• 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 / Micro-Apartments Head for West 12th Street’s Unofficial ‘Skateboard District’
Search suggestions: condos for sale • rainey street

Micro-Apartments Head for West 12th Street’s Unofficial ‘Skateboard District’

James Rambin September 11, 2019 Comment

Looking south at the 827 West 12th Street site, with the downtown skyline in the background. Photo by James Rambin

You and I will likely never understand exactly how it feels to bomb down Castle Hill on a skateboard, which is nearly as sad for our collective joie de vivre as it is deeply comforting to our insurance providers. All you really need to know is that despite its character ranging from million-dollar homes to interior design studios, the stretch of West 12th Street spanning both sides of North Lamar Boulevard from roughly Baylor Street to West Avenue hosts one of Austin’s more vibrant and youthful skate scenes, a sentence that makes me feel pretty old just for typing it.

This guy’s probably not winning any Nobel Prizes, but you’ve got to appreciate the audacity.

No-Comply Skate Shop, located since 2007 in the center of this action at 812 West 12th Street, probably has a lot to do with that — and the Heath Eiland and Morgan Moss BMX Skate Park opened just around the corner in 2011 on the site of the former Austin Recreation Center building at 1213 Shoal Creek Boulevard doesn’t hurt either.


But even the the geography of West 12th Street itself assists local skaters by helpfully including both the aforementioned death-defying hill west of North Lamar Boulevard, and a gentler eastern slope from West Avenue down to Shoal Creek Boulevard:

Skate or die, y’all. Image: Google Maps

Practically across the street from the district’s longtime skate shop is 827 West 12th Street, a roughly .55-acre tract currently occupied by four buildings including the headquarters of Dynamic Reprographics Inc., retail bookshop 12th Street Books, and two smaller office spaces. Though the land is currently owned by Dynamic Reprographics president Lisa Jean Tipps, recent city filings indicate this property will soon see a mixed-use residential development by Houston real estate firm Transwestern, bringing approximately 175 “micro-unit” apartments and ground-floor retail space to the site — a plan that sounds fairly similar, at least in the broad strokes, to the developer’s upcoming Block 36 project elsewhere in downtown.

An aerial photo of the 827 West 12th Street area with the boundaries of the property highlighted. You can see the city skate park just one block north of the site in question, right above the ACC parking garage at West 12th Street and Shoal Creek Boulevard. Click for a larger view. Image: Bing Maps / James Rambin

Though renderings or even drawings aren’t yet available for the project, a rezoning case for the property from earlier this year approved a change from Commercial Services (CS) to Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) zoning with a conditional overlay limiting the height of any building here to 60 feet — or roughly five to six floors at most — which means the least we can do is mock something up for your viewing pleasure with one of our famous green box massings:

Looking east-ish towards a rough massing of the 827 West 12th Street apartment project with downtown in the background — as usual, we don’t know the new building’s actual design, but the height of this massing is as correct as we can get it. Image: Google Earth / James Rambin

Looking west towards the same massing of the 827 West 12th Street project. Image: Google Earth / James Rambin

The height of the 3D box in the images above is as accurate to 60 feet as we can get it with the wildly varying elevations of this area — but the Austin Community College parking garage directly across the street is 63 feet high, if that gives you a better idea.

Documents related to the rezoning of the site and its subsequent development indicate Transwestern has worked with the Downtown Austin and Old Austin Neighborhood Associations to hash out the details of a private restrictive covenant agreement on some additional terms for a building here — namely that the project would provide Great Streets improvements along its West 12th Street frontage, along with screening and architecturally integrating its above-ground parking structure into the overall building (seemingly in an effort to avoid the dreaded “plinth” look).

We are excited about the prospect of having new residential neighbors at this site, and we’re glad the planned parking ratio is relatively low (0.7 spaces/unit). While we would prefer that the parking be below-grade, adaptable for other uses, and available from the beginning to other users, we still believe that this project, with the restrictions outlined above, represents a significant step forward for the neighborhood.

— Dan Keshet, DANA Policy Committee Chair

There’s no groundbreaking date for this project, or even any indications of demolition for the existing buildings at the site, so we don’t have much to work with beyond what you see here — still, this side of downtown isn’t generally considered a hotbed for residential development, so anything happening over here is noteworthy. We hope 12th Street Books finds a new location for its incredible collection of rare texts without too much trouble, though it would be even better if Transwestern had the heart to give the store some space in the ground floor of the new building — after all, a physical bookstore surviving in 2019 is almost as weird as skating Castle Hill.

Clarksville Homes For Sale

  • $4,499,000 1805 Waterston Avenue
    Austin, TX
  • $4,990,000 613 W Lynn Street
    Austin, TX
  • $2,200,000 800 W Lynn Street
    Austin, TX
  • $640,000 806 Winflo Drive #5
    Austin, TX
  • $2,100,000 1205 1/2 Enfield Road
    Austin, TX
  • $2,299,000 1814 W 11th Street
    Austin, TX
  • $485,000 609 Blanco Street #106
    Austin, TX
  • $1,099,000 701 Oakland Avenue #A
    Austin, TX
  • $550,000 1210 Windsor Road #202
    Austin, TX
  • $250,000 1405 Hartford Road #103
    Austin, TX
  • $685,000 1200 Baylor Street #B-102
    Austin, TX
  • $5,795,000 610 Harthan Street
    Austin, TX
  • $1,495,000 1404 Hartford Road
    Austin, TX
  • $1,500,000 1507 Parkway
    Austin, TX
  • $3,100,000 1408 W 9th Street #102
    Austin, TX
  • $2,860,000 1408 W 9th Street #602
    Austin, TX
  • $1,300,000 1106 Enfield Road
    Austin, TX
  • $1,525,000 1510 Palma Plaza #B
    Austin, TX
  • $630,000 1626 Palma Plaza #7
    Austin, TX
  • $3,495,000 701 Highland Avenue
    Austin, TX
  • $479,850 606 W Lynn Street #11
    Austin, TX
  • $1,199,000 1815b Waterston Avenue #1815B
    Austin, TX
1805 Waterston Avenue
Austin, TX
Photo of 1805  Waterston Avenue, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1456977)
$4,499,000
Lot Size
9,915 sqft

Home Size
4,203 sqft

Beds
5 Beds

Baths
5 Baths

613 W Lynn Street
Austin, TX
Photo of 613 W Lynn Street, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 8203618)
$4,990,000
Lot Size
10,150 sqft

Home Size
4,854 sqft

Beds
6 Beds

Baths
7 Baths

800 W Lynn Street
Austin, TX
Photo of 800 W Lynn Street, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2238415)
$2,200,000
Lot Size
6,129 sqft

Home Size
2,736 sqft

Beds
4 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

806 Winflo Drive #5
Austin, TX
Photo of 806  Winflo Drive #5, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1729309)
$640,000
Lot Size
872 sqft

Home Size
901 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

1205 1/2 Enfield Road
Austin, TX
Photo of 1205 1/2  Enfield Road, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 3569840)
$2,100,000
Lot Size
8,242 sqft

Home Size
3,196 sqft

Beds
6 Beds

Baths
5 Baths

1814 W 11th Street
Austin, TX
Photo of 1814 W 11th Street, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 9833466)
$2,299,000
Lot Size
8,286 sqft

Home Size
3,030 sqft

Beds
4 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

609 Blanco Street #106
Austin, TX
Photo of 609  Blanco Street #106, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 5526851)
$485,000
Lot Size
17,424 sqft

Home Size
565 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

701 Oakland Avenue #A
Austin, TX
Photo of 701  Oakland Avenue #A, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7110889)
$1,099,000
Lot Size
3,180 sqft

Home Size
1,328 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

1210 Windsor Road #202
Austin, TX
Photo of 1210  Windsor Road #202, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 3269176)
$550,000
Lot Size
1,786 sqft

Home Size
1,085 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

1405 Hartford Road #103
Austin, TX
Photo of 1405  Hartford Road #103, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1282455)
$250,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
373 sqft

Beds
N/A

Baths
1 Bath

1200 Baylor Street #B-102
Austin, TX
Photo of 1200  Baylor Street #B-102, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1246673)
$685,000
Lot Size
1,577 sqft

Home Size
1,485 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

610 Harthan Street
Austin, TX
Photo of 610  Harthan Street, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7996733)
$5,795,000
Lot Size
9,057 sqft

Home Size
3,681 sqft

Beds
4 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

1404 Hartford Road
Austin, TX
Photo of 1404  Hartford Road, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7407082)
$1,495,000
Lot Size
7,654 sqft

Home Size
1,212 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
1 Bath

1507 Parkway
Austin, TX
Photo of 1507  Parkway, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2840638)
$1,500,000
Lot Size
8,090 sqft

Home Size
2,256 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

1408 W 9th Street #102
Austin, TX
Photo of 1408 W 9th Street #102, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7690788)
$3,100,000
Lot Size
3,485 sqft

Home Size
3,122 sqft

Beds
4 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

1408 W 9th Street #602
Austin, TX
Photo of 1408 W 9th Street #602, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2111448)
$2,860,000
Lot Size
3,485 sqft

Home Size
2,928 sqft

Beds
4 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

1106 Enfield Road
Austin, TX
Photo of 1106  Enfield Road, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2418093)
$1,300,000
Lot Size
8,726 sqft

Home Size
1,722 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

1510 Palma Plaza #B
Austin, TX
Photo of 1510  Palma Plaza #B, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 5664655)
$1,525,000
Lot Size
8,843 sqft

Home Size
2,656 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

1626 Palma Plaza #7
Austin, TX
Photo of 1626  Palma Plaza #7, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2055464)
$630,000
Lot Size
1,695 sqft

Home Size
1,333 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

701 Highland Avenue
Austin, TX
Photo of 701  Highland Avenue, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 8847921)
$3,495,000
Lot Size
9,000 sqft

Home Size
2,958 sqft

Beds
4 Beds

Baths
5 Baths

606 W Lynn Street #11
Austin, TX
Photo of 606 W Lynn Street #11, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7731547)
$479,850
Lot Size
2,605 sqft

Home Size
1,146 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

1815b Waterston Avenue #1815B
Austin, TX
Photo of 1815b  Waterston Avenue #1815B, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 9107478)
$1,199,000
Lot Size
4,012 sqft

Home Size
2,102 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

  • 1805 Waterston Avenue
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1805  Waterston Avenue, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1456977)
    $4,499,000
    Lot Size
    9,915 sqft

    Home Size
    4,203 sqft

    Beds
    5 Beds

    Baths
    5 Baths

  • 613 W Lynn Street
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 613 W Lynn Street, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 8203618)
    $4,990,000
    Lot Size
    10,150 sqft

    Home Size
    4,854 sqft

    Beds
    6 Beds

    Baths
    7 Baths

  • 800 W Lynn Street
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 800 W Lynn Street, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2238415)
    $2,200,000
    Lot Size
    6,129 sqft

    Home Size
    2,736 sqft

    Beds
    4 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 806 Winflo Drive #5
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 806  Winflo Drive #5, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1729309)
    $640,000
    Lot Size
    872 sqft

    Home Size
    901 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 1205 1/2 Enfield Road
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1205 1/2  Enfield Road, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 3569840)
    $2,100,000
    Lot Size
    8,242 sqft

    Home Size
    3,196 sqft

    Beds
    6 Beds

    Baths
    5 Baths

  • 1814 W 11th Street
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1814 W 11th Street, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 9833466)
    $2,299,000
    Lot Size
    8,286 sqft

    Home Size
    3,030 sqft

    Beds
    4 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 609 Blanco Street #106
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 609  Blanco Street #106, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 5526851)
    $485,000
    Lot Size
    17,424 sqft

    Home Size
    565 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 701 Oakland Avenue #A
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 701  Oakland Avenue #A, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7110889)
    $1,099,000
    Lot Size
    3,180 sqft

    Home Size
    1,328 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 1210 Windsor Road #202
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1210  Windsor Road #202, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 3269176)
    $550,000
    Lot Size
    1,786 sqft

    Home Size
    1,085 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 1405 Hartford Road #103
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1405  Hartford Road #103, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1282455)
    $250,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    373 sqft

    Beds
    N/A

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 1200 Baylor Street #B-102
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1200  Baylor Street #B-102, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 1246673)
    $685,000
    Lot Size
    1,577 sqft

    Home Size
    1,485 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 610 Harthan Street
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 610  Harthan Street, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7996733)
    $5,795,000
    Lot Size
    9,057 sqft

    Home Size
    3,681 sqft

    Beds
    4 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 1404 Hartford Road
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1404  Hartford Road, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7407082)
    $1,495,000
    Lot Size
    7,654 sqft

    Home Size
    1,212 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 1507 Parkway
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1507  Parkway, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2840638)
    $1,500,000
    Lot Size
    8,090 sqft

    Home Size
    2,256 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 1408 W 9th Street #102
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1408 W 9th Street #102, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7690788)
    $3,100,000
    Lot Size
    3,485 sqft

    Home Size
    3,122 sqft

    Beds
    4 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 1408 W 9th Street #602
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1408 W 9th Street #602, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2111448)
    $2,860,000
    Lot Size
    3,485 sqft

    Home Size
    2,928 sqft

    Beds
    4 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 1106 Enfield Road
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1106  Enfield Road, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2418093)
    $1,300,000
    Lot Size
    8,726 sqft

    Home Size
    1,722 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 1510 Palma Plaza #B
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1510  Palma Plaza #B, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 5664655)
    $1,525,000
    Lot Size
    8,843 sqft

    Home Size
    2,656 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 1626 Palma Plaza #7
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1626  Palma Plaza #7, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 2055464)
    $630,000
    Lot Size
    1,695 sqft

    Home Size
    1,333 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 701 Highland Avenue
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 701  Highland Avenue, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 8847921)
    $3,495,000
    Lot Size
    9,000 sqft

    Home Size
    2,958 sqft

    Beds
    4 Beds

    Baths
    5 Baths

  • 606 W Lynn Street #11
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 606 W Lynn Street #11, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 7731547)
    $479,850
    Lot Size
    2,605 sqft

    Home Size
    1,146 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 1815b Waterston Avenue #1815B
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 1815b  Waterston Avenue #1815B, Austin, TX 78703 (MLS # 9107478)
    $1,199,000
    Lot Size
    4,012 sqft

    Home Size
    2,102 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

Previous Next
 

Related

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 78701, apartments, architecture, city life, design, development, mixed-use, multifamily, residential, streetscapes, urbanism

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.

608 Brentwood Street #A
Austin, TX
Photo of 608  Brentwood Street #A, Austin, TX 78752 (MLS # 3202099)
$1,000,000
28
  • Lot Size
    4,356 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,959 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

Previous Post: « In 1937, Austin’s Growing Skyline Saw Towers ‘Shooting Up’
Next Post: The Forgotten History of Normandie Arms, Austin’s First Apartment Tower »

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

555 E 5th Street #912
Austin, TX
Photo of 555 E 5th Street #912, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2622869)
$3,795,000
38
  • Lot Size
    427 sqft

  • Home Size
    4,051 sqft

  • Beds
    3 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

View Virtual Tour
210 Lavaca Street #2310
Austin, TX
Photo of 210  Lavaca Street #2310, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8383770)
$1,849,000
35
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,423 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

View Virtual Tour
44 East Avenue #2307
Austin, TX
Photo of 44  East Avenue #2307, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1482427)
$995,000
40
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,221 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

54 Rainey Street #1116
Austin, TX
Photo of 54  Rainey Street #1116, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1317121)
$625,000
21
  • Lot Size
    218 sqft

  • Home Size
    852 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

603 Davis Street #604
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #604, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2434110)
$649,900
22
  • Lot Size
    214 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,136 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...