16 replies to this topic

[Goothrey]

US Postal Service has set a proposal deadline for August 20th for the site at 510 Guadelupe St. between west fith and west sixth.  Posibility for resedential development.  Sight has no height limit.

The Post Office has been criticized for being unattractive and bad use of real estate.

For more, check the statesman.

[eastsider]

Looks like they are expecting a lot of interest from developers for this site. It is one of the few blocks left that doesn't have any height restrictions. Novare Group says they already plan on making a bid.

Downtown post office could become residential high-rise

[eastsider]

Six offers were submitted for the proposed redevelopment of the Austin Downtown Post Office block. They will still recieve offers on Mondays in case more were delivered over the weekend.

Quote

The post office isn't releasing the names of the developers or details of their proposals, saying the process will remain confidential until a proposal is selected.

Officials in various postal departments will evaluate the proposals. A decision is expected by the end of September, Bolen said.

Austin American-Statesman: Post office receives 6 offers for space

[eastsider]

The Novare Group along with Andrews Urban (who are partners on 360) were chosen as the developers of the downtown Post Office site.

Quote

While plans still are being developed, Novare plans a "high-density, mixed-use development that Austin and the Postal Service will be proud of," said Billy Holley, the firm's lead developer for Austin.

The project will include a new post office, either as part of the new project or within a block.

Austin American-Statesman: Developer picked for downtown post office site

[eastsider]

Looks like this project is getting bigger, according to the Austin Chronilce in a year in review article. A new downtown post office will be built on part of the block to the west of this site which Novare Group also controls. The new post office will be a part of a mixed-use tower and after it is complete, the entire block where the post office currently sits will be overhauled with another mixed-use tower. I'm guessing that one of their TWELVE brand hotels will be a part of the redeveloped site.

The article didn't say when construction would start on the new post office/tower.

http://www.austinchr.....id=oid:432109

[JDawgboy]

This is going to be a very interesting project to say the least look for more news and announcements about it in the months to come.

[eastsider]

More details were released today about the Novare project on the Post Office block in downtown Austin. They plan two towers that will contain nearly 900 condominiums.

The first tower will break ground this fall on a portion of Block 51. The tower will be 35-stories tall and house 400 condos. Residents should be able to move into this building in fall 2009. The ground floor will be have space for a new 2- story Post Office at Fifth and San Antonio. There will also be a 7-level parking garage with one level of shared parking for the Post Office and other ground floor retail.

When the new post office is complete, they will be able to vacate their current location on Block 52. This is estimated to take place in spring 2008. Work on the tower at that site would then start that summer. The tower on that block will be 40-stories with 500 condos, 100 hotel rooms, and 25,000 sf of ground level retail.

Austin Business Journal: Towers on tap for post office site, adjacent block
Austin American-Statesman: Plans revealed for new postal service tower, condominiums

Edited by eastsider, 05 February 2007 - 02:56 PM.

[erdogs]

No renderings?

[eastsider]

^Nope, Novare doesn't usually release renderings until a few months before construction starts. Also, the Novare Group press release for this projects also refers to these as preliminary plans. According to the Andrews Urban website, the first 35-story tower has an estimated height of 420'. But, Novare usually ends up adding on a few more floors after the initial announcement.

I must say that I'm a bit surprised that they only announced one tower @ 40 floors on the Block 52 site which has no height restrictions. I was figuring there would be at least two towers on that block. Guess we'll have to wait to see what happens.

Edited by eastsider, 17 February 2007 - 10:09 AM.

[eastsider]

The Austin City Council will be voting on a zoning change today to allow for the larger buildings for the two Novare towers planned as part of the post office redevelopment. The Planning Commission has already unanimously approved the changes. Novare says they will announce the names of the buildings as well as renderings in April.

The 35-story Block 51 tower will be designed by The Preston Partnership, who also did 360. The Block 52 tower will be designed by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates. They also say that they are still in negotiations with a hotel operator, so it may not be one of their Twelve brands after all?

Austin American-Statesman: Council to vote on two high-rises

[JDawgboy]

Renderings should be comming out very soon be on the lookout...

[Goothrey]

eastsider, on Mar 22 2007, 08:33 AM, said:

The Austin City Council will be voting on a zoning change today to allow for the larger buildings for the two Novare towers planned as part of the post office redevelopment. The Planning Commission has already unanimously approved the changes. Novare says they will announce the names of the buildings as well as renderings in April.

The 35-story Block 51 tower will be designed by The Preston Partnership, who also did 360. The Block 52 tower will be designed by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates. They also say that they are still in negotiations with a hotel operator, so it may not be one of their Twelve brands after all?

Austin American-Statesman: Council to vote on two high-rises

Anything yet?

[dgreco]

JDawgboy, on Mar 29 2007, 01:48 PM, said:

Renderings should be comming out very soon be on the lookout...

any update?

Goothrey, on Apr 26 2007, 11:17 PM, said:

Anything yet?

is that what you were asking?

[erdogs]

This is all I could find about this project. Looks like everything is on schedule to happen. I can't find if the council approved or even had that vote.

http://www.urbanaust...ovare:_Block_51

http://www.andrewsur...evelopments.htm

[dgreco]

^hey the urbanaustin site is awesome... is there one for Houston, or any other cities?

[erdogs]

dgreco, on Apr 27 2007, 05:31 PM, said:

^hey the urbanaustin site is awesome... is there one for Houston, or any other cities?

Not that I know of. I found that one by accident, just by typing in any word that might be associated with Austin, such as mopac or balcones.

[dgreco]

thanks, I am gonna try to make a search.