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CBD + OMV = Doh!

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CBD zoning was required to create the giant residential tax base we now have in downtown Austin.  CBD zoning also enables bars to easily obtain OMV permits.  These are good examples of the power of CBD zoning. However, there is a legacy problem surfacing in CBD zoned non-entertainment districts of downtown Austin: compatibility.

The surge in new OMV permits issued outside of the established entertainment districts in downtown Austin has generated a response from the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association.  DANA has issued a position letter (pdf) that suggests procedural, enforcement, and compatibility improvements to be applied outside of E. 6th Street and the Warehouse District.

BTW, the local news media is going to generate plenty of hyperbole and “show down” sensationalism.  I choose to ignore it.  The solution to compatibility problems boils down to common sense and compromise. [Read more…] about CBD + OMV = Doh!

Downtown Austin’s State Theatre Reopening To Performances

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I’ve never been inside downtown Austin’s State Theatre – the Paramount Theatre’s sister stage located adjacent to the north.  Years ago, the State Theatre flooded, and hadn’t returned to hosting performances (to my knowledge).  If this performance info is accurate, Chris Titus’s appearance on February 1st will be first performance in nearly five years.

I hope this is a sign of more showcase performances at the State.  Either way, this is a step in the right direction for a historic Congress Avenue theatre.

Ringside @ Sullivans Being Torn Down?

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Thanks to a friendly tip directing us to a facebook update by Curtain Call, the popular Ringside lounge, next to Sullivans, in downtown Austin’s Warehouse District could be torn down.  According to the update demolition could begin as soon as Monday.  I used to go to Ringside quite a bit, and have lots of good memories from that place.

“We have been informed that Ringside at Sullivan’s is going to be torn down (starting Monday) in order to make way for a new bar/restaurant that will be a cousin establishment to Sullivan’s.”

No news on what the new concept will be, so if you have an info on that please use the comments.

-Jude

Downtown Austin Condo Prices On The Rise in December

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1) Price Per Foot, and 2) Number of Transactions (monthly, Jan-Dec 2010)

The downtown Austin loft & condo market hit many milestones this year: 1) Austonian opened 2) Four Seasons opened 3) W Hotel residences approached completion.  Downtown hosted over $60MM in resale transactions during the year.  Moreover, to the surprise or chagrin of some, buyers are flocking to the top-tier buildings.  We close out 2010 with 38 closed transactions in the month of December – 18 resale, and 20 direct to developer.

The above chart shows downtown austin condo resale trends based on monthly data from 2010.  Direct to developer transactions are not shown on the chart.  The most salient trend we can glean from this data is the average sales price hovering steadily ~$300 per square foot.

Details after the jump… [Read more…] about Downtown Austin Condo Prices On The Rise in December

Spotted: New Bar Coming to Rainey Street Neighborhood

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No, not that one.  Or that one.  Not these, either.  Another one…

East Avenue Lounge, located along frontage road at 90 N IH-35 (aka East Ave), has posted their TABC application notice.  This is an interesting property.  It faces I-35. It has an upper and lower porch. In fact, it’s the only legacy two story structure in the area – a defining characteristic that hopefully will be embraced with creative uses and design. The proprietors will likely benefit from lots of “on the way home” traffic.  While inside the boundaries of downtown Austin’s Rainey Street neighborhood, this structure is located outside of the Rainey Street Historic District.



View Rainey Street District in a larger map

Live, Work, Play Downtown Austin: A Sonnet

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So, I asked a poet to write something to commemorate the launch of DAB Realty.  I think she nailed it!

“Keep Austin weird!” Is what the locals say,
And it’s clear that there’s something special here:
From the hottest live music every day
To great cafes and restaurants e’er near.

In my historic Austin loft I’m close
To the capital’s vibrant urban core,
True, downtown Austin condos make the most
Of the city – you couldn’t ask for more.

From the Austonian, to Four Seasons,
W Hotel Residences too,
There are limitless places and reasons
To make downtown Austin the home for you.

Looking for Austin life and real estate?
Then to this Downtown Austin Blog relate!

Downtown Austin’s W Hotel Trace MENU & La Condesa New Lunch Menu Items

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The W's Restaurant "Trace"

Just a week or so ago, The W Austin Hotel in downtown Austin held it’s grand opening.  Boy, that place is nice.  Jude and I visited the lounge areas and had dinner at Trace (link to Yelp reviews) on our visit.  The decor is swank, and the menu is trendy.  The dinner menu is separated into five categories: foraged, farmed, crafted, hunted, or shared, and the hotel restaurant has even hired an official forager, Valerie Broussard, to select local produce for the plates.

A little pricey for some plates and a little small on the portion sizes (which, honestly – is to be expected, this is a *fancy* hotel restaurant, after all), but delicious overall.  I had the Winter’s Garden salad, the Pumpkin Agnolotti, a basket of fries (from the bar menu – which I don’t have), and a glass of Merlot, all wonderful – the cost was about $35 + tip.  Here are the menus – breakfast, lunch, and dinner (they apparently change fairly frequently, maybe seasonally?,  – but this should give an idea on food type and price range) To enlarge each image, click once on the image to get to the image page, then click the image again.  More after the jump.

[Read more…] about Downtown Austin’s W Hotel Trace MENU & La Condesa New Lunch Menu Items

Lost Parrot – Reward, No Questions Asked

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Pets are family members.  A family at 360 condos has lost their African Grey Parrot, Mino, which recently flew out of their 14th story window.  According to owner, William Zhang, “Greys mostly tend to stay within a 1 mile radius of the area, so it’s likely he’s still in the downtown area. When they eventually get hungry enough, they will come down to people for food.”

We’re not used to seeing parrots in downtown Austin.  So, if you do see one, please give these people a call.

[Read more…] about Lost Parrot – Reward, No Questions Asked