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Art in Downtown Austin – ArtProm by Big Ass Canvas

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We’ve been fortunate to experience and host the work of several Austin artists, notably Hallie Rae Ward and Truth have dedicated space in the TOWERS Realty office.

We’re always on the lookout for new additions, and were thrilled to discover a temporary gallery space that’s just opened in the 2nd Street district.  It’s being called ArtProm, is located at 208 Colorado, and is the brainchild of Travis Huse of Big Ass Canvas.

You’ve likely seen Travis’ work around Austin.  For one thing, he’s done the garage murals for the AMLI on 2nd Street district (if you are driving southbound on Guadalupe, you’ll see it on your right as you pass 3rd Street).  Residents of The Shore Condos may also recognize his work in our parking garage elevator bay at P1.

In our opinion, Austin is in dire need of more gallery experiences, particularly of the street art variety, and ArtProm delivers in similar fashion to SpraTX.

They’ll be around for the next couple of months, and we highly recommend stopping in and checking it out.  Art will rotate as it sells.

Additionally, Travis would also be excited to help coordinate using the space for private parties and the like. He wants to get people in the gallery and viewing the art.   If you have a guest list and need a cool space for your event – just reach out to him through his Big Ass Canvas site.

ArtProm is the best gallery addition to downtown Austin, since the Peoples Gallery started at City Hall.

Downtown Austin Apartments: 404 Rio Grande

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[youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keuJmAFHb0o]

Continuing this week’s theme of apartment reviews…

404 Rio Grande is the oft neglected apartment complex in the core of downtown Austin. (Gmap)  It doesn’t evoke the same reaction as the Monarch or AMLI on 2nd.  Still, 404 Rio Grande, at the corner of West 5th and Rio Grande, has one of the best locations in downtown Austin.  The rents are cheaper, too.  Unlike the new high rises parking is included for you and your guests.

Don’t expect the finishes to be similar to Monarch, its next door neighbor.  It would be easy to frown upon 404 Rio Grande’s faux-hardwood-laminate flooring and white appliances while paying a substantial rent.  Washer and dryer are not included.  Still, the loft style design of AMLI is not preferred by everyone, and 404 Rio Grande’s units are cozy – ultimately you are paying for location.

So, if your budget or desires don’t call for a 24-hour concierge or loft-like design, you might consider 404 Rio Grande.  After incentives, which constantly change at every building, one-bedrooms begin around $1300 and two-bedrooms around $1900.  The biggest challenge for a renter interested in 404 Rio Grande is availability.  404 Rio Grande has been fully occupied for a couple of years so, unlike the new high rises, availability depends on someone moving out.

If you are considering a move downtown, feel free to give me a call!

Jude Galligan, Downtown Austin Realtor
judegalligan [@] gmail.com
(512) 226-3414

5th Street Commons

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_gzpDn7SqU]

This morning the I visited the folks at 5th Street Commons.  They kindly invited me for a tour of their new digs, and to discuss the incentives currently available to renters.  Located on the outskirts of downtown Austin, the 150 apartments at the 5th Street Commons are sufficiently close enough to downtown to be included here.

What I like:
1) Ground floor retail and street side parking.  Once fully occupied with commercial tenants this should become another walkable district.

2) Smart floor plans.  At only 759/ft, the A1 plan is incredibly spacious with enough room for a dining table, kitchen island, and laundry room – without feeling cramped.

3) It’s equidistant to Whole Foods as the Sabine, and closer than Legacy on the Lake, Milago, etc.

4) Standard size washer and dryer included in all units

With advertised incentives, the rents are roughly 10-20% less than AMLI on 2nd or Monarch.   Accounting for two months of free rent on a 12 month lease, one bedrooms should begin around $1300 (studios even less), two-bedrooms around $1700.

-Jude

Texaplex!!!!!!

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC16-4fh-Qc]

This Texas meme has been circling for a couple of days.  Cool video discussing Texas’s economic engine – 75% of the state’s population exists in the triangle formed by San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston.

From the Texaplex website
“The global financial crisis is a vicious cycle. The more we hear and talk about it, the worse it gets. However, in spite of all the national bad news, Texas is prospering! Texas, and in particular the Texaplex, has some pretty impressive facts that most Texans weren’t even aware of. This video is part of the Texaplex project which has set out to change that.”

Impostors?

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Capitalism is alive and well in downtown Austin.

KVUE is reporting on “parking lot impostors” that pretend to work for the parking company and take your money.   I prefer to call these people disenfranchised capitalistic carnival barkers.  According to KVUE.com “Parking lot impostors in downtown Austin are costing customers and parking lot owners money. Police say the issue generates more complaints downtown than any other. KVUE’s Jim Bergamo reports.”   In addition to being scammed for your cash, you’re likely to be towed, too.  This video is not news to anyone that spends time downtown, but it’s nice to see some coverage in the mass media.

The guys waiving you into a public parking space are another breed of bum-preneur.  You know the guys waving their arms along 5th street offering you a public parking space with the additional bonus of them looking after your car if you could spare some change.

link to video

The Tragedy of Suburbia

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In this video, James Howard Kunstler tells you why suburbia hasn’t been delivering on what it’s been promising: a respite from the industrial city.

The automobile created the opportunity to own a “country” house. As more people purchased cars, more people also wanted to purchase homes outside the city. What happened is the modern suburban experience became a cartoon of the original desire to have a “country” house outside of the city.

Kunstler advocates sustainability through living locally. Love this guy’s passionate delivery.

NSFW for language

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ZeXnmDZMQ]

According to his TED conference bio:
“James Howard Kunstler may be the world’s most outspoken critic of suburban sprawl. He believes the end of the fossil fuels era will soon force a return to smaller-scale, agrarian communities — and an overhaul of the most destructive features of postwar society.”