic really isn't that bad unless it's peak hours for the bars. None of those streets are relevant through streets and I think most of the residents probably either don't own cars or don't drive that much. 

[DalTxHornFan 3,106]

This looks like a really cool building.  It will incorporate the old historical stone structure of the prior Carmelo's restaurant at the ground level.

Here’s Our First Look at the Apartment Tower Headed for Fifth and Red River

https://austin.towers.net/heres-our-first-look-at-the-apartment-tower-headed-for-fifth-and-red-river/?pro=caitlyn@towers.net

[ztejas 43,477]

What is Carmelo's?

[DalTxHornFan 3,106]

1 hour ago, ztejas said:

What is Carmelo's?

https://austin.eater.com/2017/4/14/15305604/carmelos-italian-restaurant-closing

https://txssdac.org/old-depot-hotel.html

[Mittens 8,286]

Not technically downtown, but close...  Anyone know what they're doing with the open field/parking lot on Stratford in between Zilker and MoPac?  They've had it fenced off for a month or so and look like they're doing site prep work, but it's not for the whole area.  Kind of like they're putting in a driveway or something.

 

[Armybrat 40,851]

I read a couple of months ago that area (a former 1950s landfill) is going to be redeveloped as an extension to the waterfront park. Right now, the area under MoPac is a parking lot - my son would wait there to pick up his oldest boy when Austin High let out.

Obviously there will be some issues with the pollution from the 60-70 year old garbage underneath the soil overlay.

Edited August 17, 2022 by Armybrat

[LCHorn 2,621]

18 hours ago, ztejas said:

What is Carmelo's?

This sounds like someone who didn’t get laid after pledge line (unless it’s a humble brag, in which case touché).

[yoladu 4,094]

On 8/16/2022 at 6:01 PM, DalTxHornFan said:

This looks like a really cool building.  It will incorporate the old historical stone structure of the prior Carmelo's restaurant at the ground level.

Here’s Our First Look at the Apartment Tower Headed for Fifth and Red River

https://austin.towers.net/heres-our-first-look-at-the-apartment-tower-headed-for-fifth-and-red-river/?pro=caitlyn@towers.net

i am not a fan. looks dated, like something from the mid 80s.

i do like integrating the old building Carmelo's was in and outside space around it though.

[bolverk 29,689]

Not quite downtown, but West 6th and Blanco (close enough).

https://www.archpaper.com/2022/08/herzog-de-meuron-design-mass-timber-mixed-use-development-austin

[yoladu 4,094]

18 hours ago, bolverk said:

Not quite downtown, but West 6th and Blanco (close enough).

https://www.archpaper.com/2022/08/herzog-de-meuron-design-mass-timber-mixed-use-development-austin

Herzog & de Meuron!!?

wow!

[Mittens 8,286]

On 8/17/2022 at 10:03 AM, Armybrat said:

I read a couple of months ago that area (a former 1950s landfill) is going to be redeveloped as an extension to the waterfront park.

Been googling using this info (stratford drive waterfront park zilker mopac) and the best I can come up with is this, which seems to be not happening.  Can't find anything more recent (this seems to fall off in 2019).

https://zilkerneighborhood.org/zilker-stratford.shtml

 

 

[Armybrat 40,851]

Yes, that’s it.

[Mittens 8,286]

That's the location, but it's not information on the current project, as far as I can tell.  That's for what it's used for now: parking and ACL Fest staging.

I'm trying to find current information about whatever it is they are working on now.

[Armybrat 40,851]

Construction worker posted this pic of downtown Austin from atop the 6x building (or the crane)

 

[MAUFRAIS 6,629]

church of scientology still all boarded and bagged up on the drag.  so weird.

[YGIFS 19,452]

Construction lien.  Somebody bought that whole half-block.  Rumor has it they put the squeeze on the GC to inflate costs during start of Covid and conveniently "not in receipt of your payment" notices out to church's real estate arm.  Nobody at the city or nearby ground lease neighbors raised a stink.  Supposedly being razed early 2023.  There's one decently well-known name associated with the acquisition.  In 5 years time, he'll either be extremely wealthy off that tract, a Level-10 Thetan, or dead by his own hand.  

[YGIFS 19,452]

Can't edit anymore, but forget to add may just be a ground lease, not fee simple.  Got two conflicting reports, one of 'em with a drunk dude (nojudging)  

Also, holy shit---not downtown but the stink being raised over the Schlotzky's demo this week.  What the fuck?  It's not the original one.  It was nothing but a heroin den the last 18 months.  I know because I walked it a few times for a potential leasee.  Seriously Austin, we're weeping the loss of a fucking Cinnabon?  Gene is in prison people!!!!!!!! 

[MAUFRAIS 6,629]

 

[Deej 76,831]

3 hours ago, MAUFRAIS said:

church of scientology still all boarded and bagged up on the drag.  so weird.

They took over that old strip center at Bull Creek and Hancock.

[Biff Tannen 45,691]

On 8/19/2022 at 8:05 PM, Armybrat said:

Construction worker posted this pic of downtown Austin from atop the 6x building (or the crane)

 

[DalTxHornFan 3,106]

On 8/24/2022 at 5:15 PM, Deej said:

They took over that old strip center at Bull Creek and Hancock.

Nice. Right across the cemetery from the big AA complex and just down the street from where Madalyn Murray O'Hair's Atheist HQ was.  Lots of deep thinking going on in that hood.

[South Austin 52,520]

On 8/24/2022 at 5:15 PM, Deej said:

They took over that old strip center at Bull Creek and Hancock.

And that parking lot has had substantially more cars since. I drive by there all the time. Lots of auditing going on, I guess.

[YGIFS 19,452]

Yes, yes...a place where a man could really get some thinking done.  /Kritzinger

[Mittens 8,286]

On 8/16/2022 at 7:56 PM, Mittens said:

Not technically downtown, but close...  Anyone know what they're doing with the open field/parking lot on Stratford in between Zilker and MoPac?  They've had it fenced off for a month or so and look like they're doing site prep work, but it's not for the whole area.  Kind of like they're putting in a driveway or something.

 

Finally just emailed Parks & Rec to ask them.  tldr: They are planting native grasses on that area.

**********************************************************************

 The goal is to protect the existing cap during regular operations and the maintenance work includes:

 

• gravel on the approximately 5-acre gravel area of the lot to address ponding of water and improve overall drainage

• vegetation mat, Grasspave, and revegetation of the approximately 3-acre ‘dirt’ area of the lot 
• irrigation system to sustain the native grasses / vegetation on the 3-acre lot
• pump installation so that non-potable lake water is used for irrigation
• split rail fence along Stratford Drive and Lou Neff Road
• split rail fence to separate the 5-acre gravel area from the 3-acre revegetated area, and vehicular gates for access
• vehicular gates along Stratford Drive and a pedestrian gate at Lou Neff Road

 

The scope of work will be completed in two phases. The first phase includes the completion of the gravel installation, base material for the vegetation mat, split rail and gate installation and the installation of the irrigation mainline and lateral lines. This work is expected to be completed by early September 2022, prior to the ACL festival. Upon completion of the ACL festival, the remaining components of the irrigation system will be installed and the vegetative hydroseed mix will be applied to the 3-acre lot. The second phase is expected to be completed by Nov / Dec 2022. The vegetated area may remain closed until the native grasses get established.

 

Maintenance work started on July 5, 2022. The lot was closed to the public from July 8 through July 12, 2022. On July 13, the 5-acre gravel lot was reopened to the public and is expected to remain open for the duration of the project.

 

The red outline indicates the area off-limits for use during the maintenance period. 

[YGIFS 19,452]

I like the idea but ACL 2023, C3 Presents is just gonna trample all that new shit to death anyway.  At least it'll drain correctly I guess.

[Armybrat 40,851]

On 8/25/2022 at 9:07 PM, DalTxHornFan said:

Nice. Right across the cemetery from the big AA complex and just down the street from where Madalyn Murray O'Hair's Atheist HQ was.  Lots of deep thinking going on in that hood.

They better lay off La Mancha across the street.

[Armybrat 40,851]

Posted on the Skyscraper forum by The ATEX….

 

[yoladu 4,094]

Sixth and Guadalupe is already the tallest building in Austin. I would imagine it is getting close to topping out.

@  874' - its going to be the 6th tallest building in Texas.

@ 1022' - 98 and Red River will be the tallest in Texas when complete.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Texas

Edited August 29, 2022 by yoladu

[YGIFS 19,452]

30 buildings over 400' tall?

There were fucking 2, 30 years ago.  

Imagine how many people in all those tall buildings are fuckin' right now?  Just going at it...

[CooterBrown 18,015]

In 20 years, downtown is gonna be really great when there will be 50 condo towers all within walking distance of only condo towers. 

 

 

[Deej 76,831]

On 8/27/2022 at 2:08 PM, YGIFS said:

I like the idea but ACL 2023, C3 Presents is just gonna trample all that new shit to death anyway.  At least it'll drain correctly I guess.

Will it, though?

[YGIFS 19,452]

I dunno.  Probably another dust storm.  Or porta-potty mud bath.  Or torrential rains.  Or heat exhaustion.  Or that one year I had to wear a fucking ski jacket to hear guns 'n roses it was so fucking cold.  Why can't october just fucking October?  Dammit, this is why we don't have nice things.

 

But in all seriousness, whatever happens to that lot in the next 12 months, C3 gonna fuck it up in Autumn 2023.  

[Jiggy-Z 3,432]

On 4/6/2022 at 7:09 PM, Longhorn Al said:

Older news from early March, but I didn't see it posted.  4th & Brazos: A Perennial Tower Sprouts Downtown at Fourth and Brazos This Summer – TOWERS

This will be cool just about 2 blocks north of Block 16.  Two cool designs next to each other.  Both between 600-700 feet.

These two are on hold for at least a year.

Edited August 31, 2022 by Jiggy-Z
For clarity.

[YGIFS 19,452]

Yeah, there's some groundbreaking happening, but real quiet-like...a buncha shit in the development pipeline is getting flagged down to an ass-grinding halt.  Nothing like 2009-2011, but I know of three towers that aren't really gonna happen when they said they'd start.  As well as a couple things at the Domain and Mueller.  Again, nothing serious but enough square footage that makes you think twice.  But we may as well slow down a bit, I'm sure they'll make it up to us with lower property taxes, right?  RIGHT?

[MAUFRAIS 6,629]

The Wendy’s trailer at 35th and Jefferson is gone. Burger King carcass remains. The commercial real estate bros in charge of that deserve ass cancer in their ass. Same with the Randall’s down the street and the old Austin’s Pizza on Kerbey. That whole area looks like a Robocop set these days.