In April, Hyatt introduced a new boutique-style luxury hotel brand called Andaz. The first hotels, they announced, would be placed in world’s most important “international cross-road” cities. And so far, three such locations have been announced. First was London. Second was midtown Manhattan. And the third location to be announced is— believe it or not — Austin, Texas.
The 210-room hotel is slated to open in 2010 as part of a $750M development on 32 acres formerly occupied by Concordia University. The site is located between I-35 and Red River near 32nd street. On top of the hotel will also sit 150 condo units ranging in size from 800 to 2,700 square feet. The building will be 182 feet tall and condo units will start at around $400,000 or a whopping $500 / SF for a non-downtown location.
Here is a summary from the Statesman:
The hotel, which is expected to open in 2010, will offer amenities such as a spa and fitness center and a 20,000-square-foot park-like roof that includes a cocktail lounge and restaurant.It will have appeal in Austin for its high-quality amenities but also will reflect the city’s casual atmosphere, Sarwal said.”The Andaz concept will integrate well with this prime location and Austin’s cosmopolitan energy,” Steve Haggerty, global head of real estate and development for Global Hyatt, said in a statement. “Together, we intend to attract customers looking for fresh, uncomplicated luxury.”The hotel will be energy-efficient and will use ecologically friendly building materials. It will also offer organic food.
This is the second major project announced in the last 10 days after a multi-month lull in major announcements. While it’s not downtown, it represents another major investment in central Austin and likely signals the creation of a promising new district.
