Roughly six years after the first appearance of the plan, a “micro-housing” apartment project by 70 Rainey developers Sackman Enterprises appears to be moving forward at 703 East Ninth Street, a 0.76-acre land assembly at the southwest corner of East Ninth Street and the I-35 Frontage Road stretching west to the edge of Waller Creek. With its permit approved by the…
historic preservation
It’s Time to Break Free From Downtown Austin’s Capitol Dominance Overlay
A resolution on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting of the Austin City Council could significantly alter the development restrictions currently imposed on properties in the Capitol Dominance Overlay District surrounding the vicinity of the Texas State Capitol by allowing these sites to participate in the city’s Downtown Density Bonus Program, which would permit additional height and density to new buildings in exchange…
Fifth and Red River Tower Fixing Up Downtown’s Historic Old Depot Hotel
A longstanding plan for an apartment tower at the corner of East Fifth and Red River Streets in downtown Austin by local developers Stonelake Capital Partners will rehabilitate the 150-year-old building at the property most recently known as the longtime home of Carmelo’s Italian Restaurant, which closed in 2017 after 32 years of business at this historic site located at…
Does This Austin Duplex Look Illegal?
The duplex seen above, located on Avenue C in the cherished Hyde Park neighborhood of Central Austin, is one of many older residences providing this district’s eclectic historical charm. Constructed in 1931 during the neighborhood’s largest period of growth, its exterior appearance reflects the modest, but stylish architecture of this area’s many bungalows originally built for working-class…
Downtown Austin Residential Tower Planned for Defunct State Pension Site
A one-acre downtown property currently occupied by the former headquarters of a state pension fund is up for rezoning at tonight’s meeting of the Planning Commission, with city staff recommending the zoning change for the site, located at East 12th Street and the I-35 Frontage Road, to a central business district (CBD) designation — paving the way for…
The Conrad Hotel and Condo Tower Gets a Haircut in Downtown Austin
Earlier this spring, we learned that the 755-foot downtown Austin condo and hotel tower planned for 307 East Second Street by developers Intracorp Homes would be branded as a Conrad Hotel and Residences, a 63-story structure featuring 330 hotel rooms below 125 residences that would rise taller than any hotel and condo tower currently standing in the city, at…