• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

TOWERS

Austin city life since 2007.

  • News
    • Condo Projects
    • Neighborhoods
  • Listings
    • Austin Condo Guide
  • Newsletter
Search
You are here: Home / News / It’s Toilet Time in Downtown Austin, With Three New Public Restrooms on the Way
Search suggestions: condos for sale • rainey street

It’s Toilet Time in Downtown Austin, With Three New Public Restrooms on the Way

James Rambin May 30, 2019 Comment

An example of a Portland Loo out in the wild. Austin’s permanent public toilet facilities will look pretty much exactly like this, or maybe even completely exactly like this. Image: Portland Loo / Facebook

After three years of planning and over one year of data-gathering (hey, don’t laugh) from a migrating temporary restroom, the City of Austin is ready to put down roots, with two permanent public restroom installations headed downtown this November and a third on the way by January 2020. Thanks to recent city utility filings and some assistance from the Downtown Austin Alliance, we’ve got some very specific information about where this toilet trio’s headed.

 These restroom units, though permanently installed, are prefabricated — previous reports indicated their stainless steel design will resemble the famous Portland Loo and might even come from the same Oregon manufacturer.

Matt Macioge, director of operations with the Downtown Austin Alliance, says they’re not “100 percent sure” Portland Loo manufacturers Madden Fabrication will be the vendors for this project, but it’s obvious there’s a heavy inspiration from the City of Portland’s successful public restroom program. 

Drawings of prefabricated Portland Loo structures from the public restroom program’s purchasing documents. Image: City of Austin

The city’s 2018 invitation for bids on the project from private contractors doesn’t exactly mince words either:

The City of Austin is seeking a qualified contractor to supply prefabricated public restrooms, including delivery to multiple locations within the Austin, Texas Central Business District. The model required is a Portland Loo manufactured by Madden Fabrication or a buyer-approved equivalent model.

— City of Austin Public Restroom Bidding Document, 2018

The design of the restrooms, which are ADA-compliant and feature solar-powered internal LED lighting, will include some design details intended to reduce illicit use — for one thing, the sinks for hand-washing are reportedly located on the outside of the structure to discourage bathing or the washing of clothes.

The shape of the actual restroom units — shown in city public works filings from earlier this month — is clearly the same as the Portland Loo, and as a bonus the two maps below show the exact locations of the facilities:

A selection from recent city utility filings showing the exact location of the permanent public restroom facilities headed downtown — the one above is at East Fourth and Trinity Streets, on the southwestern corner of Brush Square. Image: City of Austin

A selection from recent city utility filings showing the exact location of the permanent public restroom facilities headed downtown — the one above is near Brazos and Sixth Streets, just west of Buffalo Billiards. Image: City of Austin

The third restroom doesn’t appear in these documents, but according to Macioge, it’s going somewhere between Sixth and Seventh Street near the southbound I-35 frontage road, near the municipal courts facility at 700 East Seventh Street. 

The temporary restroom — or Baño Publico, as the locals call it — during its stay on the side of I-35 near Sixth Street in October 2017. A permanent facility will be installed in this area by January 2020.

If all goes well, these three restrooms — apparently going by the name “Waterloo” — are just the start. A City Council resolution passed in 2018 awarded and executed a $1.3 million, five-year contract to provide up to 10 prefabricated toilet facilities around the city, and we’ll probably find out when and where they’re going once these first three units are installed and ready to rock.

The earlier program with the roving temporary research toilet worked out pretty well:

The Downtown Austin Alliance, in partnership with the Department of Public Health and the Public Works Department, ran the original pilot program with one temporary public restroom. During the pilot project, the Downtown Austin Alliance tracked an average of 120 users each day. The Downtown Austin Alliance Ambassadors, who report and track waste in the right-of-way, reported that after the deployment of the pilot project, human waste in the right-of-way decreased significantly and over an area larger than originally anticipated.

— Matt Macioge, Director of Operations, Downtown Austin Alliance

“Waste in the right-of-way” is a charming manner of phrasing it, but this is seriously great news. The facilities, though not expected to be staffed with an attendant 24/7 as the temporary facilities were earlier in the pilot program, will be cleaned, inspected, and restocked regularly by Downtown Austin Alliance employees. Just like we did back in 2017, we can’t wait to review the permanent restrooms for ourselves when they open to the public in November — after all, these facilities are a major improvement for the quality and equity of downtown’s urban environment.

For now, here’s some nifty street views for the first three anticipated restroom locations, as exact as we can get them — that last one’s still kinda up in the air:

Fourth and Trinity Streets (Brush Square)

Sixth and Brazos Streets

I-35 Frontage Road near Sixth and Seventh Streets


Latest Downtown Austin Condos For Sale

  • $1,299,999 48 East Avenue #2311
    Austin, TX
  • $2,400,500 200 Congress Avenue #38SW
    Austin, TX
  • $2,450,000 200 CONGRESS Avenue #29E
    Austin, TX
  • $699,900 48 East Ave #2705
    Austin, TX
  • $3,250,000 98 San Jacinto Boulevard #2803
    Austin, TX
  • $1,450,000 48 E East Avenue #2501
    Austin, TX
  • $945,000 301 West Avenue #4606
    Austin, TX
  • $899,000 603 Davis Street #1009
    Austin, TX
  • $599,000 360 Nueces Street #1408
    Austin, TX
  • $725,000 360 Nueces Street #2701
    Austin, TX
  • $1,700,000 200 Congress Avenue #17C
    Austin, TX
  • $876,500 603 Davis Street #2204
    Austin, TX
  • $3,495,000 501 West Avenue #3802
    Austin, TX
  • $1,175,000 1010 W 10th Street #101
    Austin, TX
  • $825,000 360 Nueces Street #3807
    Austin, TX
48 East Avenue #2311
Austin, TX
Photo of 48  East Avenue #2311, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5340297)
$1,299,999
Lot Size
88 sqft

Home Size
1,036 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

200 Congress Avenue #38SW
Austin, TX
Photo of 200  Congress Avenue #38SW, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4898650)
$2,400,500
Lot Size
131 sqft

Home Size
1,785 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

200 CONGRESS Avenue #29E
Austin, TX
Photo of 200  CONGRESS Avenue #29E, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8822598)
$2,450,000
Lot Size
131 sqft

Home Size
1,918 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

48 East Ave #2705
Austin, TX
Photo of 48  East Ave #2705, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7310286)
$699,900
Lot Size
17,904 sqft

Home Size
706 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

98 San Jacinto Boulevard #2803
Austin, TX
Photo of 98  San Jacinto Boulevard #2803, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4944634)
$3,250,000
Lot Size
610 sqft

Home Size
2,597 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

48 E East Avenue #2501
Austin, TX
Photo of 48 E East Avenue #2501, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4251440)
$1,450,000
Lot Size
17,904 sqft

Home Size
1,121 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

301 West Avenue #4606
Austin, TX
Photo of 301  West Avenue #4606, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 6322936)
$945,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
794 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

603 Davis Street #1009
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #1009, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8041663)
$899,000
Lot Size
262 sqft

Home Size
1,286 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

360 Nueces Street #1408
Austin, TX
Photo of 360  Nueces Street #1408, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4579379)
$599,000
Lot Size
101 sqft

Home Size
732 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

360 Nueces Street #2701
Austin, TX
Photo of 360  Nueces Street #2701, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2845877)
$725,000
Lot Size
88 sqft

Home Size
834 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

200 Congress Avenue #17C
Austin, TX
Photo of 200  Congress Avenue #17C, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5623976)
$1,700,000
Lot Size
88 sqft

Home Size
1,464 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

603 Davis Street #2204
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #2204, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8020696)
$876,500
Lot Size
175 sqft

Home Size
1,193 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

501 West Avenue #3802
Austin, TX
Photo of 501  West Avenue #3802, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4348628)
$3,495,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
2,849 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

1010 W 10th Street #101
Austin, TX
Photo of 1010 W 10th Street #101, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 8284037)
$1,175,000
Lot Size
1,072 sqft

Home Size
1,711 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

360 Nueces Street #3807
Austin, TX
Photo of 360  Nueces Street #3807, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4139110)
$825,000
Lot Size
114 sqft

Home Size
852 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

  • 48 East Avenue #2311
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48  East Avenue #2311, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5340297)
    $1,299,999
    Lot Size
    88 sqft

    Home Size
    1,036 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 200 Congress Avenue #38SW
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 200  Congress Avenue #38SW, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4898650)
    $2,400,500
    Lot Size
    131 sqft

    Home Size
    1,785 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 200 CONGRESS Avenue #29E
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 200  CONGRESS Avenue #29E, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8822598)
    $2,450,000
    Lot Size
    131 sqft

    Home Size
    1,918 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 48 East Ave #2705
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48  East Ave #2705, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7310286)
    $699,900
    Lot Size
    17,904 sqft

    Home Size
    706 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 98 San Jacinto Boulevard #2803
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 98  San Jacinto Boulevard #2803, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4944634)
    $3,250,000
    Lot Size
    610 sqft

    Home Size
    2,597 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 48 E East Avenue #2501
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48 E East Avenue #2501, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4251440)
    $1,450,000
    Lot Size
    17,904 sqft

    Home Size
    1,121 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 301 West Avenue #4606
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 301  West Avenue #4606, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 6322936)
    $945,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    794 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 603 Davis Street #1009
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 603  Davis Street #1009, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8041663)
    $899,000
    Lot Size
    262 sqft

    Home Size
    1,286 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 360 Nueces Street #1408
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 360  Nueces Street #1408, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4579379)
    $599,000
    Lot Size
    101 sqft

    Home Size
    732 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 360 Nueces Street #2701
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 360  Nueces Street #2701, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2845877)
    $725,000
    Lot Size
    88 sqft

    Home Size
    834 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 200 Congress Avenue #17C
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 200  Congress Avenue #17C, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5623976)
    $1,700,000
    Lot Size
    88 sqft

    Home Size
    1,464 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 603 Davis Street #2204
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 603  Davis Street #2204, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8020696)
    $876,500
    Lot Size
    175 sqft

    Home Size
    1,193 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 501 West Avenue #3802
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 501  West Avenue #3802, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4348628)
    $3,495,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    2,849 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 1010 W 10th Street #101
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1010 W 10th Street #101, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 8284037)
    $1,175,000
    Lot Size
    1,072 sqft

    Home Size
    1,711 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 360 Nueces Street #3807
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 360  Nueces Street #3807, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4139110)
    $825,000
    Lot Size
    114 sqft

    Home Size
    852 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

Previous Next
 

Editor's Suggested Posts

With Clever Design and Data, Austin Hopes to Solve Its Toilet Problem

With Clever Design and Data, Austin Hopes to Solve Its Toilet Problem

Inside Public Toilet, Downtown Austin's Latest Pop-Up Spot

Inside Public Toilet, Downtown Austin's Latest Pop-Up Spot

The Future's Bright for Downtown Austin's Historic Brush Square

The Future's Bright for Downtown Austin's Historic Brush Square

Related

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 78701, city life, design, streetscapes, urbanism, walkability

About James Rambin

James is an Austin native, but tries not to brag about it. Email him anything at james@towers.net.

625 Tillery Street #B
Austin, TX
Photo of 625  Tillery Street #B, Austin, TX 78702 (MLS # 7291431)
$999,625
17
  • Lot Size
    2,178 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,800 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

Previous Post: « At Austin Energy’s New Rainey Street Substation, ‘Modern’ Is the Look
Next Post: Downtown Austin’s Sabine Street Promenade is Finally Happening »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  •  Schedule a showing

Featured Buildings

  • 360 Condos
  • Austin City Lofts
  • The Independent
  • The Shore Condos
  • 70 Rainey

FEATURED Listings

625 Tillery Street #A
Austin, TX
Photo of 625  Tillery Street #A, Austin, TX 78702 (MLS # 4007841)
$1,095,000
15
  • Lot Size
    4,052 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,792 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

1009 E Riverside Drive #B
Austin, TX
Photo of 1009 E Riverside Drive #B, Austin, TX 78704 (MLS # 9235307)
$1,285,000
34
  • Lot Size
    7,101 sqft

  • Home Size
    2,364 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

501 West Avenue #2101
Austin, TX
Photo of 501  West Avenue #2101, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2853366)
$2,885,000
40
  • Lot Size
    157 sqft

  • Home Size
    2,517 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

View Virtual Tour
210 Lee Barton Drive #314
Austin, TX
Photo of 210  Lee Barton Drive #314, Austin, TX 78704 (MLS # 1136270)
$665,000
17
  • Lot Size
    393 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,016 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

1602 E 10th Street
Austin, TX
Photo of 1602 E 10th Street, Austin, TX 78702 (MLS # 9853077)
$749,000
25
  • Lot Size
    6,578 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,344 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

View Virtual Tour
800 W 5th Street #1105
Austin, TX
Photo of 800 W 5th Street #1105, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 3401518)
$1,795,000
33
  • Lot Size
    554 sqft

  • Home Size
    2,241 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

austin condo report

Footer

LEGAL NOTICE

TREC Information About Brokerage Services (pdf)

Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice


TOWERS realty

Austin Condos For Sale

Agents

Downtown Buildings

Luxury Towers

  • Four Seasons Residences
  • W Hotel & Residences
  • The Austonian
  • 5 Fifty Five at Hilton

Most Popular

  • The Shore
  • 360 Condos
  • Seaholm Condos
  • Spring Condos
  • Milago Condos

New Construction

  • The Independent
  • 70 Rainey
  • Austin Proper
  • Fifth & West

Loft Style

  • Austin City Lofts
  • Brazos Place
  • The Sabine
  • Plaza Lofts
  • Avenue Lofts
  • Brazos Lofts
  • Brown Building

Resources

  • Austin Condo Guide
  • Condos For Sale
  • Condo Buyer FAQ
  • Property Search

Featured

Archives

Austin city life since 2007 · Newsletter · About · Contact Us · DMCA · Privacy Policy · SLAPP · Copyright © 2007-2022 TOWERS.net · All Rights Reserved
 

Loading Comments...