Real Estate

'Rural Density' – Is this the beginning?

Jude Galligan | November 18, 2008 |

One of several designs for Brad Kittels Tiny Texas House — One of several designs for Brad Kittel's Tiny Texas House

I think many downtown residents, musicians, artists, and anyone searching for something off the beaten path will appreciate this. Brad Kittel constructs and sells period-style dwellings — dubbed Tiny Texas Houses because they range from 100 to 500 square feet — as an answer to sprawling mansions and the myriad forms of exorbitance that come with them. (source: Statesman). Prices range from $40-90k.

Brad uses mostly reclaimed materials included siding, flooring, windows, hardware, and fixtures. You can see photos of his workshop on his website. The period-style dwellings are, in fact, modular and therefore could appeal to those already interested in the modular concepts of Rocio Romero or local firm KRDB’s Ma Modular.

[original article] [tiny texas homes]

The Patagonia Welcome Wagon

Jude Galligan | November 17, 2008 |

Patagonia is a welcome addition to Downtown Austin

This past weekend, Downtown Austin’s newest retailer, Patagonia, officially opened its doors. Located at 316 Congress Ave (map), Patagonia is a milestone in the revitalization of Congress Ave by bringing 7,000 square feet of outdoor clothing that Austinites seem to love. I make an effort to support businesses that make Downtown a better neighborhood. So, even though you might be spending less this holiday season, you should consider making the effort to spend that money at local small businesses and businesses that are revitalizing downtown.

According to the Statesman article, the store has shower facilities and bike accommodations for employees, supporting alternative commuting strategies and healthier lifestyles. Cool!

The DAA, and specifically Linda Asaf, need to be acknowledged here. They are working behind the scenes to help bring new retail, and new life, to Congress Ave. I am encouraged by property owners beginning to see the light, and investing in long term leases with credit tenants.

Downtown Austin By The Numbers: How many dwellings?

Jude Galligan | November 14, 2008 |

This is the first in a series of three articles aimed at uncovering the number of residences in Downtown Austin. So, how many dwellings are there? This seems like a simple question, doesn’t it? I’ve never been able to get a satisfying answer – one that doesn’t try to determine the number of residents using a multiplier, is not rounded up or down, and that clearly indicates what is currently being lived in or is ready for occupancy (not under construction).

You may ask, “why don’t you just search Google?” Well, I did. I searched Google for “how many dwellings are in Downtown Austin”. I used other iterations and synonyms of those search terms and could not find a satisfying answer. Much of the data available is old and/or disparate. The last U.S. Census was in 2000. The next is in 2010. Because I am your loyal Downtown Austin Realtor (plug!), I am uniquely suited to discover and share with you my count, building by building, of the number of Downtown Austin condos and apartments.

The official Downtown Austin Blog count of Downtown Austin dwellings after the jump.

Legacy On The Lake – first tour with video

Jude Galligan | November 13, 2008 |

I received an email last week that the new Legacy On The Lake residences were open for business, ready to lease, and offering tours of the building. This would be a good opportunity to preview a building that seems to have been under construction forever. So, I grabbed my camcorder and headed over. Located at 43 Rainey street, the Legacy is the third building, along with the Shore and Milago, to join the Rainey Street neighborhood in the past three years. With 31 floors, the Legacy towers over the lake. The views are what you would expect at that height – amazing.

Videos after the jump!

Is Downtown Austin ready for another grocery store?

Jude Galligan | November 12, 2008 |

Whole Foods made Downtown Austin what it is today. There, I said it. Without an anchor grocery store Downtown Austin would never have come so far. The Market District wouldn’t exist. It helps that Whole Foods has a brand cache and a great shopping experience. Personally, I end up spending as much money at other grocery stores, so I don’t believe Whole Foods is over priced. And, as big as it is today, Whole Foods was at one time a small business in Austin.

When AMLI Downtown opened, Downtown Austin got its second grocer. George Scariano opened Royal Blue Grocery. It was an instant hit. Urban dwellers want to see more of those blue awnings around town. Anyone that’s lived in NYC will feel at home here. It’s a small bodega-style grocer that has a little bit of everything. Outside you’ll find a magazine rack, tables, and people enjoying the scene.

Recently, the city received design ideas for the Green Water Treatment facility on Cesar Chavez. One of the entries prominently rendered a two-story H-E-B as part of the retail mix. The first time I saw that rendering I was sold on the idea. I realized how nice it would be to have some choice. Don’t get me wrong, I love Whole Foods and Royal Blue, but there is a place for a “regular” grocery store. I’ll go a bit further and say that I’d like to see it along Congress Avenue.

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