Waterline, the 74-story “supertall” tower project poised to break the state’s height record upon its expected completion in late 2026, is approximately halfway through its construction schedule, with the building now rising past the 35-floor mark and increasingly visible on the downtown Austin skyline. The mixed-use building by development partners Lincoln Property Company and Kairoi Residential is set…
city life
Demolition Pending at Far West Bank Site as Northwest Hills Ponders Density
A permit application is now pending with the City of Austin for the demolition of the 13,000-square-foot former Frost Bank at 3525 Far West Boulevard, a roughly four-acre tract located at the southeast corner of Far West Boulevard and Wood Hollow Drive. The removal of the existing vacant building at the property will prepare the…
In 1971, the Most Important Drink in Austin’s History Crossed the Bar
Historically speaking, the most important cocktail ever poured in Austin isn’t the Mexican Martini, the Ranch Water, or even the Mad Dog Margarita. By some overly peevish definitions, it wasn’t even a cocktail at all. But when Woody Elder bellied up to the bar at Christie’s Seafood Restaurant on Barton Springs Road shortly after noon on Tuesday, June 1, 1971, 53 years ago this month,…
Austin’s Fannie Davis Town Lake Gazebo Could Seek Historic Landmark Zoning
Constructed on parkland along the south shoreline of downtown’s central waterfront in 1969, the Fannie Davis Town Lake Gazebo is one of Austin’s most important and recognizable works of small-scale architecture. As the first structure built to beautify the shores of the new lake crossing the heart of the city after the completion of the…
Austin Agrees, South First Needs a Barton Springs-Style Road Safety Pilot
After reviewing the promising early results of the city’s safety pilot on Barton Springs Road last month, we decided to casually survey our readers on where they might like to see the project’s infrastructure improvements applied elsewhere in Austin. The pilot’s “road diet”-style lane reduction, added protection for bike lanes, and upgraded pedestrian access all constitute a no-brainer for the highly visible gateway…
Affordable Senior Housing Planned in Downtown Church Parking Lot
Churches are one of the most overlooked owners of urban land, with more than a dozen large properties held by congregations in the downtown Austin area alone. Facing declining attendance and rising property values, some churches looking to maximize the use of these properties in alignment with their faith-based missions are pursuing affordable housing development — it’s so…