11 replies to this topic

[Jimmy]

What developers are calling "The Independent" will almost assuredly end up being called "The Jenga Building" by locals.  At 58 stories and 685 feet, it will be the new tallest building in Austin (2 feet taller than the current tallest) and will be the tallest residential tower west of the Mississippi.

 

LINK

[Austin55]

These Jenga skyscrapers are odd and there's a lot of them popping up lately. I like the Austionian better.

[renamerusk]

Austin's residential highrise growth is unprecedented.  The most current number of people living in Downtown Austin that I found is 7,413.  And though Austin is a magical place,  it seems to defy reason in my mind. 

 

For comparison, a list of cities and their downtown residential numbers:

 

Denver                 17,500                         Los Angeles           52,400                        Portland, OR            10,621

Seattle                  63,877                         Dallas                      7,000                        Nashville                   14,821

Houston                15,745                         Kansas City             5,617

[Volare]

I think having the worst traffic in all of Texas probably contributes to the demand.

[Austin55]

Skyline view, not included several that are U/C in the shot already. 

 

https://www.facebook...?type=3

 

 

 

And a REALLY cool interactive website showing what views from different floors would look like.  

 

http://www.independe...stin.com/views/

[Austin55]

It's obtained financing, expected to start in November. Austin has built 14 buildings over 300 feet since 2000, and is on track to add 10 more to that number. 

 

http://www.cpexecuti...1004127879.html

[renamerusk]

Austin's residential highrise growth is unprecedented.  The most current number of people living in Downtown Austin that I found is 7,413.  And though Austin is a magical place,  it seems to defy reason in my mind. 

 

For comparison, a list of cities and their downtown residential numbers:

 

Denver                 17,500                         Los Angeles           52,400                        Portland, OR            10,621

Seattle                  63,877                         Dallas                      7,000                        Nashville                   14,821

Houston                15,745                         Kansas City             5,617

 

 

It's obtained financing, expected to start in November. Austin has built 14 buildings over 300 feet since 2000, and is on track to add 10 more to that number. 

 

This looks a lot like Miami.  Whereas, explaining Miami is easy; Miami depends upon a wealthy international and national demand for beachfront property with a segment coming from Latin America; still it is hard for me to figure out just what is behind the demand in Austin, Texas. Obviously, there is something, but what?

[Big Frog II]

 

Austin's residential highrise growth is unprecedented.  The most current number of people living in Downtown Austin that I found is 7,413.  And though Austin is a magical place,  it seems to defy reason in my mind. 

 

For comparison, a list of cities and their downtown residential numbers:

 

Denver                 17,500                         Los Angeles           52,400                        Portland, OR            10,621

Seattle                  63,877                         Dallas                      7,000                        Nashville                   14,821

Houston                15,745                         Kansas City             5,617

 

 

It's obtained financing, expected to start in November. Austin has built 14 buildings over 300 feet since 2000, and is on track to add 10 more to that number. 

 

This looks a lot like Miami.  Whereas, explaining Miami is easy. Miami depends upon a wealthy international and national demand for beachfront property with a segment coming from Latin America. 

 

It is hard for me to figure out just what is behind the demand in Austin, Texas. Obviously, there is something, but what?

 

Perhaps lobbyist, people who do a lot of business with the state government, UT faculty, Silicone Valley transplants, etc. 

[hannerhan]

 

Austin's residential highrise growth is unprecedented.  The most current number of people living in Downtown Austin that I found is 7,413.  And though Austin is a magical place,  it seems to defy reason in my mind. 

 

For comparison, a list of cities and their downtown residential numbers:

 

Denver                 17,500                         Los Angeles           52,400                        Portland, OR            10,621

Seattle                  63,877                         Dallas                      7,000                        Nashville                   14,821

Houston                15,745                         Kansas City             5,617

 

 

It's obtained financing, expected to start in November. Austin has built 14 buildings over 300 feet since 2000, and is on track to add 10 more to that number. 

 

This looks a lot like Miami.  Whereas, explaining Miami is easy; Miami depends upon a wealthy international and national demand for beachfront property with a segment coming from Latin America; still it is hard for me to figure out just what is behind the demand in Austin, Texas. Obviously, there is something, but what?

 

 

I can't tell you how many non-Texans I talk with who clearly believe that Austin is the only cool city in our state.  It's basically just generally accepted by people on both coasts that Austin is really cool, so it doesn't take a big percentage of them actually moving to Austin to change things. 

 

But I think the secret sauce - what really closes the deal - is Town Lake/Lake Austin.  The Californians see the outdoor lifestyle they thought they would have to give up by leaving, and the East coast people realize that there are places where you can be outdoors around water more than 3 months a year. 

[Austin55]

It's started site preparations. 

 

http://forum.skyscra...=205357&page=40

[Austin55]

Photo from skyscraperpage

 

 

 

And if the Independent isn't enough, there's already two buildings on the boards proposed to be even taller.

 

http://forum.skyscra...t=216703&page=9

 

http://forum.skyscra...4&postcount=456

[renamerusk]

Well there is a hotly debate discussion about whether living downtown is viable without a concurrent large base of employment immediately available.  Are these proposed projects for class A office and workers?