Archives for April 2015

Newest Installation of Public Art Project at 2nd and Guadalupe

AG | April 22, 2015 |

The Second Street Public Art Master Plan (part of Great Streets), in coordination with the City’s Art in Public Places program, has methodically been placing art in around the district since the mid-2000s, when 7 sidewalk enhancements were commissioned at district intersections to reflect a unified theme.

The City of Austin has a 2% for art ordinance that was established in 1985. Art in Public Places (AIPP) is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year and Austin was the first municipal public art program in the state of Texas. Under the ordinance, 2% of eligible capital improvement project budgets are allocated for the commission of public art for that site. The projects in The Second Street Public Art Master Plan are under that envelope of funding.

91 Red River Moving, To Be Preserved

AG | April 17, 2015 |

Update: Whelp, we’re not sure what happened, but we noticed the home was actually demolished, and not moved, like we had been previously been told by a source close to the property.

New signals of an inevitable redevelopment of the northeastern corner of Davis Street and Red River. We noticed yesterday that there was drilling outside of the home and we asked about it. We were told by a reliable source that the home, constructed in the early 1900’s, is being relocated to a retirement couple in Thorndale, possibly as part of a larger retirement community of historic homes.

Back in August of 2014, 91 and 91 1/2 Red River received demo permits from the City. As the Rainey Street district continues to evolve, we are glad to see these homes preserved.

5 things Amazon Will deliver to Downtown Austin in 1 hour

AG | April 9, 2015 |

Delivery and in-home services in Downtown Austin are getting ridiculous in the most amazing way. New ideations of these delivery services just… keep… appearing.

And now a giant has arrived in the marketplace. You can now get 1 HOUR DELIVERY of everyday items to your downtown Austin condo or office, through the new Amazon Prime Now App.

You do have to be a member of Amazon Prime, and you have to download the app onto your phone.

Choose your item from the options on the app. Choose whether you want 1-hour delivery ($7.99/order) or 2-hour delivery at no additional charge. $15 minimum. Also, you should probably tip, though they say it isn’t required, but I’m guessing it’s expected by your delivery guy.

Here are five types of items that you can have Amazon deliver to you in 1 hour:

1. Nyquil (or other medicines). Say you are siiiiick and Royal Blue Grocery is a couple of blocks too far away. Well, heave a courier get you some NyQuil and throw in some Kleenex to hit your minimum.

2. In the midst of a home project and covered in paint or grime? Order your painter’s tape, picture hooks, and hammer right from your home.

3. Throwing a party and forgot some things? Have an Amazon courier bring over your plates, cups, and napkins (and a couple of snacks) while you prepare for your guests.

4. Out of pet food but don’t want to get in downtown rush-hour traffic? You guessed it, an Amazon courier will bring Fido or Kitty some food and treats.

5. A laptop. Because why not?

Bare-ly Believable La Bare Building

AG | April 2, 2015 |

Remember La Bare on Riverside? Yeah, you do.

If you’re new to Austin, La Bare was a “ladies club” located at 110 E Riverside Drive that advertised male dancer entertainment. From the get-go, the business was troubled due to an incompatible use with the surrounding neighborhood (even then, when it wasn’t as densely populated with residential developments like The Crescent and others) and eventually re-opened on I-35, where it commenced to unwind.

That first part of that story sounds familiar, as a strip club was recently proposed and faces opposition at 422 Congress.

Just as fascinating as its salacious past are the future possibilities for the site, which is now being listed by commercial brokers Avison Young.

The fact that it’s been vacant for yeeeeaaaaaarssss seems nuts given it’s HIGHLY desirable location (again, a familiar theme in recent news). Why? We can only speculate, but it likely had to do with figuring out how the adjacent TxDot property will develop.

With a large landowner controlling several adjacent lots in one of the most desirable areas of Austin, we expect that once the planets align we’re going to see a master plan for all of these sites.

Down the street, CWS is mid-construction on a 260-unit luxury apartment complex.