Austin | The Republic | 710 Feet | 47 Floors | U/C - Page 22

Jdawgboy · #**421** Posted **May 28, 2016, 6:33 PM**

In that case, should we expect most of the announced projects that have not started yet to be out on hold or mothballed?

Novacek · #**422** Posted **Jun 22, 2016, 1:51 PM**

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news...emium-referral

The ATX · #**423** Posted **Sep 16, 2016, 11:55 PM**

The Travis County Commissioners voted to issue an RFP for the site:

https://communityimpact.com/austin/s...stin-property/

The ATX · #**424** Posted **Sep 19, 2016, 8:58 PM**

It's now for sale. From the ABJ:

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...tin-block.html

GoldenBoot · #**425** Posted **Sep 19, 2016, 10:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the atx

it's now for sale. From the abj:

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/ne...tin-block.html

yeeeessssss!

lzppjb · #**426** Posted **Sep 20, 2016, 12:42 AM**

So, is it for sale, or is Travis County taking proposals on how to develop it? If the latter, wouldn't that be a lease?

Syndic · #**427** Posted **Sep 20, 2016, 12:58 AM**

We did it, guys. We defeated this terrible abomination of an idea, for the betterment of Austin. Would be cool to see another Independent-sized building get built there. Or maybe break it up into two lots and build two buildings there.

Jdawgboy · #**428** Posted **Sep 20, 2016, 2:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndic

We did it, guys. We defeated this terrible abomination of an idea, for the betterment of Austin. Would be cool to see another Independent-sized building get built there. Or maybe break it up into two lots and build two buildings there.

Or we'll end up with something no taller than any of the surrounding buildings. I'm not as convinced that we will see some grand beauty or a new tallest. It will highly depend on the market drivers plus going by recent history, full city blocks don't produce tall towers, rather huge blocky shorter buildings. I'm glad that the county has decided to sell but I'll hold off on the celebration for now.

drummer · #**429** Posted **Sep 20, 2016, 2:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

So, is it for sale, or is Travis County taking proposals on how to develop it? If the latter, wouldn't that be a lease?

From the article, it seems to be a true selling of the land, which is a good thing.

Syndic · #**430** Posted **Sep 21, 2016, 12:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Or we'll end up with something no taller than any of the surrounding buildings. I'm not as convinced that we will see some grand beauty or a new tallest. It will highly depend on the market drivers plus going by recent history, full city blocks don't produce tall towers, rather huge blocky shorter buildings. I'm glad that the county has decided to sell but I'll hold off on the celebration for now.

I share your concern about constructing buildings on full city blocks. We need a law preventing that kind of thing from happening. It results in a boring, generic downtown with no diversity. But, whatever gets built here, it has to be better than a damned courthouse, right?

Jdawgboy · #**431** Posted **Sep 21, 2016, 2:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndic

I share your concern about constructing buildings on full city blocks. We need a law preventing that kind of thing from happening. It results in a boring, generic downtown with no diversity. But, whatever gets built here, it has to be better than a damned courthouse, right?

Right, I'm hopeful due to the block's high profile status that it will have at least some incentive to get something impressive there. I get frustrated when we have short or modest height buildings proposed and/or built on sites with no height limit.

wwmiv · #**432** Posted **Sep 21, 2016, 2:17 AM**

It'll be something approximating the following: ~400' mixed-used in a blue glass rectangle oriented north south along Guadalupe on a 5-10 story full block podium, mostly one thing or another (I'll guess some offices marketed toward legal with residential over it), street level retail on 3rd, patio restaurant, office lobby, with a bar &/or Starbucks on 4th, parking garage and service ingress and egress on San Antonio, with the residential lobby on Guadalupe.

And that's if we're lucky. Are we feeling lucky?

If we're really lucky, it'll include some decently sized public plaza on the northwest corner of the lot at San Antonio and 4th, abutting the federal courthouse, to work in conjunction with Republican Square Park and the plaza in front of the courthouse itself.

If we're really, really lucky, there'll be a hotel component in a second tower on the western half of the lot.

If we're really, really, really lucky, maybe it'll have something ~550'+

If we're really, really, really, really lucky, maybe it'll have a not so boring, maybe even halfway decent design. Maybe. I doubt it.

clubtokyo · #**433** Posted **Sep 21, 2016, 2:34 AM**

Wish we could get a spec 750 tower like Houston. Also how the hell did Oklahoma City get a 850 tower?

The ATX · #**434** Posted **Sep 21, 2016, 2:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Wish we could get a spec 750 tower like Houston. Also how the hell did Oklahoma City get a 850 tower?

The OKC tower was built by an energy company for their HQ. Energy companies (i.e. Houston) and banks (i.e. Charlotte) like to build trophy HQ.

hereinaustin · #**435** Posted **Sep 21, 2016, 2:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by clubtokyo

Wish we could get a spec 750 tower like Houston. Also how the hell did Oklahoma City get a 850 tower?

I'd like to propose we get something like this (Mercury City Tower):

Sigaven · #**436** Posted **Sep 22, 2016, 5:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndic

I share your concern about constructing buildings on full city blocks. We need a law preventing that kind of thing from happening. It results in a boring, generic downtown with no diversity. But, whatever gets built here, it has to be better than a damned courthouse, right?

Even if it *was* a courthouse...or a blocky low or midrise... I think ANY development there beats the hell out of a parking lot!

GoldenBoot · #**437** Posted **Sep 22, 2016, 5:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaven

Even if it *was* a courthouse...or a blocky low or midrise... I think ANY development there beats the hell out of a parking lot!

I completely disagree with your opinion. "ANY" development does not beat the "hell" out of a parking lot.

KevinFromTexas · #**438** Posted **Sep 22, 2016, 10:40 PM**

Those Asian buildings, wherever they are, are pretty bad. I wouldn't mind Godzilla smashing them to bits. That one building looks like a malformed carrot.

The ATX · #**439** Posted **Sep 22, 2016, 11:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Those Asian buildings, wherever they are, are pretty bad. I wouldn't mind Godzilla smashing them to bits. That one building looks like a malformed carrot.

That's a cluster in Moscow. On Streetview their is a pulloff in front of them where people stop for a photo Op.

JoninATX · #**440** Posted **Sep 22, 2016, 11:59 PM**

I wish Hines would purchase the property and build a signature tower like 609 Main, or even BG Group Place Tower.