Search Results for: spring condos

Storage Wars: Top Three Options For Condo Dwellers

Jude Galligan | January 13, 2014 |

I recently helped a couple downsize from a 3,000sf suburban home into a 1,000sf condo. Getting this empty-nester couple to move would not have been possible without storage. They purged a lot, but still ended up using all three of the options below.

Where space is scarce, storage is costly. Prices for storage units have gone up in recent years. A few times each year we see a storage unit come up for sale at the Shore Condos. The last one was ~$7500. Recently, I observed at 360 condos a storage unit trade for $15,000. Storage units at the Austonian will trade for ~$20,000, on average.

Storage units in building
Cost: varies, $2,800 – 20,000 (rent $75 – 200+/month)

Storage closets/units/lockers come in many shapes and sizes. Most high-rise condos do not convey with a storage closet (some do, for example Bridges On The Park and Brazos Place). The ones that do don’t always have enough storage to meet demand. Sometimes it’s just a fenced cage, other times it’s an actual closet with lockable door and electricity.

Unless a storage unit conveyed with the sale of the condo (a buyer can amortize the cost of the storage unit over the term of their mortgage) most transactions for building storage units are handled in cash. The cash-only aftermarket can put storage units out of reach for some owners. As you can see below there is a wide range of pricing.

Recent transactions: (sizes are ballpark based on owner input)
*5 Fifty Five – 4’w x 7’d x 7’h = $2,800-4,000.
*Milago = $3,750
*The Shore – 4’w x 7’d x 8’h = $7,500
*360 Condos – 5’w x 7’d x 9’h = $15,000.

Public Storage
Cost: varies, ~$100+ per month

Many downtown condo dwellers forget there is a Public Storage close by on W. 6th Street. As of this post, these rentable storage lockers start at $122 per month, plus a $75 move in fee, for a 5’w x 10’d.

I try to avoid renting whenever possible – it’s a sunk cost, and you need to drive to get there. However, when you’re downsizing and about to start moving, you just want an easy place to put stuff. This is where Public Storage is really helpful. Later you can transition into more permanent storage options once settled into your new digs.

USU “Urban Storage Unit”
Cost: fixed, $2000

The USU is sturdy box that sits in front/above your parking space. It maximizes space you are underutilizing. We have two of these and they are perfect for golf clubs, ski/snowboard equipment, holiday stuff, tools, and generally bulky items we want convenient access to from our door.

We needed to persuade our HOA board to let us install the USU, but now more buildings and HOAs are approving them based on the convenience and value these bring to their residents. You can see USUs in use at the Four Seasons, Spring Condos, W Hotel Residences, and the Shore Condos.

Hopefully, this will help those of you longing for some extra space. If you’ve seen more creative storage solutions, please make sure to share in the comments!

-Jude

[UPDATED: Though we’ve not used SpareFoot, we wanted to give them shoutout. SpareFoot is an online self-storage marketplace that allows storage seekers to search by price and area. So, you can price shop storage facilities across Austin. They are based in downtown Austin, too!]

The Most Insane Private Railcar You’ve Ever Seen Visits Downtown Austin

AG | October 18, 2013 |

Jude and I ride the Amtrak Texas Eagle from Austin to Little Rock at least once a year to visit my family.

We get a private cabin and find train travel to be a great alternative to the hassle of air travel – the slower pace IS the luxury. We bring several books and just enjoy a relaxing day of reading and appreciating the scenery.

But, DAAAAAAMMMMNNN! – Now that I’ve seen Patron Billionaire John Paul DeJoria’s private passenger railcar up close and personal, while enjoying sips of $600/bottle Patrón Burdeos and noshing on delicious tex-mex cuisine, every single other travel experience I’ve ever had pales in comparison. Shout out to Michael Tashnick (local hero and owner of the best Austin sports bar) for extending the invite to us.

The railcar, originally built in the 1920s and owned by DeJoria since 1996, has been lodged at the Amtrak station just to the west of downtown Austin since last week (if you live at The Spring Condos in downtown Austin and face west – you may have seen it through your window), and last night Patrón held a special, intimate gathering to promote their fine, fine liquor and show off The Patrón Tequila Express. I ate to my heart’s content, took a ton of pictures (including one with the billionaire himself – I die!), and reveled in all the cool stuff (special things happening all the time, that don’t make it to the mainstream) that happens in Downtown Austin!

I think the pictures speak for themselves! (Many thinks to friend and Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association President Mitchell McGovern for sharing some of his pics, too!). Just FYI, this was pretty much Jude and I’s reaction faces the whole time we were in the train:

Gallery after the jump…. [Read more…] about The Most Insane Private Railcar You’ve Ever Seen Visits Downtown Austin

ZOMG – Topfer Theatre at ZACH Theatre Brings Austin Theatre Back to the Forefront of Austin Culture

AG | September 19, 2012 |

I was lucky enough to be invited to a personal tour of ZACH Theatre’s new mainstage, The Topfer (pronounced top-fur) Theatre earlier this week. This theatre allows ZACH to truly make the jump from a small professional theatre to premiere regional theatre by providing a new, state of the art performance facility as part of downtown Austin’s already growing culture and arts scene. Downtown Austin needs a real regional theatre, and this structure and the excitement it will bring to the theatre and arts community is a huge step in the right direction.

Per an article in the Austin Chronicle (link) – ZACH Theatre had been contemplating building a third theatre in its complex as early at 1985, when they held over some funds from that year’s bond election to help fund building a third theatre. In 2000, the economy stalled, putting the project on hold, but, through a kick-start of funding of $10 million through the 2006 City of Austin bond election, and then fueled by direct private donation – the project was revived in 2007. Overall, it’s a $22 million project, and they still need to raise about $2 million for completion.

The ZACH Theatre compound falls within the Zilker Neighborhood Association, but it is easily accessible to downtown Austin condos and homes and, really, feels like a part of downtown to many. I was told the ZNA was supportive the variances Zach Scott needed to build the Topfer Theatre.

As a college Theatre Major and all around theatre nerd, I was soooooo impressed with the Topfer Theatre and Kuykendall Stage.

Some tidbits:

Celebrated Austin actress Karen Kuykendall has her ashes kept under the stage, isn’t that crazy?! (What’s even crazier is that there are no “r”s in “Kuykendall”!)
The Topfer Theatre has a LEED Silver Certification
Over 70 new parking spots have been added to the ZACH Theatre compound
40 new trees were added to the lot, as well
The AC and other mechanical components of the theatre have a separate foundation from the stage – this is to minimize any possibility of noise and rumbling during performances.
The theatre’s design is taken from the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago (the house is a little narrower)
The theatre house seats ~420
The theatre was designed by the same architects who did The W – Andersson-Wise Architects

Now, for the good stuff – the pictures (please note that the theatre is still having final touches done to it – not fully finished yet)!

The first floor lounge, where they will have a full bar and concessions.

The magnificent house of the Topfer Theatre. I die.

One of 4 actor dressing rooms. Nice digs.

This is where the two foundations in the Topfer Theatre meet. To reduce any possibility of noise interference during productions, the theatre has all of its clink and rumble-prone machinery put on a separate foundation.

The women’s restroom at the Topfer Theatre. Quite an upgrade from the old theatre!

The interior of the 2nd story sky lounge in the Topfer Theatre.

The view from the 2nd story sky lounge at the Topfer Theatre. At night, it’s supposed to be even more incredible. Imagine sipping a cocktail with this view!

Be on the lookout for performance of famous balcony scenes to happen at this exterior, front-facing balcony of the theatre. I’m also told that the balcony will actually end up being made of glass, rather than the metal pictured here.

For more incredible pictures and theatre fun facts – check out Bryan Kosarek’s Gay in Austin Texas Blog.

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Interested in searching for Austin homes for sale in or near Downtown Austin? Be sure to check out our property search to view Austin homes for sale.

Additionally, here are some condominiums in Downtown Austin that are near the theatre – to learn more about these individual buildings, visit their pages:

Gyms in Downtown Austin – YMCA TownLake

AG | September 3, 2012 |

Being active is a part of the Austin lifestyle. There are tremendous opportunities in downtown Austin for folks to be active, too. Here at Downtown Austin Blog, we’ve written about several things like dance classes at Ballet Austin and personal training in downtown Austin – but we haven’t really explored a lot of downtown gyms, of which there are several.

Probably the most popular among the trendy set is Pure Austin downtown, right across from Whole Foods at 5th and Bowie. I have several friends who have memberships there, and they love it.

However, to be frank, I’m sometimes a little intimidated by the aura of Pure, so I’ve been going to a place that’s a little less trendy, but I think still pretty awesome. The TownLake Branch of the YMCA. I’ve been doing the Zumba classes, and boy are they crowded and fun! Look at [Read more…] about Gyms in Downtown Austin – YMCA TownLake