AUSTIN Update Thread - Page 416

KevinFromTexas · #**8301** Posted: **Jul 24, 2012, 11:55 PM**

http://www.statesman.com/business/fo...t-2421168.html

Quote:

For Austin Music Hall, renovation ushering shift

By Gary Dinges
Updated: 5:09 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Published: 10:05 p.m. Monday, July 23, 2012

The Austin Music Hall will look and sound a little different next time President Barack Obama comes for a visit.

The downtown venue that played host to a fundraising event for the president last week is undergoing extensive renovations, including upgrades to its much-maligned sound system, and will focus less on concerts and more on hosting galas and other events, according to the company managing the facility.

Jason Hicks, head of the Electric Co., an Austin-based event production firm, has been named the music hall's general manager and is overseeing the project for its owner, Houston-based OmniBank.

the Genral · #**8302** Posted: **Jul 25, 2012, 1:48 AM**

Once they hopefully get it right the 3rd time, they should probably change the name to just The Austin Hall. If they can class up the interior, it would be a cool spot to rent out for private parties, wedding receptions, private concerts...

MichaelB · #**8303** Posted: **Jul 25, 2012, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

Once they hopefully get it right the 3rd time, they should probably change the name to just The Austin Hall. If they can class up the interior, it would be a cool spot to rent out for private parties, wedding receptions, private concerts...

Yes they need to change a lot about that place. The guy who re-did it was a egobound redneck buffoon. He truly had no plan.... just walked in and pointed. I had to do the first event in that space in this configuration and it was a total disaster from a managerial and facilities standpoint.

Doomed from day one.

nixcity · #**8304** Posted: **Jul 25, 2012, 5:26 PM**

Yet it sells out music events time after time, surely they are making money,,,?

BevoLJ · #**8305** Posted: **Jul 25, 2012, 8:06 PM**

They have had some good shows there that sell out, but they haven't had the quantity of shows to make any money. Mohawk, Stubbs they have great shows all the time and are making tons of money. Places like AMH, LZR not so much. Some places are easy and great places to do shows, some are a pain in the ass. Whether it is sound or management or whatever.

MichaelB · #**8306** Posted: **Jul 26, 2012, 1:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nixcity

Yet it sells out music events time after time, surely they are making money,,,?

no, went bankrupt... back to the bank. That's why the change of direction.

migol24 · #**8307** Posted: **Jul 26, 2012, 7:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

They have had some good shows there that sell out, but they haven't had the quantity of shows to make any money. Mohawk, Stubbs they have great shows all the time and are making tons of money. Places like AMH, LZR not so much. Some places are easy and great places to do shows, some are a pain in the ass. Whether it is sound or management or whatever.

what if it was because of the location? typically it's further from where all what's going on. i remember we went to see the black angels at la zona rosa. we had to walk from the paramount all the way to the other side and it seemed like a pain in the ass to us at the time. i wonder if that has something to do with it. there's practically nothing going on in that area.

MichaelB · #**8308** Posted: **Jul 26, 2012, 4:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

what if it was because of the location? typically it's further from where all what's going on. i remember we went to see the black angels at la zona rosa. we had to walk from the paramount all the way to the other side and it seemed like a pain in the ass to us at the time. i wonder if that has something to do with it. there's practically nothing going on in that area.

that's only 9 blocks.

migol24 · #**8309** Posted: **Jul 26, 2012, 5:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

that's only 9 blocks.

yeah i know, i'm just trying to make sense why those venues don't get as busy. people can perceive it being so far from all the other stuff that goes on in downtown.

the Genral · #**8310** Posted: **Jul 26, 2012, 11:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

yeah i know, i'm just trying to make sense why those venues don't get as busy. people can perceive it being so far from all the other stuff that goes on in downtown.

I think part of the problem with the Austin Music hall was for a lot of people who attended an event there, once was enough, poor acoustics, terrible management, inconsiderate employees...my daughter went to a show there and said she'd never go back. Check out all the poor reviews posted on this place.

Jdawgboy · #**8311** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 7:45 AM**

Im kinda upset they are not going to keep it a music venue when they renovate. I mean come on this is Austin. We cant just lose music venues Downtown or we are going to have major problems keeping our live music identity.

nixcity · #**8312** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 8:23 AM**

Yea JJ, this is the only venue of that size that has that large of a dance floor!!!! It seems like the only logical use for the space...

LoneStarMike · #**8313** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 4:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

We cant just lose music venues Downtown or we are going to have major problems keeping our live music identity.

Yeah, but remember - we're getting that new one on Brazos

Brazos Hall

ahealy · #**8314** Posted: **Jul 27, 2012, 11:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Yeah, but remember - we're getting that new one on Brazos

Brazos Hall

Brazos Hall will also serve as an events space.

nixcity · #**8315** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 4:55 AM**

It looks nice but unless the whole bottom floor of the building is one big dance floor I don't see acts like Deadmau5, Tiesto, Dayglow etc... coming back to town. Will this hold anywhere close to 2,000?? In one area that is.

nixcity · #**8316** Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 4:56 AM**

And ahealy I would pm you but its hard to even know when you get one so if you could pm about getting a discount (fingers crossed) to see Moonrise Kingdom.

KevinFromTexas · #**8317** Posted: **Jul 30, 2012, 2:17 AM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...r-2424417.html

Quote:

More parking, restrooms, food trailers planned for popular trailhead at Auditorium Shores

By Sarah Coppola
Updated: 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 29, 2012
Published: 8:09 p.m. Sunday, July 29, 2012

The trailhead at Auditorium Shores is a popular spot on the Lady Bird Lake hike-and-bike trail, but it can also be a congested area when runners, cyclists and walkers converge there.

Austin's Parks and Recreation Department plans to make several changes to ease the congestion and improve the look of the area, which hasn't had an overhaul in decades.

The changes will include widening the trail, building new restrooms, expanding the parking lot, adding an area for mobile food vendors and creating better spaces to sit, take a water break or stretch before a run.

"Right now, (the trailhead) is just a place people get on the hike-and-bike path and move on," said Earl Broussard, president of the Austin landscape architecture firm TBG Partners, which is designing the changes. "We want it to be a destination — more accessible and user-friendly."

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...g-2424472.html

Quote:

Nonprofit gets tax credits to build affordable housing project in downtown Austin

By Sarah Coppola

An Austin nonprofit has secured the $11 million in federal tax credits that it needs to build the first downtown development in decades to house only low-income residents.

Foundation Communities plans to break ground early next year on 0.6 acres at 11th and Trinity streets. It expects to open the project, called Capital Studios, in early 2014.

The development will include 135 efficiency apartments rented for $400 to $650 a month, utilities included, to single adults who earn less than $27,000 — roughly half of Austin's median income.

The project will cost about $13 million to build, so winning the tax credits was crucial, said Walter Moreau, the nonprofit's executive director.

KevinFromTexas · #**8318** Posted: **Aug 1, 2012, 3:23 PM**

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...o-2425628.html

Quote:

19th-century building on Congress Avenue likely to be razed

By Tara Merrigan
Published: 8:13 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2012

A 19th-century Congress Avenue building could soon face the wrecking ball after a city commission all but cleared the way for its demolition.

The Austin Historic Landmark Commission agreed Monday night that few original features remain at the two-story building at 901 Congress Ave.

Texas Public Policy Foundation, the conservative think tank that owns the property, can raze the building once the historic commission reviews designs for the new structure.

The foundation intends to build a five-story building to accommodate its burgeoning operation. Proposed designs feature a wraparound porch and an indoor "amphitheater" for forum talks, according to Joshua Treviño, foundation spokesman.

MichaelB · #**8319** Posted: **Aug 2, 2012, 5:02 PM**

In A bit of very good news. American Campus Comminities has dropped thier purchase of the lot at the corner of MLK and Colorado. I am a very proud NIMBY at this moment!
THis Dorm would have been a sub-urban style apartment building in the Capitol Comlex, the CBD and a growing museum district.
Please take note all you folks that dump on "NIMBY's" carte Blanche. As I have said many times, there are appropriate actions for neighborhood groups. This was one. Not only was this a poor use of land for the above reasons, it also brought to light a CVC that actually needs more protection. AND , yes, in the most self serving way, would have indirectly affected my property value ( I live on the opposite side of the building, but what affects one, affects all!)
So hooray for group action. Lets hope a more appropriate use for the land is found.
If you want to be active, please encourage the State and UT to reconsider sale of said property or the impact that lot has on the view of the Capitol from the entrance to the University ( University Drive) and Littlefield Fountain.

And just to stir the pot. Horray for Rebuplicans office holders in the building who put presure on a "private property owner" To stop building something that negatively affected them. PROPERTY RIGHTS BE DAMN! LOL!.

Jdawgboy · #**8320** Posted: **Aug 2, 2012, 6:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

In A bit of very good news. American Campus Comminities has dropped thier purchase of the lot at the corner of MLK and Colorado. I am a very proud NIMBY at this moment!
THis Dorm would have been a sub-urban style apartment building in the Capitol Comlex, the CBD and a growing museum district.
Please take note all you folks that dump on "NIMBY's" carte Blanche. As I have said many times, there are appropriate actions for neighborhood groups. This was one. Not only was this a poor use of land for the above reasons, it also brought to light a CVC that actually needs more protection. AND , yes, in the most self serving way, would have indirectly affected my property value ( I live on the opposite side of the building, but what affects one, affects all!)
So hooray for group action. Lets hope a more appropriate use for the land is found.
If you want to be active, please encourage the State and UT to reconsider sale of said property or the impact that lot has on the view of the Capitol from the entrance to the University ( University Drive) and Littlefield Fountain.

And just to stir the pot. Horray for Rebuplicans office holders in the building who put presure on a "private property owner" To stop building something that negatively affected them. PROPERTY RIGHTS BE DAMN! LOL!.

Hey I only bash NIMBYs when they are unreasonable, I have no quarral when it is appropriate to fight something that would not be for the best interest of the area. That is why im working on Starting a new organization called Austin Neighborhoods for Responsible Development. A new approach to growth in Austin as opposed to the anti-growth/development policies of the Austin Neighborhood Council.