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Fishing Pier Coming to Lady Bird Lake in Rainey Street, Downtown Austin

by | May 23, 2012 |2 Comments
Rainey Street Pier Core Health

The focus is on inclusion.  That’s what Nicole Harmon of Core Health Foundation, a non-profit spin-off of Core Health (a for-profit facility focusing on rehabilitation of those suffering with brain injuries), tells me. The project is a fishing pier, located on the northern shore of Lady Bird Lake, just south of the Holiday Inn off I-35 in the Rainey Street District.  The project has been in the works for over 8-years, but was officially approved in 2010, and construction is expected to be complete in 2013.   And while the driver and primary purpose of this project is for [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin parks, Austin photos, images, development, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts, lady bird lake, life, life in austin, miscellaneous, Rainey Street District, Real Estate, urban family

Sutton Company Proposes Towers In Rainey Street District

by | April 18, 2012 |11 Comments
Sutton Company Development on Rainey Street

The Statesman broke the story publicly yesterday that the Sutton Company intends to build a multi-tower 40+ story mixed-use project at the north end of the Rainey Street District. The assemblage includes 9-10 lots wrapping Rainey Street, Driskill Street, and East Ave. We’ve mocked-up a footprint of the site (below).

Sutton Company Site - Rainey Street

The renderings show two point towers, both over 40 stories, and a third office tower in the background.  As a Downtown/Rainey Street neighbor, I’d love to see this project happen. This is exactly the type of concept envisioned for Rainey back when zoning was changed to CBD.

Sutton Company Development on Rainey Street

This is the second major residential concept proposed for the Rainey Street District within the past couple of months.  The other being the Austin Skyhouse proposed by Andrews Urban/Novare.  If built, a portion of the ad valorem taxes from these projects would contribute to the Waller Creek TIF district.

Filed Under: austin towers and high rises, development, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts, Downtown Austin lofts, condos, apartments, Rainey Street District, Real Estate

Coming Soon: The Changing Face Of The Railyard District

by | March 21, 2012 |15 Comments
westlake dermatology downtown austin

Let it be known as the Railyard District, that part of downtown Austin, south of 5th Street and sandwiched between Congress Ave and the Austin Convention Center.  You could straddle the convention center and include the area east, around Moonshine, too.

It’s an interesting mix of conventioneers and locals, both feeding on chicken and waffles at Max’s Wine Dive.

For decades, the district has been anchored by the Railyard condos, and recently flanked by the Four Seasons.  Soon, these will not be the only full time residences.

In the past couple of years we’ve seen improvements and new businesses open in the neighborhood, including AF1 Racing, Vince Young Steakhouse, Hank’s Garage (which is gone), and Skinny’s Ballroom.

Walking around a post-SXSW absent is the hyper-pedestrianism of the past 10 days, and I observe a “coming soon” sign.  I see more as I keep walking.  In one lap around the Railyard district, I counted nine businesses or projects “coming soon”!

Nine!

What’s COMING SOON to the Railyard District?   [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin apartments, austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, Austin photos, images, austin small business, development, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts, Railyard District, Real Estate, urban planning

DANA Hosting Discussion On Affordable Housing (Thursday February 16th)

by | February 15, 2012 |21 Comments
foundation communities

foundation communities site for capitol terrace

With the proposed Foundation Communities development needing support of the neighborhood, DANA invites its membership to come out for a special presentation by the CEO of Foundation Communities and a discussion on development proposed for 11th & Trinity Street that would be the first affordable housing project proposed Downtown in over 45 years and which will include Permanent Supportive Housing. DANA board members will be looking for feedback on the design and operational proposals.

When: Thursday, February 16th, 6pm 
Where: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Bishop’s Hall, 203 E 10th St  Austin, Texas 78701

More Info

 

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

New Rainey Street Apartment Tower Proposed: The Austin Skyhouse

by | January 10, 2012 |18 Comments
downtown Austin Skyhouse site

According to an administrative site plan application filed with the city, the Austin Skyhouse is a proposed downtown Austin mixed-use apartment tower at 47 Rainey Street.  If built, the tower could deliver 15,000ft of retail and 320 apartments to downtown Austin’s red hot rental market.

The ~1.4 acre site, shown below, is directly north of the Legacy apartments (187 units), and across the street from the Milago Condos (240 units).  The CBD zoned property has long been expected to be developed into a tower, so this shouldn’t be received with much surprise.

According to the application: “The applicant is proposing to construct Apt. Tower/Retail and Garage/Retail with associated improvements.”  The applicant is familiar to downtown Austin development – Novare/Andrews Urban – the same team who developed the successful 360 Condos.

Since Milago has the dominant lake and city view for the first twelve floors, we’ll hopefully see a tall tower over podium design where most of the units’ views would clear Milago’s roof.  Given the parking challenges in the Rainey Street district, perhaps we’ll see extra parking included in the design which could be available to visitors to the neighborhood.

This is the latest of several proposed downtown Austin high rise projects catering to renters.  Riverside Resources is under construction of their 20 story building at 3rd Street & San Jacinto.  7 Rio looks like it is being repurposed as a rental product and could break ground this year.

(UPDATE 1: Novare is building the Skyhouse concept in Atlanta on what looks to be a similarly configured site.  UPDATE 2: we’ve confirmed the tower will be 23 stories and could break ground as early as May.)

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin apartments, austin condos, development, downtown austin, Downtown Austin lofts, condos, apartments, high rises, Rainey Street District

Hank’s: From Garage to Entrepreneur’s Dream

by | July 6, 2011 |7 Comments
hanks garage downtown austin

Downtown Austin office workers, visitors, and residents have a new choice when it comes to grabbing a bite and a beer: Hank’s Garage.

Formerly Sister’s Edge II, a lesbian bar, and before that “The Cockpit,” an aptly-named gay bar, Hank’s instead caters to all people of all sexual orientations with a strong thirst for Belgian beer.

They have a whopping 32 beers on tap, such as Duchesse de Bourgogne, which will give Gingerman loyalists a run for their money, and some premium entrees.

Hank’s also offer something to the brunch crowd with a plate of two eggs — served your way — with potatoes and toast for an Abraham or an omelet for a couple extra Georgies.

The guy behind this, Jeffrey Kuhn, spent about three decades in the service industry, dabbling in finance and real estate as well.

Kuhn represents what is great about Austin and downtown. He’s bootstrapped this whole thing himself and spent about a year gutting Sister’s Edge by himself, in the process unearthing  remnants of when the building used to be a legit garage run by a mechanic named “Hank” almost 75 years ago.

Located at 115 San Jacinto (half block north of the Four Seasons), the renovation really dresses up the outside of the building, too. After you stop by, check out these photos of how the place looked as the Cockpit and Sister’s Edge. ¡Ay, caramba!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin restaurant reviews, austin retail, austin small business, development, downtown austin

Upzoning Sought And Supported On W 7th Street

by | June 16, 2011 |5 Comments
701 7th street

Looks like an upzoning request for a half-block of W 7th Street wedged between West 6th Street and Original Austin was semi-successful.

701 and 711 W 7th Street in downtown Austin were seeking an upzoning to CBD.   701 W 7th is zoned “GR – general retail” and 711 W 7th is zoned “GO – general office”.  Both zoning definitions cap building height at 60 feet. [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin neighborhoods, austin towers and high rises, development, downtown austin

Mega Presentation On Urban Rail Tuesday

by | June 13, 2011 |4 Comments
austin rail

NEWS FLASH: According to a source at City Hall, the Austin Transportation Department is slated to give a big presentation June 14 that will be “a substantial briefing” on urban rail and begins to start answering Uncle Lee’s 30 crucial questions and “then some.”

The mayor has pushed a 2012 bond election funding a first leg for a new mode of mass transit in Austin.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: austin news, austin traffic, austin transit, city council, development, downtown austin, rumors, gossip, urban planning

Whitely Paper Warehouse Under Contract

by | March 24, 2011 |Leave a Comment
riverside resources 3rd & brazos

The Statesman is reporting that Riverside Resources has contracted to purchase the Whitely Paper site in downtown Austin’s Railyard district. You might recall 21c Museum Residences was planned for the half-block that fronts 3rd Street, between Brazos and San Jacinto Streets. [Read more...]

Filed Under: development, downtown austin, Downtown Austin lofts, condos, apartments, Real Estate

Live (Work, or Play) in Downtown Austin? Join DANA (Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association)

by | March 18, 2011 |Leave a Comment
41787_58718931796_5749011_n

Jude and I are both on the board of the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA) – a grassroots community organization dedicated to improving the lives of those who live, work, and / or play in the Downtown Austin Community. It’s an organization that we believe in, and an organization that is affecting positive change in our community.

For our readers who are downtown residents (or, who spend a significant amount of time downtown for work or for pleasure), I urge you to become a member of the organization.

A little info: [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin condos, austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin news, austin parks, austin recreation, austin small business, development, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts, Downtown Austin lofts, condos, apartments, high rises, life, life in austin, miscellaneous, small business, urban family, urban planning
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