• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

TOWERS

Austin city life since 2007

  • News
    • Condo Projects
    • Neighborhoods
  • Listings
    • Austin Condo Guide
  • Newsletter
  • Realty
Search
You are here: Home / News / The Scarbrough Building, Austin’s First Tower, Is Getting a Sidewalk Cafe
Search suggestions: congress avenue • downtown • walkability

The Scarbrough Building, Austin’s First Tower, Is Getting a Sidewalk Cafe

James Rambin September 28, 2017 Comment

A view of the Scarbrough Building at the corner of Congress Avenue and West Sixth Street where the sidewalk cafe will be built. Photo courtesy of Square One Consultants.

The Scarbrough Building at Sixth Street and Congress Avenue is downtown’s first skyscraper, completed back in 1910 when its eight floors were more than enough to earn that title. Despite being built in a era of astonishingly low car ownership per capita compared to current rates, the tower doesn’t do much for the pedestrian at street level besides look pretty.

A historic photo looking north at the Scarbrough Building and surrounding area on Congress Avenue, circa 1911. Photo courtesy of the Austin History Center.

Back then, everyone was probably too busy trying not to catch tuberculosis to waste any time thinking about newfangled concepts like “walkability” or “activated streetscapes.” But here in the future, some new city filings appeared this week for a sidewalk cafe on the northeast side of the Scarbrough Building, facing Congress Avenue and West Sixth Street.

Photo courtesy of dwg.

There it is, in all its glory. It may not look like much in the rendering, but landscape architecture firm dwg. is behind this design — if you’re aware of some of their other work around the city, you can see why we’re interested. 

Here’s a short description from city filings:

This project will install a sidewalk cafe along the building frontage of Congress Ave. and 6th Street; significant appurtenances include an elevated deck with ADA ramp, tables, chairs, hand rails, stone counter, and pavers. All structures are designed to be deconstructed within a 48-72 hour time frame. No excavation or utility installation is planned as part of this project.

— City of Austin

The cafe will be run by what the documents describe as an “adjacent restaurant tenant,” but we’ve got no further details as to its identity. 

One last thing I noticed in these documents is a reference to a “Bronze Bat Inlay,” which sounds like an indie band I started in college but actually describes a metal plaque installed in a certain spot on the sidewalk. Referencing the plans, it looks like this inlay will mark the optimal viewing position for a sculpture on the corner. I think you might even be able to see the bat near the corner on the rendering above. Does that look like a bat to you?

A detailed look at plans for the corner of West Sixth Street and Congress Avenue. That dotted line in the middle is where a statue will apparently go. Photo courtesy of dwg.

So what’s the sculpture, and why do you have to stand in a certain spot to see it? Brother, I wish I knew.

We like to rag on the shortcomings of Congress Avenue, but projects like these are slowly but surely turning the main street of Texas into something to be proud of. Now they just need to do something about all the abandoned buildings!

Editor's Suggested Posts

Spotted: Austin's PARK(ing) Day Makes Parking Spaces Public on Congress

Spotted: Austin's PARK(ing) Day Makes Parking Spaces Public on Congress

After More Than a Century, What's Changed on Congress Avenue?

After More Than a Century, What's Changed on Congress Avenue?

Get Lost in This 1976 Vision for a New Congress Avenue

Get Lost in This 1976 Vision for a New Congress Avenue

Related

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 78701, architecture, congress avenue, design, development, downtown, historic preservation, history, streets, walkability

About James Rambin

James is an Austin native and fifth-generation Texan, but tries not to brag about it. Email him anything at james@towers.net.

210 Lavaca ST #2312
Austin, TX
Photo of 210 Lavaca ST #2312, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1330450)
$1,925,000
38
  • Lot Size
    131 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,587 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2.5 Baths

Previous Post: « A Closer Look at Plans for Block 71, Downtown’s Latest Transformation
Next Post: Waterloo Park’s Scale Model Is a Glimpse into Austin’s Future »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  •  Schedule a showing

FEATURED Listings

210 Lavaca ST #2312
Austin, TX
Photo of 210 Lavaca ST #2312, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1330450)
$1,925,000
38
  • Lot Size
    131 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,587 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2.5 Baths

313 W 17th ST #1307
Austin, TX
Photo of 313 W 17th ST #1307, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4035178)
$1,750,000
9
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,930 sqft

  • Beds
    4 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

360 Nueces ST #914
Austin, TX
Photo of 360 Nueces ST #914, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2301936)
$640,000
40
  • Lot Size
    149 sqft

  • Home Size
    832 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

View Virtual Tour
48 East Ave #2407
Austin, TX
Photo of 48 East Ave #2407, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8889100)
$590,000
33
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    699 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

555 E 5TH ST #2806
Austin, TX
Photo of 555 E 5TH ST #2806, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1112164)
$775,000
33
  • Lot Size
    131 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,416 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

austin condo report

Featured Buildings

  • The Independent
  • Fifth & West
  • 360
  • Austin City Lofts
  • W Residences
  • The Shore
  • 70 Rainey

Footer

LEGAL NOTICE

TREC Information About Brokerage Services (pdf)

Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice


TOWERS realty

Austin Condos For Sale

Agents

Downtown Buildings

Luxury Towers

  • Four Seasons Residences
  • W Hotel & Residences
  • The Austonian
  • 5 Fifty Five at Hilton

Most Popular

  • The Shore
  • 360 Condos
  • Seaholm Condos
  • Spring Condos
  • Milago Condos

New Construction

  • The Independent
  • 70 Rainey
  • Austin Proper
  • Fifth & West

Loft Style

  • Austin City Lofts
  • Brazos Place
  • The Sabine
  • Plaza Lofts
  • Brown Building

Resources

  • Austin Condo Guide
  • Condos For Sale
  • Condo Buyer FAQ
  • Property Search

Featured

Archives

Newsletter · About · Contact Us · DMCA · Privacy Policy · SLAPP · Copyright © 2007-2022 TOWERS.net · All Rights Reserved
 

Loading Comments...