Lady Bird Lake may be the most-prized downtown destination. This week, a new grant was announced that will further improve the South Shore of the lake. The American Institute of Architects will contribute as much as $200,000 to improve the South shore of the lake. According to the Austin Business Journal, “The areas around Lady…
USPS: No More Downtown Post Office
Last month, the U.S. Postal Service announced that it had come to agreement with Novare Group — the developer of 360 — to sell the current downtown post office site and to relocate the post office in early 2013. Novare is looking at building a new high-rise development on the current low-rise site. Now, the U.S….
Sabine: the Next “Great Street”
Austin’s great streets program has transformed second street into a prime downtown hub with wide sidewalks, rich landscaping, public art, controlled traffic, and crowded street cafes. Today, second street is a key destination for residents, tourists, and other visitors to downtown. With the Waller Creek tunnel eliminating the flood plain on the East end of…
NPR: Austin Too Expensive for Musicians
It’s a fact: Austin is getting more expensive. Especially for renters, the cost of living here is just going up and up. When the economics of urban living change, the social composition can change as well. Unfortunately for Austin, many musicians are being priced out of the Austin market. According to NPR, “Austin is one…
7Rio Re-imagined as Rental Project
According to the Downtown Austin Blog , 7Rio may be back on the drawing board. The previously proposed 32-story condo project on 7th and Rio Grande — on the site of Ranch 616 — is now supposedly being redrawn as a 24-story rental tower adjacent to Ranch 616. With the rapid rise in rental rates, developers are racing to…
New Gables Tower Breaks Ground
Gables Residential has commenced construction on a new 18-story apartment tower on Lamar just across from Cesar Chavez and Ladybird Lake. The new project is the second face of its Park Plaza development. It will have 222 units and will open in 2013. Fortunately, it’s more attractive than it’s larger, shorter Park Plaza neighbor. The…