AUSTIN: Green Water Treatment Plant & Seaholm Power Plant Redevelopment Update Thread

[JAM]

Wow! Cool! Will it take up the entire space? That area is already a traffic nightmare at 5:00. What are they going to do when this is built and Seaholm is up and running? BTW - The Athena deal, ehhhhh........

[ATXboom]

Originally Posted by JAM

Wow! Cool! Will it take up the entire space? That area is already a traffic nightmare at 5:00. What are they going to do when this is built and Seaholm is up and running? BTW - The Athena deal, ehhhhh........

The expansion of the grid should help traffic absorb. I expect a few new lights on CC... it will become more of a downtown street than a through fare...

[Syndic]

Originally Posted by JAM

Will it take up the entire space?

Block 1 won't take up the entire space. It will only take up 1 corner of the space. There are 4 buildings in total but work is only starting on Block 1 for right now. Here is a diagram:

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by Syndic

Block 1 won't take up the entire space. It will only take up 1 corner of the space. There are 4 buildings in total but work is only starting on Block 1 for right now. Here is a diagram:

Quick question.... Who in the world numbered the blocks? It makes no sense lol. Just wondering why there's block 1 next to block 185 and block 23 above block 1????

[OtherKevin]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Quick question.... Who in the world numbered the blocks? It makes no sense lol. Just wondering why there's block 1 next to block 185 and block 23 above block 1????

Its actually a very interesting part of the downtown story! First of all, you will need to take a look at this map: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/maps/images/map0928.jpg

When the original city plan was created they set aside those areas necessary for civic use, and then neatly numbered every block downtown for auction (179 in all). However, they neglected to number ALL the blocks, only the ones for sale. This worked fine until it was necessary to add a new block or sell a public one later on. They added some blocks south of Water Ave., so they are 180, 181, 182, etc. Then the four block Penitentiary at the end of Shoal Creek was auctioned off as blocks 185, 186, 187, 188. Then they added two more blocks at the end of Red River as 189 and 190.

At this point someone realized that this was confusing and ruining the entire point of numbering everything, so they changed style. When the U.S. Armory block sold, between blocks 11 and 12, they called it Block 12A. When the Northeast Public Square, between 113 and 114, sold they renamed it Block 113A. Confused yet? Just wait. When the Court House / Jail sold, between block 26 and 27, guess what they called it? "Old Court House Block".

At least it started with good intentions.

[Jdawgboy]

well at least it goes with the spirit of keeping Austin weird.

[OtherKevin]

[KevinFromTexas]

Awesome. It's actually happening.

I posted a thread for it in the main section, too:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=209871

[the Genral]

Now if we could only move the electric substation or whatever that is, we could plant another tower in its place.

[_Matt]

That was quick. Google Maps now shows planned extensions of West 2nd Street, Nueces Street, and West Avenue.

Cool to visualize the massive transformation for the entire area.

[Syndic]

Google usually only does this when the building of a road is imminent, so that tells me we should see these finished pretty soon. Actually, the map shows the road by Seaholm as completed. I didn't realize that was the case.

There's still one planned road extension that isn't showing up there; the 3rd St. extension to West Ave. I'm thinking they'll wait until the ECC building is destroyed before they start work on that one, though. It will be nice to see those palm trees that are currently at that dead end get chopped down. Heheh.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Syndic

Google usually only does this when the building of a road is imminent, so that tells me we should see these finished pretty soon. Actually, the map shows the road by Seaholm as completed. I didn't realize that was the case.

There's still one planned road extension that isn't showing up there; the 3rd St. extension to West Ave. I'm thinking they'll wait until the ECC building is destroyed before they start work on that one, though. It will be nice to see those palm trees that are currently at that dead end get chopped down. Heheh.

3rd to West isn't going to be for cars. That's just been in renderings, but never an actual approved plan. As far as I know, it'll remain as is. They better not tear down that ped bridge. Having that at the base of my building is perfect for cyclists and pedestrians who want easy and safe access to the trail.

[Syndic]

Originally Posted by ahealy

3rd to West isn't going to be for cars. That's just been in renderings, but never an actual approved plan. As far as I know, it'll remain as is. They better not tear down that ped bridge. Having that at the base of my building is perfect for cyclists and pedestrians who want easy and safe access to the trail.

Pretty sure it is, bud. Why would it be in all the (very detailed) renderings if it wasn't being built? You gotta think that the developer of the ECC project would want that road built. Why would the City of Austin not connect that road when it's easily doable? Because a few residents of the 360 don't want them to? Building it benefits all Austinites and helps better intergrate the area with the rest of the city.

[lzppjb]

They'll probably replace the tracks.

[Syndic]

I found this but I can't figure out what "construction of an alternate (one-way) 3rd St. from Seaholm to West Avenue" is supposed to mean. Per the below map, are they splitting 3rd Street in two just north of the Seaholm development? And is that to line it up with the 3rd Street across the creek? I'm confused.

[lzppjb]

That looks like what they're planning. They are adding that eastbound part of 3rd by Seaholm so it lines up with the train tracks going over Shoal Creek. Westbound 3rd will end at Shoal Creek, and pick back up past West Ave.

[Syndic]

I can't be the only one that thinks that's weird and not a good plan.

To me, it seems like they could easily make it a two-way road since they own the ECC property and could make part of it a road.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Syndic

I can't be the only one that thinks that's weird and not a good plan.

To me, it seems like they could easily make it a two-way road since they own the ECC property and could make part of it a road.

na, dude. It isn't happening at this time....and anything eliminating or reducing alternative transportation options is NOT a good idea for downtown Austin.

[Syndic]

I didn't say it was happening at this time, in the literal sense; just that it's planned. The fact that they are splitting 3rd St. north of Seaholm seems to be pretty good evidence that it's in the works.

And how is building a road eliminating or reducing transportation options? To me, it seems like it's only adding options. Try to think beyond your own narrow self-interest.

[lzppjb]

I think the eastbound road could be added alongside the pedestrian/bike bridge. If so, it wouldn't reduce alternative transportation.