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Austin Bike Share Gets A $1.5 Million Boost

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In an announcement by the Austin Transportation Department, we learn that CAMPO has approved $22 million for Austin transportation projects, including $1.5 million for Austin bike share!

The $1.5MM grant required matching funds of at least 20%. Mellow Johnny’s, GSD&M, and a growing roster of local businesses are stepping up to raise an additional $500,000.

Ever since seeing a successful bike share in action (Minneapolis and Montreal), I’ve been an apostle for bringing a robust, managed, convenient, and predictable system to Austin.

For years a managed cycle program was not even part of the transit discussion.  The reason for the surge in broad based popularity comes down to money.  For a fraction of the cost of buses, a managed bike share system can solve many of the same last-mile challenges.

Now, because of leadership at City Hall and the financial commitment by local businesses, Austin bike share is integral to discussions of last-mile and urban transportation options in Austin, Texas. [Read more…] about Austin Bike Share Gets A $1.5 Million Boost

DANA Urban Core Happy Hour

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Quick post about the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association’s monthly Urban Core Happy Hour, (12/8/2011) from 6:30pm – 8:30pm.

This month’s HH will be at downtown Austin Whole Foods, on the Plaza Level, right next to the newly opened ice skating rink!  Whole Foods will be providing nibbles and booze for DANA members (only $5 if you are not a DANA member!), and both Whole Foods and Dr. Georgeanne Freeman will be doing raffles for awesome prizes!  Also, we’ll have live music at the event, starting at 7! Make sure to drop by and enjoy the fun!

Click Here for full details for the event.  Please make sure to read the door policy at the bottom of the event page.

If you aren’t a member of DANA, individual memberships only cost $25 per year, and you get a host of benefits, including free entry into ~10 Urban Core Happy Hours a year!  Join now!

 

Budare’s Serves Breakfast To Rainey Street Residents Hungry For More

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The newest addition to Rainey Street’s eclectic mix of repurposed bungalows is a backyard trailer named Budare’s serving … drum roll… BREAKFAST!

The sign has been up for a couple of weeks, but it was the sight this morning of my vacant refrigerator that got me motivated to walk 100 yards to a warm meal.

I ordered two visayas tortas with turkey and a bottle of water.  $9.50 total and worth every penny on this cold morning.

It’s news anytime something other than a bar opens on Rainey Street and Budare’s modest menu is a welcome addition.

Budare’s is on the way to work for many of you at Milago Condos, the Shore Condos, or the Windsor apartments.  You can check them out at 75 Rainey Street.  EZ street parking in the morning from 6AM to 10AM.  BONUS: you can call in your order at 512-487-6791. [Read more…] about Budare’s Serves Breakfast To Rainey Street Residents Hungry For More

Take a Downtown Holiday Stroll and See Some Art – Saturday 12/3/2011

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It’s free. It’s family-friendly. And heck, yeah, it’s even fun. This Saturday, December 3, 2011, marks the 9th annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll – culminating in a Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Capitol Steps in Downtown Austin. The event is a partnership effort of the Downtown Austin Alliance and KUT, and it’s a pretty nice thing to do.

A couple of cool special events that caught my eye in coordination with the Downtown Holiday Stroll to note: [Read more…] about Take a Downtown Holiday Stroll and See Some Art – Saturday 12/3/2011

THE NOOK: New Bar To Fill A Hole On E. 6th Street

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Based on the TABC application mounted to the facade, 309 E 6th Street could become productive again.  The applicant, “The Nook“, is seeking a “Mixed Beverage-Late Hours” permit.

Prior to some dedicated stewardship from 6ixth Street Austin’s board of directors (notably Tim League’s cadre of creative support, Wild About Music’s Fred Schmidt, and 6ixth Street Austin Executive Director, Josh Allen) all that remained at 309 E 6th Street was a hole – a legacy from the summer of 2002 when the Black Cat Lounge burned down.  For years a chain link fence guarding the site added to the blight around “Dirty Sixth”.

The building’s Houston-based owners, George and Mark Santikos, worked with 6ixth Street Austin to erect a colorful temporary facade depicting “Austin, Texas Live Music Capitol of The World” which blocks the view of building carnage.  That sign has become one of the most recognizable and photographed things in downtown Austin.   [Read more…] about THE NOOK: New Bar To Fill A Hole On E. 6th Street

What Type Of Retail Will Replace The AMOA?

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With downtown Austin’s AMOA no longer exhibiting at 823 Congress Ave, what will fill the void?  Most stakeholders I know are hoping for retail.

The corner space includes 12,000 square feet, lots of glass (fenestration for the urbanistas), and has a nice outside plaza.

It’s clear what is missing from the downtown retail mix: a large destination retail store that appeals to a broad base of customers; rather than a boutique store with a limited audience.

Will us downtown Austin condo dwellers get our wish for a Breed & Company or Target (don’t hate!).  Time will tell.  Until then it’s fun to speculate about how to achieve highest and best use of this great space.

What do you want to see?  Use the comments and see more pics after the jump.   [Read more…] about What Type Of Retail Will Replace The AMOA?

Downtown Austin’s Asian Cuisine Corridor (Mai Thai Austin MENU & Restaurant Review)

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Did you know, that in the two blocks between Cesar Chavez and 3rd Street on San Jacinto, there are four restaurants that fall under the category of Asian cuisine – Chinese (P.F. Chang’s), Japanese (Piranha Killer Sushi), and Mongolian (Mongolian Grille Downtown), and now, with the area’s newest addition, Thai (Mai Thai)?  I’m gonna start calling this the Asian Cuisine Corridor – I’m hoping the name will catch on.

I noticed this informal agglomeration walking back to my house after my first meal at Mai Thai.

[Read more…] about Downtown Austin’s Asian Cuisine Corridor (Mai Thai Austin MENU & Restaurant Review)

Brooks Brothers Brings Back The Brass

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Walking up to the entrance of the new Brooks Brothers store in downtown Austin‘s Scarbrough building, I smiled.

I thought to myself, this is how downtown retail should look and feel.  The entrance has a gilded age grandeur that we’re no longer accustomed to in a downtown retailer.  Big window displays run the length of the building.  You’re greeted by brass doors with elegant hardware.  It’s the details that matter. [Read more…] about Brooks Brothers Brings Back The Brass

DANA – “Spotlight on Safety” Event, November 15th, 6:30pm

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We’ve mentioned KrimeLabb on our blog before – it’s this great database querying, mapping website where you can see the crime that’s happening in different parts of Austin.

For instance, I just did a pull for criminal activity that’s happened in 78701 (Downtown Austin’s major zip code) for the month of October, and I learned that we’ve had 1004 reported incidents, and 491 arrests so far this month.   From a very quick glance, it looks like a good number of incidents are related to DWI / public drunkedness, which, you know – isn’t good, but isn’t necessarily as alarming to me as, I don’t know – [Read more…] about DANA – “Spotlight on Safety” Event, November 15th, 6:30pm

DAB EXCLUSIVE: Sales Data From The Austonian, W Hotel Residences, Four Seasons, Spring Condos

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[Personal update why we’ve not published data for a while. A couple of months ago, I began work on obtaining sales data from the newly constructed buildings. Not a quick and easy task.  However, after several conversations and a leap of faith by everyone involved in assembling the data (thanks!), we’ve got some REALLY interesting data to share. –Jude]

Back in 2010, when downtown Austin’s luxury condos started closing, the actual sales prices were closely guarded (not entered into the MLS).  I’ve been publishing monthly sales of Downtown Austin condos for years, and began tracking sales of new construction condos by laboriously tracking new deed records. That data was [at least] an accurate count of how many new constructions units had closed, and what floor plans were selling best.  That was real data my clients could rely upon, but actual closing prices were simply not available.

As a result, I have only been able to consistently highlight resale pricing.  With all of my talk about the average sale price for downtown is solidly planted at $300 per foot, I would always qualify it as incomplete without closing price data for new condos.

My goal has always been to combine the resale numbers and the new construction numbers into a single statistic.  The closely guarded luxury condo sales data has kept me from doing that.

Until now…  [Read more…] about DAB EXCLUSIVE: Sales Data From The Austonian, W Hotel Residences, Four Seasons, Spring Condos