Over the next decade, the redevelopment of the Seaholm power plant and Green Sewage Treatment Plant will forever transform Austin’s downtown. By reclaiming a dozen blocks in the core of downtown between Lamar and San Antonio, 1st and 3rd streets, these projects will provide a multi-use urban district that connects the second street district to Whole Foods.
With the development of retail, cultural institutions, office, hotels, and condo units, these developments are likely to shift the center of gravity for downtown Austin further to the West. In fact, the Seaholm development, with the redeveloped shell of the mammoth art deco power plant at its core, may become the new heart of downtown. The Second Street district, which now forms the Western edge of the downtown core, will be much more central once development reclaims the blocks to the West.
Here is a summary from the Statesman:
The city is taking the first steps toward redeveloping two of its high-profile downtown properties by rezoning them.The City Council will vote tonight on rezoning the Seaholm Power Plant site in preparation for a mixed-use project that will include 80 condos, a 160-room hotel, 100,000 square feet of office space and up to 60,000 square feet of retail.The city wants to rezone the property to allow building heights of up to 393 feet. The height is now capped at 120 feet.The City Council could also approve a resolution to begin the process of rezoning the site of the Green Water Treatment Plant.No plans for that site have been formed, but the city intends to release requests for proposals from developers early next year.
