There are only so many ways to say Austin’s development is heading eastward. Just drive down any street on the east side across from downtown and count the construction sites, and you’ll run out of fingers before you drive a dozen blocks. At the center of it all, East Sixth serves as the de facto gateway…
The Historical Markers of the Sixth Street Bar District, Mapped
Austin’s famous Sixth Street bar district, also known as “Dirty Sixth,” has more to offer than booze and tourists. Look past the party and you’ll find one of the city’s most historic districts, with historical markers on nearly every building. Most of the buildings in the area date back to the 1800s, when Sixth Street was an…
Tracing Thomas Shefelman’s Fingerprints on Austin’s Architecture
Thomas Shefelman, longtime Austin architect, died at 89 last December, but many buildings he assisted in designing are still standing across the city. Shefelman and his firm, Shefelman & Nix, also specialized in renovations to existing buildings, including projects for the Steven F. Austin Hotel and Norwood Tower. Here are a few examples of Shefelman’s striking modernist designs…
Parking the 405 Colorado Project
The designers of 405 Colorado, a striking 25-story office tower with a 14th level Sky Lobby, were pressed to reconsider their concept this week. The development team was scheduled to present their concept before the Design Commission, but postponed instead. The developer, Brandywine Realty Trust , is seeking the commission’s blessing to make use of the Downtown Density…
Design Changes Revealed for Planned 48 East Residential Tower
The 48 East apartment tower at 48 East Avenue will look a little different than what we were expecting, according to new renderings from architectural firm STG Design. We’ve covered the tower in the past as one of the most exciting projects headed to the Rainey Street District, so it’s mildly disappointing to see that the new…
Cambria Hotel Project Bound For East Avenue Near Rainey
Another day, another hotel going up in downtown Austin. This time it’s called Cambria, a hotel project designed by Rhode Partners, proposed at 68 East Avenue. It’s worth noting that this address is directly adjacent to the Homewood Suites project, which is currently under construction. Hotels on hotels! This is not the only hotel built under the name Cambria — it’s an emerging upscale brand…