Finding Free Things to do in Downtown Austin
By Kathryn | July 13, 2008
For those people who are moving into all of the new developments going up in downtown Austin, there is going to be no shortage of activities. All of the mixed-use construction that’s being erected in the area is adding a significant amount of shopping, dining and entertainment to the already active neighborhood. However, some people are wondering if the cost of engaging in activities in downtown Austin is going to be so high that it’s going to offset the cost savings that they’re getting by making a move to the downtown area. The answer is that it doesn’t have to; there remain plenty of free and cheap things to do in downtown Austin which will keep you happily entertained without cutting in to your cost of living budget.
The most obvious place in downtown Austin that you would go to enjoy free activities is Town Lake. This park offers an amazing array of options for both the active and leisurely downtown resident to enjoy. There are over ten miles of hiking and biking trails in this downtown Austin haven for those people who are feeling like getting some exercise. Seventeen different sports fields, a set of tennis courts and more than one public swimming pool also offer plenty of activity for all ages. Those people who prefer less intense activity can wander through the gardens, hang out in the park itself or check out one of the free events occasionally hosted at the Auditorium Shores event area.
But Town Lake isn’t the only place in downtown Austin where you are going to be able to find free things to do. There are also several buildings in downtown Austin and the surrounding area that offer free tours, activities and points of interest. For example, you could head to the top of UT Tower to get a stunning free view of the city. You can get an educational history lesson by checking out the free exhibits at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum or taking a free tour of the Texas State Capitol Complex. Alternatively you can hop on the free downtown trolley or simply meander through the streets of downtown doing some people watching and taking a look at all of the amazing architecture that exists and is emerging around you.
Topics: Downtown Austin Living | 1 Comment »
Downtown Austin Parks Revitalization Underway
By Kathryn | July 6, 2008
The Downtown Austin Alliance has formally recognized the efforts of Austin’s mayor and council members to make the downtown area more beautiful by strengthening the city’s commitment to the revitalization of parks and historic squares in the downtown area. There are several large parks in and around downtown Austin which are supplemented by historic squares and public open spaces that can serve to beautify the downtown area while enhancing the sense of community there. Plans for the revitalization of these parks as well as for the development of a more aesthetically pleasing wayfinding system should add to the beautification of downtown Austin and could contribute greatly to an enhanced quality of life for the large number of people who are starting to move into the area.
There are currently five major parks in and around downtown Austin. Republic Square Park, Wooldridge Square Park, and Brush Square are three small parks located in downtown Austin which serve as a place for the community to gather together. Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail and Zilker Park together add over 400 acres of parkland to the downtown Austin area. These places already serve to add aesthetic appeal to downtown Austin. They also serve the purpose of being places where community members can gather together, meet one another, participate in events and enjoy life in downtown Austin. There are plans for the enhancement and revitalization of all of these parks.
There are also plans in the works to improve the appearance and function of the historic squares that dot the downtown Austin landscape. These plans include the possible addition of new public squares and attention-drawing to the public open spaces, rooftop gardens and other locations that community members can share and enjoy in downtown Austin. In addition to these efforts, there is a focused effort on creating a wayfinding system that will be easy to understand and which will allow community members to further enjoy the appeal of downtown Austin. This means that the signage and other methods of finding the way from one place to another in downtown Austin should be improved not only in their efficiency but also in their appearance.
Topics: Downtown Austin Living | No Comments »
Farmer’s Market Adds to Downtown Austin
By Kathryn | June 29, 2008
Twice a week people come together in downtown Austin to enjoy live performances, children’s events and food tasting at the local farmer’s market. This twice-weekly gathering enhances downtown Austin living while also reflecting exactly what life in downtown Austin is all about. Promoting local growers and local economy, the Austin Farmer’s Market is a perfect fit for a downtown community that is all about encouraging local development and activities. Providing both entertainment and a resource for food, the farmer’s market brings downtown residents together in a multi-use space that adds to the vibrancy of the community here.
The Austin Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday morning from nine to one and every Wednesday evening from four to eight. It happens rain or shine and includes performances, special events and the sale of food from local growers whose food is grown within a one hundred and fifty miles radius around Austin. The Saturday farmer’s market is located in the heart of the downtown area at Republic Square Park. The Wednesday farmer’s market is held at Triangle Park.
The Saturday farmer’s market in particular really adds to the life of downtown Austin. In the past, people worked downtown but commuted to the outlying areas where they lived. This meant that the area was considerably busier during the week than on the weekends. The new downtown Austin is all about living and working in the same area to promote a downtown community way of life that includes all facets of living. This farmer’s market brings people out into the streets to gather together on the weekends. It serves the function of providing a place to purchase groceries but also offers entertainment and community-building opportunities.
The farmer’s market happens throughout the year whether it’s raining or sunny out. This further reflects the way of life in downtown Austin today. This is no longer a place that’s seasonal or for weekdays only; downtown Austin is now a busy part of the city where people are conducting their business and enjoying themselves every day of the week all throughout the year. People who are just starting to move to the downtown area will find that ongoing events like these characterize the nature of the downtown region today while also adding to that way of life. The Austin Farmer’s Market is not the only event that does this but it stands out as a stellar example of what the downtown region is all about today.
Topics: Downtown Austin Living | No Comments »
Largest Austin Redevelopment Project To Date
By Kathryn | June 22, 2008
The city of Austin has announced plans to embark on a joint venture with Trammell Crow Co., USAA Real Estate and Constructive Ventures Inc. in a redevelopment that is the largest of its kind in Austin to date. The project will include over two and a half million square feet of mixed-use space across five blocks in downtown Austin. The area is intended to be affordable and appealing to the public and will incorporate public spaces and parking garages to enhance the downtown area. A portion of this project includes the downtown wastewater treatment plant site that drew various proposals from construction companies earlier this year.
The redevelopment is going to include all different types of buildings and public spaces. It will add retail shopping, boutique hotels and new entertainment venues to the area. It will also add for-rent and for-sale residential properties that aim to be affordable to the average person interested in moving to the downtown Austin area today. This new development will incorporate five public plazas where people can gather for events and activities throughout the year. All of this is in line with the continued growth of the area and the aim of making downtown Austin a place where all of a person’s many daily needs can be met.
The old wastewater treatment plant site will make up one portion of this redevelopment. The first project planned for that site is going to be a massive underground parking garage which will be ideal for those people commuting to downtown Austin for work as well as for those new residents of the area who don’t want to give up their cars when they move downtown. That portion of the project will take about two years to be ready for construction. However, the other parts of the project can proceed in development sooner and should start going up within nine months to one year.
In addition to the benefits that this is going to bring to the people living and working in this area, the new development will bring environmental benefits to downtown Austin. There are plans for the incorporation of many different eco-friendly design features in the construction of this redevelopment. Double-skin membranes, vegetated roofs and solar panels are a few of the things that can be expected. At its completion, it is expected that this project will be valued at approximately three quarters of a billion dollars.
Topics: Upcoming Projects | No Comments »
Austin Condos That Aren’t Downtown
By Kathryn | June 15, 2008
Downtown Austin is a booming area right now. There are more than one dozen condo projects in the works which are bringing mixed-use spaces and a vibrant sense of life to the downtown area. It’s also believed that these developments will bring in 25,000 new downtown residents. For most people, it’s an exciting area that they’d love to be able to live in. However, not everyone finds the idea of living in downtown Austin appealing despite the great changes that are taking place in the area. Luckily, there’s a little bit of something for everyone in Austin.
If you like the idea of the mixed-use condo building and you want to be in close proximity to downtown Austin but you don’t actually want to live downtown, you’re in luck. There are many different condo projects happening in other parts of the city that put you close to the action and living in the new developments without actually requiring that you relocate to downtown.
Here’s a look at five of your upcoming condo options outside of the downtown Austin area:
- SoCo Lofts. The SoCo neighborhood is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the city, offering great views of downtown Austin but a location on Town Lake. If you’re the kind of person who likes boutique shopping and coffee shop time-wasting then why wouldn’t you want to live in a condo building that offered both of those things just steps away? These are industrial-warehouse lofts that appeal to the modern Austin resident.
- Aqua Terra. You can take your pick of a view here - do you want to look down on downtown Austin or do you want to gaze out over Town Lake?
- Twentyone24. This East Austin condo location is great because it’s literally minutes from downtown but the feel of the neighborhood is different here from the downtown hustle-and-bustle. With high ceilings and modern design, these condos are meant for the urban professional.
- Skyline Lofts. As the name suggests, these are condos that are designed with a view in mind. Choose whether the view you want is of downtown Austin or the East Austin location where you’ll actually be living. Either way, residents here have the chance to show off their city to visitors in the best possible light.
- 6th + Brushy. This is another set of East Austin condos that places you right near downtown but not in the heart of it. People who want to be close to the action but in a world of their own find condos like these to offer the perfect combination of benefits.
These are just five of the condo options that you have near - but not in - downtown Austin. If you’re not quite ready to make the leap into the downtown way of life but you are interested in edging closer to where all of the exciting changes are taking place then it’s the condo buildings like these that can put you one step closer.
Topics: Downtown Austin Living | No Comments »
Gas Prices and Downtown Condo Living
By Kathryn | June 7, 2008
More and more people are seeking to move into the condo developments that are going up in downtown Austin. Unfortunately, there is one thing that holds a lot of those people back from making the move downtown: cost. Although there are some really affordable condo options available, many of the places that are in development right now are priced high in comparison to real estate costs in other parts of the city. However, after taking into consideration the money saved on every day expenses when living downtown (in particular the amount of money saved on gas each day), it appears that living in a downtown condo may not actually be any more expensive than living in more outlying areas of Austin.
The thing about the new developments that are taking place downtown is that they are designed to delete the commute from your life entirely. The condos that are being built are almost all mixed-use spaces which allow individuals living in them to meet many of their daily needs without leaving the building. Those activities that do need to take place outside of the condo - activities like work, shopping, entertainment and even forays into nature - can all be found within walking or biking distance of the downtown condos. This means that you can probably get by in downtown Austin without even owning a car. And those people who keep their cars can drastically reduce the amount of money that they spend on gas which significantly offsets the initial cost of moving downtown.
It is probably wise to assume that the price of gas is going to keep on going up. It’s risen drastically in the last five years and there is little indication that it’s not going to keep rising. In contrast, the cost of living in a downtown Austin condo is probably not going to climb considerably in such a short span of time. Those people who make the move now will be able to secure fair prices on homes that have the potential to gain value over time. Rather than siphoning money away by spending it on commutes to grocery stores, retail shopping and work, those people who live in downtown Austin will be able to use that money to pay for housing that is ultimately an investment in the future.
More Gas Price Resources:
- Austin Gas Prices
- Louisville Gas Prices
- Columbus GA Gas Prices & the Real Estate Market
- Gas Prices & Chicago Real Estate
- Las Vegas Real Estate & Gas Prices
Topics: Downtown Austin Living | 2 Comments »
Old Water Treatment Plant to be Site of Affordable Downtown Housing
By Kathryn | June 1, 2008
Anyone who is familiar with downtown Austin probably knows about the Green Water Treatment Plant. For years, this sewage treatment site served the city from its downtown location. However, it was relocated in 2005 and that left a big chunk of land right in downtown Austin that was open for use. The City of Austin is in the process of accepting proposals from developers interested in placing mixed-use construction on this site. The first proposals that have come through reveal that this site is ultimately going to be used to create affordable housing in the growing downtown area.
The Green Water Treatment Plant site is a massive site which takes up four city blocks downtown bordering both the trendy second street district and the lake. This makes it an ideal place for residents who are seeking to be close to all of the action, have a view of the lake and to create a home in the increasingly popular downtown area. The site currently interrupts the street grid system of downtown but will likely be altered in such a way as to allow currently closed-off streets to have thru access to the downtown area. This will allow traffic to flow more freely through downtown Austin and should further enhance the growth of the neighborhood.
The various proposals for development of this building site are each different in their design but maintain many of the same features. For example, the proposals all suggest a mixed-use site which includes residences, retail and entertainment venues. This is in keeping with the current downtown trend to incorporate all of these types of spaces into one building or area in order to make life more convenient for everyone moving in to downtown Austin. Because of the location of these buildings, it is expected that this will extend the trendy 2nd Street district into a larger area encompassing more of downtown.
More importantly, it is believed that these buildings are going to offer affordable housing in what is an increasingly expensive part of the city to live in. At least ten percent of the units that are expected to go up should be priced within an affordable price range for a family earning a median income of $57,000. This is particularly important because of the timing of the construction; these buildings are set to start going up in 2010 at a time when many of the much more expensive condo units that are currently underway are set to start opening up to residents. People who are drawn to the area because of these more expensive units may find that the new site offers them an affordable option for moving downtown.
Topics: Upcoming Projects | 2 Comments »
Residents Beginning Moving To 360 Condos
By Kathryn | May 25, 2008
The hottest real estate market in downtown Austin right now is the condo market. Over ten different condo projects have been launched to bring housing, retail and entertainment space to the downtown area within a vertical design format; the idea is to build up, not out. One of the first of those sets of condos, the 360 Condos, is about to open after two years of construction reaches completion. The units within this condo have already sold out and residents are excited about the opportunity to finally move in to their new downtown homes.
The 360 Condos are the tallest building project taking place in downtown Austin to date; it’s a 43-story building. There are several reasons why this fact appeals to the people seeking to move in to the downtown area. For one thing, the architecture is stunning so the building is considered a positive addition to the changing downtown Austin skyline. And of course, the people living on those top floors are excited about the opportunity to experience some great views of the city. But perhaps more importantly, vertical building improves the ability of the downtown area to grow without hindering activity in the area.
Like other tall condo buildings, 360 Condos is a mixed-use space that includes entertainment, dining and retail within the residential area. This means that people living in the building don’t have to go far from home in order to meet their basic needs. This is a clear benefit to the residents of the building and it’s also a benefit to the residents of the Greater Austin area because it reduces traffic and the resulting air pollution which is a problem in cities that build out instead of up.
The 360 Condos are considered to be among the best of the new downtown projects that are being launched. A main reason for this is that they are considered highly affordable in comparison to many of the other condo projects in the neighborhood. Some of the 400+ units in the building start at under $200,000. Two-bedroom condos with a balcony terrace are in the $400,000-$500,000 price range.
Building managers will be moving in as early as next week. The first residents will be moving in throughout the month of June. This will be a development to watch as it is setting the trends for the buildings to come in the area.
Topics: Downtown Austin Living | No Comments »
Texas Hospital Association Moves Downtown
By Kathryn | May 18, 2008
Downtown Austin is rapidly becoming an appealing place for both businesses and residents. One of the biggest businesses to make a recent move to the area is the Texas Hospital Association. This non-profit medical organization believes that a move to the downtown area will help them be more effective in asserting legislation which benefits city residents. This move should enhance the downtown economy and make the neighborhood an even more appealing place for people to live.
The Texas Hospital Association is a non-profit organization which respresents the interests of a majority of hospitals and health care centers across Texas. The purpose of the organization is to push for legislation that is designed to enhance the quality of medical care in the state based on the interests of the member hospitals. The heart of downtown Austin is where this type of legislation gets debated and decided so it makes sense for the organization to move to the area. Being in the midst of all of the activity, just a brief walk away from the Texas Capitol, should put this organization in a position to engage in more effective efforts to create change.
The organization is certain that these benefits will be obtained as the result of having tested out their theory about the value of the location. In the past, members of the organization have leased space in the downtown area in order to create a more visible presence near the Capitol. These efforts have been successful which suggests that a permanent move of the organization’s full staff to the downtown location should generate additional success.
In addition to the benefits that Austin residents will experience as a result of ongoing legislative changes, they can also expect to see a boost to the downtown economy resulting from this move. Hospitals play an important role in driving the economy of a state which will trickle down to economic benefits in Austin. Moreover, the move of so many staff to downtown Austin will create new business for the retail, dining and entertainment providers in the area.
The move to the new location has taken place over the past few days and the new site is set to be open and operating tomorrow morning. The new location is at 1108 Lavaca in Downtown Austin.
Topics: Downtown Austin Living | No Comments »
Construction Begins on $300 Million W Austin Hotel & Residences
By Kathryn | May 11, 2008
In an effort to help meet Austin’s stated goal of revitalizing the city’s downtown area by bringing 25,000 new residents into its core by 2015, the W Austin Hotel and Residences has begun construction. With a price tag of nearly $300 million, the creation of this elaborate new building is designed to stimulate the local economy and generate a slew of new employment opportunities throughout the area. The goal is to have the building complete by 2011; buyers have already begun to invest in securing their new downtown homes for that date.
The W Austin construction reflects a growing trend in the downtown area towards the development and purchase of condos. A recent study of the condo market in Austin reveals that there are twelve big residential projects underway in downtown Austin and seven of them are condo projects. Condo construction is expected to peak this year but to continue steadily through 2009 and 2010; the study notes that one third of the condos slated for 2010 completion have already sold to their future residents.
People who are interested in purchasing downtown condos should know that prices are expected to rise after 2010. At that time, development appears to be focused on the area of “super luxury” condos which are out of the price range of the average Austin resident. In the meantime, downtown condo prices are considered to be affordable and are in fact less expensive than a comparable single-family home in central Austin. These are factors which are driving the interest in condos including the W Austin Hotel & Residences project.
So who is buying these condos? It turns out that the buyer market for downtown Austin condos is actually quite diverse. Although the majority of buyers (35%) are in the age range of 30-44, there are a significant number of people both younger and older than this who are investing in downtown Austin property. This serves to create a diverse downtown core for the city which should allow it to become an even more interesting area over time.
Topics: Upcoming Projects | No Comments »
« Previous Entries Next Entries »