With numerous taller towers now prominent on Austin’s skyline — and even more on the way — the 33-story Frost Bank Tower at 401 Congress Avenue isn’t quite the symbol of the “New Austin” it once was at the time of its opening in 2004, remaining the city’s tallest building only until the completion of the 360 Condominiums in 2008. But as…
city life
The Rainey Street District’s Trailhead Park Project Finally Moves Forward
The Trail Foundation’s vision for a “Trailhead” space atop the 1.58-acre tract of parkland at the southwest corner of East Avenue and Cummings Street on the far south end of the Rainey Street District is one of the area’s most compelling projects. But between a pandemic and ongoing growth in the neighborhood, things look a little different around here…
Abolishing FAR Limits Downtown Is the Best Idea Austin’s Had in a While
As the City of Austin works to hammer out a new and improved version of its increasingly dated Downtown Density Bonus Program, we were blown free of our chairs last week by a memo from the city’s Design Commission recommending, among other things, the complete removal of floor-area ratio (FAR) limits in the downtown area. Under such a change, the height and density of new towers…
Downtown Austin’s Most Eligible Warehouses Hit the Market at 99 Trinity
A block of 1970s-era warehouses located at 99 Trinity Street, representing a low-density curiosity in a region of downtown Austin otherwise experiencing rapid growth, is listed for sale as of this week via commercial real estate giants JLL — and maybe it’s needless to say, but the possibility of development at this site is music to our ears. This prime 0.94-acre…
Is There Really a Case for Reopening Sixth Street’s Weekends to Cars?
Members of Austin City Council voted unanimously last night to pass a resolution “relating to comprehensive strategies and immediate and longer-term actions to create a safer Sixth Street environment for all,” which directs city staff to study potential design interventions and other changes that could improve public safety in the East Sixth Street bar district that’s seen a…
Block 185, Austin’s New ‘Google Tower,’ Officially Topped Out Downtown
Block 185, the 35-floor downtown Austin office tower bringing an instantly-iconic sailboat-inspired design to the skyline and reportedly set to be occupied by tech giants Google celebrates its official topping out today, according to developers Trammell Crow Company and investment firm MSD Capital. (Sharp-eyed readers might note that “MSD” stands for “Michael Saul Dell,” meaning this tower was made possible at least in part…