austin business journal

There are many downtown proposals that I look at and say: who thinks that is a good idea? And there a few that look interesting and that I hope work out well.

The new downtown park proposal for Lamar Beach looks so crazy awesome that all I can say is that I would like for it to be done now.

If this gets built, it will transform downtown daytime fun with a beautiful mix of architecture, pools, water slides, diving boards, lazy rivers, ballparks, running trails, lakes, and natural landscaping.

Lady Bird Lake may be the most-prized downtown destination. This week, a new grant was announced that will further improve the South Shore of the lake.

The American Institute of Architects will contribute as much as $200,000 to improve the South shore of the lake.

According to the Austin Business Journal, "The areas around Lady Bird Lake that will benefit from the grant include the South Shore Central subdistrict, South First Street to the west, and East Bouldin Creek to the south and west."

According to the Austin Business Journal, the controversial 1,000+ room Congress Avenue Marriott on the former site of Las Manitas will open in 2015 as scheduled.

The hotel will carry the "Marriott Marquis" brand. According to the Austin Business Journal, "The Austin Marriott Marquis, which will be owned and operated by White Lodging Services Corp., is scheduled to break ground mid-2012 and will offer 110,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

According to the Austin Business Journal and the Downtown Austin Blog, a new 28-story hotel is planned for 8th and Congress Avenue.

With multiple Congress avenue towers in various stages of planning, this newly-proposed tower is the latest sign that Congress Avenue will likely be dramatically transformed over the next decade.

According to the Austin Business Journal, "Austin developer David Kahn has applied for a zoning change to construct a 28-story structure that would house a boutique hotel, offices, three restaurants and a coffee bar.

According to the Austin Business Journal, Tom Stacy (a veteran Austin developer) and Walton Street Capital (a $12B investment firm) are revitalizing plans for two dramatic downtown buildings on a key downtown block bound 5th and Congress.

According to the Austin Business Journal, "Austin City Council on Thursday approved special zoning to allow the transformation of a historic Congress Avenue building into a boutique hotel."

The Austin City Council took an important step to extend the much-loved Hike and Bike Trail surrounding Lady Bird Lake.

By authorizing $14.4 million for the trail improvements in the 2010-2011 budget, the City is set to complete the downtown Hike & Bike Trail by building a boardwalk to cover a 1.1 mile trail gap east of Congress Avenue on the south side of the lake.

According to the Austin Business Journal, "apartment occupancy rates jumped notably in 2010, prompting decreased supply and higher prices, according to a recent report."

As demand continues to outstrip supply this year, the City is predicted to become the country's second best industry performer --- in terms of rent growth -- after San Jose, California.

According to the Austin Business Journal, "apartment occupancy rates jumped notably in 2010, prompting decreased supply and higher prices, according to a recent report."

As demand continues to outstrip supply this year, the City is predicted to become the country's second best industry performer --- in terms of rent growth -- after San Jose, California.

According to the Austin Business Journal, sales at the newest downtown condo projects including W, the Austonian, the Four Seasons Residences, and Spring have accelerated in recent weeks with more than 30 closings in October for downtown condos