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  #141  
Old Posted Apr 9, 2016, 10:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by H2O View Post
Quoting myself. I wasn't expecting the news on Hooters triangle to break the next day! It is only the first of several to come.
Its currently zoned for a max of 60 feet in height, but the COA is looking for ways to allow for a 200 footer. Not sure what that means, I thought they could just do as they please.
source, AAS 4/9.
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  #142  
Old Posted Apr 10, 2016, 12:30 AM
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Originally Posted by the Genral View Post
Its currently zoned for a max of 60 feet in height, but the COA is looking for ways to allow for a 200 footer. Not sure what that means, I thought they could just do as they please.
source, AAS 4/9.
I'm glad they can't just do as they please. In some cases, it might make things move more quickly, but there needs to be accountability and approval processes for the city just as with anyone else.
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  #143  
Old Posted Apr 13, 2016, 6:17 PM
wwmiv wwmiv is offline
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Here's another write up:

http://buildingatx.com/2016/04/south...pe-renderings/

Quote:
Councilmembers got a preview of what might be included in the City’s South Central Waterfront Initiative master plan this week, including recommendations for dense, mixed-use development, expanded open and green space, and an elevated trail over Bouldin Creek.
On so many levels this makes me happy.
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  #144  
Old Posted Apr 13, 2016, 7:39 PM
AusTxDevelopment AusTxDevelopment is offline
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Originally Posted by the Genral View Post
Its currently zoned for a max of 60 feet in height, but the COA is looking for ways to allow for a 200 footer. Not sure what that means, I thought they could just do as they please.
source, AAS 4/9.

If the Statesman is right, this surprises me. Many, many developers have looked into developing that site over the years. In addition to the Schulz family being reluctant to sell, until now that is, all the developers were told by the City "off the record" that as long as the COA occupies One Texas Center the allowable height will not be changed on that site because the City doesn't want their view of Downtown blocked, even partially. I would think they would be even more against it now that the Catherine partially blocks their view. Or maybe that's why they changed their mind since that angle of their view is already blocked. Who knows. At least they are moving in a positive direction, ie more height not more restrictions.
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  #145  
Old Posted Apr 13, 2016, 8:33 PM
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Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment View Post
the developers were told by the City "off the record" that as long as the COA occupies One Texas Center the allowable height will not be changed on that site because the City doesn't want their view of Downtown blocked, even partially.
This is disgusting, makes me sick to my stomach.
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  #146  
Old Posted Apr 13, 2016, 9:54 PM
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Yea that's pretty messed up for them to do that. I mean the One Texas Center is a crappy building (not as crappy as what Brandywine is proposing for 4th @ Colorado mind you) but still.... What gives the city the right to make those kinds of requests? I mean they will still have a view of the city, the only difference is that the city view will be closer and more impressive than before.

They were being worse than the NIMBYs in Bouldin IMO because One Texas Center is a "highrise" and some how you can't block the views from it??? Bring on the taller buildings so we don't have to look at One Texas Center...


On an other note, in my opinion the Shultz trust triangle is the second most important piece of land behind AAS. It's a prominent and very visible block that needs to be planned well because it along with AAS will ultimately set the standard for the rest of the district. I hope it has more than just office space. It truly needs to have a 24 hour use and it needs to be fairly tall. When you look at the map, that lot will basically the western gateway into South Shore Central.
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Last edited by Jdawgboy; Apr 13, 2016 at 10:09 PM.
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  #147  
Old Posted Apr 13, 2016, 11:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Jdawgboy View Post
Yea that's pretty messed up for them to do that. I mean the One Texas Center is a crappy building (not as crappy as what Brandywine is proposing for 4th @ Colorado mind you) but still.... What gives the city the right to make those kinds of requests? I mean they will still have a view of the city, the only difference is that the city view will be closer and more impressive than before.

They were being worse than the NIMBYs in Bouldin IMO because One Texas Center is a "highrise" and some how you can't block the views from it??? Bring on the taller buildings so we don't have to look at One Texas Center...


On an other note, in my opinion the Shultz trust triangle is the second most important piece of land behind AAS. It's a prominent and very visible block that needs to be planned well because it along with AAS will ultimately set the standard for the rest of the district. I hope it has more than just office space. It truly needs to have a 24 hour use and it needs to be fairly tall. When you look at the map, that lot will basically the western gateway into South Shore Central.

agreed. how do they dare complain that there is not enough housing, when they block housing at every turn?

You CANNOT solve the problem of inadequate housing without adding more housing. Fir Fuk Sake
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  #148  
Old Posted Apr 14, 2016, 1:15 AM
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Do y'all think we're past the point where we can fix that Riverside/Barton Springs X? If not, what do you think should be done to realign them, and how would the names be changed?
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  #149  
Old Posted Apr 14, 2016, 1:25 AM
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Originally Posted by lzppjb View Post
Do y'all think we're past the point where we can fix that Riverside/Barton Springs X? If not, what do you think should be done to realign them, and how would the names be changed?
I read something a long time ago (I think an article linked on SSP) that it wasn't going to happen with all of the new construction already underway.
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  #150  
Old Posted Apr 14, 2016, 3:15 AM
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Originally Posted by lzppjb View Post
Do y'all think we're past the point where we can fix that Riverside/Barton Springs X? If not, what do you think should be done to realign them, and how would the names be changed?
I recall seeing a rendering (back in the 90's) of Butler Park and it did not include Riverside at all. I remembering being shocked by that.
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  #151  
Old Posted Apr 14, 2016, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Dcbrickley View Post
This is disgusting, makes me sick to my stomach.
Except that it is complete BS.
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  #152  
Old Posted Apr 14, 2016, 1:24 PM
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Originally Posted by H2O View Post
Except that it is complete BS.
I hope you are right. I was very naive regarding the city till I built my first home.
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  #153  
Old Posted Apr 14, 2016, 3:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Dcbrickley View Post
I recall seeing a rendering (back in the 90's) of Butler Park and it did not include Riverside at all. I remembering being shocked by that.
I know they've floated the idea of depressing it and/or partially capping it.
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  #154  
Old Posted Sep 24, 2016, 8:55 PM
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This rendering has been posted before, but here's a bigger version.



It came from the "final" South Central Waterfront Vision Framework Plan as adopted on June 16, 2016.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/npzd/Austi...estEdition.pdf

First, they talked about a "baseline buildout" - what could be done under existing regulations without any intervention from the City, but several of the parcels wouldn't see enough return on investment under the existing regulations and those parcels probably wouldn't be redeveloped in the next 5-7 years. Because of this, the public loses out on benefits like more open space, affordable housing, etc.

The rendering above and those below are based on a test scenario, where the developers are allowed to build more/higher than what current regulations allow to make it worth their while, and the public gets more benefits.

One of the things in the report is about a possible Statesman Waterfront Park.

Quote:
The Statesman Waterfront Park transforms this section of the 10 mile Anne and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake by adding a park that is unique among Austin's parks. Framed by a lively pedestrian market street to the south and a natural wetland habitat along Lady Bird Lake to the north, the park embraces Austin’s natural beauty as well as its vibrant and quirky energy.

At its eastern edge, an outdoor amphitheater, called the Bat Observation Theater, provides an ideal vantage point for Austinites and visitors to watch the iconic spectacle of Mexican Free-tailed bats emerging at sunset. At the same time, the amphitheater enhances access to the waterfront by creating
a gentle vertical transition from the Congress Street Bridge to the trail at waterfront trail below.

The center of the park serves as a Great Lawn that integrates stormwater ponds with active and passive recreation opportunities and access to the Cox Martketplace promenade. The western portion of the park, called the Pontoon Landing, features a boardwalk that could serve as a landing for a pontoon bridge across Lady Bird Lake connecting to the Waller Creek greenway.

Finally, the middle portion of the park becomes a tranquil space with a series of rain gardens that filter and purify runoff from nearby streets and development before releasing it into the lake.


(There are also renderings of The Great Lawn, The Pontoon Landing, and the Barton Springs Plaza Rain Gardens in the report.)

The report also envisions a Crocket Square and Cox Marketplace.

Quote:
Crockett Square provides the South Central Waterfront with a public
plaza counterpart to the lake edge and a social space for district
workers, residents and visitors. Its edges are highlighted by street
trees and raingardens.

The Square’s primary circulation paths define three key areas of
program within the square. An urban demonstration wetland in the
southeast corner is both a display of district-level water strategies
and a play-and-learn discovery garden for kids and kids-at-heart.

To the north, a bermed central lawn gently sculpts four small
amphitheater spaces, places where people can gather, eat, sunbathe,
or take in a movie from a small bandshell. The plaza also includes
a large tree-lined plaza, gridded with small fountains that entice play
and contact with water or are turned off so that a farmer’s market or
other vendor events can regularly enliven the plaza.

The Square has both grand spaces for congregation as well as
smaller spaces for friends, lovers or quiet reflection. Small look-outs
edge over the wetland area for views across the water to the park and
forested cloister seating creates more intimate seating moments. A
lengthy pergola along the Square’s primary walking path also serves
as a canopy for the Cox Marketplace, where food trucks and other
entrepreneurial innovations and events can spring up periodically.


From Page 102 of the report:

Test Scenario Development Program

Quote:
The Financial Framework requires private properties to "buy-in" to the Vision by building the public realm on-site, as well as financially contributing to city-led improvements. To incentivize property owners to contribute, their costs must be offset through increased development allowances.

The Test Scenario is a “what if” financial model to calibrate the additional development needed beyond existing entitlements to incentivize private
properties to participate in the Vision. The map below shows the Test Scenario on “tipping parcels” – properties most likely to redevelop within the
next 15 years. Under the Test Scenario, private properties ultimately pay for the whole public realm vision through on site improvements and the
recommended Funding Toolkit on page 97.


Most of the buildings depicted on the above map are 200 feet or less in height, but I see three residential towers of 240 feet, a hotel that's 280 feet, and two office buildings - one 300 feet tall and the other 400 feet tall.

There's a lot more in the report, but those were just some of the highlights.
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  #155  
Old Posted Sep 25, 2016, 1:55 AM
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That's actually quite a lot. I count 11 200 footers. Austin right now has 24 200 footers, plus three more that are under construction - two of which have topped out. So technically we have 26. 11 more would be quite an increase especially considering it's just one neighborhood.
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  #156  
Old Posted Sep 25, 2016, 6:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LoneStarMike View Post
This rendering has been posted before, but here's a bigger version.



It came from the "final" South Central Waterfront Vision Framework Plan as adopted on June 16, 2016.
So that rendering is a real..."ideal" scenario right? I mean could we realistically see this type of development in that area in the next 10 years? I have a hard time believing that riverside/barton springs/Soco property owners would like this many highrises right in their neighborhood.
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  #157  
Old Posted Sep 26, 2016, 12:47 AM
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Originally Posted by LoneStarMike View Post
Just let me know when they actually make these bike lanes reality.
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  #158  
Old Posted Sep 26, 2016, 1:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LoneStarMike View Post

Quote:
The western portion of the park, called the Pontoon Landing, features a boardwalk that could serve as a landing for a pontoon bridge across Lady Bird Lake connecting to the Waller Creek greenway.

Oh god, they're not still talking about that absolutely moronic idea of a pontoon bridge that isn't always there?
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  #159  
Old Posted Sep 26, 2016, 7:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Novacek View Post
Oh god, they're not still talking about that absolutely moronic idea of a pontoon bridge that isn't always there?
No kidding... It's a ridiculous idea and would only be used a couple of times a day and when it is in use it would block boats and canoes from passing up and down the waterway.

If they want another pedestrian bridge then build another pedestrian bridge, maybe one where some sort of future light rail component could be built onto.
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  #160  
Old Posted Sep 26, 2016, 8:40 PM
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That's just one aspect of Austin that always bugs me. We try to cut corners way too much to save money or time. I mean, I think that with the boost to the property tax revenue the city and county would get from all of that development that we should get something more substantial and permanent than a floating bridge.
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