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A rendering of Block 16, which has an expected completion in spring 2026. (Gensler)
A 43-story office tower is coming to downtown Austin, adding to the slew of announcements of high rises and other developments rapidly shaping the skyline.
Known as Block 16, the latest one is at the intersection of San Jacinto Boulevard, Trinity and Second streets. With up to 738,000 square feet, future tenants will get to take advantage of a fitness facility, multiple meeting areas and dining options.
Carr Properties, the developers who moved into the Austin market last year with the acquisition of the building at 100 Congress Avenue, says the tower will be designed with sustainability and wellness features in mind. That includes an indoor air quality approach to maximize health along with 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and designs on each floor for access to light and air.
With the project available for preleasing and an expected completion in spring 2026, Carr boasts proximity to a coming rail station and easy access to the Central Business District, Rainey Entertainment District and Lady Bird Lake.
Manifold Development will work as Carr’s local partner on the project. President Tyler Grooms expressed excitement about the partnership, saying “I think we have a real opportunity to deliver a project of world-class design with incredible amenities that best meets the needs of today’s ever-changing work environment.”
Dallas-based CBRE has been brought on as the leasing brokers, and they say the building is a best-in-class trophy asset.
“As Austin continues to generate the strongest office demand in the country, the emphasis has been on a ‘flight to quality, especially in the urban core,” said Troy Holme, Executive Vice President at CBRE.
Other recent development announcements in downtown include a 675-foot tower on W. Sixth St., a 65-story tower with luxury hotel rooms and condos and another on Red River St. that could become the tallest tower in Texas.
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(Moriah Wilson/Instagram)
Austin police have charged Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, a local cyclist, for the murder of Moriah "Mo" Wilson.
Wilson, a rising star in the gravel and mountain bike community, was found dead with gunshot wounds inside an East Austin home on the night of May 11 when she was in town for the weekend Gravel Locos race in Hico, Texas.
Police believe Wilson was having a relationship with a man Armstrong was also in a relationship with. The man, another gravel cyclist, Colin Strickland, has since issued a statement on the murder.
In his statement, he said he had a brief romantic relationship with Wilson in October 2021 before he resumed his relationship with Armstrong, but that he remained friends with Wilson. "There is no way to adequately express the regret and torture I feel about my proximity to this horrible crime. I am sorry, and I simply cannot make sense of this unfathomable tragedy.
NEW: Austin professional cyclist Colin Strickland has just released a statement about the murder of cyclist Moriah Wilson, clarifying his relationship with her and expressing “torture about my proximity to this horrible crime.” pic.twitter.com/KnIna3mWrE
— Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) May 20, 2022
Wilson, a 25-year-old Vermont native living in Colorado, had won a slew of races becoming a fan favorite. She had just become a full-time racer this year.
Anyone with information on this crime can contact Austin police at 512-974-TIPS or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 512-472-8477.
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Kelly said the planned homeless housing hotel suffered months of damage. (Mackenzie Kelly)
Austin has added 24-hour security to the city-owned Pecan Gardens property, which will be converted into supportive housing for people exiting homelessness, after the former hotel was found with months of damage and vandalism May 5.
The building, which was broken into and stripped of copper and had people illegally sleeping inside of it, has been secured, Kelly said in a Friday press conference. Kelly said the city confirmed a measure to implement 24-hour security, including updates every 60 days until the property opens up as supportive housing.
"We cannot let this happen to any vacant city-owned property ever again," Kelly said. "This blatant act of disregard and criminal behavior will not be tolerated in our community."
The city bought the former hotel in August 2021 for $9.5 million with plans to renovate the property into a 78-unit supportive housing property. Those 55 or older that are experiencing chronic homelessness can qualify to live at the site once it is completed in late 2022-early 2023.
While the council was set to discuss a $4 million deal with Family Eldercare to begin converting the property Thursday, Kelly pulled the item for a later executive session due to security concerns. But the council did approve an item to authorize city leaders to begin negotiating other renovation contracts.
"I want to thank my colleagues for pumping the brakes on this contract and realizing that we owe the community not only an apology, but reassurance that the protection of the assets the city owns is vital to the success of achieving our intended goals," Kelly said.
When the building was found vandalized May 5, Kelly, who presides over the district containing the property, said damage included:
- Damage spanning all three floors of the building and is in nearly every room.
- The entire hotel was stripped of copper.
- Destroyed washers, dryers, air conditioners and electrical wiring.
- People sleeping at the hotel without permission.
On Tuesday, Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Gray apologized and said there was no security due to a delay in processing the request.
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