Perhaps the most lasting impact of the New Deal programs enacted during the 1930s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the economic woes of the Great Depression is found in its public works projects, built or funded by an alphabet soup of federal agencies including the Public Works Administration (PWA), the Works Progress…
Here’s a Closer Look at the Tower Headed for Fourth and Brazos Downtown
If built, the tower planned at the half-block on the northeast corner of Fourth and Brazos Streets in downtown Austin by Chicago development outfit CA Ventures will be the city’s second-tallest, according to recent city development filings. The project’s site plan is currently in review status with the city, but available documents are unclear on the tower’s exact height,…
Central Austin Development Roundup: We’re Still Building These, Folks
A fun game to play during a global pandemic such as this one is to search your inbox for the word “unprecedented” and try to find the funniest way it’s been strategically deployed in an email blast by one of the brands you don’t immediately kick to the spam folder. I got one from Panera Bread the…
East Austin’s Historic Texaco Depot Could Get a ‘Cosmic’ Rebirth
As the 10-acre site of Austin’s first rail yard settles into its new identity as the Saltillo mixed-use development, other than the tracks themselves there are few reminders left of this area’s century-long history as an industrial and shipping hub enabling much of the city’s economic growth in the 20th century. The Texaco Depot buildings found…
A 1957 Midcentury Masterpiece Now for Sale on the Riverside Golf Course
Even as Austin grows with countless residential and commercial developments moving forward on the East Riverside corridor, a 1957 midcentury dwelling now listed at 5606 Penick Drive is a reminder of Southeast Austin’s prestigious past. From 1950 to 1984, what’s now known as the Riverside Golf Course was home to the famed Austin Country Club, the stomping grounds of legendary professional…
Here’s Tower 5C, Bringing 41 Eye-Catching Floors to Fifth and Colorado
Though the concept of office buildings in general is taking a light beating in recent months, a 41-floor office and retail project by developer Ryan Companies is moving forward after securing a Density Bonus recommendation earlier this week from the City of Austin’s Design Commission. That’s good news for people who like interesting buildings, because…