East Side Housing Project Planned

Want to live in the hippest glass and concrete box east of I-35 with 117 of your hippest friends? Umm ... totally! You're in luck. Interurban Development LLC is following up the Bel-Air Lofts on South Congress with the Skyline Lofts on East Ninth Street, overlooking God's deadliest greatest highway. With floor-to-ceiling windows and concrete ceilings, concrete columns and concrete floors, the Skyline Lofts are a six story slice of concrete-and-glass residential heaven. Plus, it's just a short stroll over to the Texas State Cemetary, where Tom Landry is buried!

We're not clear how green this thing is; apparently the "building design has incorporated many environmentally-friendly innovations," but specificity is lacking. Also not clear is how well the design engages the street. The pictures are not comforting - the buildings appear to be separated from the street by a parking facility and a pool. That said, the other side of the building apparently fronts the street, so it could provide some nice pedestrian access. Also, the pictured side seems to be facing I-35, which one could be forgiven for failing to engage. On the other hand, that seems to put the pool and community deck in uncomfortabe proximity to the highway.

* Photo from Skyline Lofts