AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[We vs us]

That's just dumb.

[chinchaaa]

these NIBMBYs make me sick.

[KevinFromTexas]

Quote from the planning commission PDF. These people are dubious with their high rise definitions.

Hi Kate,
Thanks for speaking with me earlier on the phone. I wanted to formally state how deeply opposed I am to the
zoning changes allowing yet another huge high rise to be built on Toomey. As I’m sure you know, Toomey is a
very small street that already has FOUR huge high rises on the block. There are thousands of people that live
in this small small area, already overcrowded with cars that pollute, directly next to Austin’s beloved Barton
Creek and Zilker Park. Each of these high rises has occupancies- MANY occupancies. We are not in dire need
of more housing. And we definitely aren’t in need of more expensive housing. In fact, there are even more high
rises being built just blocks away that will provide expensive housing for thousands more people. We do not
need more expensive, overpriced housing.
What exists currently at 1725 Toomey is what makes Austin special yet is becoming exceedingly rare. Our
complex is holding onto what has been so great about Austin: we are friends, look out for each other, and
invest in the community. We are mixed ages that actually still mingle and have some people who have lived
here for decades. Their lives are rooted here, not recent tech transplants. We have beloved elderly teachers
who have been forced to recently retire due to COVID concerns, people working in immigrant and refugee
resettlement nonprofits, and just genuinely good people who can’t afford the crazy rents of the high rises that
continue to go up all around us. We cannot forget to take care of our residents who make average wages just
for the sake of profit, greed, and the incoming tech transplants. I lived in San Francisco for 6 years and can
certainly tell you how that doesn’t end well!
Please don’t allow the destruction of what keeps Austin so special.
You may use any of my comments, name, and contact info publicly. My phone number is 713-598-1112.
Thank you,
Cat Cooke
Resident of 1725 Toomey

[chinchaaa]

why does a renter get to tell anyone what to do with their property? the entitlement these people have is crazy.

[The ATX]

NIMBYs always want to be the last people to move to their neighborhood. If the NIMBYs before them had gotten their way, the current NIMBYs wouldn't have any place to live.

[427MM]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

A local real estate investor agreed to yet another postponement on a rezoning request intended to construct a high-rise, 215-unit multifamily tower, during Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting.

The Oct. 12 review of this case resulted in its fifth postponement since it first appeared on the commission’s agenda on July 13.

The owner, 1725 Toomey LLC, acquiesced to requests by neighbors opposed to the project to the postponement.

The owner of the 0.90-acre property wants to convert it from general services to MF-6, which is the highest density multifamily zoning.
Proposed 215-Unit Multifamily Tower Postponed by Neighborhood Request

Predictably bad results come from making every rezoning a fight. Wealthy, nearby homeowners with plenty of time dominate the public process and the eventual building is stalled, diluted and possibly killed altogether. As long as we elect people who are more afraid of taller more sustainable buildings than they are unaffordability and sprawl I don’t see this getting any better. It’s sad that housing is so complex and that our local media can’t cover it properly. A housing-skeptical council member can give an interview and sound like they care about affordability and then work to stop housing and land use reform at every turn. Austin’s YIMBY movement needs to grow and organize like never before.

[Urbannizer]

Whole Foods Expansion

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Quote from the planning commission PDF. These people are dubious with their high rise definitions.

Love the total hypocrisy of it. Some dimwitted lady opining about the glory days of Austin and has a Houston cell number!

[drummer]

Best face-slap quote from that:

"We are not in dire need of more housing."

Really?

The only part I agree with is the need for affordable housing. That does merit attention and it makes sense for a long-time renter to have their views heard on that matter. That said, economics 101, supply & demand, etc....

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, the only part that was legit is the need for more affordable housing. Though, considering that she stated she had previously lived in San Francisco, affordable housing is probably not something she has to worry too much about. I also resent the attitude from some people who have moved here that now that they're here they say no one else should move here. I see a lot of people making that comment who aren't even from here. As someone who actually is from here and has watched it change over the last 40 years and heard stories from family of what it was like in the 1930s it just seems frivolous somehow.

[austlar1]

Cat Cooke's email regarding the Toomey St. proposal was overall pretty stupid. No argument there, but she did score a point or two when she discussed the likely displacement of long term residents who have modest incomes and would be unlikely to find similar housing should they be forced to move.

[bilbao58]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Yeah, the only part that was legit is the need for more affordable housing. Though, considering that she stated she had previously lived in San Francisco, affordable housing is probably not something she has to worry too much about.

Does she say when she lived in SF? If she's old enough, she could have lived there when it was affordable to people of average, or even less than average, means. Could be why she's (back?) in Texas.

[ILUVSAT]

I saw that Verde Square got approval last week. Looks like they will be able to build up to 308' right next to Q2 Stadium.

[myBrain]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

I saw that Verde Square got approval last week. Looks like they will be able to build up to 308' right next to Q2 Stadium.

Maybe we will finally get some green glass in this city (ignoring 3rd & Shoal)

[StoOgE]

Area near the stadium bout to be poppin off.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Area near the stadium bout to be poppin off.

Yep. Arena Tower (right next to Verde Square) sounds like it's going to break ground in 1Q2022 or 2Q2022. It will have 25,100 RSF of retail on the ground floor. Pubs/Sports Bars anyone?

[Urbannizer]

Changed the wording here as the author again uses the word “tower” loosely.

Local Investor Group’s Multi-Story Mid-rise Project Awaits City Approval

An Austin investor group’s multi-story mid-rise project was recommended for the requested zoning, at last week’s meeting of the Planning Commission.

The building would go up on a city block between Pressler Street and Walsh Street on the northside of West 5th Street. There are currently four, one-story commercial buildings on site and various utility sheds.

Endeavor Real Estate Group managing principal David Roberts, acting through the special purpose entity 1210 W. 5th Ltd., is working on this project with Jimmy Nassor of Anchor Equities and Walter Penn of Walsh Street Properties Ltd.

They are proposing a building with an area of approximately 75,000 square feet and a height of about 90 feet. The use would either be residential as a 450-unit multifamily project, or a mix of office space with ground floor retail.

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Yep. Arena Tower (right next to Verde Square) sounds like it's going to break ground in 1Q2022 or 2Q2022. It will have 25,100 RSF of retail on the ground floor. Pubs/Sports Bars anyone?

Yep. Add a train station and game days are going to improve vastly. I love Hopsquad but its a schlep.

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Yep. Add a train station and game days are going to improve vastly. I love Hopsquad but its a schlep.

The walk to Hopsquad will be a lot more direct once the pedestrian crossing at the train station is open. You might still have to cut through a parking lot if they don't add sidewalk from Braker to the train though.

[Urbannizer]

Sidewalk has reopened in front of the new WF office building: