• 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
  • Realty
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

  • $800,000 505 W 7th ST #313
    Austin, TX
  • $5,150,000 70 Rainey ST #3203
    Austin, TX
  • $579,000 360 Nueces ST #1318
    Austin, TX
  • $535,000 54 Rainey ST #910
    Austin, TX
  • $1,090,000 84 East Ave #1509
    Austin, TX
  • $838,000 84 East Ave #2404
    Austin, TX
  • $625,000 1801 Lavaca ST #13G
    Austin, TX
  • $2,995,000 210 LAVACA St #2610
    Austin, TX
  • $740,000 48 East Ave #2004
    Austin, TX
  • $4,500,000 202 Nueces ST #2702
    Austin, TX
  • $549,000 360 Nueces ST #3006
    Austin, TX
  • $799,000 603 Davis ST #902
    Austin, TX
  • $470,000 601 E Brushy ST #204
    Austin, TX
  • $400,000 710 Colorado ST #9F
    Austin, TX
  • $799,000 44 East Ave #3806
    Austin, TX
505 W 7th ST #313
Austin, TX
Photo of 505 W 7th ST #313, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1344982)
$800,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
709 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

70 Rainey ST #3203
Austin, TX
Photo of 70 Rainey ST #3203, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3273694)
$5,150,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
3,685 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

360 Nueces ST #1318
Austin, TX
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #1318, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1267741)
$579,000
Lot Size
101 sqft

Home Size
760 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

54 Rainey ST #910
Austin, TX
Photo of 54 Rainey ST #910, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8511392)
$535,000
Lot Size
192 sqft

Home Size
756 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

84 East Ave #1509
Austin, TX
Photo of 84 East Ave #1509, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1313525)
$1,090,000
Lot Size
17,163 sqft

Home Size
1,176 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

84 East Ave #2404
Austin, TX
Photo of 84 East Ave #2404, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8487174)
$838,000
Lot Size
17,154 sqft

Home Size
892 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

1801 Lavaca ST #13G
Austin, TX
Photo of 1801 Lavaca ST #13G, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3315746)
$625,000
Lot Size
353 sqft

Home Size
1,377 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

210 LAVACA St #2610
Austin, TX
Photo of 210 LAVACA St #2610, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8572231)
$2,995,000
Lot Size
6,321 sqft

Home Size
2,846 sqft

Beds
4 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

48 East Ave #2004
Austin, TX
Photo of 48 East Ave #2004, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3776814)
$740,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
893 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

202 Nueces ST #2702
Austin, TX
Photo of 202 Nueces ST #2702, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 6197965)
$4,500,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
2,570 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
3.5 Baths

360 Nueces ST #3006
Austin, TX
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #3006, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2593926)
$549,000
Lot Size
101 sqft

Home Size
748 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

603 Davis ST #902
Austin, TX
Photo of 603 Davis ST #902, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5767894)
$799,000
Lot Size
301 sqft

Home Size
1,597 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

601 E Brushy ST #204
Austin, TX
Photo of 601 E Brushy ST #204, Austin, TX 78702 (MLS # 8694737)
$470,000
Lot Size
567 sqft

Home Size
701 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

710 Colorado ST #9F
Austin, TX
Photo of 710 Colorado ST #9F, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3292395)
$400,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
637 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

44 East Ave #3806
Austin, TX
Photo of 44 East Ave #3806, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1271873)
$799,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
796 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

  • 505 W 7th ST #313
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 505 W 7th ST #313, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1344982)
    $800,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    709 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 70 Rainey ST #3203
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 70 Rainey ST #3203, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3273694)
    $5,150,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    3,685 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 360 Nueces ST #1318
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 360 Nueces ST #1318, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1267741)
    $579,000
    Lot Size
    101 sqft

    Home Size
    760 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 54 Rainey ST #910
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 54 Rainey ST #910, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8511392)
    $535,000
    Lot Size
    192 sqft

    Home Size
    756 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 84 East Ave #1509
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 84 East Ave #1509, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1313525)
    $1,090,000
    Lot Size
    17,163 sqft

    Home Size
    1,176 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 84 East Ave #2404
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 84 East Ave #2404, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8487174)
    $838,000
    Lot Size
    17,154 sqft

    Home Size
    892 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 1801 Lavaca ST #13G
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1801 Lavaca ST #13G, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3315746)
    $625,000
    Lot Size
    353 sqft

    Home Size
    1,377 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 210 LAVACA St #2610
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 210 LAVACA St #2610, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8572231)
    $2,995,000
    Lot Size
    6,321 sqft

    Home Size
    2,846 sqft

    Beds
    4 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 48 East Ave #2004
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48 East Ave #2004, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3776814)
    $740,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    893 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 202 Nueces ST #2702
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 202 Nueces ST #2702, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 6197965)
    $4,500,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    2,570 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    3.5 Baths

  • 360 Nueces ST #3006
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 360 Nueces ST #3006, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2593926)
    $549,000
    Lot Size
    101 sqft

    Home Size
    748 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 603 Davis ST #902
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 603 Davis ST #902, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5767894)
    $799,000
    Lot Size
    301 sqft

    Home Size
    1,597 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 601 E Brushy ST #204
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 601 E Brushy ST #204, Austin, TX 78702 (MLS # 8694737)
    $470,000
    Lot Size
    567 sqft

    Home Size
    701 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 710 Colorado ST #9F
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 710 Colorado ST #9F, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3292395)
    $400,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    637 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 44 East Ave #3806
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 44 East Ave #3806, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1271873)
    $799,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    796 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

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 and fifth-generation Texan, but tries not to brag about it. Email him anything at james@towers.net.

360 Nueces ST #914
Austin, TX
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #914, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2301936)
$640,000
40
  • Lot Size
    149 sqft

  • Home Size
    832 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

View Virtual Tour
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 Listings

210 Lavaca ST #2312
Austin, TX
Photo of 210 Lavaca ST #2312, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1330450)
$1,925,000
38
  • Lot Size
    131 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,587 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2.5 Baths

313 W 17th ST #1307
Austin, TX
Photo of 313 W 17th ST #1307, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4035178)
$1,750,000
9
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,930 sqft

  • Beds
    4 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

360 Nueces ST #914
Austin, TX
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #914, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2301936)
$640,000
40
  • Lot Size
    149 sqft

  • Home Size
    832 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

View Virtual Tour
48 East Ave #2407
Austin, TX
Photo of 48 East Ave #2407, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8889100)
$590,000
33
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    699 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

555 E 5TH ST #2806
Austin, TX
Photo of 555 E 5TH ST #2806, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1112164)
$775,000
33
  • Lot Size
    131 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,416 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

austin condo report

Featured Buildings

  • The Independent
  • Fifth & West
  • 360
  • Austin City Lofts
  • W Residences
  • The Shore
  • 70 Rainey

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
  • Brown Building

Resources

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

Featured

Archives

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

Loading Comments...