We’ve known for some time that changes were on the way for downtown Austin’s MetroRail station. Despite the fact that its existing platform on East Fourth Street opened more than seven years ago, it was always intended as a temporary solution, with a more permanent station to be built later. Thanks to a $22 million grant from the…
East Austin Apartment Project Will Fit 7 Units Into a Tiny Plot, Tetris-Style
As Austin’s inevitable growth chugs along, one of the more interesting side effects of the city’s sky-high land values is a need for clever, compact architecture, in order to maximize the value of small and challenging pieces of property. These are scraps of land you wouldn’t necessarily, as a developer, choose to build upon if…
Mixed-Use Development Planned in North Loop’s Grittiest Corner
North Loop’s a great neighborhood, but it’s not particularly dense. The eastern boundary of the region, which is generally agreed to end around Airport Boulevard, is known for its interesting restaurants and such, but as you go north towards East Koenig Lane (also known as Texas State Highway Spur 69), the attractions dry up a little. North…
Spotted: Homewood Suites Gets Its Name Tag in the Rainey Street District
It’s easy to forget about Homewood Suites. That’s not necessarily a judgement of its quality, but in a city with big-ticket hotels sprouting up left and right, a 17-story midrange chain hotel doesn’t really hog the spotlight. That being said, the Homewood Suites under construction at 78-80 East Avenue one block east of Rainey Street is moving right along,…
Inside the Restoration of Downtown’s Historic O. Henry Hall
O. Henry Hall, a historic downtown building located at 601 Colorado Street, originally opened in 1881 as a federal courthouse and post office. Designed by architect James G. Hill, its construction was overseen by famed antebellum-era master builder Abner Cook, whose best-known work is probably the Texas Governor’s Mansion. The structure’s Renaissance Revival-style architecture makes it noteworthy…
Calling Austin’s Tech Firms: Your New Office Will Arrive at East 6th and Chicon
Excavation is already well underway at the corner of East Sixth and Chicon Streets. For East Austin, it feels like a tale as old as time — or at least as old as this side of town’s reputation as one of the hippest places on earth, love it or hate it. This particular corner is receiving a…