The Transformation of South Lamar - Page 10

Komeht · #**181** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 5:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Man, the amazing thing about all these low/midrise residential projects sprinkled across Central Austin is that they're creating all kinds of possibilities for cool views of the skyline from their parking garages. As much as we complain about garages, they will offer some good views. That's for sure.

I really want to hit the fast forward button and drive down South Lamar just one time and see what it will be like in 10 or 20 years.

The ATX · #**182** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 5:23 AM**

...Riverside too.

KevinFromTexas · #**183** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 5:58 AM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2013/05/29/211-lamar-sees-another-delay.html

Quote:

un 5, 2013, 2:42pm CDT
Slideshow: Controversial 211 Lamar project nearing decision

Robert Grattan
Staff Writer-
Austin Business Journal

City Council will have the final say on the zoning changes. The Council is scheduled to hear the item at tomorrow's June 6 meeting.

migol24 · #**184** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 6:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

...Riverside too.

My parents live on Riverside. I'm a bit undecided on the development of that side of Austin. Last time I was in Austin was back in January. Apart from Riverview, Shoreline and the Boardwalk, I'm not too sold on Emo's or the Beauty Bar opening up on that side of town, especially when they were built on Shopping centers. Makes it no different from other venues like Club Carnaval or those other places. I thought at least some efforts would be made to make it more cohesive with the streets and foot traffic to keep up with the future developments that will take place along Riverside. If a rail line were to ever go through Riverside, it wouldn't make sense that anything built on that side of town still follows the old shopping center and parking lots layouts. I'm not sure if I'm making any sense. It just looks weird to me, and out of place.

MightyYoda · #**185** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

My parents live on Riverside. I'm a bit undecided on the development of that side of Austin. Last time I was in Austin was back in January. Apart from Riverview, Shoreline and the Boardwalk, I'm not too sold on Emo's or the Beauty Bar opening up on that side of town, especially when they were built on Shopping centers. Makes it no different from other venues like Club Carnaval or those other places. I thought at least some efforts would be made to make it more cohesive with the streets and foot traffic to keep up with the future developments that will take place along Riverside. If a rail line were to ever go through Riverside, it wouldn't make sense that anything built on that side of town still follows the old shopping center and parking lots layouts. I'm not sure if I'm making any sense. It just looks weird to me, and out of place.

I think Riverside will be awkward for a bit until more of the apartment projects and the boardwalk finish. As that area's density and connection to downtown increases, the likelihood of renovated streets and more mixed use will follow.

Komeht · #**186** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

My parents live on Riverside. I'm a bit undecided on the development of that side of Austin. Last time I was in Austin was back in January. Apart from Riverview, Shoreline and the Boardwalk, I'm not too sold on Emo's or the Beauty Bar opening up on that side of town, especially when they were built on Shopping centers. Makes it no different from other venues like Club Carnaval or those other places. I thought at least some efforts would be made to make it more cohesive with the streets and foot traffic to keep up with the future developments that will take place along Riverside. If a rail line were to ever go through Riverside, it wouldn't make sense that anything built on that side of town still follows the old shopping center and parking lots layouts. I'm not sure if I'm making any sense. It just looks weird to me, and out of place.

I was dubious on Riverside too, but no longer. I see the vision and it is and will happene wih the right zoning from the city - at least the portion between IH35 and Pleasant Valley. It will take 10 years or more, but the transformation will be incredible from one of Austin's very worst corridors to one of Austin's best.

I think Burnet between 45 and Koenig and Airport between Highland Mall and Mueller could eventually be similarly transformed in time.

migol24 · #**187** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 6:20 PM**

Whatever happens for Riverside I'm down with it. I'd just like for it to maintain some of its hispanic culture. That area and North Lamar near Rundberg have probably the biggest hispanic populations not yet gentrified. When we first moved to Austin it was back in 1998. I was 14 and we first moved there in that area of Riverside and Pleasant Valley. For the most part, its still basically the same. Except there used to be an Albertson's where that gym now is and those fast food joints on the HEB block weren't there yet. We lived right across the street from where the gym is in those ugly ghetto apartments Country Club Creek. I get a feeling that back then it wasn't as populated with a mexican population the way it is now. La Michoacana was not there back then. Now there are like two mexican grocery stores.

I guess when people see me they don't really realize how much of a mexican I really am. I hate people here in San Francisco who try to tell me that mexican culture here is better than in Austin. The mexican food here is terrible. I don't know why I'm going on this little rant, sorry.

KevinFromTexas · #**188** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 7:18 PM**

Plus the views of downtown from that area really some of the best around. That view just sticks around for many many blocks along Riverside. We were at the HEB at Pleasant Valley & Riverside a week ago, and I'm still kicking myself that I forgot the camera.

The ATX · #**189** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 8:02 PM**

It was business as usual for the Austin City Council today concerning the Taco Cabana redevelopment today. They postponed any decision until August 8th.

Komeht · #**190** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 12:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by migol24

Whatever happens for Riverside I'm down with it. I'd just like for it to maintain some of its hispanic culture. That area and North Lamar near Rundberg have probably the biggest hispanic populations not yet gentrified. When we first moved to Austin it was back in 1998. I was 14 and we first moved there in that area of Riverside and Pleasant Valley. For the most part, its still basically the same. Except there used to be an Albertson's where that gym now is and those fast food joints on the HEB block weren't there yet. We lived right across the street from where the gym is in those ugly ghetto apartments Country Club Creek. I get a feeling that back then it wasn't as populated with a mexican population the way it is now. La Michoacana was not there back then. Now there are like two mexican grocery stores.

I guess when people see me they don't really realize how much of a mexican I really am. I hate people here in San Francisco who try to tell me that mexican culture here is better than in Austin. The mexican food here is terrible. I don't know why I'm going on this little rant, sorry.

As a hispanic one generation removed with relatives who live in Mexico I have to say I don't understand this perspective at all. Nothing about Riverside and Pleasant Valley speaks to my heritage or the culture of my family whatsoever. It is one of the single most unpleasant areas of Austin blighted by the very worst kind of sprawl that we have in this city and badly needs to be transformed into something that hispanics would be comfortable and proud to live in.

wwmiv · #**191** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 1:07 AM**

I agree with you komeht, the places that have the heritage are either still mostly intact (east 7th out towards 183) or totally gone (Rainey).

migol24 · #**192** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 8:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Komeht

As a hispanic one generation removed with relatives who live in Mexico I have to say I don't understand this perspective at all. Nothing about Riverside and Pleasant Valley speaks to my heritage or the culture of my family whatsoever. It is one of the single most unpleasant areas of Austin blighted by the very worst kind of sprawl that we have in this city and badly needs to be transformed into something that hispanics would be comfortable and proud to live in.

I'm not exactly sure what the controversy is. There are lots of mexicans on E Riverside. There isn't anything wrong with that. I'd like to see my mexicans thrive. No? I'm not saying to keep the sprawl as it is.... I obviously like the development as I've mentioned earlier. I'd just like to have hispanics, as you've put it yourself, live in a place that is comfortable and proud to live. So there really isn't any disagreements here. There are plenty of bars, and mexican restaurants in this area that not many of you would even ever think of going. I go there all the friggin time. Its my people. I enjoy their company, ghetto and all.

KevinFromTexas · #**193** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 9:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

It was business as usual for the Austin City Council today concerning the Taco Cabana redevelopment today. They postponed any decision until August 8th.

Mike Martinez said on his Facebook page that they worked on the meeting until 1 am. So I'm willing to cut them some slack.

427MM · #**194** Posted **Jun 10, 2013, 11:02 PM**

211 S. Lamar was postponed because it has not gone through the Planning Commission yet. It is scheduled to be heard at tomorrow's (Tuesday) meeting at 6pm in the Council Chambers, 301 West 2nd St.

zedaref · #**195** Posted **Jun 11, 2013, 7:10 PM**

Plans for phase 2 of Post South Lamar hit the City's FTP server: PDF.

A related article from the Biz Journal from April. The site plan shows it to have a similar large sidewalk and treatment as phase 1.

Old renderings.

Buffalonian · #**196** Posted **Jun 11, 2013, 7:35 PM**

I used to live in Austin from 1993 to 2001 and I remembered Lamar Blvd both North Lamar and South Lamar as being hideous, carcentric and very suburban in character. A very disturbing aspect of Lamar back then was all those overhead power lines and ubiquitous billboards. I am very happy to see that Austin has finally done something very major to make South Lamar into a beautiful, urban style thoroughfare with underground utilities and buildings up to the sidewalk edge. Probably I shouldn't have left Austin and moved back to Buffalo in 2001. It looks like Austin has really gotten much better.

Komeht · #**197** Posted **Jun 12, 2013, 3:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffalonian

I used to live in Austin from 1993 to 2001 and I remembered Lamar Blvd both North Lamar and South Lamar as being hideous, carcentric and very suburban in character. A very disturbing aspect of Lamar back then was all those overhead power lines and ubiquitous billboards. I am very happy to see that Austin has finally done something very major to make South Lamar into a beautiful, urban style thoroughfare with underground utilities and buildings up to the sidewalk edge. Probably I shouldn't have left Austin and moved back to Buffalo in 2001. It looks like Austin has really gotten much better.

Its definitely improving. You wouldn't believe the people who fight incredible battles to keep South Lamar a long depressing run of low intensity strip malls, auto garages and adult book stores. They put up an argument at nearly every lot that gets slated for development. Despite them - South Lamar is getting transformed and will be wonderful someday.

Syndic · #**198** Posted **Jun 12, 2013, 4:36 AM**

When I went to visit my dad in Orange County (California) I knew something was different the moment I got there. Then, he pointed it out. They banned all billboards. The result was nothing short of amazing. You'd be surprised by how much better just getting rid of billboards makes a place look. I wish Austin would do it.

BevoLJ · #**199** Posted **Jun 12, 2013, 3:18 PM**

Doesn't the dude who became like a billionaire by owning most of the billboards in the US live in OC?

Syndic · #**200** Posted **Jun 13, 2013, 3:54 AM**

Not sure. But that would be ironic.