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Downtown News and Rumor Round-up

Jude Galligan | March 29, 2013 |

There’s a number of interesting items relating to downtown in the news recently. With so much going on these days, along with the demise of Google Reader, we’re going to try something new at DAB: an end of the week wrap-up of what’s been in the news related to downtown. If you are like me, it is hard sometimes, to keep up with everything, especially during personally busy weeks.

Do me a huge favor and be sure to leave a comment if this is helpful and if you’d like to see this as a regular feature.

Rainey Street Ramps Up (again!)

Two new projects have filed site plans for new construction within the Rainey Street neighborhood district.

The vacant lot across the street from the Mexican American Cultural Center at 70 Rainey filed paperwork to build a mixed-use sky scraper consisting of a restaurant, residential units, and parking.

Down the street, the North Shore Lofts are moving forward with a multi-family building at the corner of the north shore and I-35, that will bring 44 class A multifamily units to the site.

Austin Towers has more

Capitol Kibosh

Texas lawmakers moved again earlier this week to make good on their sabre-rattling to freeze any development plans around the Capitol Complex.

A senate committee passed SB 894, by State Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston), making unsolicited proposals for development of the area north of the Capitol grounds illegal.

This effectively kills plans for the planetarium and high rise development.

The bill will also force potential developers to pitch their development plans before the Legislature every two years.

Notably, this bill has more than 20 sponsors and is also being supported by Kirk Watson.

KUT News has more

W Hotel for sale?

The Austin American-Statesman got its hands on a marketing brochure that says the W Hotel, also known as Block 21 and the home of the ACL Live studio is for sale.

The tower also includes 159 condominiums that aren’t part of the sale. To date 131 of the condos have been sold or are under contract, at an average price of more than $600 a square foot, according to the offering brochure. Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group is marketing the property.

Statesman has more

Travis County altering development plans?

County commissioners are considering another $38.5 million building downtown in early April at the corner of West 11th and San Antonio streets. The county previously received a proposal for a $60 million building on the same site.

In December, the county purchased the land for $7.25 million. It includes part of the Texas PTA offices and a parking lot.

Statesman has more

To view or not to view

While not downtown, we’re noting that neighbors are opposing the Taco Cabana development.

Bridges’ Homeowner Association has petitioned the City to deny a zoning request there.

Austin city planner Jerry Rusthoven told KVUE: “City code does not protect people’s views. That came up recently in another case downtown.”

KVUE has more on the dispute and Austin Towers has the details on the development

Filed Under: austin news, downtown austin

About Jude Galligan

Jude Galligan is Principal at TOWERS.net.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steve R says

    April 2, 2013 at 10:45 pm

    I’m just getting around to reading this, but it still has stories I otherwise would have missed. Thanks Jude!

  2. Austin Healy says

    March 30, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Yes to weekly roundup! Thanks, Jude 🙂

  3. Tim says

    March 30, 2013 at 8:10 am

    I like the end of the week wrap-up format!

  4. BrodieOcean says

    March 29, 2013 at 10:07 am

    Very helpful! Thnx

  5. Lance Hunter says

    March 29, 2013 at 8:31 am

    Any news about Lustre Pearl probably losing its liquor license (along with Clive Bar and Bar 96) and what that may end up doing to the whole entertainment scene around Rainey Street?

  6. John says

    March 29, 2013 at 8:03 am

    Very interesting. Keep up the good work!

  7. Nathan Jones says

    March 29, 2013 at 7:54 am

    This is very helpful and would be awesome as a regular feature!
    Keep up the great work!

  8. Fred Schmidt says

    March 29, 2013 at 7:42 am

    This is GREAT, Jude! Very helpful. Three of those bits had not yet found their way onto my radar from any other sources.

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