North Central Austin Edition | March 2023

DYNAMIC DISTRICT The South Central Waterfront district is home to many notable points of interest. New development will include the landmark 305 South Congress and several other high-rise projects alongside transit and public space additions.

Downtown

Hike and Bike trail

Auditorium Shores

7 305 South Congress (Statesman PUD) • At least 1.5 million square feet of oce space, 150,000 square feet of retail, 1,378 residences and a 275-room hotel

2 6

WATERFRONT PROJECT CONNECT STOP AUDITORIUM SHORES PROJECT CONNECT STOP

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT

South Austin

home of the Austin American-States- man on South Congress Avenue. Known as 305 South Congress, it would feature six towers alongside an extension of Barton Springs Road, a new public park and viewing area for the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony, and a reworked stretch of the lakeside hike and bike trail. Endeavor will also pay over $30 million to the city for aordable housing and park- land dedication o site. In total, 305 South Congress could include almost 1,400 residences, a 275-room hotel, and 1.65 million square feet of retail and oce space. Towers will range from 250-525 feet tall—potentially more than 50 sto- ries—and could stretch another 200 feet higher if Endeavor contributes more aordable housing units or payments. At the earliest, the project will break ground by late 2023. Endeavor ocials worked through a city PUD review to nalize plans for more than a year—a process that allows a development to exceed lim- its in city code if it adds community bene ts. Among community members speaking on the issue at public meet- ings, most were opposed. Resident concerns included the amount of parkland added, proposed buildings closer to the lakeshore on sensitive land and aordable housing not being included on-site. “I think, like all new construc- tion and exciting opportunities for employment and housing, people will get used to it. But it is not what the plan intended,” Todd said. Nearby, two more PUDs are moving

1 507 S. First St. (proposed) • A residential project up to 490 feet tall is proposed • Currently a hotel

2 One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd. • City planning for municipal oce space and aordable housing is ongoing • 13 oors; 213,745 square feet

3 RiverSouth, 401 S. First St. (complete) • 15 stories • 372,000 square feet of oce and retail space

4 311-315 S. Congress Ave. (proposed) • up to 400 feet tall • 450 residences; 40,000 square feet of oce and retail space

6 200 E. Riverside Drive (proposed) • 2 towers up to 410 feet tall • 1.4 million square feet of oce space; a 30,000-square-foot retail plaza; new open space

5 Bat viewing area • The existing bat observation area is situated on private land. Endeavor will rebuild the viewing area as a public area

policy and is generally only used as a recommendation for new construc- tion rather than a requirement for developers to follow. If city leaders approve a zoning plan, some of these goals would become ocial policy for local development. The plan, which city leaders call a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity, is expected to be nalized by city planners this spring ahead of council approval. Building up On Dec. 2, City Council gave a thumbs-up to Endeavor Real Estate Group’s proposal for a planned unit development, or PUD, at the former

reserved as aordable. “The vision plan is, I would say, it’s a living document, ... and that vision, like all things, can change,” said Sam- uel Franco, outgoing South Central Waterfront Advisory Board chair. Wendy Price Todd, president of the South River City Citizens Neighbor- hood Association representing a por- tion of the district, said community members have pressed to ensure sus- tainability, accessibility and safety amid growth in what she called the “gateway” between South Austin and downtown. While the vision lays out many community goals for the South Central Waterfront, it is not city

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District vision The waterfront district is situated on Lady Bird Lake across from down- town and is now home to a mix of residential and commercial space. The 118-acre area—about one-third the size of Zilker Metropolitan Park— is home to more than 30 properties. In 2016, the city produced a com- munity-backed roadmap for the waterfront’s future laid-out goals for a denser, more walkable and environmentally friendly area with public spaces and waterfront access. The vision plan also called for 20% of all new housing in the district to be

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