Though limited in height and oddly packed with multi-story storage facilities for a major corridor literally seconds away from downtown, there’s a lot of room remaining for medium-density development along the stretch of West Fifth Street running west of North Lamar Boulevard — and a three-story office project breaking ground earlier this week from local developers Manifold Real…
design
On Downtown Austin’s West End, a Historic Building Stands in Its Own Way
The potential redevelopment of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Headquarters Building on the west end of downtown Austin into a residential tower by developers Stratus Properties and Chicago architects SCB presents an interesting situation to the City of Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission: what happens when the organization that originally built a historic building — and actually…
Downtown Austin’s New Water Fountains Are Nice Enough to Actually Use
Using a public drinking fountain is just about the last thing anybody wants to think about in the midst of a viral pandemic, but Austin’s increasingly hot weather makes a pretty good case for their existence on a longer-term scale — along with well-serviced public restrooms, they’re essential tools for building more equitable public spaces. Unless you…
Meet Zilker Studios, Bringing 110 Affordable Apartments to South Austin
A seven-story, 110-unit studio apartment development by local affordable housing developer Foundation Communities will fit just fine on a half-acre tract at 1508 South Lamar Boulevard — not a bad reminder that small spaces can hold a lot of homes. An aerial view of the office and parking lot that will soon become the Zilker…
West 12th Residential Tower Plan Brings 31 Floors to the Downtown Time Forgot
Barring a few notable exceptions, in terms of development action and overall height the region of Austin directly west of the Capitol could be considered “the downtown that time forgot” — despite being very much within the boundaries of downtown, convenient zoning limitations and other preservation-related protections keep this area pretty low to the ground, which is part of the…
Here’s How Longhorn Dam Is Getting Safer for Cars, Bikes, and Yes, People
After substantial public engagement and a final engineering report issued back in July, the City of Austin’s Transportation Department has nailed down its plans for a pedestrian bridge crossing Lady Bird Lake near Longhorn Dam in East Austin — and as we’d hoped, the “Wishbone” bridge option presented alongside several others last year is the prize pig, ready to enter…