downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog
Located along Waller Creek at the base of historic 6th Street, and adjacent to the newly renovated Hilton Garden Inn, downtown Austin’s Sabine condos (aka. Sabine On 5th), is an 80 unit adaptive reuse of a former downtown Austin office building.
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OK, not really troubled water, but I couldn’t resist a title so apropos for a city that likes to bitch and moan about growth, yet doesn’t make the hard decisions necessary to steer growth and prefers to react to it, (breath) imagine the hostility we’re going to see for this bridge. One look at the notoriously poorly moderated comment sections of the Statesman’s online posts (seriously, take a look to feel less good about humanity) is all you need to run far, far away from the headaches of local public policy making and sound urban planning.
2) Rainey Street getting smart about traffic
Last week’s commentary by a Milago resident about the perils of walking in the Rainey Street district has spurred the City into action. “Those people” move into the district and now they want to change it with crazy things like sidewalks. Less than 48 hours after this video editorial aired, there were pneumatic traffic counters straddling the district’s streets recording passing cars, and adolescent kids (primarily DAB readers/writers) jumping on them.
3) Oh, hi! Ummm… We’ll be needing your land. KTHXBAI
City approves the use of eminent domain, should it be necessary, to get control over an important piece of land for the Waller Creek Tunnel Project. For decades this assemblage of lots that front I-35 has been a surface level parking lot. For the next 4-5 years it will be a staging area for creek diggin’.
*** UPDATE: Sabine auction results ***
A selection of the remaining units in downtown Austin’s Sabine On 5th building will be auctioned on February 28th. A lawsuit filed by residents against CWS, the developer of the Sabine On 5th, and the building’s condominium association (which was under CWS’s control) has been withdrawn as the parties have reached a settlement agreement. The lawsuit was filed last year as residents grew tired of lack of action by CWS regarding “persistent and major problems” relating to elevator repairs, amongst other problems.
The HOA has been turned over to the owners, which is unusual in buildings where less than 50% of the units are sold. The specific terms of the settlement agreement have not been released. Scott Dixon Smith, president of the Sabine On 5th HOA, indicated that “there will be major renovations to the building to alleviate the concerns of the lawsuit.”
Greg Miller, vice president of investments at CWS, has confirmed that steps are being taken to prepare the Sabine for the auction. 27 of the remaining 44 units will be available for bidding.
During the litigation no units were available for sale, and CWS’s loan had twice been posted for foreclosure by Compass Bank. The first time in September, when Compass Bank granted CWS an extension to remedy issues. Then in December, it was reposted for January’s courthouse auction. CWS was able to restructure the debt and is expected to offer most of the remaining inventory for sale via an auction this February.
There were several condo auctions in 2009, and when the Sabine goes to auction, it will be the second major development in downtown Austin to do so. The first, Brazos Place, was auctioned last year by Kennedy Wilson. Brazos Place is frequently compared to the Sabine on 5th since both structures are located east of Congress Avenue and are adaptive re-use condo conversions
Originally built as an office building in 1981, and converted into condos in 2007, the Sabine is located along the west bank of Waller Creek, on Sabine St between 5th and 6th Streets. With the success of developer discounts at 360 Condos and the Shore Condos, the Sabine is the last “attainably” priced building with new inventory left.
Email jude [@] downtownaustinblog.org, or send me a note, to inquire about the Sabine auction and the status of Waller Creek.
-Jude
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
One of downtown Austin’s most cherished parks is Republic Square, located between 4th and 5th streets, just west of the Plaza Lofts. The park has been under construction, recently getting a much needed face lift. Charlie McCabe, director of the Austin Parks Foundation, visited with DANA yesterday to discuss the progress of the park’s improvements, and to share a bit of history.
Did you know this is where Edwin Waller, the first Mayor of Austin and the namesake of Waller Creek, in 1839 held the original land auction for Austin’s downtown blocks?
“…city lots were auctioned under the shade of the live oak trees on what is now called Republic Square. A small grove of live oaks – known as the Auction Oaks – survive at the southwest corner of the square today.”
The focal point of the park is a 300 year old oak tree. Considering this was a parking lot for decades, with asphalt up to the tree, it’s astonishing these trees have survived so long. The new design by TBG Partners gives the tree breathing space with a raised ipe wood deck built around the tree.
Other changes to the park include leveling the berms – the raised artificial grass hills – which limited visibility into the park. Republic Square will actually grow by 17′ to the west, as San Antonio St becomes a promenade in front of the stairs to the still-under-construction Federal Courthouse. Beginning in January, when the phase one improvements are complete, the Austin Farmers Market will relocated into the park.
The Austin Parks Foundation works diligently to raise money for Austin parks. The $450,000 improvement budget comes from the Austin City Limits music festival, Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association, Downtown Austin Alliance, General Services Administration, Gables Apartments, and others.
