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Downtown Austin Condos Dwindling: Video

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We don’t watch much TV, so we missed this KXAN piece highlighting the potential shortage of new downtown Austin condos.  The report claims 408.  Downtown Austin Blog’s count is 475.  I deal in downtown condos everyday, and this report is a little misleading.  Reports like this ignore the approximately 175 downtown resales currently available for sale.  Still, it’s very encouraging to receive some positive press reflecting the vibrancy of downtown.

Thanks to the Jdawgboy at SkyscraperPage forums for the heads up!

-Jude

The State Theatre

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Next to the Paramount Theatre on Congress Ave sits another theatre.  The State Theatre is managed by a non-profit, Austin Theatre Alliance, which also manages the Paramount.  In recent years, you couldn’t be blamed for completely missing the theatre from the street-scape vantage point, though countless photos and postcards highlight the giant “State” neon monument.  In 2006 a broken water main ravaged the State Theatre.  At the time, its next door neighbor, 721 Congress Ave was under development by Sinclair Black (who was also the designer of the theatre’s renovation in 1994-1995).  The two buildings share a basement, and logic dictated that the State Theatre allow 721 Congress to get further along in its development plans.

Cut to November 2009 and 721 Congress Ave is still a shell of a building with little prospect for achieving Sinclair’s vision anytime within the next five years.  What will happen with the State Theatre?  We don’t know.  The State Theatre has not reopened for performances, though its acting school never closed.  There’s been no updates published about their renovations or plans going forward.  Just as the Ritz Theatre on 6th Street (another mid-century movie house) has been given a new life with its tenant the Alamo Drafthouse, we hope the State Theatre’s best days are yet to come.

Suzanne Davis Gandy: Artist Reception Tonight

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Friend of Downtown Austin Blog, Suzanne Davis Gandy, will have a reception tonight at Art Exchange Gallery on 5th Street, below 5th Street Commons. Original oil landscapses by this Austin artist are included in the gallery’s collection.  Art Exchange Gallery opened in early October, 2009, with owner, Hardy Woodall, bringing a captivating collection of original works by international, national and local artists.  The event is free and open to the public.

Art Exchange Gallery: Artist Reception for Suzanne Davis Gandy
Location: Art Exchange Gallery
1611 W. 5th St.
Time: 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Free, covered parking is located behind the building.

904 West Update

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Below is an update from Noa Levy and 904 West Ave condos. I was able to preview this rehab last month and left impressed with the quality and design. Calling it a rehab doesn’t paint the full picture, as nearly everything is new – the studs, flooring, plumbing, electrical, all new.  You can find pricing and floor plans on their website 904west.com, and I’ve prepared a spreadsheet of their pricing which you can download here.  To update our previous coverage of 904 West pricing, asking prices begin in the $160s, and including the outdoor living space, prices average ~$329/ft.

First and foremost our contracts ready. The first phase of the project which includes 5 Residences, 3 live-works and 1 commercial space will be available to be occupied by January 1, 2010. We are offering private tours at this time and have finish boards and upgrade spec sheets in our office. 2% earnest money is required to go into contract.

We have secured 2 preferred lenders, SWBC Mortgage and Colonial National Mortgage, and we are happy to help you pre-qualify any interested parties.

To give you a quick recap about 904 West, the project is a mixed-use/multi-family style development with 33 units comprised of 2 commercial spaces, 9 live/work spaces, 13 residences, and 9 urban bungalows starting in the $160K’s. 904 West is a high-rise alternative with many green features including the first in downtown Austin to offer a photovoltaic solar energy system that will decrease resident’s energy bills. Moreover, residents can monitor their usage online and adjust accordingly. Other green features include LED lighting throughout the building, Energy Star rated Bosch stainless appliances, energy efficient heating and cooling equipment, and many green building materials.

The building will include a secured lobby, secured garage, semi-covered central atrium with meeting spaces, elevator, and private swimming pool. The property is adjacent to Duncan Park and walking distance to Whole Foods, Shoal Creek hike and bike trail, and all the shops, eateries, and entertainment downtown Austin has to offer. In addition, it is very close to major employers, the State Capitol, Courthouse for those who are seeking work opportunities or office space downtown.

Not So Great Streets

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The phrase “great streets” gets a lot of lip service in downtown stakeholder circles.  This has been going on since 2000.  We’re all familiar with 2nd Street District, and I think we can generally agree that the City/AMLI knocked it out of the park with this one.  It’s a terrific pedestrian experience.

With the Great Streets Program available since 2000, not all buildings constructed since then have fully adopted the notion.  Two examples:

1) Hampton Inn

Sure, the New Orleans style terrace is charming, but if you’ve ever walked by the hotel you were almost certainly dodging valet podiums, bellhops, guests, and tiny bistro tables that are so crowded that nobody uses them.

2) Champions @ Courtyard Marriot

If you know this corner, you know there is a string of cabs parked along 4th street.  Here we see a hard fence forcing pedestrians towards the street, and creating an uninviting al-fresco experience for bar patrons.  The far end of this fence terminates into a round-a-bout entrance into the Courtyard.  A better alternative to activate this corner would be planters like we see at Annies, which would also provide an entrance to the the restaurant along 4th street.

photos courtesy of Mike McGill

Downtown Austin Open Houses

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(Looking for this week’s open houses? You’ll find them here.)

downtown-austin-open-house

Open houses in downtown Austin for Sunday, November 15th

The great thing about downtown Austin open houses is that you can generally walk from building to building. Take a stroll downtown now that summer is over and the temperature is cooler. If you’re into adaptive reuses of older buildings, checkout DAB’s list of downtown Austin lofts. Looking for FHA approved condos? We’ve got the info here.

This weekend you can browse at your own pace at the Austin City Lofts, The Nokonah,  Spring, and the Austonian sales center.  While you’re here, checkout DAB’s gift suggestions found on 2nd Street.

Sunday
1) 901 W 9th St #418, 1bd, 1ba + study, $320,000, 1-3pm [Urbanspace] map
2) 800 W 5th St #201, 2bd, 2ba, $649,900, 1-3pm [Urbanspace] map
3) 300 Bowie St, Spring sales center, model units, 1-5pm map website
4) 200 Congress Ave, Austonian sales center located at 300 W 6th, 12-5pm map website

Don’t see the properties you’re interested in? Ask a Realtor who lives and works in downtown Austin.

Waller Creek Meeting Notes

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waller-creek-tunnel-city-acquires-land

At last night’s WCCAC meeting:

1) We learned that the City is negotiating the purchase of three contiguous lots located along southbound frontage road and bounded by 4th and 5th Streets.  This area hosts the east bank of Waller Creek between 4th and 5th and is currently used as a surface parking lot.  The land acquisition will be purchased with funds from the Waller Creek Tunnel Project, and will likely become a temporary staging ground for the construction of the tunnel.  Ironically [to me at least] these lots are not on FEMA’s 100 year flood maps, and therefore wouldn’t directly benefit from the tunnel improvements designed to remove land from the 100 year flood plain. The lots are encumbered by Capitol View Corridors, though.  You can see the lots under “Kuykendall Addn”.

2) The WCCAC made an official recommendation to City Council that the Strategy 1 improvements identified by ROMA’s Waller Creek District Master Plan be included in the items for the 2010 Transportation Bond.  The bond is limited to issues of mobility, including pedestrian uses such as the conversion of Sabine Street into a promenade.

3) Perry Lorenz provided citizen communication that the 21c project is moving forward and the development team is flying to Austin from Louisville with updates in the first week of December.  In addition to getting a more comprehensive project status, we should receive a better idea of the amount and types of consideration the project is paying towards Waller Creek improvements adjacent to the property.

4) The I-35 Makeover project is going to be complete in 2010 and will be funded from the parking fees collected underneath I-35.  No word yet on improvements to the 4th Street overpass, but WCCAC requested to be included as a stakeholder should that discussion commence.

5) Matt Knifton of the Texas Rowing Center provided citizen communication about TRC’s bid for the boathouse.  Notably, last year TRC donated roughly $30,000 in community outreach in the form of education and classes for minority children and those with disabilities.  Matt estimated that as a PARD concessionaire since 1999, the TRC has returned over $400,000 to the city;moreover, throughout a 20 year lease of the new boathouse, there is potential to generate nearly $3MM in concession revenue for the city.  The TRC would have the opportunity to further increase their community outreach programs, making the lake more accessible to more Austinites.

In summary, it’s nice to see action and momentum!

-Jude

Tonight's WCCAC Agenda

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This evening is our monthly meeting of the Waller Creek Citizens Advisory Committee (WCCAC).  I’m especially interested to get the updates on the I-35 makeover project.

WALLER CREEK CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE WALLER CREEK CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12th, 2009, AT 6:00 P.M. IN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, CITY HALL, 301 WEST SECOND STREET

The City Council Waller Creek Citizen Advisory Committee may go into a closed session under the Open Meetings Act, Section 551.071, of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from legal counsel on any item on this agenda.

Call Meeting to Order

1. Approval of Minutes – (October 22, 2009)

2. Citizen Communication (3 minutes)

3. Waller Creek Master Plan Update – Discussion

Jim Robertson, COA

4. IH-35 Makeover Project – Discussion

Erica Leak, COA

5. WCCAC-Parks Board Joint Subcommittee – Discussion

Sara Hensley, COA

6. Waller Creek Tunnel Update – Discussion

Gary Jackson, COA

7. Competitive Design Process – Discussion

Jude Galligan, WCCAC

8. Waller Creek District surface improvements/2010 Transportation Bond Election

Discussion and possible action

Jeb Boyt, WCCAC

9. Future Agenda Items for December 3, 2009 Meeting

Discussion and Possible Action

Downtown Austin: These Are the Places to Get Your Flu Shot (AKA – It's official. Google literally knows everything.)

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It’s flu season, which means it’s flu shot season.

I just found out Google has launched a new service that will map out the nearest place to get a flu shot, based on your search criteria.  The service includes results for shots for H1N1.

I’ve taken the liberty of doing a search for flu shots near 78701 (downtown Austin). The search pretty much gave me every location with available flu shots in Austin.  Click here for a map/list of the results.  Or look below to get an idea of how many places nearby are offering the shots:

Picture 2

FYI, per Google, it looks like all the places that carry the H1N1 vaccine are temporarily out of stock….

New Renderings Of 21c

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Hmmm…. I wouldn’t say these renderings show a design that is inspired.   Certainly my design expectations for 21c are high.  Below is a [hopefully] early rendering of the hotel and museum portion taken directly from the 21c website.

The Skyscraper crew is not happy 🙁