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Round Up

by | September 18, 2009 |1 Comment
It's Better To Build Vertical Than Horizontal
It's Better To Build Vertical Than Horizontal

It's Better To Build Vertical Than Horizontal

As we’re traveling this week, below is what’s happening in downtown Austin.

1) ROMA’s density bonus proposal (a must read pdf) is getting lots of attention, especially the conversation surrounding the Warehouse District.  Thanks to Miggy, M1EK, and Roger for the informed commentary.

Update: I encourage DAB readers take few minutes to familiarize themselves with ROMA’s proposal.  Page 21 highlights gradually sloping height limits from neighborhood to core.  The Warehouse District recommendations are a small component of a larger thought process.  Equal attention could be paid to the 3:1 FAR recommendation for the Market District along Lamar.  Philosophically, the entire proposal is still a “tax” on density in downtown Austin, which seems backwards to me.

2) The Austonian tops out.   Did you know that you can now see the Austonian from four counties?

3) J Blacks’ menu gets some respect from Maggie’s Austin.

4) ThunderCloud will soon serve subs below 360.

Filed Under: austin news, downtown austin, Real Estate, retail, rumors, gossip

Downtown Austin Blog Is Growing

by | September 16, 2009 |3 Comments
DAB reaches 100,000 hits
DAB reaches 100,000 hits

DAB reaches 100,000 page views!

I learned a new phrase a couple of weeks ago – “hyper-localized”.  That’s a fitting description of the Downtown Austin Blog, which surpassed 100,000 hits over Labor Day weekend.  Small potatoes for some websites, but this is a fun milestone for a local real estate centric blog like DAB.  We’ve been averaging 14,000 page views per month and growing.  August was our best month with over 18,000 page views!

Downtown Austin Blog is written by myself, Amber Gugino, an occasional guest contributor, and regular readers who contribute to the discussion – without many of whom the entire Austin blogosphere would be a lot less interesting.  The positive feedback (and constructive criticism) we’ve received from our readers is appreciated more than you imagine.

One day we might decide to shift everything to DowntownAustinBlog.org, but for now please continue to encourage your friends and colleagues to “just google ‘Downtown Austin Blog’”.

Thanks,

Jude

p.s. Have you subscribed to the RSS or email feed?

Filed Under: downtown austin

What's Going To Happen To Little City?

by | September 15, 2009 |2 Comments
Whats going to happen to Little City?

What's going to happen to Little City?

According to TexasWeekly.com and the ABJ, the Texas Public Policy Foundation is under contract to purchase the building located at 916 Congress Ave, aka. Little City Cafe!!!

Little City is a long-established favorite of Congress Ave’s retail/cafe offerings.  It’s loss would be frustrating news to those working to revitalize Congress Avenue [back] into a retail destination.

Hey TPPF, there are three empty buildings across the street – 907,909,911 Congress Ave – that are available.

-Jude

Filed Under: downtown austin, Real Estate

For Real This Time: The I-35 Makeover Is Happening

by | September 14, 2009 |15 Comments
I-35 Makeover, Day Perspective
I-35 Makeover, Day Perspective

I-35 Makeover, Day Perspective

In 2006, neighborhood associations on both sides of the interstate were empowered to develop a concept to enhance East-West pedestrian movement beneath I-35.  The vision was to take what is the most trafficked overpass in Austin, and create a landscape that is lighter and smaller in scale than the one currently dominated by the car.

The downtown Austin segment of I-35 was constructed in 1962 and served to physically reinforce the racial divide that East Avenue had historically represented.

Now, the City of Austin leases from the State the land below the I-35 freeway.  The area is uninviting to say the least.  As part of the makeover, that area will remain parking, while the perimeter and sidewalks connecting East Side to downtown will get something closer to the “Great Streets” treatment including trees, wider sidewalks, and benches.

From Cotera+Reed Architects:

“Fourteen curved and tapered galvanized steel poles will be supported under the freeway deck, and area lighting is attached along the undersides. Individually, the shape of the poles resembles a suspension bridge – re-associating the spot with connecting. Connecting land masses, across an interruption of the landscape, proposing the idea of separation and connecting at the same time. It is intended to be a gesture – a handshake under the freeway.”

Construction is scheduled to begin as early as February 2010.

-Jude

I-35, night perspective

I-35 Makeover, Night Perspective

Filed Under: austin transit, downtown austin, entertainment district, history, urban family Tagged With: , ,

CITYSIT – An Interactive Urban Art Experience

by | September 11, 2009 |2 Comments

As I walked into my office this morning, I noticed in the retail shell space (pdf) below the Monarch parking garage several massive chunks of ice surrounding a circle of chairs.  There were intermittent jars of water and candles sitting on the long stretch of windows.

As it turned out, this was an installation by CITYSIT.

You go in and sit for 20 minutes.  No talking, just absorbing the sounds.  Sitting still and shutting my brain off is not something that comes easily, but this was a very cool experience.  You can check it out for yourself tonight at 7pm.

-Jude

Filed Under: downtown austin

Warehouse District vs. Capitol View Corridors

by | September 11, 2009 |28 Comments
Sign at 5th and Bowie providing direction to the Warehouse District
Sign at 5th and Bowie providing direction to the Warehouse District

Sign at 5th and Bowie providing direction to the Warehouse District

Writer Katherine Gregor presents the story of the Warehouse District in this week’s Chronicle.

The Warehouse District is valuable for two reasons:

1) It’s an established destination in downtown.
2) It’s uniquely positioned outside of the Capitol View Corridors (map)

As Michael McGill astutely pointed out: “this is the sort of all day activity that 6th Street and Red River would kill for…this is the envy… this is what you want… this is what people work so hard to design in…”

From the article…

“The irony is that the district is so at risk because it’s so attractive – people want to do new developments in it and close to it,” said Jacqui Schraad, executive director of the Heritage Society. For example, the planned 18-story Westin Hotel will market itself as a chic “Warehouse District hotel”.

What is being proposed is clearly a taking of property rights, however, ROMA is offering an economic alternative that could potentially enable individual Warehouse District property owners to earn more money by transferring their air rights to other projects.  Currently, the adjacent property owners need to work with each other to create an assemblage site large enough to build a high rise.  ROMA’s solution appears to eliminate the need for these relationships of necessity and allow individual property owners to cash in on their property without the need to work with their neighbor.

A system of transference of development intensity could effectively put an end to the CURE based system to pursue additional entitlements.  Arguably, getting rid of the CURE system would eliminate the potential for backdoor lobbying efforts and could reduce the feasibility costs to developers.  Simply put, if you needed more density, you could just purchase it.  But, is there a real market for these air rights? Clearly the owners of the Warehouse District properties are not confident that there is.

This will be not an easy decision.  IMO, the real culprit is the Capitol View Corridors which artificially inflate and depress the intrinsic value of properties that are either outside or inside of the view corridor, respectively.  Were they not to exist, the extreme focus on this small assemblage of land we call the Warehouse District might not be at issue.  But, the existence of the Capitol View Corridors is a subject that is political wildfire with the “no growth” opinions who seem to equate “keep Austin weird” with “keep Austin low and sprawling”.

I’ve always believed that you don’t bite off the hand that feeds you, and Downtown Austin has been feeding off the charm of the Warehouse District for years.  The Warehouse District is an attractive destination for all of Austin and it’s visitors.  If ROMA’s recommendations aren’t adopted, it’s not likely that the Warehouse District will completely disappear, but we can expect it to change.  As our community works to create an amazing downtown experience, losing this district, in it’s current form, will take us further from that goal.

-Jude

Filed Under: downtown austin Tagged With: , ,

Waller Creek District Update

by | September 11, 2009 |Leave a Comment
Waller Creek District Master Plan - Open Spaces

The entire Waller Creek District Master Plan can be downloaded here.

Waller Creek District Master Plan - Open Spaces

Waller Creek District Master Plan - Open Spaces

The vision for more and safe public spaces along Waller Creek, including park like connectivity from Waterloo Park to Lady Bird Lake, was a primary motivation for Amber and I to choose living at the Sabine.  When I tell people about Waller Creek, a common response is “Waller Creek… they’re still tryin’ to get that done, huh?”

The Waller Creek Tunnel Project and subsequent improvements to the district represent one of the most significant urban renewal project in Austin.  I was appointed to the Waller Creek Citizens Advisory Committee (WCCAC) last month.  Since then my understanding of what’s happening with Waller Creek has improved significantly – The Waller Creek Tunnel is on time and on budget and will break ground in late 2010 or early 2011.

Waller Creek District Master Plan - Land Use

Waller Creek District Master Plan - Land Use

At last night’s WCCAC meeting, ROMA delivered a highly compelling draft of a master plan for Waller Creek.  While we were only presented with a draft, ROMA’s Waller Creek districting plan creates a vast amount of public space and a Sabine Street promenade is one example of a progressive districting plan as a whole.  Sabine Street’s wide and underutilized right-of-ways could be converted into a more pedestrian and bicycle friendly promenade.  The promenade would most likely deliver large 30ft+ areas for al-fresco dining, bicycle lanes that connect back into the Waller Creek trail system, and enough room for limited automobile traffic to still get through.

On October 24th, ROMA will present the entire plan at a town hall meeting.

-Jude

Filed Under: downtown austin, waller creek Tagged With: , , , ,

Katz's Deli is a 6th Street Staple

by | September 10, 2009 |3 Comments
The iconic Katz-mobile parked in front of the deli.

IMG_0052

As Marc Katz has just announced he is running for Lieutenant Governor, it’s probably a good time to revisit a long-time 6th Street favorite: Katz’s Deli.  Borrowing against the success of Katz’s Delicatessen in New York (no relation, I’m told), in 1979 Marc opened Katz’s Deli – says so right on the iconic car parked out front of the deli.  The “Katz’s Never Kloses” 24/7 service arrived in 1983.  The Deli franchise went through a little family drama in the early 2000′s (most of the conflict centered on the Houston location), but the brand remained strong through the strife. For some reason, as a downtown Austin resident with many dining options, I always forget about the place.  But I had lunch there the other day, and I thought it was pretty nice.  And I love the fact that it’s one of Austin’s only true 24-hour restaurant establishments.  Right here in the heart of downtown Austin.

So I thought I’d write about it and remind those of us folks who have forgotten what’s in plain sight.

You walk in and see this immediately on your right:

IMG_0050
A glorious view of “deli”cious canned drinks.  Yum.  I must say, the vegetarian in me was delighted that this innocuous display of sodas was on display rather than smoked meats and hog’s heads.

Promptly upon our arrival, we were seated in the dining area, which had a nice view of pedestrian traffic on Sixth Street.  The menu is reasonably priced and pretty extensive, and they offer breakfast items all day.  I had the “Build Your Own” omelet, which ended up being the McMansion of omelets, if I do say so myself.

The food was fine.  Not amazing, but good.  The place was clean, the service was friendly and prompt. And they’re open 24-hours a day (Never Kloses!).  You just can’t beat that, in my opinion.

IMG_0049

-Amber Gugino

Filed Under: downtown austin

REMINDER: DANA Urban Core Happy Hour Tonight @ Threshold Interiors

by | September 10, 2009 |
DANA Urban Core Happy Hour

DANA Urban Core Happy Hour

Quick reminder:  The Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association is hosting their monthly Urban Core Happy Hour at Threshold this evening.  Threshold Interiors is a must see furniture store at 5th and West Ave.

What

Urban Core Happy Hour @ Threshold

When

Thu Sep 10 6:30pm – Thu Sep 10 8:30pm
20090910T183000/20090910T203000

Where

Threshold 801 W 5th St, #100 (map)
Filed Under: downtown austin

Celbrating Downtown Austin's "Best of Austin" Winners

by | September 10, 2009 |Leave a Comment

The Chronicle released their annual “Best of Austin” winners last week, and no less than 34 winners were located in downtown Austin!  See the complete list of downtown winners after the jump.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: downtown austin
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