Clearing the way for a new, and much needed hotel in downtown Austin, 201 W. 5th has been demolished. The concept, “1 Hotel” was announced last September and is being designed by BOKA Powell.
What is not clear is when construction of the hotel will begin, leaving many people concerned about the blight of more surface level parking.
Below are photos taken over the past few days showing the incremental demolition of the old building.
…and now striped for a parking lot.
…and the incentive was a demolition permit. Those that issue permits can wield significant influence on neighborhood fabric.
In this instance, I’m ambivalent about which is better: a vacant building or a parking lot.
There’s not a formal site plan for the “1 hotel” that I’m aware of.