Downtown Austin Blog

downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog

You are here: Home / Archives for downtown austin

downtown austin

Austin’s Old Bakery: What Is Highest & Best Use?

| |

In 1976, the City of Austin utilized federal Older American Act funds to establish a multifaceted gift shop selling handicrafts and original art by local artists 50 or better.

That was the mission for the Old Bakery & Emporium, located at 1006 Congress Ave.

I’m as surprised as you that this concept didn’t take off and IPO within a few years.

Alas, charming as it is, the Old Bakery has not generated much buzz to date, and stakeholders are looking for new ideas.  [Read more…] about Austin’s Old Bakery: What Is Highest & Best Use?

CAMPO and YOU!

| |

Everybody knows CAMPO as the sexiest metropolitan planning organization.  And, it wants to talk with you… to learn about you… to discover what you want.  What are your hopes?  Dreams?

You’ve been dreaming about $836,000,000 in project applications, but CAMPO only has $132,000,000 of federal and state funds to spend on you.

How to decide!?

You call your best friends, looking to them for support because you can’t have everything.  They help you by completing this survey.  They join you for cocktails when CAMPO hosts a community meeting Sept. 21 at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, from 6:30–8 p.m., to discuss the various projects, and a public hearing Sept. 26 at Joe C. Thompson Center on The University of Texas campus at 6 p.m.

You’re so predictable: you’re attracted to simple projects that you can grow with.

1) Construction of a Sabine Street promenade that will involve the development of sidewalks, bike lanes and pedestrian amenities between Fourth and Seventh streets ($3.4 million).

2) First phase of bike share system ($2.0 million).

**SRSLY, this is important!  Complete the survey and make sure to indicate you wish to support the above two projects, amongst others.

Crossing The Chasm: A Perspective On New Construction

| |

Because I’m a real estate geek, I’m continuously looking at sales metrics, updating my databases, and endeavoring to uncover useful information.  In this post, I’m attempting two things: 1) offer some perspective on sales in downtown Austin’s high profile buildings, and 2) predict when those buildings will approach being completely sold.  If you just want the data then skip to the end.

One of my mentors shared with me an insight: the first buyers are innovators – early adopters that fill up the bandwagon and help throttle the acceptance of something new.  It applies to new real estate development, as much as it does to new technologies.

Now that the cranes are long gone, where are the new construction projects in their sales cycles? [Read more…] about Crossing The Chasm: A Perspective On New Construction

Jazz at Annie’s: Jim Cullum Jazz Band Returns to Annies Café & Bar

| |

Looking for date night ideas this week or next?  Try this:

After playing to standing-room-only crowds of die-hard jazz fans at a sold-out, mid-winter residency at Annie’s Café & Bar, the historic Congress Avenue bistro has arranged to have Jim Cullum return to Annie’s as summer draws to a close – this time presenting the electrifying new jazz prodigy, clarinetist Evan Arntzen. Austin jazz fans once again will have a rare opportunity to hear the world-renowned Jim Cullum Jazz Band as well as Arntzen’s exuberant new talent that has won awards and generating buzz around the world.

It’s all at a special jazz and dinner series hosted by Annie’s Café & Bar at 319 Congress Avenue on Thursdays, September 15 & 22.  Seatings will be at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.  There will be no cover charge with entrée purchase.

Sunday, 9/11 on Historic E.6th: Cleaning Up in the AM & Movie Watching in the PM. Join us!

| |

Come on down to Historic East 6th Street, Sunday evening the 11th, and hang with area residents, visitors and business owners as the Alamo Rolling Roadshow pulls into the 500 block of San Jacinto for a fun screening under the stars of the classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Last year, over 800 people showed up!

To prepare for this event as well as the upcoming Old Pecan Street Festival, ACL Fest, and the usual buzz of Fall events in Downtown Austin, 6th Street property and business owners will be out on Sunday morning sprucing up their buildings and the neighborhood.

More info on both events on the 6th Street Austin Blogspot.

See you there!