Austin | Waterline | 1,022' | 73-Stories | U/C

[The ATX]

Despite their financial problems, WeWork is going through with this project.

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WeWork is "moving forward with us on this particular project," Mike Lynd, CEO of Kairoi Residential, said in a phone interview. "We’re super excited."

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Lincoln and Kairoi are running day-to-day operations for the Austin project at the corner of Red River Street and East Cesar Chavez and have selected an architect but Lynd with Kairoi declined to say which company.

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[The ATX]

More core sampling today on the Tower #4 site, Block 190.  This  has probably become Tower #1 at this point because it seems to be the main focus over the already permitted towers.  This could be a tall signature tower.

Quincy Webcam

[The ATX]

Here's another view taken at the Block 190 site with core sampling taking place.

Photo by corvairkeith

[The ATX]

It's baby steps with this project.  The zoning change request for Tower #4 (Block 190) which should be 700' to 800' has moved on to the Planning Commission.

[The ATX]

Tower #4 (Block 190 Tower) got the zoning change it needed from the Planning Commission this week.  It still needs City Council approval.  This and ATX West will be vying for the tallest "all office" tower in the pipeline. 

[The ATX]

The zoning change for Tower #4 is on the City Council agenda for the 03/12 meeting.  It'll pass, and hopefully we'll see a site plan filing shortly thereafter.

[The ATX]

The City Council approved the Block 190  (Tower #4) zoning change today that will allow for a taller tower.  This project has had a long history with multiple developers.  It finally seemed to be on track to move forward; then a virus happened.  So we'll wait and see what happens next. 

[The ATX]

A site plan for utilities for all four towers was filed about a week ago for a meeting with the city.  This soap opera project continues to inch forward despite WeWork's problems.

[The ATX]

This project has had a 10 year history and gone through multiple changes.  Originally it was planned as a three tower project with the tallest tower being over 800'.  Later the 800 footer became a 600 footer, and it turned into a four tower project with the fourth tower being Phase II.  That was when WeWork came on board during their heyday.  The collapse of WeWork put the project in limbo.  Now it is a two tower project with Phase I being the U/C 1,022' mixed use tower (Apts., Office, Hotel & Retail.)  The site of the Phase II tower is currently being used for construction offices for Phase I which means Phase II probably won't start for a few years. 

Here are the latest renderings courtesy Lincoln via SSC.

 

Here's the site.  The first of three Luffing cranes is up.  The tallest crane will reach ~1,250'.  Photos by agsatx88 at SSP.

 

The cement wall at the left is the boundary between this project and the U/C 594' Travis tower and future 802' Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Residences

 

The Two blue Luffing cranes are for the Travis Tower.  The Ritz-Carlton site is to the left of the Travis cranes.  Photo by Walkable on Instagram.

 

[The ATX]

Blackstone provided the $675 million construction loan:  

https://commercialobserver.com/2022/09/bxmt-blackstone-waterline-lincoln-kairoi/

 

The hotel brand is is 1 Hotel, and this will be their first Texas location.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41008105.html

[The ATX]

This project was designed by KPF, and there was another KPF designed project announced today for the south side of the river.  Hence the appearance of Waterline in one of the renderings.  The new tower is apparently one of those trendy mass timber buildings.

[The ATX]

The tallest building in Austin title is almost like the oldest person in the world title when it comes to longevity.  The current new tallest  6&Guadalupe at 874' isn't even topped out yet, and the next new tallest Waterline at 1,022' is U/C.  Another developer is planning to build a tower at 3rd & Congress next to the Austonian, which was the tallest building from 2010 to 2019, that is "up to 90-stories".  That would likely be around 1,250' depending on the uses.      The site is currently a narrow half block surface lot:  

[The ATX]

The first of what looks like three supertalls for Austin.

[The ATX]

[The ATX]

[The ATX]

The crane base for the second of three Luffing cranes is in place.  This crane will reach over 1,200'.

Photo credit:  Austin American-Statesman

[The ATX]

Crane #2 is going up today.

[The ATX]

Progress update:  

 

 

[The ATX]

Vertical construction has started.

Photo by ThyPiGuy @SSP

[The ATX]

More photo updates:  

 

The above stills came from this video:

 

[The ATX]

This was taken from the video in the previous post.  It shows the cranes for three projects clustered together in the north side of the Rainey Entertainment District:  

594', 52-story Travis Tower (Residential)

655' 55-story Modern Austin Tower (Residential)

1,022', 73-story Waterline Tower (Hospitality, Office & Residential)

[The ATX]

It's starting to poke above ground.  Still waiting for crane #3 to go up.  Photos by Urbannizer at SSP.

 

 

 

 

[The ATX]

Progress update from this weekend.  The blue cranes at far right are for the 52-story Travis tower. 

 

Full video:

 

[The ATX]

Here's a recent photo.  There are a lot of tall projects going up in this small area.  The supertall is in the foreground.

[The ATX]

Here are some updated  photos by Urbannizer at SSP: