Austin | Motto Hotel by Hilton | 149 Feet | 12 Floors | Cancelled

[KevinFromTexas]

I tend to agree, but I think they did do a good job of making the turrets a focal point, at least at the base. The rest of the building is so so. What I wish is that they had designed some turrets on the roof of the tower to match the ones on the old building. I would much rather see a building pay homage to the design of the old building by carrying on that theme up the tower to the roof, rather than a modern tower with a bunch of shiny glass.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

At this point I'm okay with this proposal not being approved if it means something better may come along in the future. This looks like cheapo freeway exit design and construction on top of a handsome historic building. I hope to see something more like the Mason Lodge proposal for this building.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=342385

The backup files were posted to the Historic Landmark Commission with the elevations and a new set of renderings. We also have an official height now of 143 feet.

Old renderings:



New renderings:

[Jdawgboy]

Is it me, or did the the design become even blander than before? The first design wasn't that great but the second version looks like they just gave up.

[Echostatic]

I don't mind it. Much better use of the site than the current half-empty shell of a building, and it looks like a very good preservation job. Not every building has to look great.

[myBrain]

I thought the first design looked like an interstate exit hotel, with the roof protrusion thing. Not that the new one doesn't, just less obviously so. This is going to be meh infill either way, so it's probably best that it attracts as little attention as possible. Overall I think it's kind of a pleasant surprise, a good use for that lot.

[MichaelB]

New design cleans up the lines. It's simple but it respects the historic building better.
Steps back, doesn't crowd it with all the muck... red columns, badges... You clearly see the historic silhouette from both angles.
Yeah... it's not great... .but it's better. AND it will be great to have life back on that corner!

[Syndic]

I wish they wouldn't use that poverty siding.

[clubtokyo]

I hated the slanted roof at the peak (reminds me of Vegas), so I like this box design better.

[Jdawgboy]

Yea, the new design does leave the focus on the historical building, I'll give them that.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Syndic

I wish they wouldn't use that poverty siding.

Agrees..... take a look at the 17th Street hotel. ( Hilton Garden) they downgraded the design to pre-cast.

[We vs us]

They're still fighting for this one, per a new article at Towers. They go up in front of the Historic Landmark Commission again on July 17. Upshot: new 3d renderings which don't seem nearly as bad as I thought they'd be. I think I'm actually for this one now.





https://austin.towers.net/atop-a-his...es-a-new-look/

[llamaorama]

I like it. It keeps a historic building front that gives Austin its character and it provides inoffensive urban bulk above. If we are being honest nobody will notice this building. People on the sidewalk will appreciate the bottom part but the tower will just blend in. There’s a lot of modern boxy buildings that I forget exist here in Houston that give a similar vibe.

[KevinFromTexas]

From the Historic Landmark Commission backup file - this one got a small bump in height from 143 feet to 149 feet. The elevations are on pages 3 and 4.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=342983

[resansom]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

From the Historic Landmark Commission backup file - this one got a small bump in height from 143 feet to 149 feet. The elevations are on pages 3 and 4.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=342983

From that document:









Not particularly ambitious, but also not too ugly. Other than trying to replicate the design/architecture of the original building, I'm not sure that they could have done much more with this one...

[urbancore]

terrible, just terrible

[atxsnail]

Originally Posted by resansom

From that document:



Not particularly ambitious, but also not too ugly. Other than trying to replicate the design/architecture of the original building, I'm not sure that they could have done much more with this one...

It was a pretty hard and thankless job they were given - design a building for a mid-level chain hotel (ie. don't spend our money) while somehow accommodating one of the ugliest and most useless historic buildings in all of Central Texas. Oh and by the way, you have to somehow activate the original awkwardly placed entrance that the prior inhabitants of the building didn't use either. That entrance used to just be a place to wait for the bus before the bus shelter was added in recent years.

As someone who used to work next door to this place for a few years I have pretty good knowledge of just how ugly and useless this building is. Half of it was just a shell for employee parking and a folding table and chairs. That said, I'm glad that the area will see a new injection of human activity.

[lonewolf]

that is one fugly building hope this doesn't happen

[H2O]

It's interesting that they seem to think they can relocate the Cap Metro bus stop.

[KevinFromTexas]

This is on the Historic Landmark Commission meeting agenda for July 27.

http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=343256