Austinist: Hot Real Estate Listings: Starr Building

Wes

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:36:20 -0600

I worked in that building several years back when the Comptroller had operations there. The mural is niece but the building is a steaming piece of crap. It has a lot of odd space (multiple levels, bank vaults, etc) and the parking deck should be condemned. Renovating it would be very expensive.

shooter

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:53:13 -0600

As expected, just more bitching. Another day, another gripe.

mdahmus

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:15:33 -0600

shooter, you jackass, I've spent a lot of time telling people like you who want to tell people how NOT to develop their property to shut the hell up. If the owner of the property wants to develop some low-density stuff, I say go right ahead. If the owner wants to develop some high-density stuff, I say go right ahead. It's you and your BATPAC friends who want to tell them they can't do the second option.

shooter

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:43:03 -0600

Mike, We're all tired of your bitching -- now is your opportunity to do something productive. Go out and line up some capital and make a bid on the property. Develop it in a manner you deem appropriate -- God knows you've spent countless hours telling everyone how to develop this town. Time to put your money where your mouth is, hopefully your wallet is as large and free-flowing as your talker. We'll be watching when the bids are announced. Best of luck.

mdahmus

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:55:19 -0600

Yeah. We need to go back to the days when downtown was about half filled with surface parking lots and auto dealers!

Jooley Ann

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:33:30 -0600

Great old building, and a gorgeous mural. I hope this turns out well. There are ample awesomely altitudinous atrocities in Austin already.

kingkirbythegreatoftexas

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:30:13 -0600

I just don't get why some people don't seem to like skyscrapers in Austin? There is no rational reason to dislike or hate them. This is the perfect place for a very tall building. If I had the money, I'd buy it and tear the eye-sore down today.

Shilli

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:04:24 -0600

I am not sure about the escalator - I got it from ABJ: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/03/03/story7.html and it says the same thing here: http://texasmodernart.com/anbmuralproject.html That is three sources (counting me). We're making history here people! Or not. I added "maybe" to the post. If anyone out there can authoritatively confirm or deny, I would love to hear from you.

ttlms

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:07:09 -0600

Shilli: Are we positive this building had the first escalator in Austin? I was always brought up on the tale that that honor belonged to the Hancock Center Dillard's, though that was built after 1955). Also, notwithstanding its "modernist" style, I am not a big fan of its facade. But I think a second (or third, or both) floor restaurant would work well in this location; it could have that '50s old-fashioned feeling like a Manhattan coffee shop, sort of like Asti in Hyde Park. Hopefully not another tower, but let's not hold our breath.

austinhealy

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:13:21 -0600

I agree. Very lovely architecture. Hopefully it morphs into a mixed use project, similar to the old Yaring's building on congress.

tim

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:52:44 -0600

Hopefully someone who loves it will buy it. It could really be stunning if they cleaned it up and added some color.

heyzeus

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:22:32 -0600

I've been wondering for a few years when the state would do something with that building. I'm sure it'll be replaced with something taller at some point, so i wouldn't be surprised if a property company buys it on spec and keeps it empty even longer until demand rebounds.

leggyblonde

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:52:14 -0600

SWEET! hot real estate is back! i'm always hoping to see the burnt out home on Oltorf & S. 3rd listed... with, of course, full historical details (real or otherwise).