Q: What’s the deal with that concrete mini-tower near the softball fields on Pleasant Valley Road, just outside the right outfield fence? A: Hey, here’s a question I can answer without even making a phone call! The Krieg athletic complex, located on the expanse of city parkland east of Pleasant Valley Road and south of…
Domain 9 Plans Describe 18-Story Office Tower for North Austin
The Domain’s most recent office tower project, the rather obviously-named Domain Tower , appeared to distinguish itself from its neighbors in North Austin’s largest mixed-use development by not having a number in its name — but despite this momentary break from the norm, the Domain’s next office tower will fall back in line and take a number. This time,…
Work Begins on Lady Bird Lake Trail Bridge Under Congress Avenue
The Trail Foundation, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the upkeep of the city’s Hike and Bike Trail, celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony last night commemorating the start of construction on a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge for the stretch of the trail underneath the north end of the Congress Avenue Bridge. According to the foundation, the bridge is planned…
Getting to Know East Austin’s Chestnut Plaza
It’s kind of cliche at this point to mention how much a particular area of East Austin has changed. Still, if the breakneck pace of development on this side of town continues, it’s in our best interest to make this growth as smart as possible. That’s the intended goal of the Transit Oriented-Development (TOD) known as Chestnut Plaza emerging around…
What Does a Branded City Look Like?
It’s both ironic and instructional that South By Southwest 2018 presented a panel on “Branded Cities” as part of its growing Cities Summit programming. After all, during the nine days in mid-March when the hydra-headed conference takes over our central city, the branding iron of commerce is hot in downtown Austin and beyond. Empty lots sprout into promotional…
VIDEO: Implosion Brings Down Ashbel Smith Hall in Downtown Austin
Ashbel Smith Hall, a 10-story office tower formerly occupied by the University of Texas System at downtown Austin’s Block 71, is officially no more. Its unfortunate pedigree as perhaps one of the ugliest buildings in the city certainly didn’t tarnish the spectacle of the