Feature Illustration (above): Design of the proposed 48-story River Street Residences. Courtesy: Lake|Flato and HKS.
Posted 12-11-2020
by Art Benavidez
Austin (Travis County) — A Planning Commission decision on a proposed 48-story, multifamily building was delayed at this week’s meeting, based on an agreement between the neighborhood group and the applicant to postpone to Dec. 26.
The project, River Street Residences (formerly River Street Market & Hotel on the preliminary filing), will sit on .5413 acres (23,579 square feet) that consist of three tracts–61 Rainey St., 69 Rainey St. and 60 East Ave.
River Street Residences will consist of 409 units on 33 floors, and the building will reach approximately 569 feet height with a floor to area ratio of 21.43:1. A parking structure occupies levels two to 13.
The tower building will consist of 505,409 square feet, with residential accounting for 492,390 SF (376,901 SF net site area), a 6,034 square foot restaurant and a 7,206 square foot market.
The development is a joint venture between Austin-based River Street Partners and High Street Residential (of the Trammell Crow Company). VBX first reported this project in a Dec. 4, 2019 article.
The tracts on Rainey Street are currently developed with two bars, Javelina and Craft Pride. The tract on East Avenue is currently undeveloped.
The applicant is requesting administrative approval for the construction of the project, which will include retail on the ground floor, garage parking and streetscape improvements in accordance with the Downtown Density Bonus Program.
In order to comply with the community benefits of the program, the developer is offering to reserve up to 10% (approximately 41 of the units) to tenants eligible for less than market rate leases.
The project will meet Great Streets clear and planting zone requirements, and will incorporate required street trees and benches along all three frontages Rainey Street and River Street, and East Avenue to an extent coordinated with the Texas Department of Transportation.
The inclusion of Great Streets along the entire half block will create a more sustainable pedestrian environment and provide a buffer for pedestrians from vehicular traffic on abutting roadways, according to the applicant, Amanda Swor of the Drenner Group who represents the developers.
The developers are committed to achieve a minimum two-star rating under the Austin Energy Green Building Program, along with compliance with the city’s urban design guidelines.
This project aims to reduce its energy use through several major design strategies. The building creates a performative building skin by limiting the window-to-wall ratio, incorporating permanent sun-shading elements and extensive planting.
Native plants will be incorporated into the façade design, with irrigation integrated within the overall building systems and structure, according to submitted documents. Solar panels will also be incorporated, likely in a large array on the roof above the 48 floor.
The 12th level of the project will include a rooftop deck for residents of the project, which will be landscaped with native plantings. It will also include a swimming pool and seating areas.
Additionally, the project will incorporate plantings along various portions of the exterior walls, creating green walls to combat urban heat islands and to improve air quality.
The San Antonio based architecture firm Lake|Flato, along with the Dallas based office of the architectural firm HKS provided the following specs:
- Ground Floor consisting of retail and lobby space
- Floors 2-13 will consist of a parking garage
- A 9,590 deck above the garage, with a swimming pool, seating area and native plants.
- Floor 15 residential, deck, 9 units consisting of 14,133 square feet
- Floors 16-25 residential, 12 units consisting of 15,446 square feet
- Floor 26 amenity floor with 12 units consisting of 14,729 square feet and a 959 square foot deck
- Floor 27 13 units consisting of 14,729 square foot
- Floor 28 13 units consisting of 14,910 square foot
- Floor 29 14 units consisting of 15,374 square feet
- Floors 30-43 residential 14 units consisting of 15,374 square feet
- Floors 44 penthouse suites, 7 units consisting of 13,557 square feet
- Floors 45-47 penthouse suites, six units consisting of 13,774 square feet
- A 3,359 square foot deck between floors 47 and 48
- Floor 48 Roof amenity floor with 8,861 square feet
- And mechanical screen wall above floor 48
The developers put the real estate under contract through agreements with landowners Jesse Lunsford of Rainey Ventures 61-69 Rainey Street and Jonathan Rioux manager of Houston based Addition Real Estate Partners, LLC (for 60 East Ave.) created the special entity River Street Partners LLC to own the land.
VBX Project ID: 2020-86AF
art@virtualbx.com
