downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog
The Statesman reports that more glass panels fell from downtown Austin’s W Hotel. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. This is the second incident of falling glass panels this month. In the photo below, it appears there are panels missing from three floors.
UPDATE: [Read more…] about Second Set Of Glass Panels Fall From W Hotel
The news didn’t stop to take a breath this week, at least as it relates to downtown Austin. Lots of announcements, lots of speculation. These are the stories we’re following.
1) 219 West is moving from Warehouse district to West 6th Street, into the old Union Park space. (link)
2) In “how will they fit it in there?” news: a proposed tower between Shoal Creek and Spring Condos, behind Tiniest Bar In Texas. (link) UPDATE: Zoning change approved (link)
3) The White Lodging Hotel on Congress Ave isn’t the only proposed hotel. In fact, there’s another player looking at the lot next to the Palm School, and they are not seeking any fee waivers. (link)
4) Austin City Council delays vote on the White Lodging (“Mega Hotel”) fee waivers. (link)
5) Permanent supportive housing should not be placed near other social services (link)
6) Gables Republic Park says they won’t build soon, or at least until Travis County gets a clear vision on its new downtown courthouse site. (link)
It seems that having Armbrust & Brown attorney Richard Suttle as the representative of the hotel developers I wrote about Monday may be a little too hot for some council members to handle.
On Tuesday morning, Council Members Bill Spelman, Sheryl Cole and Laura Morrison seemed skeptical that his clients need almost $4 million in city breaks to help to build a hotel downtown.
Students of city politics should note that the power base at city council has now shifted from Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez and Chris Riley — who are losing defeated incumbent Randi Shade — to the other council members, who are gaining Kathie Tovo next month.
[Read more…] about Mega Hotel Subsidy Draws Fire From Austin Council
For one weekend in June, thousands upon thousands of men and woman from around America loudly announce they are not normal and converge upon Austin for the ROT (Republic of Texas) Rally.
The roar of their machines remind us that this is a different breed of people. Thank you ROT Rally for coming back to Austin year after year and helping keep Austin weird and loud, if only for one extended weekend.
News broke Friday that the shelved White Lodging Services Corp. plans for a 1,000-plus hotel at 2nd Street and Congress Avenue are back on the stove.
The news seems to echo what Assistant City Manager Robert Goode told council at a recent hearing: “We are a big city, get over it.”
[Read more…] about New Mega Hotel Planned, City Waiving $3.8M In Fees
