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DANA – “Spotlight on Safety” Event, November 15th, 6:30pm

October 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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We’ve mentioned KrimeLabb on our blog before – it’s this great database querying, mapping website where you can see the crime that’s happening in different parts of Austin.

For instance, I just did a pull for criminal activity that’s happened in 78701 (Downtown Austin’s major zip code) for the month of October, and I learned that we’ve had 1004 reported incidents, and 491 arrests so far this month.   From a very quick glance, it looks like a good number of incidents are related to DWI / public drunkedness, which, you know – isn’t good, but isn’t necessarily as alarming to me as, I don’t know – [Read more...]

Filed Under: downtown austin

DAB EXCLUSIVE: Sales Data From The Austonian, W Hotel Residences, Four Seasons, Spring Condos

October 24, 2011 By 4 Comments
downtown austin condo report

[Personal update why we've not published data for a while. A couple of months ago, I began work on obtaining sales data from the newly constructed buildings. Not a quick and easy task.  However, after several conversations and a leap of faith by everyone involved in assembling the data (thanks!), we've got some REALLY interesting data to share. --Jude]

Back in 2010, when downtown Austin’s luxury condos started closing, the actual sales prices were closely guarded (not entered into the MLS).  I’ve been publishing monthly sales of Downtown Austin condos for years, and began tracking sales of new construction condos by laboriously tracking new deed records. That data was [at least] an accurate count of how many new constructions units had closed, and what floor plans were selling best.  That was real data my clients could rely upon, but actual closing prices were simply not available.

As a result, I have only been able to consistently highlight resale pricing.  With all of my talk about the average sale price for downtown is solidly planted at $300 per foot, I would always qualify it as incomplete without closing price data for new condos.

My goal has always been to combine the resale numbers and the new construction numbers into a single statistic.  The closely guarded luxury condo sales data has kept me from doing that.

Until now…  [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin condos, austin lofts, DAB Stats, downtown austin, Downtown Austin lofts, condos, apartments

10 Minutes From Rainey Street

October 20, 2011 By 3 Comments
Starting In Rainey Street, How Far Can You Go In 10 Minutes?

Starting in downtown Austin’s Rainey Street neighborhood, we approximate the distance we can travel by foot, by bike, or by car in 10 minutes.

You can try it, too, after the jump.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin transit, life in austin, Rainey Street District, urban planning

La Boite Coming To Downtown Austin’s Old Bakery Park

October 15, 2011 By 2 Comments
la boite cafe austin, tx

La Boite Cafe will soon occupy an underutilized downtown Austin open space.

If you’ve driven down South Lamar recently, then you’ve no doubt seen the adaptively repurposed shipping container perched on the hilltop at Collier and S. Lamar.

The open space pictured below, just north south of the Old Bakery, will be the 2nd La Boite location and will feature a similar modified shipping container.

Now that Little City is gone, the northern stretch of Congress Ave needs a recharge of pedestrian and retail energy.  La Boite Cafe’s innovative design, broad audience, and placement next to the Old Bakery is a big step in right direction.

Kudos to Melissa Barry at the Downtown Austin Alliance for helping push this idea through.  We’re told La Boite will start site work next week, and once open they will keep normal business hours in addition to Saturday mornings. [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin parks, austin retail, austin small business Tagged With:

Lease Restrictions: A Noble Idea That Can Backfire On Owners

October 14, 2011 By 4 Comments
Lease Restrictions

Lease restrictions are typically birthed with noble intent – to foster owner-occupancy and ensure that buyers can get loans for properties within the community.

When new lease restrictions are forcibly applied to limit rental activity in buildings and neighborhoods, it is a taking of property rights which can set off litigation from disgruntled owners.

This issue has impacted me as a property owner, and I’m familiar with the emotions and frustrations felt by advocates and antagonists to lease restrictions.  A recent situation with a buyer was frustrating enough that I want to share my experience (which is not unique) about how lease restrictions can adversely impact current owners, sellers, and buyers.

Lease restrictions will do two things, guaranteed:

1) limit the number of renters in a community
2) limit the number of buyers for properties within a community

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin apartments, austin condos, austin neighborhoods, downtown austin

Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association – Urban Core Happy Hour Tonight (Thursday)

October 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Tonight!  Come to Clive Bar in the Rainey Street District to enjoy a keg of beer and some sushi (compliments of How Do You Roll?) for the October Urban Core Happy Hour.  It’s gonna be a great night to be outside on the patio, and a good chance to see what all the “Rainey Street” fuss is about.  The event is TONIGHT from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Clive (609 Davis Street).

A Note: At Urban Core Happy Hours DANA Members get in free, however non-members will be asked to pay $5 or bring 3 cans of food. (The canned food will be donated to Caritas.) Entry into event includes food and drink tickets.  Non-members will also have the opportunity to sign up to become a DANA Member on the spot and get in free to this and all Urban Core Happy Hours for the next year.

If you’re not a DANA Member and would like to be, you can sign up at the Urban Core Happy Hour, or you can click here to be directed to our Membership page to join now.

See you tonight!

Filed Under: downtown austin

Shhhh… Secret Lunch Spot

October 5, 2011 By 2 Comments
St. David's Lunch

Direct from my inbox today is a reminder about a unique (and rather unknown) once-weekly lunch spot that I’ve been meaning to share with the DAB community.

It is Cafe Divine at St. David’s Episcopal Church that rises to life only on Thursday’s from Noon-1pm.

There in the 3rd floor dining hall, Culinary Institute trained chef, Ray Trono, serves up a mighty tasty and healthy full MEAL of entree, two sides, desert and beverage for only $8.00 (50-cents more for take out) and served by some very nice folks.

Full details — and the menu du jour — can be found here.  Tip: Enter from the little parking lot off San Jacinto between 7th & 8th streets.  That leads you into a lobby where you will be directed to the 3rd floor.  Just say “Cafe Devine”.

Filed Under: downtown austin

HAAM Benefit Day is Today

October 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Everyone is talking about it – so we thought we’d give H.A.A.M a, ahem, D.A.B. of love.

Today, in a variety of venues – many of which are in downtown Austin (City Hall, Whole Foods, Silicon Labs, Lambert’s, Plains Capital Bank, etc.), you can see live shows from musicians. And many of these venues are running sales / programs / specials that benefit HAAM (for instance, Whole Foods is giving 5% of the day’s proceeds to HAAM).

The entire performance schedule can be found here.

 

Filed Under: downtown austin