Bowie Street underpass finally on drawing board
The Bowie Street underpass project, to connect the Market District to the Pfluger Bridge under the Union Pacific railroad tracks, has been in the public domain for almost six years, but stagnant without any real progress.
Now it appears engineering plans are finally here! This is especially welcome news for residents of Gables West and Spring Condos.
Records show a site plan by city infrastructure contractor HDR (although watermarked as “preliminary”) was officially signed off by engineers and submitted to city permitters in mid-August. Past reports anticipated the underpass to wrap construction in 2016, and this is a good sign the ball is moving.
So Long, Cozzoli’s
Cozzoli’s Pizza, a frequent late-night haunt of downtowners at 7th & Congress since 1981, closed its doors for good last month. Owner Moosa Meschin, who worked behind the counter until the end, posted a farewell well note as he enters retirement.
Hatbox, a haberdashery once located on South Congress, has opened up shop in the space and is a welcome addition to promote an activated N. Congress corridor.
I’ll miss Cozzoli’s comfort food. This is a loss for everyone in downtown Austin who appreciates the unpretentious.
416 Congress Boutique Hotel back from grave?
It was way back in 2011 that City Council blessed the 416 Congress “sliver hotel” only for the project to stagnate and never get off the ground.
However, the project has just been resubmitted, keeping it in play, and it remains unchanged from the 2011 vision. That plan call for a 26-story, 130-room hotel and restaurant behind a small 120-year-old Congress Avenue building (the entire structure, other than the front façade, will be demolished).
Proposed Kimber Modern Rainey loses the Kimber
The Kimber Modern Rainey hotel, slated to be a 30-room boutique hotel, in the Rainey Street District is at risk after mastermind Kimber Cavendish told local media she is out.
Located near the corner of River St @ East Ave, and with CBD zoning in place it’s an attractive development site. There’s an indication in the report about the project’s moving forward with a different brand and vision. Stay tuned.
![Rendering of new Kimber Modern coming to Rainey Street district [source: Burton Baldridge]](https://e2718.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Kimber_Modern_Austin_Rainey_Street-600x410.jpg)
SXSW guru’s company picks up downtown parcel unhindered by Capitol View Corridor
SXSW executive Roland Swenson’s development company — CZ Properties — picked up an acre parcel next to the State Capitol at 1400 Lavaca Street, according to new reports.
The property, which is just under an acre and currently includes a two-story building occupied by the Texas Restaurant Association, could be developed into something much more.
SXSW has remained tight-lipped other than to say it will be overflow office space. But I’d lay a small bet that an announcement will coincide in some way with the SXSW 30th anniversary (next year) if Swenson is planning to develop the spot.
