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Congress Avenue Development Hasn’t Peaked Yet
By Kathryn | July 27, 2008
Anyone who is familiar with downtown Austin is probably aware of the fact that between two of the city’s most-visited landmarks (The Texas Capitol and Lady Bird Lake) there is a twelve-block stretch of street called Congress Avenue. This used to be a bustling downtown area but it’s been several decades since there were more than a few buildings active in this area. And that’s a good thing - because it means that this area is ripe for development in a time when everyone is turning their eyes eagerly towards improving downtown neighborhoods.
Despite the growth of the surrounding downtown area, the redevelopment of Congress Avenue has been a bit slow. Some say that it’s one of the few places left in downtown Austin where you really don’t see anyone hanging around after five on a weekday. But there are several changes taking place around here that indicate this could become a much more active area in a really short period of time.
Some of the recent changes improving Congress Avenue include:
- The Austonian. This really impressive condo development is being constructed at Congress Avenue and 2nd Street. This will bring new residents right to this area and therefore will increase the amount of activity seen there as soon as it opens.
- Google is in town. The high-tech Internet industry is making Austin more popular than ever. Google has leased space in the area of Congress and Sixth.
- Several large stores are opening. For example, national retailer Patagonia is about to open in the area between Third and Fourth right on Congress.
These changes hint at good things for this part of downtown Austin. With new residents, new businesses and new retail shops opening up, there is going to be a lot more to see and do here. It will be a place as busy after five and on weekends as it is during the work week. And the best part is that the changes taking place here have only just begun. It’s a part of downtown Austin that is really set to grow rapidly and a place worth keeping an eye on if you’re interested in changes going on in the city.
Topics: Upcoming Projects |
August 24th, 2008 at 8:20 am
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