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The Modern Austin Residences | Development

Kevin Burns Reveals New Details About Rainey Street Skyscraper, Including Name and Project Team

The tower formerly known as 9092 Rainey, which has been in the works for several years, officially has a new name and new project specifications.

 

The Modern Austin Residences will have 56 stories featuring 346 market-rate residences and 21 affordable housing units. Austin’s Urbanspace Real Estate + Interiors is developing the project.

The affordable housing units will be available to people earning 80% of median family income, which is $98,900 in the Austin metro. The market rate units will start in the $400,000 range for a one-bedroom unit. Three-bedroom units will go for $1.6 million and above.

These updates, provided by Urbanspace CEO Kevin Burns, come just a few months after Austin City Council approved a density bonus for the project, allowing the building to go higher than typically allowed. At the time, the tower was planned to be 51 stories high and to contain 400 total units.

Burns said some of the extra stories were added to improve the look of the crown of the building by hiding water cooling towers and other mechanical features. He said they ended up reducing the number of market rate residences but maintaining the same number of affordable ones.

Many have wondered about the fate of Container Bar, the popular bar made of shipping containers that sits on the project site. Burns said the bar will close just before crews break ground on The Modern, which is set for late March 2022.

However, Bridget Dunlap — who owns Container Bar as well as Clive Bar and Lustre Pearl — has signed on to run an entertainment space in the basement of the building.

“Container Bar had a good run, but I’m excited for what’s next,” Dunlap said in a statement. “This next concept will fill a niche that Austin is missing in the music/hospitality scene, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to stay in our spot.”

Nelsen Partners will be the design architect for the tower, Flintco will be the general contractor and Page will be the architect of record. Urbanspace will handle sales and interior design for the tower.

Sales are expected to begin at the start of next year. Burns said it will likely take two and a half years to complete construction. He projects they’ll finish in the second half of 2024.

Original plans for the tower included hotel space and permanent residences, but Covid-19 forced the developer to rethink the plan.

“The fact of the matter is what my company knows inside and out, backwards and forwards is high-rise condominiums,” Burns said. “So it allowed us to really focus on what we do best.”

Urbanspace has been tapped to sell the condos for other high-profile Austin towers, including The Independent, which has an onsite coffee and cocktail bar on the ground floor, similar to what is planned for The Modern. But The Modern Austin Residences represents Burns’ first foray into high-rise development.

Calls for denser housing within the city limits have grown louder amid the city of Austin’s persistent housing shortage. In June, the Austin Board of Realtors reported that the city had only 0.7 months of housing inventory on the market. That means if no new houses were listed, the city would be completely out of available housing in less than a month.

“We couldn’t beat the timing as far as the current market demands for products in Central Austin,” Burns said.

Rainey Street, in particular, has transformed considerably in recent the years. In the mid-2000s, the neighborhood received Central Business District zoning, making it easier to build big in what was once a residential area. The street is now known in large part for its bars, which largely occupy former single-family homes.

“Rainey street is evolving for families from all different walks of life, for those that want to ditch the car and be able to walk to everything,” Burns said. “I’m excited to see not just my project but the other projects that are going up in the area that are really going to create an incredible experience, not just for those that live there, but for the entire city.”

Article from: Austin Business Journal

 

Get to Know Austin’s High-Rise King, Kevin Burns

Get to Know Austin’s High-Rise King

 

FEATURED IN TRIBEZA’S SUMMER 2020 ISSUE

KEVIN BURNS SHARES A PERFECT DAY IN ATX

 

Known as Austin’s High-Rise King, and our own beloved CEO and Founder, Kevin Burns has helped shape the Austin skyline for over 20 years now with the 20th anniversary of Urbanspace. Featured in Tribeza’s Summer 2020 Issue, Burns shows off his expertise of the downtown Austin lifestyle, and welcomes the public into what makes up the perfect day in downtown Austin. 

 

 

Burns likes to start his day early with a bike ride around the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail which happens to be a favorite exercise spot for many members of the Urbanspace team, both real estate agents and designers alike. Just a short ride away from the new Urbanspace HQ, and Burns’ residence at The Independent, the trail is the perfect place to connect with nature, enjoy the city’s green space, and break a sweat. 

 

 

After his workout, Burns is all about eating, drinking, and being social. A few of his favorite weekend activities include brunch at TRACE, hanging poolside at The Independent, dinner at ATX Cocina, and catching a show at Stubb’s or Moody Theater

 

Watch the video, or check out the full article featured on Tribeza’s website to get the full scoop on a perfect day in Austin and what the future of downtown development looks like in Austin.

  

Relocating To Austin

No longer a hidden gem, Austin has become an international destination for businesses and tourists alike. Located in the heart of Central Texas and bordered by the scenic hill country to the west, Austin’s mild climate and relatively affordable cost-of-living appeal to many.

Austin is one of the fastest growing metro areas in the U.S., adding about 150 new residents each day in 2017, totaling nearly 55,000 newcomers in a single year. With predictions that the population is expected to double by 2040, we expect demand for housing to continue to strengthen.

While company expansions in Austin and the low employment rate are largely credited for the population boom, make no mistake Austin appeals to many purely from a lifestyle perspective. With ample parks and green space, miles of hike and bike trails and beautiful Lady Bird Lake meandering through the middle of town, newcomers and tourists flock to the city. The creative culture, live music and sheer energy of downtown Austin is contagious. And the tacos. Don’t forget the tacos.

Working with a great Realtor is invaluable when relocating to a new area. Urbanspace Realtors has specialized in the urban core and Central Austin area since 2000 and would love to be your go-to resource for all things Austin. Visit our team page to learn more about us, and our neighborhood page for unique market snapshots. Contact us for personalized assistance.

Click here for more helpful resources to help you with the move to Austin.

In the News | Why Are Companies Choosing to Expand in Austin?

A great deal of compelling information was shared at the recent Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA) Exchange event held at the JW Marriott. One of the sessions, Why Are Companies Choosing to Expand in Austin, included panelists from Google and Merck, both expanding their presence in Austin.

Heather Paffe, Director of External Affairs for Merck, said they plan to hire several hundred people in Austin over the next 10 years. The emerging healthcare ecosystem and Dell Medical School opening made Austin a good fit for Merck. She credited the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce as well as community leaders for being pro-active in working with Merck to get them here.

Gerardo Interiano, Head of Local Market Staffing for Google, emphasized a focus on diversifying in an effort to prevent effects similar to the tech bust in 2000. At about 300,000 square feet and 800 employees in their downtown office, Interiano believes that Google’s growth is directly related to Austin. He noted that Austin’s culture has huge appeal for their employee base, and quipped that the city is the perfect intersection of fitness and food. He indicated that Austin is the ideal pilot market for Google Fiber and self-driving cars.

Paffe added that the spirit of collaboration in Austin is also a draw for Merck, versus the highly competitive environment of Silicon Valley. When asked who Merck is hiring, she said access to top talent is one of the main reasons they chose Austin. Internally, they refer to Austin as the IT hub. They also benefit from working closely with local universities to develop recruiting pipelines, which works well as graduates often state that staying in Austin is a big priority for them. However, she also notes that competition for top talent in Austin is high, and because senior level talent tends to be happy where they are, they must be creative in recruiting.

Interiano said Google staff in Austin consists largely of their recruiting team and sales team. He noted the soft skills for sales and recruiting tend to work well together, making cross-training easier.

Both Paffe and Interiano named transportation and infrastructure as the biggest challenges for their employees in terms of commute time, and both companies are seeking creative solutions. Google offers a Van Pool and picks up the tab on the van and gas for those willing to carpool. They are also trying incentives, like paying employees to find alternatives to driving to work. Merck hosts company events using public transportation to give employees a chance to experience the routes. Paffe says alternative transportation is a big focus for Merck, and that about 50% of the team does not drive themselves to work.

Aside from transportation woes, it came as no surprise that quality of life in Austin is a big draw for companies and individuals alike.

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