[youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH4Xq1qtgeQ]
Yesterday, I headed over to the nearly completed Gables Pressler apartments on W 5th Street. Located just a few blocks east of another new Gables development, 5th Street Commons, Pressler is being marketed as Gables most “green” project in Austin.
5th Street, west of Lamar, has evolved rapidly. In less than a year we’ve seen the addition of dozens of new retail shops filled with local businesses along with hundreds of new residents and pedestrians improving what had been nothing more than a wide boulevard that connected Mopac to Lamar.
Gables Pressler is named after Paul Pressler, proprietor of Pressler’s beer garden originally built where Gables stands today. The chronicle has a great article on turn of the century beer gardens and goes on to say about Pressler:
“Pressler’s Beer Garden was located between the river and West Pecan Street (Sixth Street) in Old West Austin. Built around a steam brewery started by Paul Pressler in the early 1870s, it operated for more than 30 years before being swallowed by residential development. Situated on what was then the western fringe of the city, its idyllic rural location made it the perfect spot for relaxing under live oaks with a frothy mug of beer. It had a concert hall that regularly hosted touring German singing and theatrical acts. The grounds around the concert hall were landscaped with curving walks, ornamental shrubbery, arbors, and a fountain. The extended grounds also featured a boating ramp, a shooting club, and an alligator pond.“
The location is what sells this place – it’s equidistant to West Lynn @ 12th as it is to Whole Foods or the running trails. There are 168 units made up of studios, 1bd, and 2bd units. The finishes are nice. There is an interior courtyard with a pool. The leasing agent informed me that they are offering three months free on a twelve month lease for all leases which commence by August 31st.
Pricing as of August 4th, 2009 (pdf)
Gables Pressler
507 Pressler St
Austin, Tx 78703
(map)
-Jude