AUSTIN | W Hotel Austin & Residences | 472 FT | 37 FLOORS | T/O - Page 6

priller · #**101** Posted **Jun 10, 2009, 1:57 AM**

You know, this building is really going to be a beast when it's done. The Austonian is so slender and the tower is just barely more than 1/2 block at its longest. The W's tower is almost a whole block wide and will be as tall as the 360's roof deck. It will look massive from north and south.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**102** Posted **Jun 10, 2009, 7:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by priller

You know, this building is really going to be a beast when it's done. The Austonian is so slender and the tower is just barely more than 1/2 block at its longest. The W's tower is almost a whole block wide and will be as tall as the 360's roof deck. It will look massive from north and south.

It will sure be a beast! Actually, the Austonian is only 1/3 of its block!
I went to the ACC building in Southwest Austin today. Too bad I didn't have my camera with me today and I only went to the little bookstore instead of the main building. The good thing is that I could see the skyline at least decently from there. I could just barely to the slightest bit make out where they were working on W Austin Hotel & Residences and the two cranes used. I did see the Austonian and its crane+cab pretty well. When W is done it will be prominent from there, but blocking the Ashton which I also saw from there.

Thymant · #**103** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 6:30 PM**

However, I wonder if the effect of this being so large would actually be a good thing.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**104** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 6:33 PM**

It will do a lot to the skyline, but I'm not sure if it's going to work out.

priller · #**105** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 1:07 AM**

From today. W is starting to emerge behind city hall.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**106** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 3:45 AM**

Nice photo priller.

KevinFromTexas · #**107** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 3:59 AM**

So it's at the 6th floor now. Once it reaches the 7th, it'll be at 100 feet tall.

Raining Inside · #**108** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 4:05 AM**

It won't be long before the crane will need to be raised!

priller · #**109** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 9:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thymant

However, I wonder if the effect of this being so large would actually be a good thing.

Hmm, I went back and looked at the original renderings and the tower portion is not going to be quite as wide as I was thinking. So maybe not quite the monster I was envisioning.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**110** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 9:46 PM**

That was what I was thinking. It wouldn't be a total monster. As you can see, Austonian, Four Seasons Residences, and 360, very prominent structures, aren't total monsters. It would still be a biggie, as it would have a good sized width.

KevinFromTexas · #**111** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 10:54 PM**

It had slipped my mind, but yes, the tower won't run the whole width of the block from west to east. It's still about 75 percent of the block's width though. Most blocks downtown are 275 feet wide, so 75 percent of that would be 205 feet wide. Still pretty big. For comparison sake, 300 West Sixth is supposed to be 227 feet wide (the tower portion, not measured at the base).

AustinSkyscrapers · #**112** Posted **Jun 17, 2009, 6:14 PM**

Big it sure is!

JACKinBeantown · #**113** Posted **Jun 17, 2009, 8:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinSkyscrapers

Big it sure is!

The force is with him, but ready to be a Jedi he is not.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**114** Posted **Jun 17, 2009, 8:40 PM**

What's that supposed to mean?

priller · #**115** Posted **Jun 17, 2009, 9:47 PM**

Yoda speak.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**116** Posted **Jun 17, 2009, 10:07 PM**

Ya I know but what's that supposed to mean in real life? In construction?

Raining Inside · #**117** Posted **Jun 17, 2009, 11:32 PM**

When you become a Jedi you will know.

photoLith · #**118** Posted **Jun 18, 2009, 2:17 AM**

I quickly walked around this area where the scraper is being built about a month ago and wow. That entire couple block area around the tower is looking great. There were tons of people walking around and lots of shopping and resturaunts. Reminded me of a tiny Michigan Avenue sort of area.

I have one quick question. Why has Austin been booming so much lately? It all of the sudden just got tons of new projects and beautiful new towers and most residential. Why did this happen now and not in the past? Are there just that many new tech jobs opening up around there, whats the deal?

AustinSkyscrapers · #**119** Posted **Jun 18, 2009, 2:56 AM**

Well it all started with 360.... Maybe because of that of what you said, new tech jobs coming around.

Might be because that developers wanted those empty lots filled up, and Austin becoming a great city!

I put the Austin skyscraper booms in three and name them the "Austin Boom"-1970's-80's, the "Technology Boom"-1999-2004, and this one, the "Residential Boom"-2006-Present

priller · #**120** Posted **Jun 19, 2009, 12:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photolitherland

Why has Austin been booming so much lately? It all of the sudden just got tons of new projects and beautiful new towers and most residential. Why did this happen now and not in the past? Are there just that many new tech jobs opening up around there, whats the deal?

I don't think there's a simple answer to the question. There are a number of things that came together to produce our current building spree:

1) Pent-up demand -- As little as 5 years ago there were very few choices for downtown living. For a city the size of Austin, the amount of downtown residences was way too low.

2) City programs. The "Great Streets" program Austin started years back, with W. 2nd street being the pilot project. The 2nd St. makeover was a big success and showed that the city's model for revitalizing moribund downtown blocks really works. In addition, the city decided that it was cheaper for them, in terms of maintenance and service, to have increased residential density, and started encouraging high-rise developers to build here.

3) Favorable demographics -- Austin's place on so many "best of" lists and favorable job market caused people to start moving here in droves. More people = high housing demand.

4) Active downtown -- While there were few choices for living downtown, there were lots of reasons for coming downtown, as Austin has always have a very lively downtown scene with 6th Street and the warehouse district.

I'm sure there are other main reasons, but that's what came off the top of my head. It's a really good question.