Highland Mall Redevelopment Update Thread

[_Matt]

Uh, hey guys, soooo highland mall is gonna be dense, right? I'm all for a red line stop there. Toot toot.

• Video Link

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by _Matt

Uh, hey guys, soooo highland mall is gonna be dense, right? I'm all for a red line stop there. Toot toot.

• Video Link

?

You mean like the red line stop that's already there?

[jbssfelix]

Originally Posted by Novacek

?

You mean like the red line stop that's already there?

Lol.

But seriously, unless they add additional track capacity and/or more or longer trains, more stops just means slower service. However, I do like that these projects around the stops are all adding good density which should increase ridership numbers and reduce cars on the road.

[aqibtalib]

Higher ridership likely won't have any noticeable effect in terms of traffic. It will, however, provide people with an option to opt out of congestion if they so choose.

[_Matt]

Originally Posted by aqibtalib

Higher ridership likely won't have any noticeable effect in terms of traffic. It will, however, provide people with an option to opt out of congestion if they so choose.

Amen. I've heard light rail as a way of getting people off the road. WTF

Time to face reality Austin, traffic is here to stay. And ATX central living is expensive, but the trade-off is you spend less time commuting.

[nixcity]

^Good LR DOES get people out of their cars. They are called choice riders for a reason. The ship has sailed for those that switch to public transportation to have an overall effect on congestion though.
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/12/18/...s-people-cars/
http://www.governing.com/topics/tran...ight-rail.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/car-c...on-light-rail/

[_Matt]

Net traffic won't go down. Induced demand is a thing. Nobody's arguing choice riders.

[corvairkeith]

[jbssfelix]

Any reason why what I believe is the future Rackspace building has been just a steel shell for many months now?

[drummer]

Any updates on this? Photos? Etc.? I was looking around online and couldn't find anything. I'd stop by and snap some shots myself...but it's a little out of the way for my commute to and from the office.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by jbssfelix

Any reason why what I believe is the future Rackspace building has been just a steel shell for many months now?

i believe they were acquired by a private equity firm recently. i wonder if the new owners have a different vision?

http://blog.rackspace.com/rackspace-...bal-management

[corvairkeith]

Originally Posted by drummer

Any updates on this? Photos? Etc.? I was looking around online and couldn't find anything. I'd stop by and snap some shots myself...but it's a little out of the way for my commute to and from the office.

The Bank of America, Firestone, and check cashing place have all moved out of the building fronting Airport. Looks to be in demo prep mode, so there may be development on the Northwest corner of the lot soon.

[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by drummer

Any updates on this? Photos? Etc.? I was looking around online and couldn't find anything. I'd stop by and snap some shots myself...but it's a little out of the way for my commute to and from the office.

I drive by daily - Looks like progress is being made on the first of the new residential buildings going up in front of the Rackspace area. It was just a few pieces of steel for the longest period of time but wood framing is now going in.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

I drive by daily - Looks like progress is being made on the first of the new residential buildings going up in front of the Rackspace area. It was just a few pieces of steel for the longest period of time but wood framing is now going in.

i wonder if the apartments will be completed and begin leasing before the rackspace renovation is complete. it might be a tough sell to get people to live next to that shell without some heavy incentives

[Sigaven]

Here's a couple images I took this morning of what I think is an apartment building going up. I guess it's going to be wrapping around that parking garage. This is from Airport boulevard.

EDIT: Oops, sorry they're so huge. Here's a link to both photos instead:

http://imgur.com/a/CStHU

[drummer]

Thanks for the photos!

[corvairkeith]

Looks like the bare skeleton of the old Dillard's may stay that way a bit longer...

The technology company's plan to build corporate offices at Austin Community College's new Highlands Mall campus appear dead after years of delay.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...-highland.html

[Novacek]

A bunch of city services may (or may not) relocate to Highland.

http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories...ces-questions/

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by Novacek

A bunch of city services may (or may not) relocate to Highland.

http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories...ces-questions/

looks like it's at least moving forward for now (at least earnest money is on the table)

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...-acc-highland/

[Jdawgboy]

It seems like what was originally planned as a significant education/live & work hub has partially unraveled. I'm sure ACC will continue to be the driving force for Highland's redevelopment but it's become less clear on what the area will ultimately become.