As iconic as SXSW is as an incubator for innovation, it is only fitting that the organization’s new home would have a creative back story. The curved design introduced by project design architect, New York-based Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects LLP , could stand on its own merits in terms of aesthetics. But the glass and steel does not undulate simply for…
Marquis on 5th to Bring 226 Apartment Units, Retail Space to Clarksville
Marquis on 5th, a six story, 226 unit multi-family and ground floor retail development by CWS Capital Partners, is currently moving through the planning stages in Clarksville. The address of the site, located at W. 5th and Orchard Street, is 1301 W. 5th Street. According to plans filed with the city, the apartment community includes mostly one…
Lighting Up Waller at Creek Show 2016
Creek Show 2016, a collection of five lighted art installations along Waller Creek, briefly transformed the underused, often disrespected downtown waterway into a haven for long-exposure photography and general gawking at pretty lights. The exhibition’s final night last Saturday was well-attended and well-lit, and undoubtedly raised awareness of the Waller Creek Conservancy’s mission to revitalize the creek and its surrounding district. We’re…
Plaza Saltillo: Finding a Balanced Mix of Market vs. Affordable Housing
Ever since Capital Metro reached agreement in March with Endeavor Real Estate Group and Columbus Realty Partners Ltd. on developing the six-block Plaza Saltillo properties, the development team has been working out the details with city officials on what promises to be the most significant change to East Austin in a generation. The Planning Commission had its chance to review the project Nov. 8, but postponed…
Slackerville is Dead, Long Live Slackerville
Welcome to Slackerville, the South First Street enclave of quirky businesses, art studios and tiny homes first established in 1979, now destined to become a self-storage facility. You can blame rising property taxes, hungry real estate developers or the phases of the moon for its demise, but it doesn’t really matter — the deal is done, and demolition…
The Odd Thing About Austin’s Skyline
Once you see this, you can’t unsee it, and you will start to see it everywhere. So, don’t say we didn’t warn you. Ever taken a good look at Austin’s skyline? The first thing you’ll notice is that it seems to double in size every 18 months or so. But beyond that, there’s something strange going…