downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog
URBAN CORE HAPPY HOUR: RSVP by June 9th
Thursday, June 11, 2009
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
El Sol y La Luna @ 600 E. 6th St. (map) (transit)
DANA Members, please join us Thursday, June 11th at 6:30 at El Sol y La Luna for this month’s Urban Core Happy Hour. El Sol y La Luna has relocated from its long time home on South Congress to Austin’s Historic Sixth Street. Please join us for some great food, drinks and live music provided by Timba Rain.
To the chagrin of environmentalists and taxing authorities alike, Austin has many concrete lots. Lots that used to have a structure on it but are now vacant. Like parking lots, vacant lots that have the appearance of being abandoned are one of the more invasive forms of urban blight. In San Francisco, CMG Landscape Architects have been found a nifty way to improve the visual landscape and help remove thermal hotspots. Inspired by the vegetation that begins to grow in the cracks and along the fringes of concrete, the “Crack Garden” (they really could have picked a better name) harnesses plant growth in harsh urban environments.
There is a lot on the corner of E 5th and San Jacinto, bound by chain link fence, that is the result of a fire years ago. The owner doesn’t even use it for parking. The owner should consider the social benefits of allowing a group to come in and manage a project like this until he is ready to develop the lot. The City of Austin should encourage and property owners should embrace grassroots and affordable improvements to the urban landscape. I imagine we would have plenty of volunteers ready to lend a hand.
-Jude
[youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgnP2hOHGr8]
It’s good to see some activity on Congress. We spend our time worrying about the Warehouse district, while we have boarded up historical buildings on Congress Ave that need good owners and tenants.
The ABJ is reporting on an Italian restaurant, Quatrro Gatti, moving into 908 Congress Ave by the end of summer. Down the block El Chile is open at 918 Congress. At 319 Congress a bistro-themed eatery called Annies will soon open.
The Downtown Austin Alliance’s is “… a 24/7 Congress alive with commerce and serving as a model for the rest of downtown.” Progress has been slow, but these three restaurants are great step forward to attracting investment dollars to Congress.
Back in December, DAB reported on this mid-century modern Texas Comptroller building for sale. According to the Statesman, Kemp Properties has purchased the 75,000 ft building and plans to preserve the building’s character. 25,000 feet will be occupied by local advertising firm McGarrah/Jessee. This is great news! Officially named the “Starr Building” the property was marketed without a price.
Part of the space will become retail. Downtown Austin doesn’t need more bars or boutiques, so hopefully they will be progressive in their decision. Below is an image of what existed before the building we see today. It used to be an H-E-B. Let’s try Royal Blue Grocery!
-Jude
ABJ is reporting, and I can look out my window to confirm, that downtown Austin’s Four Seasons residences have topped out their construction on the 32nd floor. Construction is scheduled to wrap up in Q1 2010.