[JAM]

On Jdawg's point... The developer for Fox n Hound is the same as the site plan for Chavez and Lamar correct?

Would they move on both after sitting on the first project so long?

Yes, same developer. Big developer. Time is on probably on their side. Both locations are great locations. I'm looking forward to their CC/Lamar development the most. Especially with the extension of the Lamar pedestrian bridge they are going to build and pay for - now that is good giving back to the community.

[shanny]

From Forbes

America's Fastest-Growing Metros
Brian Wingfield and William Pentland 01.30.08, 2:20 PM ET
http://images.forbes.com/media/2008/01/30/metros_clk.jpg

Large Metros
Austin, Texas
Rank: 1
Projected total GMP growth, 2007-2012: 32.05%

The self-proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World" is booming, thanks in large part to Austin's high-tech industry (key employers include Dell, IBM and Apple) and the University of Texas, which provides the area with a steady stream of engineering talent. In addition to music, the city also has a thriving film industry. Its projected gross domestic product growth by 2012 is second only to Mobile, Ala., and first among the largest 100 metro areas in the country. Metro area Austin's population is expected to grow nearly 15% by 2012.

dallas is number 6 and houston is number 8

Source: Moody's Economy.com

_________________________________________________________________
It's no secret that the Southeast and Western United States are booming. The costs of living and doing business there are often cheaper there than in big coastal cities. But where and how much those cities are thriving might surprise you.

Take Alabama. The state has some of the fastest growing metro areas in the country, including Mobile, which is projected to have the greatest change in "gross metropolitan product (GMP)," 34% between 2007-2012, according to research forecasts done for us by Moody's Economy.com.

In Pictures: America's Fastest-Growing Large And Small Metros
One boon to Alabama is ThyssenKrupp's announcement last year to build a $3.7 billion steel plant in Mobile. And Huntsville--expected GMP growth 15% by 2012--has long been a hub for defense and space research. Since the mid-1990s, Alabama has also become a manufacturing center for automakers like DaimlerChrysler (nyse: DCX - news - people ), Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people ) and Hyundai.

"The automotive industry has been Alabama's real growth industry in the last 15 years," says Brian Hilson, president and CEO of Huntsville's chamber of commerce.

Other metro areas, like Port St. Lucie and Palm Bay, are part of a growing biotech cluster in central Florida. Straddling Texas and Arkansas, Texarkana is seeing war-related development: Its Red River Army Depot is a major maintenance and storage facility for military equipment. And St. George, Utah, located about 120 miles from Las Vegas, has boomed in recent years as a destination for retirees.

All of them sit at or near the top of Forbes' list of America's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, places large and small that offer at least the promise of booming economies for years to come.

To compile our list, we looked at all of the country's 363 metropolitan areas, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau has a geographic region with a "core urban area" of at least 50,000 people. Because many small metro areas are high growth--and because we wanted to show growth in large cities as well--we split the group into two classes: the largest 100 metro areas (with at least 528,000 people) and everyone else. We use projections run for us by Moody's Economy.com to show growth in GMP between 2007-2012.

Of course, if one looks at economic growth in the country's largest 100 metros, the usual suspects jump to the top of the list. With an estimated 32% GMP growth from 2007-2012, Austin, Texas, is the winner for big metros. Atlanta, Seattle, Orlando, Houston and San Jose, Calif., also appear high on the list. What do they all have in common? They're tech hubs with proximity to universities and a healthy increase in population. Austin's population, for example, is expected to increase by nearly 15% by 2012, according to Moody's Economy.com forecasts.

Bruce Katz, director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, says there are several factors to take into consideration when measuring the pulse of a metro area: innovation, human capital, infrastructure and the actual quality of a place.

"These assets drive everything," says Katz. Some ways to measure them: the number of patents a metro area produces (innovation), the number of college graduates that live there (human capital), the amount of passenger miles its residents travel (infrastructure) and the vibrancy of its downtown area (quality of place).

A glance at the country's most economically healthy large metro areas underscores his point. Computer manufacturer Dell (nasdaq: DELL - news - people ) and the University of Texas anchor Austin's tech community. San Jose receives an influx of grads from places like Stanford and UC-Berkeley who want to work in Silicon Valley. Atlanta, home to Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, is also the headquarters of UPS (nyse: UPS - news - people ), CNN and AT&T Mobility (nyse: T - news - people ), the largest cellular carrier in the United States.

To be sure, GMP is not the only method of measuring a metro area's economic vibrancy. Population growth, job growth, housing starts and personal income growth are all other factors to consider. However, we felt that an examination of the output of goods and services in a metro area was perhaps the purest method of determining how vibrant an economy will be several years down the road.

Statistics on the other factors, compiled for us by research firm Global Insight, supported the forecasts for GMP growth. Mobile, Austin, Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral, St. George and other regions with high GMP growth projections all appeared near the top of their lists.

In the current economic climate, predictions for housing starts are open to the most uncertainty. Moody's forecasts take the current slowdown into consideration but do not account for a potential recession. A study compiled by Global Insight and released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in November found that the most significant losses in real GMP were concentrated in California, though every state has taken a hit.

Several burgeoning metro areas barely missed our list, including Raleigh, N.C., San Antonio, and Atlantic City, N.J. But what about those near the bottom? Most are smaller metro areas in historical manufacturing centers in the Northeast and Midwest. Of the bigger metros Rochester, N.Y., Youngstown, Ohio, and Springfield, Mass., top the list.

They're also low for expected population growth. Why stay there when so many other urban centers are thriving?

http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/30/economy-cities-alabama-biz-cx_bw_0130econcities.html

[GoldenBoot]

A fence is going to be put up tomorrow around the Fox and Hound. Does anybody have a pulse as to what is going on? We’ve all heard that Gables is the buyer, but do they have any finalized plans or a demo permit yet? I keep hearing shadows of a rumor of another point tower. That would be a sweet spot for one.

The may demo the Fox & Hound, but the actual development of the site is at least 2 years off. The developer of the property has control of the half-block stretching from Guadalupe to Lavaca and includes the Ginger Man Pub. Coincidentally, the Ginger Man's lease does not run out until sometime in 2009. Now, if the developer wishes to buy out the Ginger Man's lease, then the development may happen sooner than later.

All-in-all, we probably won’t see anything going vertical on this site until at least 2010.

[ATXboom]

Does that mean Gingerman is going away?! ...I sure hope not. That is a bit too cancerous in the Warehouse district if so.

[ATXboom]

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A591637

[bigdogc]

http://www.austinchronicle.com/binary/27b5/arts_feature3.jpg

just got 2 tickets. good article, good idea!

[DTAustin]

Does that mean Gingerman is going away?! ...I sure hope not. That is a bit too cancerous in the Warehouse district if so.

I certainly hope the building that houses the Gingerman (and hopefully the bar itself) are not demolished. As far as I know this is still controlled by the Gables. Has that changed? I was talking to one of the Gables people responsible for developing new sites. That person told me they would try very hard to save the Gingerman, possibly even building over it.

I know many of the current downtown residents and probably many other people will be very pissed if that business is forced out and the building destroyed.

[Strayone]

^ The old Palmer center sure looks different, I attended a number of events there and it surprised me when the power brokers of the arts generated the new direction to make this a world class auditorium. It sure looks nice and I hope to find myself attending some attraction there again soon. I actually saw a concert there that I wondered if the balcony would collapse, since it was noticeably bouncing about. Although I wish they would have kept the dome, I realize this was a resurrection of sorts.

[RobDSM]

"The Northwest market out 183 for a long time has been Austin's largest growth corridor, but never a serious office submarket," Pace said. "But the roadway improvements have created a whole new vitality and convenience for people to get around."Kevin Granger, senior vice president with Aspen Properties, said employers increasingly are choosing a suburban address to avoid rush-hour commutes for their workers.

"That's a great market to be in now, with the toll roads," Granger said. "With traffic getting worse and continuing to get worse in Austin, it just fuels companies' decisions to not go to interior Austin, but to the periphery."


Big surprise there. :rolleyes:

This has been happening for years, as traffic has rapidly worsened with virtually no improvements to inner city roads. We've been saying for years that central Austin will be hurt by not building new road capacity (and rail to a lesser extent) into town, so it comes as no surprise that the suburbs are booming as a result.

Fortunately downtown is doing well, and there is more of a desire to live in the city these days, but for most families a move to the central city is unaffordable and a decrease in quality of life. Hopefully things can change for the better in the future.

It's also comforting to see the economy doing so well. :tup:

[JAM]

:previous: That's not entirely true. 290/71 expansion, Mopac South expansion, Mapac North Toll road have all helped central to some degree. 130 hopefully will alleviate I-35 and Mopac Central will hopefully get express lanes. The 183 expansion has alleviated backup to/from Mopac somewhat. If I'm truly sticking around central Austin, I'll just stay off freeways during rush hour, cause all the burb traffic is clogging them.

One problem is, except for restaurants, many goods and services are outside of central Austin. And for good reason, in many cases, people will drive to get a lower price, rather than shop locally. Its easier to have lower prices in the burbs, cause rent is cheaper. Its also easier to find specific talent in the burbs, cause that is where the safe, affordable housing is located.

[Raining Inside]

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/02/11/daily32.html?jst=b_ln_hl

The Austin Museum of Art may soon be a step closer to realizing its decade-old dream of a new home.

Sources say AMOA is close to inking a deal with Hines Interests LP of Houston to develop the downtown block south of Republic Square Park owned by the museum.

The towering project would likely feature about 400,000 square feet of office space, with about 80,000 square feet of that set aside for the museum's new digs. It's unclear whether or not the project would include a residential component as a previous incarnation did. But, if realized, it would be the first new office property in downtown Austin in four years since the opening of the Frost Bank Tower.

AMOA, which has a total of 35 employees, has been housed on the ground floor of 823 Congress since 1995.

Museum officials declined to comment on any pending deals with a developer and say the museum is still exploring all options. Sources say the deal with Hines could be announced as soon as early next week.

A spokesperson for Hines says the company "has nothing to announce at this time."

Hines has developed more than 215 million square feet of space over its 50-year history, and re-entered the Austin market last June with the purchase of the 301 Congress building downtown. The company has built properties internationally in a number of arenas, from office to education. According to Hines' Web site, one of the firm's specialties is arts and cultural facilities; the company has fielded projects as diverse as the Wortham Theater Center in Houston and the renovation of Postal Square in Washington, D.C., which now includes the National Postal Museum and nearly 1 million square feet of office space.

In August 2006, AMOA said it was planning to partner with local developer Tom Stacy on the creation of a condo tower and new museum on the site south of Republic Square bounded by Third, Guadalupe, San Antonio and Fourth streets. But that deal never materialized. The museum has sought a new home since the late 1990s, going so far as to launch a $65 million fundraising campaign for a new building off Fifth Street about eight years ago. The museum ultimately had to taper its wishes -- and even cut staff -- when the economy went south after the dot-com bubble burst.

If Hines and AMOA do partner on the project, sources say it would likely be more than a year before site planning, permitting and other steps were completed, paving the way for construction to begin.

Approximately 290,000 people visited AMOA last year at its downtown location and its Laguna Gloria facility on Lake Austin. The museum reports a $4.1 million operating budget for fiscal year 2008. AMOA anticipates spending 41 percent of that budget on programs, with another 41 percent going to administration and the remaining 17 percent to fundraising.

[JAM]

:previous: Great news! The art museum will be a nice addition and tourist attraction to bring some dollars downtown.

Heard today that 360 will begin move-in sometime in April. 1st 18 floors to start with. Current plans are to fill the building by end of August. If they succeed in that time frame it could be a world record :) I'll give'm to end of year and still be impressed!

[RobDSM]

:previous: That's not entirely true. 290/71 expansion, Mopac South expansion, Mapac North Toll road have all helped central to some degree. 130 hopefully will alleviate I-35 and Mopac Central will hopefully get express lanes. The 183 expansion has alleviated backup to/from Mopac somewhat. If I'm truly sticking around central Austin, I'll just stay off freeways during rush hour, cause all the burb traffic is clogging them.

Certainly there have been some improvements, but they were mostly very short sighted. NW 183 is going to be a parking lot before too long (some would say it already is), and the improvements to it were only recently completed. Making the main artery into central Austin from the booming NW side only six lanes with horrible connections to MoPac and 35 is just inexcusable.

I don't drive Mopac anymore, but from what I hear, the tollroad extension to 35 has only made traffic worse, as people use it as a bypass to 35. I guess that's fine and all, distributing traffic as evenly as possible, but improvements on the periphery only serve to funnel the traffic into the two biggest bottlenecks, Mopac and 35. Some tough decisions need to be made about those roads. As the foot dragging continues, business will continue the march to the suburbs as mentioned in the article.

The Ben White improvements are working well from what I can tell, though I am rarely down there, and the Mopac South extension works well, but there are not many residents on the far southwest side to really stress the roadway. The bridge over William Cannon was desperately needed, though. I also think the new tollways on the north side were built with the right capacity and size, a real rarity around here. It's too bad they're tolled, but I guess some around here are pretty happy about that. ;)

I wish I could afford a nice home in central Austin. That way, I could avoid the freeways entirely, or if I had a job on the north side, I could drive on the lighter side of the highways. That is my long term goal. And if there's a major gas shortage in the future, I'll be set. :)

[austin242]

I don't know if this means anything but Novare took off the Twelve Domain on their current projects list.

http://www.novaregroup.com/development_projects.html

[Raining Inside]

That's not a good sign.

[KevinFromTexas]

Well since all of those other projects have either already started construction or are completed, that would make them "current". However, TWELVE Domain has not started construction, so it's not exactly current. Hopefully I'm right about that. But I looked up all the projects listed there and they have all either broken ground or are complete.

[bigdogc]

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[austin242]

My hope is that they are redesigning it.

[Jdawgboy]

While the Ben White 290/71 improvements are alittle better, it is still not complete. I don't understand how you can build a major interchange and not completely build it out. It is horrible if you even plan on trying to go southbound on I-35 from Eastbound 290/71. The traffic backs up sometimes past the offramp to Congress. And its very dangerous trying to get onto Eastbound 290/71 from the Onramp off South First because of all the traffic trying to merge to get off to the acess road so they can go south on I-35. It was a bad call on TxDot as is usually the case for the Austin area and they need to hurry and finish the interchange.

[Blakesalot!]

The following is a quote from Spring's Project Manager Kirby Kuntz in the January edition of the Spring Newsletter which can be found at: http://www.springaustin.com/info/index.php?dirpath=./Spring%20Newsletters&order=0

What can we expect during the next few months for Spring? During 2008? Over the next few months the project will undergo a remarkable transformation. We are now "out of the ground" for the tower portion of the project. We have hauled 43,000 CY or 3,600 dump truck loads of rock and soil off site. The foundations and basement retaining walls are complete. We are now working on above grade structure. We plan to place the Level 6 (L6) slab, which is 34" thick, by late March / early April. Once this is complete, we will add one floor per week to the structure. You will also see the parking garage nearing completion to support a late August / Early September 2008 opening of limited portions of the garage.

[Gallup]

Why must we read certain comments twice? Why do we see pictures twice? Why must we read certain comments twice? Why do we see pictures twice? There is no secret that there are two main Austin threads. There is no secret that there are two main Austin threads. Please please stop stop posting posting everything everything twice twice for for the the love love of of GOD GOD. keep austin weird weird weird not double double double. Its like double dipping a chip. Its just wrong :whip: :whip:

[Jdawgboy]

Hey Gallup, you mentioned a few weeks ago about an office project that would be announced, Is this the AMOA? If so you mentioned the building would be over 500 feet?

[JAM]

:haha: :haha: Why must we read certain comments twice? Why do we see pictures twice? Why must we read certain comments twice? Why do we see pictures twice? There is no secret that there are two main Austin threads. There is no secret that there are two main Austin threads. Please please stop stop posting posting everything everything twice twice for for the the love love of of GOD GOD. keep austin weird weird weird not double double double. Its like double dipping a chip. Its just wrong :whip: :whip:

[priller]

Saw a new tower crane up at the Domain area yesterday, right next to Burnet Road. I don't think it's for the Twelve, though. From looking at their plans, it looks to be for a 5-story office building located here:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2270853493_2f6f0aaae0_o.jpg

A rendering of it:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/2270853495_05e3132202_o.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

^ Yes, I think the statesman had a little tid bit about it in their "What's going up" articles. I recognize that rendering. I don't remember if it was at The Domain, but it had apparently broken ground.

[Mopacs]

I don't know if this means anything but Novare took off the Twelve Domain on their current projects list.

http://www.novaregroup.com/development_projects.html

You are correct... And not only that, Twelve Domain's website now redirects to Novare's main Twelve Hotels site.

http://www.twelvedomain.com

I would love to see this happen, but this project might be little before its time. Perhaps the Domain area hasnt matured enough to support a development of this scale. Just my take on things..time will tell.

[Blakesalot!]

Please please stop stop posting posting everything everything twice twice for for the the love love of of GOD GOD.

he he...okay, okay ;)

[Jdawgboy]

My goodness I was stuck in traffic this late afternoon comming into downtown from the northside up on the upper deck and wow, now that the spire of 360 has glass up on it, you can definatly see that spire shine. There was one point where the sun hit just right it looked as if the spire was on fire. It was so bright I could barely be able to look at it. Like a very bright star.

Oh also they are adding segments to the Austonian crane.

[dvddvd]

i heard that one of the proposed dowtown condominium projects isn't going to happen ... at the proposed site, but at a newly purchased site . where would you build in downtown austin? what project is changing locations??

[deerhoof]

i heard that one of the proposed dowtown condominium projects isn't going to happen ... at the proposed site, but at a newly purchased site . where would you build in downtown austin? what project is changing locations??

probably 21c. that's what everyone was mentioning last week or the week before. nobody knows the deal with it at this point, on here at least. something about parking, not enough apparently at the current site. we shall see.

on another note. i can't wait till tuesday to see the design of the proposed office tower near republic square. i hope it's great. i wish it were taller, too. i believe everyone does.

[dvddvd]

yep ... and i'd put that project on red river ... south ... south of the four seasons! ;)

[MichaelB]

i heard that one of the proposed dowtown condominium projects isn't going to happen ... at the proposed site, but at a newly purchased site . where would you build in downtown austin? what project is changing locations??

You are probably refering to the 21c site... but it is all rumor.

[DougRockstead]

here's a link to the article...

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/theticker/entries/2008/02/18/westin_hotel_planned_for_downt.html

and here's the article...

Westin Hotel planned for downtown Warehouse District
By American Statesman staff | Monday, February 18, 2008, 02:21 PM

A 300-room Westin Hotel is planned for downtown Austin’s Warehouse District, as a San Antonio development firm goes ahead with long-delayed plans.

The 18-story hotel will replace the former Bitter End Restaurant and parking lot at West Third and Colorado streets, said John Beauchamp, vice president of acquisitions and development for Hixon Properties of San Antonio.

Hixon, which bought the land several years ago, is teaming up with Hines, a Houston-based developer, on the project. Hines also is the developer of another new downtown project, a 30-story office tower to be built at West Fourth and Guadalupe streets. That project will include the new home of the Austin Museum of Arts.

The developers hired Lake/Flato Architects a renown San Antonio firm, to design the Westin Austin Hotel. It will include a restaurant on the street level and a pool deck and bar on the third floor overlooking Third Street.

The firm’s Austin work includes the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas and the Hotel San Jose on South Congress.

Lake/Flato won a national competition to design the hotel.

The competition sought designs that would be “uniquely Austin,” Beauchamp said.

Additionally, the developers will seek national green building certification for the project.

Demolition will start soon on the Bitter End, a longtime popular restaurant that closed after a 2005 fire.

Beauchamp said the developers tried to incorporate the Bitter End building into their plans, but it was not feasible. He said the restaurant’s brick will be salvaged and reused inside the hotel.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts will manage the hotel. It’s one of at least four planned for downtown, including a 1,000-room Marriott Hotel at Congress and second street; a W Hotel at Second and Lavaca that will include condominiums and entertainment venues; and a Kimpton Hotel near the Rainey Street neighborhood on downtown’s eastern edge.

Westin also plans a hotel at the Domain development in North Austin.

[priller]

Wow, that's big news! 18 floors is a little underwhelming, but hopefully the design will be good. Hotel San Jose is awesome, although in a completely different category.

[DougRockstead]

has aonyone heard anything on that Kipmtin (sp?) hotel mentioned in the article.. the one on Rainey streets? what's that about?

[KevinFromTexas]

Great news. Ha, I had totally forgotten about that project. There's been news of this project for about 4 years or more.


has aonyone heard anything on that Kipmtin (sp?) hotel mentioned in the article.. the one on Rainey streets? what's that about?

Kimpton is/was slated to be the property manager for the Hotel Van Zandt in the Rainey Street/Waterfront District. There was also news of them being the developer (I believe) of a 25-story hotel in that same area. It's been a good while since anything has been mentioned about either of those projects, especially the 25-story one.

[MichaelB]

You are probably refering to the 21c site... but it is all rumor.

21c is on. Not changing property. Already done core sample drilling (65'). "Should" break ground June/July. Good source close to the project. But ya know.... cocktails can change things!

[austin242]

Hope Somthing takes twelves place.

[Dale]

21c is on. Not changing property. Already done core sample drilling (65'). "Should" break ground June/July. Good source close to the project. But ya know.... cocktails can change things!

Question: is 21c a different project from the AMOA project which is about to be unveiled ?

[dvddvd]

darn rumors. i've had one "good" in the developer know person and one "good" in the property know person discuss 21c in the last couple of weeks. both told me independently that 21c is moving and that it will be on red river south of the four seasons. who knows.

the 25 story building being discussed along that same area of red river never followed through with the property purchase and that's the property 21c supposedly picked up

as far as the kimpton ... i've heard that it's happening, that it has been redesigned to be 100% hotel (with no condo component), and that they have secured financing.

there sure are alot of proposed hotels on the horizon!!

guess we'll see

[JAM]

the 25 story building being discussed along that same area of red river never followed through with the property purchase and that's the property 21c supposedly picked up

Do you or anyone have an exact location of where the 25 story building was to be located on Red River?

[KevinFromTexas]

The prime land would be on the east side of Red River, just west of the MACC. Otherwise as you go north, you start getting blocked by The Shore and the Kimton's hotel yet to be built. Get on the other side of that, and you have CC to deal with. (It seems Constellation owns some property up that way anyway.)

You might be able to find that out at the City's "Central Emerging Projects List". Check some of the past lists which they do include on their site.

[LoneStarMike]

there sure are alot of proposed hotels on the horizon!

That's actually a good thing. I just finished reading the Austin Convention and Visitor's Bureau's Annual Report and one thing it mentioned was

The strong Austin hotel market has made it challenging to provide the needed group room blocks at competitive rates. The leading reason for lost business in 2006–07 was “Hotel Package and Rates.”

[bigdogc]

Do you or anyone have an exact location of where the 25 story building was to be located on Red River?

The prime land would be on the east side of Red River, just west of the MACC. Otherwise as you go north, you start getting blocked by The Shore and the Kimton's hotel yet to be built. Get on the other side of that, and you have CC to deal with. (It seems Constellation owns some property up that way anyway.)
perhaps its this spot?
http://urbanaustin.org/index.php/Red_River

[JAM]

oops, sorry about the confusion, I was referring to Rainey St as if it was Red River. Boy, that doesn't leave much area to choose from for a location for 21C if rumor is true.

[MichaelB]

Question: is 21c a different project from the AMOA project which is about to be unveiled ?

Yes, 21c is a private developer from Louisville, KY. They are art collectors and architectural fans who have gotten into the hotel/residential business. The property, based on their first property in L'ville, will have a large art gallery/museum as a part of it.

Had dinner tonight with someone directly involved in the Whitley/21c deal and they told me the project at the Whitley site was moving forward.

Looking forward to the AMOA reveal tomorrow!!!!!!!!

[LoneStarMike]

Star Riverside website updated. One building called The Revolution (looks like this is the taller one) has it's own own website:

http://www.revolutionriverside.com

There's also one for Star Riverside. This one has lots more info and a movie, too.

http://www.starriversideaustin.com/

[Dale]

Yes, 21c is a private developer from Louisville, KY. They are art collectors and architectural fans who have gotten into the hotel/residential business. The property, based on their first property in L'ville, will have a large art gallery/museum as a part of it.

Had dinner tonight with someone directly involved in the Whitley/21c deal and they told me the project at the Whitley site was moving forward.

Looking forward to the AMOA reveal tomorrow!!!!!!!!

Thanks, Michael. I finally got the connection with the Louisvile project.

[M1EK]

oops, sorry about the confusion, I was referring to Rainey St as if it was Red River. Boy, that doesn't leave much area to choose from for a location for 21C if rumor is true.

Uh, even Rainey isn't "south of Four Seasons". Four Seasons is on San Jacinto, 3-4 blocks west of Rainey.

[JAM]

Uh, even Rainey isn't "south of Four Seasons". Four Seasons is on San Jacinto, 3-4 blocks west of Rainey.

Come on is this really worth arguing about? Rainey is technically south east of the 4 Seasons, so is parts of Red River. Not sure what map your looking at.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=78701&ie=UTF8&ll=30.261236,-97.739396&spn=0.009082,0.019956&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr

[ATXboom]

http://www.austintowers.net/Austin_Downtown/index.html

18-Story Westin to be Built in Warehouse District
February 18, 2008 19:52 Filed in: News
Reviving long dormant plans, a San Antonio firm now plans a 300-room Westin Hotel on the site of the former Bitter End Restaurant and a parking lot at West Third and Colorado Streets.

The 18-Story hotel will be designed by Lake|Flato Architects, one of Texas' most unique and prominent architectural firms and the winner of the American Institute of Architect's (AIA) prestigious National Firm Award in 2004. Lake|Flato is based in San Antonio and has completed many central Texas projects including the Hotel San Jose on South Congress Avenue. Apparently, Lake|Flato won a national competition to design the new "3rd & Colorado" hotel and has committed to create an original Austin-focused hotel project.

The hotel will include a ground-floor lobby and street-front restaurant. There will be a bar and pool on the 3rd floor overlooking Third Street and the warehouse district. The project will seek green-building certification.

While downtown condo development has slowed, the downtown building boom has not. This is the second major project to be announced in the last week. With the momentum of the emerging second street district, it is likely that additional projects will continue to be announced to take advantage of his strong emerging downtown district.

While hotels may not be of much use to Austinites who actually live here, they play an important role in the downtown economy. Conventions and tourism are important economic engines for the city, and the number of downtown hotel rooms continues to limit the size of conventions that can be held in the City. In addition, hotel's dramatically increase the round-the-clock downtown population, providing a strong economic base for restaurants, nightlife, and bars.

Unlike the Marriott, which does not even seem to be designed by an architect, this project seems to be making a real effort to create a building that will add to downtown Austin environment.

Here are additional details from the Statesman:


A 300-room Westin Hotel is planned for downtown Austin’s Warehouse District, as a San Antonio development firm goes ahead with long-delayed plans.The 18-story hotel will replace the former Bitter End Restaurant and parking lot at West Third and Colorado streets, said John Beauchamp, vice president of acquisitions and development for Hixon Properties of San Antonio.Hixon, which bought the land several years ago, is teaming up with Hines, a Houston-based developer, on the project. Hines also is the developer of another new downtown project, a 30-story office tower to be built at West Fourth and Guadalupe streets. That project will include the new home of the Austin Museum of Arts.



Tags: new projects

Now Official, New AMOA Tower Details Emerge
February 16, 2008 19:09 Filed in: News
As predicted, the Austin Museum of Art today announced new plans for their prime downtown lot. With the official announcement, additional details of the project emerged:

- Rather than building a single tower with a ground-floor museum, the project will include a free-standing 40,000 square foot museum and a separate 425,000 square foot 30-story office tower on the current lot at West Fourth & Guadalupe. The 40,000 museum project is much smaller than a previously planned 140,000 square foot facility but will more than double the museums current downtown space.

- Both projects will be designed by world-renowned architecture firm Pelli Clarke Pelli. The firm, known for projects such as the Petronas Towers, was started by Cesar Pelli who also served as the Dean of the Yale School of Architecture. Pelli Clarke Pelli was also the architect of record for the now dormant 5th & Congress multi-use project.

- The museum building will cost $23 million

- 14 developers submitted proposals to partner with AMOA on development of the site

- Both buildings will break ground in 2009 for completion in 2011

- The project will likely further extend the bustling 2nd-street district by providing additional ground-floor retail and cultural facilities adjacent to AMLI and diagonally across the street from Block 21. The Museum will likely face Republic Park.

Here is a summary from the Statesman:


Museum officials said the design of their new building is in a preliminary stage. However, they say they hope to include 10,000 square feet of galleries, 2,900 square feet of education and activity rooms, outdoor space for public sculpture and a front entrance opening to Republic Square. The design would also incorporate a possible future expansion, chiefly adding more stories to what is likely to be a two- or three-story museum.Ground is expected to be broken in 2009 with completion of both buildings projected for 2011.At 40,000 square feet, the proposed new museum would more than double the museum's existing space at 823 Congress Ave., where it rents the first floor of an office building. The museum, which has a $4.3 million annual budget, also has the historical 12-acre Laguna Gloria site in West Austin, which includes a restored 1916 villa that hosts small exhibitions and studio buildings for the museum's art school. The museum has a small permanent collection but mostly features traveling exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and photography.

Tags: new projects

[M1EK]

Come on is this really worth arguing about? Rainey is technically south east of the 4 Seasons, so is parts of Red River. Not sure what map your looking at.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=78701&ie=UTF8&ll=30.261236,-97.739396&spn=0.009082,0.019956&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr

I was using the axis of streets downtown - obviously; and I think the original poster was, too.

[ATXboom]

More details:

http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/02/18/daily11.html?page=1

AMOA reveals details of new museum, $23M capital campaignAustin Business Journal
Print Article Email Article Reprints RSS Feeds Add to Del.icio.us Digg This
Plans were unveiled Tuesday for the redevelopment of a downtown block that will include a 30-story office tower and new home for the Austin Museum of Art.

AMOA is selling a portion of the block it owns just south of Republic Square Park to Hines Interests LP.

The Houston-based real estate company will build a new 3-story, 40,000-square-foot home for the museum and an adjacent 30-story, 425,000-square-foot office building dubbed the Museum Tower.

International architecture firm Pelli Clark Pelli is designing the entire project, which is scheduled to break ground next year and open in late 2010 or early 2011.

Hines executives declined to give an estimated pricetag on the development, saying cost projections were not finalized.

The project will help AMOA realize a longstanding dream for a new downtown home and more than double its exhibit and education space from the 16,000 square feet it currently inhabits at the 823 Congress office building. The museum estimates it will also more than double its number of visitors to roughly 435,000 annually with the new facility.

"An important part of Austin's identity"
Simultaneous with news of the development, AMOA announced a $23 million capital campaign with 60 percent of its target goal already achieved. That leaves about $9 million to be raised.

The $23 million will cover hard and soft construction costs, relocation expenses and will increase an operating endowment by $2 million, according to the museum.

The lead gift in the capital campaign is a $3 million contribution from Bettye H. and William C. Nowlin, who have been involved with the museum since 2000.

A community museum is an important part of Austin's identity, says Bettye H. Nowlin.

123Continue Reading

[Kevinb]

Full release @:

http://www.amoa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=new_downtownbuilding&JServSessionIdr004=47musp1bs5.app6b

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4595/48661am6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9154/48662ff8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Saddle Man]

A plain box. Oh yipee.

[hookem]

It doesn't look 30 stories. I guess it could be if the base is 8 and the top part is occupied (looks decorative in the render)... but if that's AMLI in the background, given the perspective, it doesn't look like it is too much taller than AMLI.

[Jdawgboy]

From the Austintowers Artical:

While downtown condo development has slowed, the downtown building boom has not.

Condo development has slowed??? I wonder where these people have been? There's lots of condo development from what I can see...

I waited 4 days to see a plain glass box??? Of all the designs that could have been, thats what we get? I do not like it at all and on top of that the building in general should be alot taller than 30 stories. This is one of the last pieces of downtown land that can be developed with no height limit and this is what we get? :yuck:

[greenbelt]

Full release @:

http://www.amoa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=new_downtownbuilding&JServSessionIdr004=47musp1bs5.app6b

You beat me too the photo post. (; I'm guessing that design is a placeholder being ground breaking is not for another year or more.

[hookem]

You beat me too the photo post. (; I'm guessing that design is a placeholder being ground breaking is not for another year or more.
Yes, hopefully it's not finished and they work from the bottom up :D

[arbeiter]

I for one like the new new international style look of the building : )

[LoneStarMike]

Looks like the BOA Tower to me - just a different color.

[GoldenBoot]

I don't know...I like the sleekness of it. But, I really wish the architects & developers of these new towers would do something more with the crowns - instead of being boringly flat and boxy. This is a city which prides itself on being innovative! However, our new buildings are nothing of the sort!

[priller]

A plain box, the same texture all over. I really do hope that is just a placeholder.

[TXAlex]

Lake|Flato Architects should be prowd. Not creative at all. I hope its a place holder.

[priller]

Lake|Flato is doing the Westin Hotel. This is Cesar Pelli.

[greenbelt]

Lake|Flato is doing the Westin Hotel. This is Cesar Pelli.

This is Cesar Pelli. Hopefully his firm will dream up something better for this location. :tup:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f386/streetwise2/arar01_professionals.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f386/streetwise2/petronas.jpg

[TXAlex]

Lake|Flato is doing the Westin Hotel. This is Cesar Pelli.

Whoops, I am just getting over the evil death flu.

One way or another I hope they come up with something innovative.

[austin242]

I think it looks quite a bit like 5th & Congress just shorter and no slant on the top either way its super ordinary it should at least look like an modern art museum actually modern and artsy.

[texboy]

From the Austintowers Artical:

While downtown condo development has slowed, the downtown building boom has not.

Condo development has slowed??? I wonder where these people have been? There's lots of condo development from what I can see...

I waited 4 days to see a plain glass box??? Of all the designs that could have been, thats what we get? I do not like it at all and on top of that the building in general should be alot taller than 30 stories. This is one of the last pieces of downtown land that can be developed with no height limit and this is what we get? :yuck:

I will say though that the amount of major announcements of new projects has dwindled to little or nothing...I think this is more of a good thing though, bc if developers go too crazy...Austin could quickly turn into a Miami...eek!

[MichaelB]

I will say though that the amount of major announcements of new projects has dwindled to little or nothing...I think this is more of a good thing though, bc if developers go too crazy...Austin could quickly turn into a Miami...eek!

I agree with you... I prefer a city to grow more steadily over time, that way we get a better texture/mixture of architecture.

[greenbelt]

I will say though that the amount of major announcements of new projects has dwindled to little or nothing...I think this is more of a good thing though, bc if developers go too crazy...Austin could quickly turn into a Miami...eek!

Is it Miami or Austin? :cool:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f386/streetwise2/austinormiami.jpg

[LoneStarMike]

I think it looks quite a bit like 5th & Congress just shorter and no slant on the top

Kind of ironic, because on page two of the Austin Business Journal article, it noted

No stranger to the Austin market, Hines first came to the area in the 1970s and developed the Bank of America Tower on Congress.

[Dragonfire]

I think it looks quite a bit like 5th & Congress just shorter and no slant on the top either way its super ordinary it should at least look like an modern art museum actually modern and artsy.

Clearly you've never seen modern art... I went to the MoMA in NYC in 2005, and I was surprised at how many "artworks" there were... One of the pieces was just a black canvas. Compared to that, this building is very detailed. :rolleyes:

[priller]

I did a quick model of just the office tower part of AMOA, just to get a better idea of what it might look like. I figured 30 floors at 13' = 390'. The crown turned out to be about 56' after lining it up to the texture, so that brings it to 446' overall. Which is pretty close to the W's height.

Anyway, here are a few views:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/2278158405_4925be792b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2035/2278158257_c9b3751ed9_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2300/2278947766_bf5f95ec97_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2245/2278947696_9f39849bd7_o.jpg

[Greggklar]

While 2006, & 2007 were full of large, tall high rise annoucements, I have a feeling 2008 and 2009 we'll see more low to mid rise announcments, 6 to 20 floors. Which is needed in my opinion.

[bigdogc]

someone mentioned a crown... is this confirmed? its hard to make out in the rendering... in other news, looks like 360 residents might not have the view they expected to with this new project.

[austin242]

oh i would love to have the Moma or Guggenheim I went to both the Moma and Guggenheim last year with a photographer and I loved them both altho a a plain blue canvas isn't exactly the greatest piece of art but it still is art

[Dragonfire]

someone mentioned a crown... is this confirmed? its hard to make out in the rendering... in other news, looks like 360 residents might not have the view they expected to with this new project.

The "crown" is that transparent piece at the very top of the building in priller's renderings... It's supposed to hide all of the mechanical stuff I guess. IMO, it doesn't deserve the title of crown.

[Kropotkin]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned. The abandoned building just above 360 will become an 18,000 square foot bike shop/cafe, at 4th and Nueces. It'll even have showers for commuter bicyclists. This concept is very cool and truly unique. It'll be major hub for cyclists going through downtown.

http://www.austin360.com/search/content/recreation/stories/2008/02/0214bikeshop.html

[greenbelt]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned. The abandoned building just above 360 will become an 18,000 square foot bike shop/cafe, at 4th and Nueces. It'll even have showers for commuter bicyclists. This concept is very cool and truly unique. It'll be major hub for cyclists going through downtown.

http://www.austin360.com/search/content/recreation/stories/2008/02/0214bikeshop.html

This is going to be awesome for Downtown. Lance will be able to commute to the Austonian.

[JAM]

This is going to be awesome for Downtown. Lance will be able to commute to the Austonian.

Is he at the Austonian now? Last I heard he was at the Shore?

[brandon]

looks like 360 residents might not have the view they expected to with this new project.

or AMLI II....

[KevinFromTexas]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned. The abandoned building just above 360 will become an 18,000 square foot bike shop/cafe, at 4th and Nueces. It'll even have showers for commuter bicyclists. This concept is very cool and truly unique. It'll be major hub for cyclists going through downtown.

http://www.austin360.com/search/content/recreation/stories/2008/02/0214bikeshop.html

There's a thread on it here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=145967

Is he at the Austonian now? Last I heard he was at the Shore?

I seem to remember it was The Shore also. I think he even funded part of the project.

[Jdawgboy]

After seeing Prillers great work, I still say that block should be for something very tall. It's such a shame they are just throwing a 30 story building on a site that could have a 60 or 70 story building.

While I know as far as residential project announcments have gone, they have slowed or stopped, but we have plenty of projects going on right now so I say its quite enough.

[KevinFromTexas]

Speaking of priller's handy work with the photoshopped stuff, it would be SWEET to see some photoshopped images of KCgridlock's aerial pictures of downtown. :D

:banana:

[priller]

Yeah, Kevin, I was thinking about doing some of that. I noticed from his web site that he sells the files (not just prints). I'll have to check into it.

[priller]

After seeing Prillers great work, I still say that block should be for something very tall. It's such a shame they are just throwing a 30 story building on a site that could have a 60 or 70 story building.

Yeah, I'm very disappointed in the proposal. Not as much about the height (although taller would be great) but just that it's so dull and unimaginative. Even a plain box wouldn't be so bad if the proportions were nice, but this one isn't. From every angle it just looks like a big lump.

[texboy]

In regards to Austin continuing to build these mammoth skyscrapers....I really think (IMO) it's going to be dissappointing to see downtown be nothing but these tall glass scrapers on every block. Austin has prided itself on being a different kind of city, but with all these projects goin up, its becoming harder and harder for me to really see the difference....and with no offense intended....all the californians that are moving in certainly don't help Austin's cause of being different. It would be nice to see some mid rises go up, rehab instead of tear down of existing buildings etc.... and a strong push from the city of Austin to start targeting and persuading suburbinites who are fed up with their commutes to move closer to the urban core with AFFORDABLE FAMILY FRIENDLY projects. Don't get me wrong...I love the project that I am working on and I think it is a step in the right direction as far as density goes....but more needs to be done if Austin truely wants to be a city unto itself and still maintain that Austin vibe.

[shanny]

mammoth? compared to austin standards maybe...but we are known for having a very short skyline, especially for the 16th largest city in the United States. Because we dont have very many buildings, were playing catch-up with the rest of the United States. Thats why I dont see this skyscraper boom stopping anytime soon.

[greenbelt]

I seem to remember it was The Shore also. I think he even funded part of the project.

I thought Lance was going be atop the Austonian in the penthouse. Why would he want to be near IH-35 when he could be in the center of town in tallest scraper?

[Jdawgboy]

I agree with Shanny, I don't think Austin is at the stage to where we have huge skyscrapers on every corner. The Austonian is the ONLY highrise so far that will be over 600 feet. We honestly do not know what will happen with the 5th at Congress project. Most of the other highrises except 2 or 3 will only be in the 400 foot range. Austin still has along way to go before we can say okay we have too many mammoth highrises.

[427MM]

Random pics

Here's one just for you Kevin.
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/2264/17jg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mellow Johnny's, pure gold for downtown Austin. (This is only half the space)
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3293/16yz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

21 Rio with ground floor retail. Very cool.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/104/14kl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Texas
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/6051/13np7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Who knows?
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/8835/12ny2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This should help to answer some of our questions.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/8273/11yj3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Town La#*^@% er' Lady Bird Lake
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/184/10nt7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I love UT!
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2415/43674634gi6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ah, mi amor.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/749/96304030ul6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

So much potential.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/4161/88850368vy9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Spring, beautiful.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/7240/56201703qm6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Austonian, Austin is breaking into the big leagues.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6089/64862348xy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Altavida, slow and steady wins the race. Please add more retail space...
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/1653/81854510rj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Legacy, shooting out of the ground.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/8087/85849763xm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wow, we live in a city where a new 400 footer can hide until it hits its 20th floor. I’m referring of course to the new Four Seasons Residences. The site work there is moving along at an incredible pace. It’s going to be an wonderful building.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/708/84746671pr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lastly, our ever growing Austonian crane. I heard today that the second tower crane will go up around the 29th. That area is so alive nowadays. Scores of people traipsing around at all hours of the day, it’s great. Once these projects are finished and we get the Marriot and the Westin open we may have times when there are more people than there are cars. In Texas mind you! Austin really has something special going for it right now. Let’s do our part to keep it going in the right direction.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1684/69194760zz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[JACKinBeantown]

Nice photos.

[KevinFromTexas]

Nice pictures. Thanks for the Palisades view. That just goes to show how high the elevation is where that building is compared to how high you were in downtown. Almost 500 feet higher.

[priller]

Nice shots from way up in the 360. Wow, those are amazing views!

[Goothrey]

I was driving northbound on Lamar going across the lady bird lake and noticed that the side of the AMLI II building was lit green.

[shanny]

im no tree hugger...but the palisades development is setting a precident that cannot continue. those buildings belong in the valleys or down on the plains. ohhh and 427MM, im with you...i still call it town lake, im not changing. there already is a lake lbj.

[Mopacs]

WOW! Love the shot of Frost especially! Are you up in the spire when you took those?

[JAM]

I thought Lance was going be atop the Austonian in the penthouse. Why would he want to be near IH-35 when he could be in the center of town in tallest scraper?

So he can hit the trail with his bike ASAP!

[Mopacs]

Here are some miscellaneous 'distant' shots of downtown, taken Monday 2/18:

From Barton Creek Mall

http://images34.fotki.com/v1124/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2119-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1100/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2125-vi.jpg

http://images34.fotki.com/v1124/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2121-vi.jpg

http://images110.fotki.com/v1113/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2122-vi.jpg

Looking east up W 5th Street

http://images35.fotki.com/v1128/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2151-vi.jpg

From Mopac at Barton Creek greenbelt

http://images32.fotki.com/v1105/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2099-vi.jpg

http://images35.fotki.com/v1127/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2099a-vi.jpg

http://images35.fotki.com/v1129/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2099b-vi.jpg

Residential building going up on East Riverside

http://images34.fotki.com/v1148/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2317-vi.jpg


Here's the previously mentioned Palisades West office complex on Bee Cave Rd and Loop 360:

http://images36.fotki.com/v1134/photos/5/54967/5804014/DSC_2413-vi.jpg

...and from another angle, way off to the west near Lake Travis (along Highway 620 in Lakeway):

http://images36.fotki.com/v1134/photos/5/54967/5932621/DSC_2629-vi.jpg

http://images35.fotki.com/v1128/photos/5/54967/5932621/DSC_2627-vi.jpg