2009 September | Downtown Austin Blog

Downtown Austin Link Roundup

by Jude Galligan | September 9, 2009 |1 Comment

Starwood hotel proposed at Fifth and Colorado
Marc Katz to run for LT. Governor
Downtown Austin thrives in economic slump (kvue)
Downtown living flourishes (News 8 Austin)
AMLI on 2nd locks down $32MM loan (ABJ)

Filed Under: downtown austin

Waller Creek Project Newsletter

by Jude Galligan | September 9, 2009 |Leave a Comment

Latest Waller Creek Newsletter Is Available (click for pdf)

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

Bars On Rainey Street

by Jude Galligan | September 8, 2009 |8 Comments

Click here for more recent DAB articles covering the Rainey Street neighborhood.

Over the weekend I was walking down Rainey Street and decided to collect photos of the explosion of TABC application permits. It’s worth pointing out again our belief that downtown Austin has an “over saturation of bars” to quote Tom Stacy at today’s RECA luncheon. Single nighttime only uses would be short sighted, and will fail to tap into the consumer demands of the 858+ residences in the Rainey Street neighborhood. Of course, TABC application posts do not indicate that the venue will just be a bar – the venue is just as likely to be a restaurant or cafe.

Below is a complete list of burgeoning Rainey Street venues. DAB readers, please use the comments to fill in any details you know about these venues.

[Link to recent Statesman article]

“El Naranjito”
85 Rainey Street
application only

“Container Bar”
90 Rainey Street
application only

“96″
96 Rainey Street
under construction (link)

“Lustre Pearl”
97 Rainey Street
open for business

“Clive Bar”
609 Davis Street
application + under construction

-Jude

85 Rainey Street - El Naranjito (?)

90 Rainey Street - Container Bar

609 Davis Street - Clive Bar

Filed Under: entertainment district, Rainey Street District Tagged With: austin condos, austin lofts, rainey street

W Hotel Sneak Peak Of Facade

by Jude Galligan | September 8, 2009 |Leave a Comment

Thanks to Priller over at SkyscraperPage for the pic of the facade beginning to take form at the W Hotel (aka. Block 21 Residences) in downtown Austin.

W-Hotel Facade Taking Shape

Filed Under: downtown austin Tagged With: austin condos, austin luxury condos, block 21 residences, w hotel

Central Austin Transit Issues

by Jude Galligan | September 4, 2009 |Leave a Comment

City of Austin Transportation Director, Rob Spillar, has been in the news recently presenting the reality of central Austin roads. No new roads can be constructed inside Central Austin. We need to quickly implement signal timing efficiencies wherever possible. Further we must acknowledge that central Austin roads are at full capacity and embark upon new modes of transportation. I like Rob’s approach, lest we become culpable observers for worsening city problems.

The ABJ is reporting on a resurgence in the discussion for central Austin rail system. I like Mark Littlefield’s quote:

“Mark Littlefield, a public affairs political consultant, said the entity chosen to run the proposed rail system will be an important aspect in determining how voters stomach a potential bond vote. The economy will also factor in, he said.

‘We could have, hypothetically, the most economically, financially responsible plan that makes the most transportation sense and could solve every traffic problem in Austin forever, but if it’s going to be run by Cap Metro, it would have a difficult time passing,’ he said.”

-Jude

Filed Under: austin transit

Bike Lane And Back-In Parking Coming To W 6th

by Jude Galligan | September 3, 2009 |Leave a Comment

Back-in parking along W 6th is a pilot program for Austin

[pdf of parking plan]

From the City of Austin, Department of Public Works:

“In coordination with routine street maintenance (road re-surfacing and re-striping), and to improve safety and mobility in the corridor for both motor vehicles and bicycles, the street striping will be reconfigured. In order to reconfigure the street striping some on-street parking will be removed. These modifications are to provide delineated bicycle lanes.

The City’s Public Works Department and Transportation Departments are implementing and improving a bicycle route system, as directed by the Austin City Council per City Ordinance No. 20090611-075 (The Austin Bicycle Plan). W. 6th Street from Lamar Boulevard to Patterson Avenue is a portion of Route 52 of the City of Austin bicycle system.

The new parking restriction will be as follows:

* W 6th St. (Lamar Blvd. to Patterson Ave.) – parking modification is to prohibit parking on both sides of the street in travel lanes and to-be-installed bike lanes.

Additionally, the inset angled parking between 1110 6th St and Blanco St will be converted to back-in angle parking; parking capacity will remain the same. Back-in angle parking provides drivers with improved safety, increased visibility, fewer collisions, and easier loading and unloading, and is compatible with bicycle lanes. This section of W. 6th St, like Dean Keeton St installed in August 2009, will be a pilot project for back-in angle parking in Austin. If the pilot program is unsuccessful, then front-in angle parking will be restored. The inset parallel parking between Harthan St and Winflo Dr, and Lamar Blvd and Baylor St will remain the same.”

Filed Under: downtown austin Tagged With: Parking

Car2Go Spotted In The Wild

by Jude Galligan | September 2, 2009 |2 Comments

This morning while walking to the office I spotted three Car2Go Smart cars parked at 5th & West Ave. The last sighting was back in May. Below are some pics…