A side view of the mixed-use project planned at 1322 East 12th Street. Photo courtesy of Studio D+FORM.
It says a lot about East Austin in 2017 that I can hit 700 words just by listing upcoming developments on a half-mile section of two streets. Now that we’ve hit peak East Sixth, development east of the highway is heading further north, and East 11th and 12th Streets are in the crosshairs.
We’ve got our eye on six projects planned along the rough triangle formed by these two streets, and we’re not even including the properties purchased by Eureka Holdings out of Dallas, which just casually bought half of East 12th Street while nobody was looking. Even by east side standards, this region is changing fast, so what’s on the menu?
1322 East 12th Street
The mixed-use development planned for 1322 East 12th Street. Photo courtesy of Studio D+FORM.
Designed by the transplanted New Yorkers at architecture firm Studio D+FORM, the four story mixed-use building planned at 1322 East 12th Street includes 24 residential units along with 8500 square feet of ground floor retail space. So far so good, but probably the most interesting detail of the project is the involvement of landscape architecture firm Studio Balcones — previously seen on the boards for Plaza Saltillo — for the design of the building’s streetscape.
To be honest, there are so many midrise developments like this in East Austin that even the boldest design might not grab you, so the project’s inclusion of vibrant surface-level improvements deserves a high-five. High-five!
Next Door Creative Offices – 1224 East 12th Street
A rendering of the Next Door studio project at 1224 East 12th Street. Photo courtesy of Pollen Architecture.
Located at 1224 East 12th Street, Next Door is a commercial development described by designers Pollen Architecture as a collection of studio workspaces for artists and creative professionals.
The exterior “rain garden” space at Next Door. Photo courtesy of Pollen Architecture.
The Pollen firm is particularly notable for its innovative and slightly quirky approach to building materials, and the Next Door project is no exception — the building is designed with precast concrete panels on the ground level, capped off on the upper floors with sheet metal paneling called a box rib. The paneling is perforated at each balcony and outside stairwell to give the exterior facade additional texture.
The Huston – 1105 North I-35 Frontage Road
An old rendering of the One Two East mixed-use tower project originally planned for the site. The Huston project probably won’t look like this, which is a bummer. Photo courtesy of Rhode Partners.
Now that the One Two East project is dead and buried, we’re seeing another crack at developing the old shopping center along the I-35 frontage road near 11th Street. This time, it’s called the Huston, and that’s about all we know besides that it’s a multifamily project — not quite as interesting as the mixed-use project proposed there before, but you can’t win ’em all!
Nickel City – 1133 East 11th Street
The exterior and interior of the former Longbranch Inn. It’s certainly authentic! Photos courtesy of Bucket List Bars.
Via 313 pizza founders Zane and Brandon Hunt are opening neighborhood bar Nickel City in the historic building at 1133 East 11th Street, home of the iconic dive bar Longbranch Inn from 1935 to 2016. The brothers say they’re planning to take a light touch with updating the bar, keeping intact as much character as possible.
1211 East 11th Street – Office & Retail
A rendering of the offices and retail space headed to 1211 East 11th Street. Photo courtesy of Furman + Keil Architects.
It’s worth paying attention when architecture firms build themselves new offices — it’s kind of important to their livelihoods to make the building look good. This is thankfully the case at 1211 East 11th Street, future new home of Furman + Keil Architects. The space also integrates more than 3,000 square feet of ground level retail and 5,700 square feet of extra office space. What better way is there to demonstrate your commitment to density than designing yourself a building you have to share?
Rosewood Restaurant Project – 1209 Rosewood Avenue
The Haynes-Delashwah House in 1975. Hang in there, buddy — someone’s gonna remodel you in 40 years! Photo courtesy of the Texas Historical Commission.
The historic Haynes-Delashwah House at 1209 Rosewood Avenue was built in 1890, but after more than a century it’s up for a remodel by the folks at Mark Odom Studio, who plan to add a kitchen space to the building and convert it into a restaurant.
A rendering of the Rosewood Restaurant project at 1209 Rosewood Avenue. Photo courtesy of Mark Odom Studio.
The name “Rosewood Restaurant” is all over the city filings for the site, but I’m not sure that name isn’t just a placeholder. Either way, it’s a beautiful space, and well deserving of the Green Pastures treatment.
