AUSTIN Metro Update Thread

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/bl...ls-austin.html

Let the sunshine in: Lennar unveils Austin community where solar power standard
Sep 30, 2015, 2:00pm CDT Updated Sep 30, 2015, 4:05pm CDT

The rooftop solar panels are low profile — no unsightly silhouettes — created by Lennar in conjunction with SunStreet Energy Group, which has offices in Florida and California.

The solar features will not add anything to the price of the homes, according to a Lennar announcement. Some of the new homes, ranging in size from 1,230 square feet to 2,600 square feet, are priced below $200,000 with the most expensive homes topping out at $260,000.

This is the first community-wide, ground-up residential solar program in Texas, Lennar executives claimed. It was made possible in part to recent changes in Austin Energy's regulations that aim to increase the share of energy generated by renewable sources. Homeowners at Colorado Crossing will play a modest flat monthly fee for their individual solar powered systems, which is projected to cover more than half of a home's electrical costs.

[The ATX]

The only other water park to use the new wave generating system than NLand Surf Park will use closed for the season eight weeks early because of frequent; then a serious mechanical failure of the wave generating equipment.

https://www.facebook.com/surfparktexas

[The ATX]

A major office campus will be built on the last undeveloped part of La Frontera in Round Rock. This was the site of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre film on Quick Hill located on old Co. Rd. 172.

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/busi...ntera-s/nnyFZ/

[AusTxDevelopment]

This story is behind the paywall for subscribers, but if you wait a couple of weeks they will post it on their free site.

Austin Business Journal
At Backyard, film studio out, offices and data center are in
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/pr...-and-data.html

The revised site plan includes 334,000 square feet of Class A office space in six buildings and 144,000 square feet of data center space in four buildings. Construction is slated to begin in early 2016.

Milam said the Texas Legislature’s decision this past session to cut funding for the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program in half was a primary reason for the new development plan. Film production, he said, will take a major hit — thus, the studio plan is no longer viable.

[The ATX]

That's a big change. Did the article say if the hotel was still a part of the project? The hotel looked pretty cool in the original project.

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by The ATX

That's a big change. Did the article say if the hotel was still a part of the project? The hotel looked pretty cool in the original project.

I don't have high hopes for the hotel, since the developer (IDM) wants to operate it himself....

The boutique hotel — yet to be named — will have 125 guest rooms. Milam is considering operating it through IDM rather than affiliating with a big brand.

So far he’s been underwhelmed by interviews with hotel operators. He believes IDM can do a better job keeping it in house.

“We can still affiliate with a brand like Starwood, but without that corporate overlay,” Milam said.

The hotel’s distinctive curved design incorporates a large, uniquely shaped swimming pool with everything positioned near the amphitheater for guests’ convenience.

“It will be designed more like a motel, but with a huge pool,” Milam said.

Designed like a motel with a huge pool. Okay then.

[JoninATX]

La Frontera Plaza U/C

UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS OF 9/24/2015
DELIVERING Q2@ 2016

La Frontera Plaza is a 97,941 rentable square foot, Class A office building located in the heart of Round Rock, Texas. The property is part of the 328 acre Master Planned Community - La Frontera.

http://www.liveoak.com/available-space/view/121

[JoninATX]

Downtown developers to add housing

By Beth Wade
Oct. 7th. 2015

Limited residential options in downtown Georgetown are creating new opportunities for area developers.

Georgetown Senior Planner Matt Synatschk said more people want the convenience of urban living, which has been a contributing factor to new proposed developments in downtown.

Downtown proposals
Choi’s project—Tamiro Plaza Phase 2—is a proposed four-story mixed-use development at 501 S. Austin Ave. just south of Tamiro Plaza Phase 1.

Tamiro Plaza Phase 2 would add retail as well as up to 14 townhomes and is an example of the type of denser, mixed-use development called for in the city’s Downtown Master Plan, Synatschk said.

“That style of project is pretty much ideal for what is called out in the Downtown Master Plan and the types of development we would like to see and encourage in downtown,” he said. “You want residents living downtown because they are spending money in the restaurants; they are getting coffee in the morning before they go to work.”

On Sept. 24 the city’s Historic and Architectural Review Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for Tamiro Plaza Phase 2. The approval will allow the project to move forward through the site-planning and development process, Synatschk said.

http://communityimpact.com/2015/10/0...o-add-housing/

[JoninATX]

Leander Transit Oriented Develepment (TOD)

This 225 unit, multifamily project is the first transit oriented development project to be built in Leander. The building will stand 3 stories tall and contain 421,396 square feet. The 9.673 acre project also includes 372 parking spaces and 37 bike spaces.

Construction started on the site in March 2015. The project is set to be completed in September 2016.

http://www.bigreddog.com/under-const...velopment-tod/

[Urbannizer]

http://www.studenthousingbusiness.co...ar-texas-state

Originally Posted by Student Housing Business

Preiss and Stonemont Revive Off-Campus Development Near Texas State

San Marcos, Texas — Stonemont Financial Group and The Preiss Co. will develop and complete the Ella Lofts, a 252-bed luxury off-campus student housing community on the north side of the Texas State campus in San Marcos.

Formerly known as 817 Lofts, construction on the project began under a different developer in 2013 and was set to be completed in August 2014. After construction delays and other stalls, the project sat dormant until Stonemont Financial purchased it in September.

[SkyPie]

Wow, the multi-family in that Leander TOD is quite unfortunate looking. It doesn't set a great precedent for future development. Too bad.

[The ATX]

It's like a person with a giant forehead.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by The ATX

It's like a person with a giant forehead.

Perhaps the architech had this vision in his or her mind...

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by The ATX

It's like a person with a giant forehead.

Could be inspired by this:



Or this:



But my bet is that the architect was going through puberty when There's Something About Mary came out, and he's still obsessed with this look:

[JoninATX]

411 W. Main Round Rock U/C



http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/18209...Round-Rock-TX/

Looks like downtown Round Rock is gaining a little height. I notice a small moble crane as well as steel sticking above tree level on IH 35 near 620 yesterday. While this isn't really news worthy if it was built in Austin. This is a start for Round Rock. City leaders need to get on the ball and start planning some height for their new buildings. I'm sure there is no height limit for downtown Round Rock.

[drummer]

Potential $35M hotel centerpiece of downtown MFalls revitalization plan

http://www.dailytrib.com/2015/11/20/...lization-plan/

While not really a connected part of the metro, Marble Falls (and Burnet County) are part of CAMPO and are growing, albeit slower than the northern suburbs for now. This is an interesting article from a local Marble Falls paper about some development in their downtown area. You also see some of the growing pains that these communities are going through as they look forward.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by drummer

While not really a connected part of the metro, Marble Falls (and Burnet County) are part of CAMPO and are growing, albeit slower than the northern suburbs for now. This is an interesting article from a local Marble Falls paper about some development in their downtown area. You also see some of the growing pains that these communities are going through as they look forward.

I consider any county that has borders with Travis County part of the Austin area even if they aren't considered part of the official metropolitan area.

Funny how the comments in that section are very similar to what you hear people say around here. Just goes to show that it doesn't matter where, there will always be a preservation for the status quo whether good or bad.

The majority of the hotel/conference center jobs may be minumum wage but what about local businesses that could move into the area? That lady assumes that all the jobs will only be minimum wage but that wouldn't be the case as there will be positions that would pay higher and that would include the hotel. That's actually one of the first times I've seen someone concerned bringing more jobs to a relatively small town which typically could use them.

Her comment about do we really need another clothing store? Really??? I know a couple of people that live in Marble falls. One guy works here in Austin and does most of his shopping here because there aren't many options in Marble Falls. He would like to see more retail options such as clothing stores and I doubt he is the only one that feels that way.

[drummer]

Yeah, a lot of small town folks fear growth on any level (and I agree about your comment on the similarities of their arguments to Austin folks). I have family in Marble Falls. A lot of people think it's still 1990 when they had somewhere north of 3,000 people as opposed to now when a ten mile radius is something like 20-25K. It's also a hub for a lot of the smaller Highland Lakes towns for retail and jobs...kinda like a city with suburbs on a much smaller scale. It's still very much a small town, but nothing like it was. People will continue to move to Marble Falls because of its proximity to Austin and San Antonio. Growth is inevitable, but they can guide it in good way with the right projects and planning.

[drummer]

Powell predicts growth in offices, jobs for Cedar Park

Cedar Park is poised to attract developers of multi-story office buildings, providing workplaces for new employees during the next two years, Mayor Matt Powell said Dec. 9.

“Office [development] is something we’ve struggled with,” Powell said during his annual State of the City address at the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce luncheon. “There have been some smaller one-story offices that have gone up, and goodness knows that’s been essential to what we’re doing here. But we’ve been really wanting to get into more multi-story office.”

http://communityimpact.com/2015/12/0...or-cedar-park/


It looks like Cedar Park is trying to get more folks working in the area with more office development - and specifically getting multi-story office buildings. They discuss wanting to have more of a daytime crowd to boost restaurants in the area, etc.

[drummer]

Developer hopes new downtown office, restaurant complement each other

A new office building and restaurant in downtown Round Rock will bring together the area’s history with new modern designs, local developer Nelson Nagle said.

Four Eleven will be 29,000-square-foot office building located on South Harris Street. Urban Eat. Drink. will be a new American fusion restaurant at 110 S. Harris St., in the former location of Round Rock Cafe and just in front of the new office building. Both projects are under construction.

http://communityimpact.com/2015/12/2...nt-each-other/

Smaller development in downtown Round Rock, but this three story building should be visible from I-35.