Austin’s First Night New Year’s Eve celebration is expected to draw 100,000 people downtown for a full day and evening of activities celebrating the arts in Austin. Starting at 3 pm and stretching until fireworks ring in the new year, First Night is Austin’s biggest party of the year.

For Austin residents who long for a more vibrant downtown, filled with people, art, and activities, News Year’s Eve is the one day where downtown Austin fills to capacity and lives up to its highest potential. To make 100,000 people fit downtown, To make it all work, the city is working overtime to coordinate public transportation, law enforcement, and parking logistics.

With sky-high hotel prices and endless taxi lines, New Year’s Eve will be a great day to live downtown.





More information is available at www.firstnightaustin.org.

Tags: Downtown Life

First there was Austin City Limits. Then came the Real World: Austin. Now there is DOWNTOWN (The all caps effect is actually part of the name).

While not widely known, Austin public TV station KLRU produces a great original TV show on life in downtown Austin. The award-winning show, called “DOWNTOWN” promotes itself as covering diverse issues “such as dense urban cores, downtown living, transportation, accessibility, arts and cultural vitality, retail development... zombie walks... pillow fights... and more!” The whole series is focused on life in downtown Austin.

Over the last three years, the show has included segments on the Seaholm power plant redevelopment (shown below), high rise elevators, downtown films, popular restaurants, and the downtown fashion scene.

DOWNTOWN is produced by the Downtown Austin Alliance, Action Figure, and KLRU-TV, began airing on KLRU-TV in 2005 as a series of 30-minute programs. In 2008, Seasons 1, 2 and 3 of DOWNTOWN were made available online as individual segments or full programs. Season 4 of the series can be viewed on KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, beginning on October 16, 2008.

The show -- including previously aired episodes -- can be found here: http://www.downtownaustintv.org/

DOWNTOWN TV Images from the segment on the redevelopment of Seaholm:

Tags: Downtown Life

Over the last year, commercial brokers have been shopping one of the largest remaining south Congress parcels -- a full block across from Vespaio -- to a variety of potential commercial tenants.

Today, developers announced that the prime site will be developed with a 90-room boutique hotel, ground-floor retail and restaurants, a plaza with the Hey Cupcake Airstream trailer, and 350 spots of underground parking (a first for the neighborhood). The property is owned by the adjacent church and currently used for parking. One early requirement of the development was to provide ample Sunday parking for the Church. This may be one of the reasons that the developers plan to include 350 spots for a 90-room hotel and It is this requirement which supposedly made condo and rental development difficult on the site.


DICK CLARK ARCHITECTURE

The project is being developed by a team led by Bill Gurasich, a founder of GSD&M and co-owner of the Mansion on Judges Hill, a beautiful boutique hotel on MLK bvld between Lamar and Guadalupe. The project will be designed by Dick Clark, a well-established Texas contemporary architect who also designed the nearby “04” retail, restaurant (Mars), and condo project.

The developers are planning to include two “major” restaurants. Work is expected to begin in 2009 with the project to be completed in 2010.

While development in the heart of the South Congress ecosystem is always sensitive -- it’s truly one of the City’s great assets -- the existing weed-ridden block today serves mostly to break the flow of pedestrian traffic. A small hotel, underground parking, and extensive retails and restaurant are about as good a use of the block as can be expected. And Dick Clark is one of the few architects who has proven that he can successfully integrate new development into the South Congress streetscape.

Tags: Downtown Life, new projects

Austin Towers focuses on downtown Austin condo development, tracking the top projects currently under construction in the downtown area. As any observer can tell, there are many other downtown projects currently under construction downtown. Whether hotels, dorms, garages, or retail, all of these projects will change the face of downtown Austin

Here is a run-down of other important projects (information provided by City of Austin) which are currently under construction downtown:

Austin Market District, South Block Ph. II
The so-called Austin Market District is a four block zone spanning from 5th street to sixth street on Lamar. This project, on the Southeast corner of fifth and Lamar, involves construction on the garage portion of this second phase of an existing project. When completed, the 2nd phase will add a seven-story parking garage, 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 10,000 sq. ft. expansion to Pure Austin Fitness.

Hotel Van Zandt
The site has been cleared and San Diego-based JMI Realty will start construction late this year on a hotel project on Lady Bird Lake. The hotel, which will have 307 rooms, will be operated by San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels.
Start Construction: November 2008
http://www.hotelvanzandt.com/


Gables Park Plaza
Construction has started on this primarily residential project (294 apartments and 185 condominiums), along with 22,000 s.f. of retail and 11,000 s.f. of office and a 5,000 s.f. restaurant.
Completion: Early 2010
http://www.gables.com/



La Vista on Lavaca
Construction started in 2007 on this mixed-use building which will have a first floor restaurant, a 3-floor Executive Business Center, and 31 condos (700 s.f. to 2,000 s.f.) on the top floors. Construction, however, has recently stalled without explanation.
Completion: April 2009
http://www.lavistaonlavaca.com/



The Ashton
MetLife Inc.'s Dallas office has teamed with The Hanover Company of Houston to build a 36-story tower on the half block lot just west of the 100 Congress. The project (formerly named Altavida) will include 258 rental units and a 5-level parking garage and ground floor lobby, visitor parking and retail space. Five levels of below-grade parking will connect to the existing 100 Congress garage.
Completion: Spring 2009
http://www.altavidaaustin.com/



Crescent
The project is a apartment development consisting of 169 multifamily units near Congress and Riverside in the South Congress area.
Completion: Late 2008
http://www.crescentaustin.com/home.html



300 Lamar Boulevard South
Phoenix Property is building a 5-story, 137-unit apartment project with ground floor retail and restaurants, on the site formerly occupied by Binswanger Glass Co.
Completion: Early 2009

The Presidio at Judges Hill
Dallas-based Stonehill-PRM Realty is developing a 45-unit condo on the southwest corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. and West Avenue. Pricing starts at $235,000 with 45 units ranging from 689 to 1915 square feet.* Expected completion date of the model is mid-September with an expected completion date of November 2008. The project is being designed by Allan Nutt Architects, who also designed Piazza Navona in West Campus.
Completion: December 2008
http://www.presidioatjudgeshill.com/



Legacy @ Town Lake
Legacy Partners is constructing a 31-story luxury high-rise residential building, with 187 apartments and 9 live / work lofts at ground level. The site is across the street from the Milago condominium project, at the corner of Rainey and Cummings Streets, adjacent to the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail.
Completion: October 2008 (first units), complete Feb. ‘09
http://www.legacyonthelake.com/



La Vista de Guadalupe
La Vista de Guadalupe, a 22-unit multifamily development, is going up at 813 E. Eighth St., just east of downtown. The development will have apartments from one to three bedrooms in two buildings, with rents from $300 to $725 per month, targeting a mix of incomes. Each unit will have nine-foot ceilings and full appliances, with designs that maximize energy efficiency. The development aims to provide
housing for residents who are finding it difficult to stay in the East Austin area because of dramatic increases in rents, aiming at families below the median income. La Vista de Guadalupe is owned by Guadalupe Family Community LP. Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corp., a nonprofit that focuses on neighborhood revitalization and preservation, will serve as the developer and
property manager.

Super COOP
Alan Robison This is a 7-story, 178 unit multifamily / co-op development.

21 Rio
This is a 16-story, 117 unit private UT housing project with some first floor retail.



The Quarters
John McKinnerney This is a 100-unit multifamily project with ground floor retail.
http://www.quartersoncampus.com/

In addition, AustinTowers continues to report on the following downtown condo projects, all of which are actively under construction or recently completed:

360
Austonian
Barton Place
Bridges on the Park
Four Seasons Residences
The Shore
Spring
W Hotel & Residences

Tags: Downtown Life

This week, five proposals were released for the redevelopment of the sweeping Green Water Treatment Plant site between Seaholm and the Second Street District.

Nestled between Whole Foods, Ladybird Lake, Seaholm, Austin Music Hall, and the 2nd Street District is the City's oldest sewage treatment plant - the Thomas C. Green Water Treatment Plant - which began purifying water from Ladybird lake in 1925. The plant covers 6 acres across 4 city blocks. In addition to using a key tract of land to process water using 1920's technology, the plant also serves to disrupt the natural grid of the city -- it stops second street at its west end and blocks Nueces and Rio Grande from reaching Cesar Chavez.

The Green site offers an incredible development opportunity. With four downtown blocks, it is a huge chunk of land. The location is perfect -- it is on the lake and adjacent to both the hot second street district and the future Seaholm multi-use development. The site is free of Capital View Corridor restrictions, although portions of the site close to the lake are limited to 45 feet in height.

The plant, which is located between Cesar Chavez and Third streets between Seaholm and San Antonio is about to be decommissioned to make way for a new development. This week, the city released basic details on five proposals for redevelopment of the site. Once complete, the new development will likely add retail, housing, and office space while filling in the missing streets on the city grid.

Here are sample renderings from each of the proposals. It's an amazing set, they provide a vision of an important new urban district near the center of downtown Austin:


Larry Speck/PIRATE DESIGN


MITHUN


CATELLUS DEVELOPMENT GRO


BOSSE AND TURNER ARCHITECTS


COTERA AND REED ARCHITECTS

No matter who wins, here are some of the changes that are likely in store for the site when construction begins in 2010 or 2011:

- About 1,000 new apartments and condominiums including many affordably-priced units. While there are many condo and apartment projects currently under construction - and a few that have been cancelled -- demand remains very strong for central, affordable units. All proposals would include more than 100 units priced to be affordable for a family earning approximately $57,000.

- Multiple high-rise towers with downtown retail and restaurant space which will expand the thriving 2nd Street District.

- Lots of office space -- an important part of the downtown mix that has been largely ignored by the current building boom.

- The various proposals include many interesting elements such as a large downtown H-E-B., a movie theater, a major bookstore, a senior assisted-living center, a waterfront park, large hotels


Here is a summary of the individual proposals from the Statesman:

The proposals made by Catellus Development, Forest City, Simmons Vedder Partners, Stratus Properties, Trammell Crow and their respective partners have some things in common. But each also has elements unique to its plan. "Each one of the five has something that is different from the others, that's distinct to that proposal," Council Member Brewster McCracken said. "It's really amazing."

Trammell Crow and partners Constructive Ventures and USAA Real Estate Co. propose the biggest and tallest buildings with the most parking. Their plan also includes the most diverse uses, with space for a 350,000-square-foot hotel and a 250-unit senior assisted living facility in addition to condos, apartments, offices and retail businesses. Five public gathering spaces could accommodate as many as 2,700 people.

Stratus Properties' proposal includes a two-story H-E-B grocery store, with H.E. Butt Grocery Co. serving as a limited partner in the project.

"We think H-E-B being a full-service grocery store is something everybody can afford, it helps every one of those retailers in the area and it makes residential more viable," said the team's attorney, Steve Drenner.

A movie theater and bookstore would also help drive more traffic to the Second Street retail district.

Stratus and partner AMLI Residential are proposing the largest number of rental units, which they say would let them offer housing in a greater range of prices, and they plan to offer medical office space not found downtown. Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund, a partnership of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors and Magic Johnson Enterprises, is also a part of this team.

Simmons Vedder proposes a waterfront art park and four bridges over Shoal Creek, including two for pedestrians only.

This team, which includes Cotera + Reed Architects and Bury + Partners Engineering Solutions, also proposes to essentially turn the buildings into power plants by installing solar panels in the skins of its towers. It plans to use water collected from the condensation of air conditioners to flush the toilets.

Catellus Development has proposed a primarily residential project with 500,000 square feet of office space and nearly 200,000 square feet of retail. But the company is also offering to collaborate with city leaders and the community to develop a final master plan for the property that could differ significantly from its initial proposal.

"We're going to present something we think is really neat, dynamic, progressive and all of that, but with that said, if we are selected we're going to say, 'Let's go out and spend time and hear from the city what they really want and hear from stakeholders what they really want,' " Catellus President Greg Weaver said.

Forest City, which is partnering with Novare Group and Andrews Urban, emphasizes public spaces with a grand plaza at Second and Nueces streets complete with a fountain and transplanted moon tower. A grand staircase inspired by the Spanish Steps in Rome would connect the plaza to the trail along Shoal Creek, which would run from the Austin Energy site north of Third Street to Lady Bird Lake.

Tags: new projects, news, Downtown Life

According to the Statesman, four new businesses will move into retail spaces on the ground floor of the nearly complete 360 project on 4th and Nueces:

* Blue Café Bar Lounge will open in an 1,100-square-foot space in June. The European-influenced shop will feature coffee drinks, lunch items, desserts and wine among other items.

* Lora Reynolds Gallery will move from its current space on West Avenue to an 1,800-square-foot space at 360 in the fall. The gallery, which opened in 2004, features nationally and internationally recognized artists. It organizes six to eight shows annually, and has promoted gallery artists through a number of platforms including published catalogs and placement in public and private collections.

* Mulberry is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Michael Polombo and designer Michael Hsu. The shop slated to open in July will feature a variety of light cuisine in a neighborhood restaurant and wine bar format.

* Royal Blue Grocery will open its second location at 360. The compact urban market's first location is in Austin's Second Street District. The 1,900-square-foot store -- a hybrid of sorts between a convenience store and gourmet grocery -- will welcome its first customers in August.

With these tenants, 7,909 square feet remain unrented, the highlight of which is a 3,300-square-foot restaurant space overlooking Shoal Creek.

Just a block away - on Nueces between 4th and 5th-- Lance Armstrong's new bike store / coffee house / commuter hub is also opening. The store, named Mellow Johnny's, is certain to be a major downtown destination. According to Austin 360:

Besides road bikes, Mellow Johnny's will sell commuter bikes, mountain bikes, triathlon bikes, fixed-gear bikes, low-riders, cruiser-style bikes and even hand-made "art bikes" that look as good hanging on a wall as they do rolling down the street. Stock will also include gear by Giro, Nike and Oakley.Showers and a locker room will allow commuters who don't have facilities at their offices to ride downtown, store their bikes at the shop, bathe and catch a ride on a pedicab or walk the rest of the way to work.The building covers 18,000 square feet on a main floor and basement level and will have garage doors that roll open at one end. The site has served as a distribution center for Pearl beer, a paint company, a steel manufacturing facility and a resource center for the homeless. Demolition work began in June, and construction inside the shop started two weeks ago. Armstrong and his partners are leasing the property from an undisclosed owner.

Lance Armstong's Mellow Johnny's Store is one block north of 360

Tags: Downtown Life

Arthouse, a downtown contemporary art museum located on Congress and 7th, today announced plans to remodel and expand their downtown galleries and educational facilities. According to Arthouse, "The plans -- developed by Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis, New York-based architects, the Board’s Building Committee and Staff -- will triple total space from 7,000 sq. ft. to 20,830 sq.ft."

Arthouse (formerly the Texas Fine Arts Association) was founded in 1911, and for more than ninety years it has advocated for the support of contemporary art in Texas, organizing exhibitions and presenting them in Austin and statewide. From its home, the Jones Center in downtown Austin, Arthouse pursues its mission: to promote the growth and appreciation of contemporary art and artists in Texas. The museum is well respected for its innovative exhibits and programs.

With the $6.6 million renovation and expansion, the project will “recycle” the current building which in the 1920’s was the Queen Theater, a key part of the Queen/Paramount/State theater “block,” and in the 1950’s became a Lerner Shops department store. Three new galleries, two artists’ studios, a 90-seat community/screening room, and a 5,500 sq. ft. rooftop space with a 33 foot x 17 foot movie screen will be added.

The highlight of the Arthouse project is the innovative architecture of the renovated structure. The striking building features randomly placed green translucent bricks, a modern awning reminiscent of the building's department store past, large glass windows including live projections on the upper floor, and a dramatic rooftop deck with an open air movie theater. The main space on the second floor also doubles as a large screening room.







The Arthouse project follows Austin Museum of Arts recent announcement of a new free-standing 40,000 square foot museum and a separate 425,000 square foot 30-story office tower on the current lot at West Fourth & Guadalupe. Together, these projects mark an exciting expansion of downtown arts options. With regular events, gallery openings, and now rooftop movies, these venues will continue to thrive as cornerstones of the emerging downtown cultural scene.

Tags: culture, Downtown Life, news

The 2nd Street district is quickly becoming the heart of Austin. Even with just one real city-like block, the 2nd street district is full of life and energy --- both during the day and during the night.

One of the reasons for the success of the 2nd Street district is the centralized leasing strategy which groups all 44 retail locations in AMLI downtown, the CSC building, the Silicon Labs Building, and in City Hal under the control of a central leasing authority currently managed by AMLl. By centrally managing leasing, the district has been able to limit chain businesses while building a diverse collection of retail stores and restaurants that bring life to the neighborhood. As the district grows in size, it show only become stronger.

With the coming completion of the AMLI on 2nd rental tower between San Antonio & Guadalupe, a number of new businesses are soon to open on 2nd Street and in the surrounding blocks that form the district.


IMAGE: New AMLI on 2nd Tower Extends the 2nd Street District

The completion of the AMLI tower will bring 11 new retail businesses while bringing new life to the 7 businesses in the Silicon Labs building across the street. So far, 7 out of the 11 new retail locations in the AMLI Tower have been leased. They include the following new business which will soon appear on 2nd street. in fact, a couple—such as St. Bernard Sports—have already opened. The new 2nd Street businesses include:

- Z Pizza - An new downtown pizza restaurant
- Málaga - A Tapas restaurant which is moving from 4th street
- Minx
- La Condesa
- Kirk Furniture - A local vintage furniture store
- St. Bernard Sports - A Sporting Goods Store on 3rd street
- Dr Shane Matt -- Appears to be a dentist office

In addition, a few additional businesses are set to open soon throughout the district:

- Taste Select Wines
- Beyond Traditions Jewelry
- Mama Fu's - A local Asian Food Chain

With these additions, 42 of 55 of the retail stores in the 2nd Street District are now occupied. As new buildings such as the expansive Block 21 complex a W Hotel & Residences completed the street, the 2nd Street District will continue to shift Austin's center of gravity in its direction.

Tags: Downtown Life, news