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Episcopal Church Site: Finally Reaching For The Heavens?

by | May 22, 2012 |1 Comment
Austin episcopal church cvc

Back in 2009, the Episcopal Church paid $9.5MM for a 1.6 acre city block bounded by Trinity, Neches, and 7th Street.

The purpose of the site, which is currently a surface parking lot, is widely believed to house their national archives.

The Episcopal Church recently submitted a Capitol View Corridor (CVC) height determination application with the city.   This application is the first step in knowing how tall they can build.

2/3 of the site is encumbered by a CVC, so I suspect any building on this site will be capped at a few stories.

The application proposes commercial, mixed-use.

downtown austin episcopal church archive

episcopal church cvc

 

 

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin towers and high rises, Downtown Austin Districts

2012 Downtown Living Tour – Showcasing Downtown Austin

by | April 15, 2012 |4 Comments
DLTlogo

Next Sunday, April 22, 2012, from 11am-5pm, is the 2012 Downtown Living Tour.  The Tour is a showcase of homes located in Downtown Austin, and is put on by the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (it’s DANA’s only fundraiser, and helps keep the organization chugging throughout the rest of the year).  A portion of proceeds this year will also go to The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM).

The 2012 Downtown Living Tour has [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2nd Street District, 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin condos, austin neighborhoods, austin news, austin open houses, austin retail, austin towers, austin towers and high rises, Congress Avenue District, downtown austin, Downtown Austin lofts, condos, apartments, high rises, life in austin, Railyard District, Rainey Street District

Graeber Residence Featured In The Statesman

by | February 12, 2012 |Leave a Comment
Amazing 6th street residence

Featured in this week’s Statesman Homes section is one of my listings, and more importantly one of downtown Austin’s most unique properties. Hidden in plain view on 6th Street is a mid-century time capsule.  Check out the Statesman write up here.

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin history, Austin photos, images, downtown austin

Survey Says: Sabine Street Promenade Is A Go!

by | December 16, 2011 |3 Comments
sabine street promenade

Another win for Austin and a much needed boost for the neighborhood surrounding E. 6th Street.

Back in September, DAB stopped just shy of begging readers to weigh in on CAMPO’s survey of the public about which projects should be awarded grants; specifically, advocating support for granting funds to Austin bike share and streetscape improvements to Sabine and E 6th Street.  Yesterday, we were excited to learn that CAMPO approved funding for Austin bike share system.

CAMPO has also awarded $2.7 million for the construction of a Sabine Street promenade, that will involve the development of sidewalks, bike lanes and pedestrian amenities between downtown Austin’s 4th and 7th Streets.

sabine street promenade

This idea was originally framed as part of the implementation of the Waller Creek District Master Plan.  It progressed last year as the mobility bond package was approved by voters, and the Sabine Street promenade was bundled with improvements planned for “dirty 6ixth”, ostensibly to provide connectivity between Waller Creek and Congress Ave by way of Austin’s most historic street. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin lifestyle, downtown austin, waller creek

THE NOOK: New Bar To Fill A Hole On E. 6th Street

by | November 11, 2011 |2 Comments
309 E 6th Street - Austin Texas Live Music Capitol Of The World

Based on the TABC application mounted to the facade, 309 E 6th Street could become productive again.  The applicant, “The Nook“, is seeking a “Mixed Beverage-Late Hours” permit.

Prior to some dedicated stewardship from 6ixth Street Austin’s board of directors (notably Tim League’s cadre of creative support, Wild About Music’s Fred Schmidt, and 6ixth Street Austin Executive Director, Josh Allen) all that remained at 309 E 6th Street was a hole – a legacy from the summer of 2002 when the Black Cat Lounge burned down.  For years a chain link fence guarding the site added to the blight around “Dirty Sixth”.

The building’s Houston-based owners, George and Mark Santikos, worked with 6ixth Street Austin to erect a colorful temporary facade depicting “Austin, Texas Live Music Capitol of The World” which blocks the view of building carnage.  That sign has become one of the most recognizable and photographed things in downtown Austin.   [Read more...]

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin bars, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts

CAMPO and YOU!

by | September 19, 2011 |1 Comment
campo

Everybody knows CAMPO as the sexiest metropolitan planning organization.  And, it wants to talk with you… to learn about you… to discover what you want.  What are your hopes?  Dreams?

You’ve been dreaming about $836,000,000 in project applications, but CAMPO only has $132,000,000 of federal and state funds to spend on you.

How to decide!?

You call your best friends, looking to them for support because you can’t have everything.  They help you by completing this survey.  They join you for cocktails when CAMPO hosts a community meeting Sept. 21 at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, from 6:30–8 p.m., to discuss the various projects, and a public hearing Sept. 26 at Joe C. Thompson Center on The University of Texas campus at 6 p.m.

You’re so predictable: you’re attracted to simple projects that you can grow with.

1) Construction of a Sabine Street promenade that will involve the development of sidewalks, bike lanes and pedestrian amenities between Fourth and Seventh streets ($3.4 million).

2) First phase of bike share system ($2.0 million).

**SRSLY, this is important!  Complete the survey and make sure to indicate you wish to support the above two projects, amongst others.

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, downtown austin Tagged With:

Sunday, 9/11 on Historic E.6th: Cleaning Up in the AM & Movie Watching in the PM. Join us!

by | September 10, 2011 |Leave a Comment
Ferris Poster

Come on down to Historic East 6th Street, Sunday evening the 11th, and hang with area residents, visitors and business owners as the Alamo Rolling Roadshow pulls into the 500 block of San Jacinto for a fun screening under the stars of the classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Last year, over 800 people showed up!

To prepare for this event as well as the upcoming Old Pecan Street Festival, ACL Fest, and the usual buzz of Fall events in Downtown Austin, 6th Street property and business owners will be out on Sunday morning sprucing up their buildings and the neighborhood.

More info on both events on the 6th Street Austin Blogspot.

See you there!

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin neighborhoods, austin news, austin recreation, downtown austin, entertainment district, life in austin

Forbidden Fruit Says Farewell To E. 6th Street District

by | August 10, 2011 |3 Comments
forbidden-fruit-austin

Kinky sigh.

A familiar icon of Austin small business, a lone downtown Austin retailer amidst a sea of E 6th Street bars, is shutting its downtown doors on August 28th.  The ABJ reports that Forbidden Fruit is redirecting its efforts on a better performing store.  From the article, owner Lynn Rairden says:

“We have seen a dramatic shift in customer base away from this location, with more of our patrons shopping at the store at 108 E. North Loop”

So, is North Loop just kinkier than downtown? I doubt that, but Forbidden Fruit is crowd sourcing their next location.

I will be sad to see it go.  I stepped into the store a couple of times in college, and since then I just enjoyed knowing it was there.  Forbidden Fruit’s downtown store was a beacon of hope for Austin small businesses anticipating that 6th Street can rebalance its mix of commercial use to include more retail.

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin lifestyle, austin small business, downtown austin

“Welcome” to the Police State of 6ixth

by | April 9, 2011 |27 Comments
Police Line Do Not Cross

It’s a warm and breezy Saturday night in Austin on Texas Relays Weekend. We did up a special store window at Wild About Music in Bob Marley + hip hop theme to welcome our 40,000-ish athletes, families and guests to town like every year. Daytime business was great, both Friday and today. But by 6pm things died off to nothingness and never revived by the time we normally close at 9pm. Totally deadsville. Absolutely not the norm for a weekend evening in Spring.  So we hit the street to see wazzup. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, downtown austin, entertainment district

DON’T MISS IT!!! Capitol Tree Lighting, Holiday Sing-Along & Congress Ave Stroll: SAT 12/4 @ 6PM

by | December 3, 2010 |2 Comments
Capitol Tree Lighting

UPDATE:  This is last year’s post.  This year’s Holiday Stroll is on Saturday the 3rd!

Once again, KUT and the Downtown Austin Alliance will bring you the annual “Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll.”  It’s now become an annual tradition.  Last year an estimated 8,000 people attended.  This year, with the beautiful weather expected Saturday evening, maybe 10,000 or more?

It’s all happening Saturday, Dec. 4th.  KUT’s John Aielli will be on the south steps of the Capitol building leading Christmas carols beginning at 6PM.  That is immediately followed by the lighting of the Capitol Tree on 11th Street, at the head of lower Congress Ave.

Then everyone takes a leisurely stroll down “The Main Street of Texas”,  Congress Avenue where many businesses will be open late and have decked their halls and display windows in holiday style.  One sidewalk-adjacent travel lane on each side of Congress will be closed to vehicle traffic from 11th to 6th streets to accommodate the crowds.

Along the Avenue you’ll discover loads of wonderful live entertainment in office building courtyards and on street corners.  Refreshments, children’s activities, shopping, a Bicycle Zoo parade and more are also part of the merriment that will go on for a couple of hours.

There will even be a Santa’s Workshop.  And the jolly big fella himself will be found holding court in the lobby of One American Center at 6th and Congress.

As long as you’re in the area, also make a point of taking in a few blocks of Historic East 6th Street too (before the Saturday night revelers show up after 9pm).  East 6th looks lovely this time of year with holiday street decorations its entire length, the majestic Driskill Hotel all dressed out (don’t miss a peek inside), and many local businesses  are  showing their spirit.

What a fine night for a carriage ride around Downtown, too!  The horses usually line up in front of the Driskill.   (That’s a great photo-op, by the way.)

It is also requested that you share the spirit of the holidays by dropping off a jar of peanut butter at the downtown Christmas tree for Caritas to distribute to those in need.

This event is made possible by generous  sponsorships from Whole Earth Provision Company, Goodwill Industries, The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum , Ballet Austin, InStep, Louis Shanks Home Furnishings.

(Compiled from information from the Downtown Austin Alliance and KUT.  Capitol and caroler photos courtesy of the Austin American-Statesman.  Driskill lobby photo in HDR courtesy of Trey Ratcliff, www.stuckincustoms.com)

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin lifestyle, Congress Avenue District, downtown austin
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