AUSTIN | West Campus Development Thread - Page 12

The ATX · #**221** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 11:21 PM**

I took another look at the University Towers Demo site plan that was approved last year, and noticed this comment:

"The use of explosives will not be permitted."

heliophobicdude · #**222** Posted **Jul 6, 2019, 1:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

I took another look at the University Towers Demo site plan that was approved last year, and noticed this comment:

"The use of explosives will not be permitted."

That building is so tall though. How does one go about demolishing?

KevinFromTexas · #**223** Posted **Jul 6, 2019, 6:11 AM**

They'll likely demolish it floor by floor. The engineering building at UT was demolished from the ground up using "the jaws of death" - but for something taller or that is in a crowded neighborhood, they'll likely demolish it floor by floor and then dump the debris down a garbage shoot or throw it down the elevator shaft.

• Video Link

The tallest building in New York to be demolished was the Singer Building in 1968. They jackhammered out the guts of the building and threw it down the elevator shaft. That building was 612 feet tall. There was also the Deutsche Bank Building, a 500+ foot tall office tower that had been damaged during the 9/11 attacks after pieces of the WTC fell into the building and created a huge hole in its facade. A huge section of the WTC facade was actually sticking out of its side a day later. There was also a fire a year after it had been decided to demolish it in 2006. Two firefighters died a result.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=194375

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=512569

KevinFromTexas · #**224** Posted **Jul 6, 2019, 6:16 AM**

Site plan for 2614 Rio Grande Street - 7 floors and ~80 feet.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...SS_PLAN_02.pdf

heliophobicdude · #**225** Posted **Jul 20, 2019, 2:52 AM**

I saw some earth samples being taken behind the St. Austin Catholic School/Parish.

Located here:

The ATX · #**226** Posted **Jul 26, 2019, 7:03 PM**

The tower crane for the Moxy will be going up in August some time between 08/09 & 08/26.

https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/perm...rtyrsn=2019867

The ATX · #**227** Posted **Aug 23, 2019, 1:26 AM**

The Planning Commission votes on the new UNO zoning at the Tuesday 08/27 meeting. This will allow for height bonuses that translate into 300' towers in the area currently zoned for 175'. If it passes (which it will), it will go to City Council.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=325806

The ATX · #**228** Posted **Aug 25, 2019, 12:14 AM**

A house at 704 W. 22nd St. is proposed for demo for an unknown project that is probably another student apartment high-rise. But the demo has to be approved by the HLC. The interesting part (to me anyway) is that the house was built around 1880! I never realized we still had homes that old in West Campus. The house was turned into duplex in the 1930s, and has been a rental for most of its existence. The original owner was a local grocer renowned for his poultry. Here it is on Streetview:

History of property from HLC:

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=325794

The ATX · #**229** Posted **Aug 30, 2019, 5:15 PM**

The Planning Commission passed the WC height increase 11-1 after a lot of discussion about parking. CC still has to pass the upzoning.

KevinFromTexas · #**230** Posted **Sep 3, 2019, 12:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

The Planning Commission votes on the new UNO zoning at the Tuesday 08/27 meeting. This will allow for height bonuses that translate into 300' towers in the area currently zoned for 175'. If it passes (which it will), it will go to City Council.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=325806

If it passes council and West Campus starts seeing some 300 footers, the prominence of that area because the sea level elevation is higher is going to mean those buildings will appear about as tall as the 400 footers 20+ blocks to the south. I can see downtown from several spots around my neighborhood, and one street, in particular, has a view of Spring and The Bowie. I've been able to see some of the construction cranes in the past in West Campus, and anything up around 300 feet there should be visible west of Spring and The Bowie.

427MM · #**231** Posted **Sep 3, 2019, 1:36 AM**

Looking forward to see this go before council. Hope they keep it strong and don't water it down. There is still a pro-suburbia slant that comes out in conversations such as these, "But what about cars and parking!" said no student who wakes up, rolls out of bed, and walks across the street to spend the day.

heliophobicdude · #**232** Posted **Sep 23, 2019, 2:33 AM**

Is there any update on the proposed height limits?

The ATX · #**233** Posted **Sep 23, 2019, 3:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by heliophobicdude

Is there any update on the proposed height limits?

We're just waiting for City Council approval. I have no idea when that might be.

427MM · #**234** Posted **Sep 23, 2019, 3:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

We're just waiting for City Council approval. I have no idea when that might be.

Postponed at City Council due to posting error. Coming back Oct. 3. Hope some of y'all write your Council Members encouraging them to support. This is in District 9 and Kathie Tovo does not have a reputation of going along with making housing easier.

We vs us · #**235** Posted **Oct 10, 2019, 11:10 PM**

Core drilling on southwest corner of 24th and Rio Grande. It’s a low rise apartment building from the 70s-80s.

The ATX · #**236** Posted **Nov 19, 2019, 8:04 AM**

The CC approved the 300' height limit last week. The PC wanted to increase the area within WC that can go 300'. But there was push back on that from the anti-density members on the CC.

https://www.kxan.com/news/austin-nei...t-even-taller/

clayton_rogue · #**237** Posted **Nov 23, 2019, 7:08 PM**

Taken yesterday...

I count 16 cranes from this view (there are 2 in the capital corridor complex that are obscured. The blue outline indicates one that they are putting up today but was not captured when I took this yesterday. This is insane!

So, from this one view you can see 16 + 2 (capital corridor) + 1 (going up today) = 19 cranes!!!

The ATX · #**238** Posted **Nov 23, 2019, 9:04 PM**

That's especially amazing since it doesn't even count the ones in the CBD. There looks to be one more on the very far right that can be seen in the large photo which would make 20. That would be around 33 in total with:

Block 185 x 2
RiverSouth x 2 (second one going up this weekend)
Block 71 x 2
Colorado Tower x 1
405 Colorado x 1
Quincy x 1
5th & Brazos x 1
Dorsey x 2
Alexan x 1

clayton_rogue · #**239** Posted **Nov 24, 2019, 12:04 AM**

Correct The_ATX

Side note... love your new profile avatar. Reminds me of something... Hrm, could it be UT football related?

The ATX · #**240** Posted **Nov 24, 2019, 2:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by clayton_rogue

Correct The_ATX

Side note... love your new profile avatar. Reminds me of something... Hrm, could it be UT basketball related?

It was UTerus inspired. But it's only temporary until I decide on another one.

I love your photo. It's where's Waldo for crane nerds.