Austin | Villas on Rio | 185 Feet | 19 Floors | COMPLETE

The ATX · #1 Posted **Jul 23, 2018, 1:46 AM**

This looks like another West Campus tower in the works. At this Monday's HLC meeting they will be hearing a proposal to renovate an historic structure in exchange for a zoning change to allow for a Rhode Partners designed building/tower to wrap around two sides of the renovated structure. It's called 611 W. 22nd St. for now.

Here's the historic structure in question.

Here are some Rhode Partners renderings.

HLC backup files:
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=302299
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=302297
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=302298
http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=302287

The ATX · #2 Posted **Jul 23, 2018, 1:53 AM**

It appears that this might also be called "Villa Rio", and Rio Grande is the cross St. The tower portion would be built on the surface lot next door. The site appears to be at the edge of - but inside of the 175' max height limit boundary of the West Campus Overlay.

The ATX · #3 Posted **Jul 27, 2018, 5:34 AM**

I was watching Historic Landmark Commission meeting video about the Villa Rio/611 W. 22nd St. project (see my previous posts) to get more info. Discussion about the project was scheduled for the June meeting but postponed to the July meeting. At the July meeting, the commission was mostly against the project in that it required a change to the historical zoning in place for the house even though the house would be renovated from its current sad condition. Since the project as proposed was going to be rejected, a postponement was asked for and approved for further discussion at the August meeting. The video equipment was apparently down, and the applicant's Rep had to show the renderings to commissioners individually, so they weren't available to those watching the proceedings. One of the commissioners who seems to dislike anything tall close to historical buildings referred to this project as a 30-story tower. But it wasn't clear if he was using the usual NIMBY hyperbole in describing tall buildings or actually describing this project. Maybe we'll know more at the August meeting.

The ATX · #4 Posted **Jul 27, 2018, 6:15 AM**

One last post about Villa Rio/611 W 22nd St. project for now...

A single (pre-development) permit has been filed for this project - on 07/09.

The reason this project has piqued my interest is because it may break through the West Campus plateau. The street level renderings we have from Rhode look very similar to their renderings for the Depot Hotel site which also involved a historical structure.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...ertyrsn=309950

The ATX · #5 Posted **Aug 13, 2018, 8:02 PM**

A site plan was filed for Villas on Rio Grande. This is the same project as 611 W. 22nd in post #93. This is the one that I was hoping would break through the West Campus plateau. It's 19-stories, so it doesn't poke through it by much.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...ertyrsn=191086

KevinFromTexas · #6 Posted **Aug 13, 2018, 8:52 PM**

^There was a site plan posted to the AULCC for that project also last week.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...de_PLAN_01.pdf

The ATX · #7 Posted **Aug 13, 2018, 9:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

^There was a site plan posted to the AULCC for that project also last week.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...de_PLAN_01.pdf

Yeah, I saw that. But it didn't have any new info. The HLC has a problem with this one being so close to the historical building on the site. The developer asked for a postponement because it looked like it would be rejected. I think they have now moved the new building back a little ways from the historical structure.

Here's a cross section of the project from one of the backup files:

MichaelB · #8 Posted **Aug 14, 2018, 2:05 PM**

Happy to see the effort being made to maintain the integrity of the Historic properties remaining in West Campus. Will surely help the texture from becoming totally generic.

Urbannizer · #9 Posted **Aug 15, 2018, 2:42 PM**

Soil testing for Villas on Rio Grande.

Villas on Rio Grande by Darius Fontenette, on Flickr

The ATX · #10 Posted **Aug 17, 2018, 9:01 PM**

I moved all the posts about this project into a dedicated thread.

The ATX · #11 Posted **Aug 25, 2018, 4:02 AM**

I believe we have a new standard for West Campus residential towers. This is up for approval at the HLC this coming Monday.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=304554

KevinFromTexas · #12 Posted **Aug 25, 2018, 4:54 AM**

Wow, that's pretty daring for West Campus. I like it.

So, on the height. It looks like there's some kind of mechanical penthouse on the south side of the roof. I doubt it's going to be as tall as 21Rio is, but it might be taller than Callaway House with that mechanical penthouse up there. 21Rio is 236 feet, while Callaway House is 205 feet. My guess is it'll be somewhere between that number and say, 220 feet.

The ATX · #13 Posted **Aug 25, 2018, 5:13 AM**

I've been following this project, and it's far from a done deal as is due to the HLC. I'm guessing that's why the developer stepped up the wow factor with the renderings for Monday's meeting. I love the juxtaposition of the historical house and the tower. But in addition to the proximity of the tower to the house, there is a later addition to the back of the house that the developer wants to Demo for this project that the HLC is not on board with yet. I believe that there is ultimately room for a compromise if the HLC doesn't approve of the Demo. The tower would just have to set back farther from the back of the house if the addition stays, and the developer would have fewer rooms to rent. But I don't think that would be a deal killer.

The ATX · #14 Posted **Aug 25, 2018, 5:37 PM**

I just noticed that staff recommends approval for this project at Monday's meeting. I never thought a West Campus project would be one of my favorites.

the Genral · #15 Posted **Aug 25, 2018, 11:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

I've been following this project, and it's far from a done deal as is due to the HLC. I'm guessing that's why the developer stepped up the wow factor with the renderings for Monday's meeting. I love the juxtaposition of the historical house and the tower.

I don't know about the juxtaposition of the house and the tower, but the contrast between the two is pretty cool

Jdawgboy · #16 Posted **Aug 26, 2018, 3:37 AM**

So is this building going to bump up against 21 Rio's blank wall? Looks that way in the rendering but I wanted to double check?

The ATX · #17 Posted **Aug 26, 2018, 4:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

So is this building going to bump up against 21 Rio's blank wall? Looks that way in the rendering but I wanted to double check?

Yup, it'll hide the ugliness.

427MM · #18 Posted **Aug 29, 2018, 1:04 AM**

Did it pass HLC?

clubtokyo · #19 Posted **Aug 29, 2018, 1:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

I believe we have a new standard for West Campus residential towers. This is up for approval at the HLC this coming Monday.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=304554

Whoa! How did i miss this?! This looks like proposed development in San Fran, I’ll have to find it! Love the design!

The ATX · #20 Posted **Aug 29, 2018, 5:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427MM

Did it pass HLC?

No. They actually voted it down. But they later agreed to have a September meeting with the developer and reconsider the vote if the project is scaled back. It doesn't look good for this project as is. One commissioner even wants to keep the surface lot on the property! We apparently can't have nice things in WC - even when a developer tries.