A five-story apartment building could soon rise atop the site of a former East Austin barbershop, per recent city filings. Located on a roughly .22-acre assembly that includes 1812 and 1814 East Sixth Street, both addresses are now owned by corporate entities connected with local design and construction firm Novium Group. Site plan proposals filed last week…
Central Austin Development Roundup: Blue Skies, Big Towers
The weather’s great lately in downtown Austin, and that never lasts long — meaning now’s the time to hike around and take some photos of projects underway in the central city. You may have forgotten about some of them! 300 Colorado Did you remember the office tower currently under construction at 300 Colorado Street? This 32-story development by…
Downtown Austin’s Least-Loved State Offices Could Be Bound for Auction
The Texas Facilities Commission is sailing clear through the Texas Legislature with its plans to sell the Hobby Building state office complex at 333 Guadalupe Street. On Wednesday, the Texas Senate placed the acting legislation regarding the building’s sale, SB 1394 , on its uncontested calendar. When the bill was first heard in committee on April 2,…
In 1963, Austin’s Rowdiest Teens Built a ‘Sex Party Tree House’ in North Loop
Let’s make one thing clear from the get-go: “Sex Party Tree House” is an extremely funny combination of words, regardless of the context. Since coming across this phrase in a 1963 edition of the Austin American-Statesman, I’ll catch myself repeating it in my head, brain clapping like a trained seal, until all semantic meaning fades…
Apartments and Offices Make Good Neighbors for a Growing South Lamar
Hey, did you know that “vertical mixed-use” can mean something besides just apartments on top of a restaurant? It’s true! According to recent city documents, a mixed-use project planned by developer Ardent Residential will build 138,780 square feet of office space, along with 309 apartment units, in two separate buildings on a land assembly including 1303, 1311,…
A Field Guide to Austin’s Craftsman Architecture
If you’re interested in historic homes, you probably already know the Craftsman style. This architectural movement was one of America’s most popular for small houses or “bungalows” built between 1900 and the mid-1920s, meaning it’s well-represented in many of Austin’s central neighborhoods built around that period. This wide distribution around town makes it a no-brainer for Preservation…