AUSTIN | Projects & Construction III

[KevinFromTexas]

Coming this Sunday: Downtown's booming tech industry

(Video)

http://www.statesman.com/news/coming...y-2452871.html

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

GM creates Austin technology center



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

...and possible the Pecan Street Project.

[Onn]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Uple

This likely has a lot to do with the new racetrack. Look for more companies like this to move into the Austin area over the next couple of years.

That was in the news here in Detroit too. Austin is becoming some kind of super economic insane freak show. There are probably a dozen other cities around the country which could play host to such a facility, but nope they picked Austin instead. Austin is like a Texas' version of San Francisco and Silicon Valley combined.

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

GM creates Austin technology center



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

General Motors already has a huge call center at MetCenter in Southeast Austin - 300,000 square feet. They've been there for years. This new Innovation Center they just announced today is going to be located here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/103701367/Pa...r%208-2012.pdf

That is the old Dell Financial buiding that has been vacant for a year or two. It just sold to a Los Angeles investor in July. GM signed a lease for the entire building for their new Innovation Center. Details will probably be in tomorrow's paper. CBRE was holding off announcing the deal because GM was going to chase some city/state incentives, however, it appears they ran out of time. The city and state are not going to offer you incentives if you've already signed a lease and are committed to be here anyway.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/business/te...inglePage=true

'Digital Downtown' a key part of Austin's economic, tech sector development

By Lori Hawkins and Kirk Ladendorf
Published: 9:22 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012

Austin startup Ordoro has just nine employees and an unproven track record, but it's got a recruiting weapon that sets it apart: cool offices at Sixth Street and Congress Avenue.

"It's a huge factor for hiring developers, because everyone wants to work downtown," said Jagath Narayan, co-founder and CEO of 2-year-old Ordoro, which sells e-commerce software. "When you can show them an amazing location and all the places they can walk, they want to be there."

Ordoro is part of a new generation of companies that are turning downtown Austin — once the domain of law firms, banks and state government — into a vibrant high-tech center.

[KevinFromTexas]

^From that article.

The 3-year-old company, which has 165 employees here and plans to add up to 80 more over the next year, is quickly outgrowing its high-rise headquarters at Third Street and Congress, which will require finding a larger space in a tight market. Meanwhile, parking "is a disaster with a capital D," Cunningham said.

The company, which pays for parking for workers, used to rent spaces from parking garages, some of which inconveniently closed at 6 p.m. As a solution, WhaleShark recently hired a shuttle driver to take workers back and forth from leased parking space in a lot south of downtown.

I really hate this. I remember M1EK always saying we need rail service into downtown from the outlying areas or downtown will fail as a commercial office district. Even as a residential district it won't work until we have adequate rail transportation to those outlying areas because if these companies aren't downtown, but their workers live downtown, they'll still have to commute, just in the opposite direction.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/business/ev...inglePage=true

Evolution continues for Austin's skyline

By Shonda Novak
Published: 10:13 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012

Construction cranes, jackhammers and cordoned-off streets have resurfaced on the downtown landscape again, signaling another upturn in the cyclical real estate market post-recession and more change ahead for downtown Austin's skyline.

The skyline changed dramatically in the past decade, with the addition of nearly 4,800 residential units — 2,465 apartment units and 2,319 condos — since 2000, according to Capitol Market Research, an Austin-based real estate consulting firm. The projects have included landmark skyscrapers like the 56-story Austonian high-rise; the Four Seasons Residences (32 stories); the W Austin Hotel and Residences (37 stories); the Spring condominium tower (42 stories); the Ashton apartment high-rise (36 stories); the 360 condominiums (44 stories); and the Frost Bank Tower (33 stories).

Soon, the city's skyline will be even more impressive, with about 500 apartments and more than 1,300 hotel rooms now under construction and about a dozen other projects planned, including two apartment towers that developers expect to announce soon.

Here are details on some of the projects:.

Some start dates from the article:

3 Eleven Bowie - 3rd quarter 2012

Austin Energy Site - 2014 to 2015

Colorado & Third - Late 2012

Fairmont Austin - Spring 2013

GreenWater - Early 2013

IBC Bank Plaza - December 2012

Planetarium & Residential Tower - Late 2014

Rainey Center - Undetermined

Seaholm - Late 2012

SkyHouse Austin - Within the next 2 weeks

Whole Foods expansion - Late 2013


The article also mentions two residential towers that are to be announced soon by developers. I would imagine those are the Trinity Place and Waterloo Park Tower.

[JoninATX]

So it looks like we will have 5 new towers U/C before the year ends, thats if everything goes as plan.

[migol24]

I wish I could do a time lapse of the entire skyline starting from now till all these buildings take place. Just take a photo a day... it would be awesome to see that unfold.

[KevinFromTexas]

Sorry for the sun flare on this one.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/business/do...inglePage=true

Downtown Austin matures into vibrant residential area

By Gary Dinges and Shonda Novak
Published: 8:52 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012

Developer Perry Lorenz recalls how it wasn't so long ago as recently as the mid- to late 1990s that very few people were living downtown "and of those that were, about 20 percent of them lived at the county jail," he said.

Aside from clubs clustered along a couple blocks in the entertainment district and a few restaurants scattered here and there, not much was open after dark.

The addition of almost 20 residential high-rises in the past decade has helped change all that, adding nearly 4,800 apartments and condos downtown — and construction is expected to begin on several more multifamily projects in the next few months.

Those additional residents are helping to attract more shopping and dining options to the area. In addition to bolstering the city's tax base and providing environmental benefits, downtown's growth also has helped attract technology companies — a ripple effect that pays dividends for the area's economy, experts say.

City leaders, developers and downtown residents say the central business district has matured, surviving its gawky teenage years and making the transition into young adulthood. "Downtown is really firing on virtually every cylinder — residential, retail, entertainment, employment," said former Mayor Will Wynn, a downtown resident and a supporter of the city having a dense urban core. "It may look and feel clumsy and cumbersome at times, but it's working. We've passed the tipping point."

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/business/fr...s-2454486.html

From lobbyists to techies, meet some downtown dwellers

By Gary Dinges and Shonda Novak
Published: 7:44 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012

A look at how life works for Austin residents in some of the city's downtown residential projects:

The Austonian

Having lived all her life in areas just south of downtown, such as the Zilker and Bouldin Creek neighborhoods, Mindy Ellmer wasn't sure how she'd like living in the city center. Turns out, she loves it.

In December, she moved into her 11th-floor unit in Austin's tallest building, the 56-story Austonian condo tower at Congress Avenue and West Second Street, where she has views of the Capitol and the University of Texas Tower.

"I've never looked back," said Ellmer, who is in her early 40s. "It has been the best thing for me."

[JoninATX]

White Lodging plans 300-room hotel in downtown Austin

By Shonda Novak | Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Less than a month after officially breaking ground on a 1,012-room convention hotel in downtown Austin, White Lodging Services Corp. is seeking a zoning change from the city to build a 300-room upscale hotel a few blocks away.

White Lodging, which is based in Indiana, plans to build the hotel on vacant land at the northeast corner of East Fifth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard. The land, comprising one-fourth of a block, has been owned for about 45 years by Austin lawyer Harry Whittington and other family members, Whittington said.

The hotel brand is expected to be announced soon, White Lodging officials said. The zoning change would allow a project of roughly 230,000 square feet, larger than what’s currently allowed.

“White Lodging has great confidence in the Austin market and believes there is an opportunity to develop an additional first-class, full-service hotel here,” said Deno Yiankes president and CEO of White Lodging’s investments and development division. “We look forward to communicating more details about this exciting project in the next 30 days.”

White Lodging is developing the proposed project in conjunction with its partner, REI Investments of Indianapolis.

There’s no word yet on when the project is expected to break ground or how tall it would be. White Lodging also has not disclosed the estimated cost of the project or any details about financing.

“We go before the (City of Austin’s) Planning Commission later this month and look forward to voluntary appearances at the Design Commission and Downtown Commission to share and get input,” said Richard Suttle Jr., White Lodging’s attorney in Austin.

Whittington said he and his family members will be joint owners in the project, and are contributing the land.

“We’re very pleased with the group we’ve contracted with,” Whittington said.”We feel they’re very capable, and good, responsible builders. They’ve had lot of experience in developing hotels in the country.”

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte..._business_blog

[BevoLJ]

So they are just finishing one 300 room hotel. Just started construction on a 1,000 + room hotel. And now are starting planning on another 300 room hotel?

That is a great location right there. And empty lot @ 5th and SJ. Not many empty lots left around town anymore.

[JoninATX]

KB Home plans community on 330 acres in Leander

By Sarah Drake
Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2012

The Los Angeles-based homebuilder (NYSE: KBH) will build 1,019 homes on the Mason Ranch property near North Lakeline Boulevard and FM 2243, according to a press release.

Agreement details and a purchase price were not disclosed.

KB Home officials expect to begin land development early next year, with model homes opening in late 2013.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bl...330-acres.html

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

So they are just finishing one 300 room hotel. Just started construction on a 1,000 + room hotel. And now are starting planning on another 300 room hotel?

That is a great location right there. And empty lot @ 5th and SJ. Not many empty lots left around town anymore.

It's one after another...

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

KB Home plans community on 330 acres in Leander



http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bl...330-acres.html

Last I checked, which was just now, Lakeline Blvd and 2243 never intersect...

[KevinFromTexas]

So that should be about the same size and height of Hyatt Place since the lot sizes and number of rooms for both are the same. So likely another ~15-story 200 foot hotel.

That's good, too. That area of the skyline could use some height and filling in.

[BevoLJ]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Last I checked, which was just now, Lakeline Blvd and 2243 never intersect...

This says it is being built on the extension of Lakeline. http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...re-Mason-Ranch

Below is a piece on the extension.


http://impactnews.com/articles/lakel...moving-forward

Anyway, just more sprawl.

[BevoLJ]

Updates to the OP List:

Added the 5th & San Jacinto Hotel to the proposed list. I just guessed at some heights based on the Hyatt they are building now a few blocks south. Kevin do you want to make a thread for it yet or wait until there is more info on it? One article said they plan to announce more info in the next 30 days, so should be a quick wait.

Removed the new Cirrus HQ building from the U/C list as they just finished it and are moving in.

*fixed some random formatting that had been messed up during summer updates*