AUSTIN | Avenir (Formerly Dorsey) | 170 Feet | 15 Floors | Complete

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by austlar1

I guess since it is spelled Huston instead of Houston, we can assume the new project is not named after Ora Houston?

Named as a nod to the founder of Huston-Tillotson, no doubt.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Named as a nod to the founder of Huston-Tillotson, no doubt.

Ah! Hah! Well, maybe that will make it more difficult for Ora to disapprove.

[lzppjb]

Or Huston Street.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Or Huston Street.

The only Huston street name I could find is Samuel Huston Ave. way over in east Austin near Springdale and 183. The Huston in Huston-Tillotson was a farmer from Marengo, Iowa, who donated land worth about $10,000 to start a school for "colored" men and women to be located in Austin. The donation was made with the understanding that the college would be named after him. I am pretty certain that Huston was white, for what that is worth. Huston College was soon merged with Tillotson College here in Austin. I am not sure that Samuel Huston ever lived in Austin. He died in Marengo, Iowa about a century ago.. It would be interesting to find out exactly why this new project is being called The Huston. Real estate developers get some loopy ideas sometimes when it comes to naming projects.

[The ATX]

I think a good name for it would be "The Ora". Or maybe "The Aura".

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by austlar1

The only Huston street name I could find is Samuel Huston Ave. way over in east Austin near Springdale and 183. The Huston in Huston-Tillotson was a farmer from Marengo, Iowa, who donated land worth about $10,000 to start a school for "colored" men and women to be located in Austin. The donation was made with the understanding that the college would be named after him. I am pretty certain that Huston was white, for what that is worth. Huston College was soon merged with Tillotson College here in Austin. I am not sure that Samuel Huston ever lived in Austin. He died in Marengo, Iowa about a century ago.. It would be interesting to find out exactly why this new project is being called The Huston. Real estate developers get some loopy ideas sometimes when it comes to naming projects.

lol oh my.

Huston Street played baseball at Westlake, UT and in the MLB. His dad was James Street of UT fame.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

lol oh my.

Huston Street played baseball at Westlake, UT and in the MLB. His dad was James Street of UT fame.

Huston Street (along with his mother) own the Taco PUD/Pollo Tropical as well.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Huston Street (along with his mother) own the Taco PUD/Pollo Tropical as well.

You can tell I am not a baseball fan, I guess. I vaguely remember the father only because I was at UT Law in the fall of 1969.

OK, so Huston Street and his mother are the folks who have not as yet developed the former Taco Cabana site on South Lamar. Are they also trying develop this site? Their name is not on the application filing. This is the name listed. JH West 12th Street Partners, Ltd (Haythem Dawlett).

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by austlar1

You can tell I am not a baseball fan, I guess. OK, so Huston Street and his mother are the folks who have not as yet developed the former Taco Cabana site on South Lamar. Are they also trying develop this site? If so, I hope they have more follow through this time.

They have no connection to this project other than the coincidental name.

They could still build the Taco PUD apartment project because it's a PUD. But since they demo'ed the Taco Cabana down to the foundation to build the chicken place, I don't think they plan on doing it anytime soon.

[The ATX]

Info was added to the site plan today. I didn't notice any height info, but this is still going to be quite large and is listed as a high-rise:

400,000+ sq. ft.
366 residential units
532 space parking garage

https://abc.austintexas.gov/attachme...UdXUVpMg%3D%3D

[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Info was added to the site plan today. I didn't notice any height info, but this is still going to be quite large and is listed as a high-rise:

400,000+ sq. ft.
366 residential units
532 space parking garage

https://abc.austintexas.gov/attachme...vlpX%2Fg%3D%3D

Link is broken for me.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

Link is broken for me.

The link moved apparently. I edited my post with the new one, and it opens now. But you can always also open it from the site plan itself:

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...ertyrsn=880082

[Jdawgboy]

So we are looking at what?... another 30-35 story?? Depending on how large the tower portion is.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

So we are looking at what?... another 30-35 story?? Depending on how large the tower portion is.

They couldn't get approval for the two 15-story "towers", so it'll be interesting to see what it'll be. They apparently dropped the grocery store which will greatly reduce the traffic which was the alleged issue with the NIMBYhood.

[smt1]

It's a shame, the area needs a grocery store badly (and it's unclear if Plaza Saltillo will end up getting one). I live a couple neighborhoods down the street.

Between this development, the redevelopment around 11th the other side of 35, and these:
http://austin.towers.net/development...reet-landrush/ I'm sure there will be added density that would make a grocery in upper east central austin attractive.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

So we are looking at what?... another 30-35 story?? Depending on how large the tower portion is.

The developer pulling this stunt would be everything and bring me to life.

[The ATX]

Without spending a few minutes to do some fact checking, I believe current zoning allows something to be built up to about 12-stories on part of the site. Based on the number of units, size of the site and the probable dislike the developers have for the city's permitting process and the neighborhood after the last go round, I think they will build something that fits with the current zoning. In other words, a bulky 12ish story residential building with a separate parking structure with zero to minimal retail. We can only hope that they decide to do some excavation and stick the parking underground.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Without spending a few minutes to do some fact checking, I believe current zoning allows something to be built up to about 12-stories on part of the site. Based on the number of units, size of the site and the probable dislike the developers have for the city's permitting process and the neighborhood after the last go round, I think they will build something that fits with the current zoning. In other words, a bulky 12ish story residential building with a separate parking structure with zero to minimal retail.

That sux but your probably right. 400K sf though... I just can't get around how NAs can make such a big deal about height when something with that amount of square footage is going to take up a lot of space.

[KevinFromTexas]

It doesn't necessarily have to be a high rise to reach that number. 422 on the Lake, for example, is 373,000 square feet and takes up about the same amount of land in 6 floors.

[ivanwolf]

I think this will turn into something like Millennium Rainey or similar donut style complex. The square feet and garage area seem to be likely they go that direction and stay under the 12 stories so they can do what they want without changing zoning.