AUSTIN | Water Marq | Complete

IluvATX · #1 Posted **Mar 9, 2015, 3:57 PM**

Located at 300 East Riverside. Construction seems close to going vertical as the below grade parking is rising. Set of plans on this link. http://www.odenhughesllc.com/plans/cws-riverside/ I'll try to add specs and pictures as I find them.

http://www.kellygrossmanarchitects.com/index.html

Tech House · #2 Posted **Mar 9, 2015, 5:29 PM**

Which photo do you think is showing the side that faces the lake? This looks like it will be a nice piece of infill. I hope TXDOT moves so that the South Shore district can include that parcel in general plans, which would make the Marquis like an extension of that.

IluvATX · #3 Posted **Mar 9, 2015, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech House

Which photo do you think is showing the side that faces the lake? This looks like it will be a nice piece of infill. I hope TXDOT moves so that the South Shore district can include that parcel in general plans, which would make the Marquis like an extension of that.

That rendering is the North elevation that will be on the lake. Bouldin Creek is on the east and Riverside to the south.

Urbannizer · #4 Posted **Mar 12, 2015, 12:25 AM**

3/11

IluvATX · #5 Posted **Apr 14, 2015, 5:34 PM**

This one is going vertical now. I'll try to get some pics on here.

nixcity · #6 Posted **Apr 14, 2015, 8:02 PM**

Nice infill but I still can't understand why it is so hard to get above 6 floors anywhere outside of downtown. This area screams for some 8-15 story buildings. These opportunities are dwindling quickly. I think we will regret not getting more density during this era, especially in a high use corridor that will eventually have rail.

_Matt · #7 Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 5:28 PM**

^ This is a great question that pops up a lot of SSF. I'd like to hear somebody with expertise answer. IMHO, I don't think it's blatant shortsightedness on anybody's part and suspect there are material issues, for example:

1) Traffic Impact Study - chicken/egg with light rail
2) Unit Cost - Will tenants pay the premium for a high rise? Does Austin have a market segment who would pay to live in a high-rise outside of downtown?
3) Market Saturation - Similar to above, perhaps the rental market is not large enough to support a multiple tall structures
4) Developer Familiarity - Different contractors, skills used for high rise project
5) Developer Access to Capital - tall buildings cost more, right? I could be wrong.
6) Zoning - Any height issues here? Was there a master vision for Riverside?
7) Neighborhood Pushback - Dumb, Dumb, Dumb!

IluvATX · #8 Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 5:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Matt

^ This is a great question that pops up a lot of SSF. I'd like to hear somebody with expertise answer. IMHO, I don't think it's blatant shortsightedness on anybody's part and suspect there are material issues, for example:

1) Traffic Impact Study - chicken/egg with light rail
2) Unit Cost - Will tenants pay the premium for a high rise? Does Austin have a market segment who would pay to live in a high-rise outside of downtown?
3) Market Saturation - Similar to above, perhaps the rental market is not large enough to support a multiple tall structures
4) Developer Familiarity - Different contractors, skills used for high rise project
5) Developer Access to Capital - tall buildings cost more, right? I could be wrong.
6) Zoning - Any height issues here? Was there a master vision for Riverside?
7) Neighborhood Pushback - Dumb, Dumb, Dumb!

I know the height limit was 74 or 79 feet and through tough neighborhood opposition they were able to get it raised to 99 feet. The homes on the bluff are the only ones that would lose a view. I'm far from an expert, but it seems like zoning and neighborhood pushback are the main culprits here.

Tech House · #9 Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 6:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IluvATX

it seems like zoning and neighborhood pushback are the main culprits here.

Agreed, and neighborhood attitudes probably drove the zoning process. Travis Heights is a powerful political entity, so there won't be anything very grand going on in the south shore except maybe very close to Congress.

Urbannizer · #10 Posted **May 11, 2015, 6:25 PM**

5/10

Urbannizer · #11 Posted **Jun 11, 2015, 12:36 AM**

6/10

LoneStarMike · #12 Posted **Oct 8, 2016, 3:27 AM**

October 7, 2016

From the North shore of Lady Bird Lake:

From the IH-35 bridge:

From the hike & bike trail on the South shore of Lady Bird Lake:

BTW, this project is no longer called the Marquis Riverside. It's been renamed Water Marq. Here's a link to their website:

https://www.watermarqaustin.com/

austlar1 · #13 Posted **Oct 8, 2016, 4:15 AM**

This just sort of popped up while I was not paying attention. I think it looks nice. Too bad it could not have been a few floors taller.

LoneStarMike · #14 Posted **Oct 8, 2016, 5:05 AM**

I don't know if you remember, but back in 2006, CWS wanted to build two 17-story towers in that area - one at 300 E. Riverside where the Water Marq is now and another at 222 E. Riverside. The problem was that they wanted to build them closer to the lake than what was allowed. Austin Chronicle had a story.

Developing Stories - A Waterfront War

This is a small rendering of what was proposed (from the Austin Chronicle story)