AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II

[lonewolf]

Originally Posted by ahealy

How is this a huge get for Texas? Genuinely asking.
Personally speaking, the design is super basic and I don’t care about playpens for the ultra-rich. This won’t positively impact most of our lives in any way.

are you familiar with the Aman brand?

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by lonewolf

are you familiar with the Aman brand?

Yep, a little. I love hospitality too. If Dilliam is right about this moving the needle, then I guess I'm in. Just not my cup of tea.

[wwmiv]

This isn’t as big of a get as some of y’all seem to think and is NOT suddenly going to be some huge catalyst toward bringing VC money into Austin.

While “nice,” this is a SYMPTOM of all the money already circulating in Austin.

They only have three USA locations, only two of which are “longstanding” (well, as longstanding as a brand launched in the 80s can claim): Jackson Hole and Lake Powell. Let me ask: do those two locations bring significant VC money into the towns they’re located in? No. lol.

Oh? And the namesake (and a bunch of his associates), Omar Shariff Amanat, served federal time for a bunch of financial conspiracies. Hard pass on anyone telling me how wonderful a “benefit” this hotel brings the region and state considering it has some pretty shady practices, such as potentially being involved and conspiring with the Russian intelligence community. That’s treasonous.

And then there’s this.

Hard pass. The state should step in and prevent it from happening on her soil.

[wwmiv]

Also: is there a specific town mentioned? All I see is 90 minutes northwest. That’d be highland lakes somewhere presumably Marble Falls or Bend. If it has to happen, I’d have preferred Fredericksburg or Kerrville.

[Riverranchdrone]

I hope not Fredricksburg. That charming German town is already perverted with corporatized wineries.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

This isn’t as big of a get as some of y’all seem to think and is NOT suddenly going to be some huge catalyst toward bringing VC money into Austin.

While “nice,” this is a SYMPTOM of all the money already circulating in Austin.

They only have three USA locations, only two of which are “longstanding” (well, as longstanding as a brand launched in the 80s can claim): Jackson Hole and Lake Powell. Let me ask: do those two locations bring significant VC money into the towns they’re located in? No. lol.

Oh? And the namesake (and a bunch of his associates), Omar Shariff Amanat, served federal time for a bunch of financial conspiracies. Hard pass on anyone telling me how wonderful a “benefit” this hotel brings the region and state considering it has some pretty shady practices, such as potentially being involved and conspiring with the Russian intelligence community. That’s treasonous.

And then there’s this.

Hard pass. The state should step in and prevent it from happening on her soil.

Eeeesh, I guess I don't know a lot about the brand. My spidey-sense really was on about something...

Nothing against those who are very well off, I just no longer get excited about uber luxurious projects that will literally cater to billionaires. and again, the design is so meh. The limestone facade looks like one of those communities in Lakeway.

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

301 N. Lamar

Zoning change request filed for the small parking lot.

Nothing grand here. This will be an EV charging station.

https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=472079

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Also: is there a specific town mentioned? All I see is 90 minutes northwest. That’d be highland lakes somewhere presumably Marble Falls or Bend. If it has to happen, I’d have preferred Fredericksburg or Kerrville.

My bet is maybe out toward Lake Buchanan. Maybe within the polygon of Fredericksburg to San Saba over to Lampassas down to Marble Falls?!?

Authors and developers are not always the best judges of drive time from point a to point b.

FWIW...Fredericksburg has a Waldorf Astoria property under construction.

[drummer]

I have doubts anything like this would be on Lake Buchanan only because of how often it sits largely empty. Lake Travis does as well, but it already has so much luxury and wealth around it, along with the natural beauty of the hills that create a more dramatic view with the river (and it looks more like a river for much of Lake Travis).

Elsewhere in the Hill Country, some areas around Marble Falls could pull this off; others not so much. Fredericksburg already has so much (and the previously mentioned Waldorf Astoria going in) so it makes me wonder if they would want to go somewhere else...but for that high-dollar crowd, I don't know where to begin for market research and demographics. All the normal rules don't apply.

San Saba seems a bit far, but there are some gorgeous stretches along the Colorado River north of Lake Buchanan up to that area, so who knows?

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by drummer

I have doubts anything like this would be on Lake Buchanan only because of how often it sits largely empty. Lake Travis does as well, but it already has so much luxury and wealth around it, along with the natural beauty of the hills that create a more dramatic view with the river (and it looks more like a river for much of Lake Travis).

Elsewhere in the Hill Country, some areas around Marble Falls could pull this off; others not so much. Fredericksburg already has so much (and the previously mentioned Waldorf Astoria going in) so it makes me wonder if they would want to go somewhere else...but for that high-dollar crowd, I don't know where to begin for market research and demographics. All the normal rules don't apply.

San Saba seems a bit far, but there are some gorgeous stretches along the Colorado River north of Lake Buchanan up to that area, so who knows?

The company said NW of Austin - so, out in the direction of Lake Buchanan would make sense. I did not imply that it would be "on" Lake Buchanan. Aman likes to place these types of resort communities out in more remote locations. So, on the lake does not make sense for them.

As for distance from Austin - they said "90 minutes." That's different if you were driving up I-35 versus traveling through the Hill Country. As the crow flies, this resort should be within 45-60 miles from downtown Austin.

[MikeInNB]

[QUOTE FWIW...Fredericksburg has a Waldorf Astoria property under construction.[/QUOTE]

Not Really:

"Fredericksburg officials are weighing next steps for a long-planned roadway after unanimously postponing a decision during a recent City Council meeting. The proposed thoroughfare would cut through a development plat connected to the planned Waldorf Astoria Hill Country hotel, putting the project at a critical juncture."

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/hill-country/article/fredericksburg-waldorf-astoria-22205676.php

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by MikeInNB

Not Really:

"Fredericksburg officials are weighing next steps for a long-planned roadway after unanimously postponing a decision during a recent City Council meeting. The proposed thoroughfare would cut through a development plat connected to the planned Waldorf Astoria Hill Country hotel, putting the project at a critical juncture."

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/hill-country/article/fredericksburg-waldorf-astoria-22205676.php

Looks like it's a delay. Based on the article - it seems both parties are trying to work together to find a solution.

This was also from the article:

"Macy Bales, a representative for the hotel brand, tells MySA that while there is a hold-up tied to the development plat, full scale construction is currently on track to begin before this summer. The development is already in pre-construction planning, the company said."

[MikeInNB]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

Looks like it's a delay. Based on the article - it seems both parties are trying to work together to find a solution.

This was also from the article:

"Macy Bales, a representative for the hotel brand, tells MySA that while there is a hold-up tied to the development plat, full scale construction is currently on track to begin before this summer. The development is already in pre-construction planning, the company said."

Yes I know all that. He said it's under construction...and it's not.

[Urbannizer]

Likely 2026 groundbreakings Downtown.

The Grant: https://communityimpact.com/austin/south...th-plans-for-232-unit-mixed-use-project/

Embassy Suites & Tempo By Hilton: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250957&page=3

- With four cranes at the convention center, it's possible we'll have a total of six cranes Downtown later this year.
- We'll finally lose the title for tallest building under construction in Texas. By the end of 2026 it'll go to Houston.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

Likely 2026 groundbreakings Downtown.

The Grant: https://communityimpact.com/austin/south...th-plans-for-232-unit-mixed-use-project/

Embassy Suites & Tempo By Hilton: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250957&page=3

- With four cranes at the convention center, it's possible we'll have a total of six cranes Downtown later this year.
- We'll finally lose the title for tallest building under construction in Texas. By the end of 2026 it'll go to Houston.

I count the two Mulva Hall and two One Lady Bird cranes as downtown. So that's eight by my count. Then it goes to at least 10 if if the Hilton and Grant cranes go up this year.

Also, based on permitting its possible that demo for Grant already started - at least interior salvaging and prep.

[Urbannizer]

Downtown Austin IHOP site sold at foreclosure auction

"Years after it was first set to hit foreclosure auction, downtown Austin’s IHOP property was purchased by Travis County Exchange Corp. for just over $12.7 million.

World Class Holdings, which owned the property through its WC 707 Cesar Chavez LLC entity, successfully delayed foreclosure of the land for years. Cesar Rainey Street LLC has attempted to foreclose on the site multiple times since purchasing a $2.7 million loan for the property in 2020. On May 5, the site was finally sold in an auction at the Travis County Courthouse.

The buyer is an Austin-based 1031 exchange company led by Craig and Lauren Dunagan, according to TCEC's website.

World Class Holdings CEO Nate Paul was in attendance at the auction but was unavailable for comment and did not respond to an emailed request for comment."

[drummer]

So...when will it be developed? Impatience has a strong hold on me with this lot.

[Croon]

I think it would be a fine public park plaza or ampitheater space that fits in with the final 35 rebuild, the new convention center, Palm School preservation and the Waller Creek improvements and nearby Town Lake crossing bridge for light rail/pedestrians and elevates east-west corridor community space. Plus, closer to Red Line rail's downtown station than Moody Ampitheater/Waterloo Park.

[Riverranchdrone]

Another classic Austin icon will soon be gone. A lot of drunken memories at that IHOP. Some where I have a picture of my friend bent over a cop car in that parking lot, skirt up and getting spanked by my other friend and the IHOP waitress.

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by drummer

So...when will it be developed? Impatience has a strong hold on me with this lot.

IHOP still has a few years left on their lease here so it’ll likely be a while.