LoftyWords

Austin Agave Update

It looks like there is a lot of movement in Austin over at the new Agave neighborhood, with quite a few houses that have either sold or are in the process of selling.  Also the Green Mango Real Estate website has a number of the home plans available to peruse.

Austin - New Mod Downtown Loft For Lease

1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, with dedicated office and covered parking available for immediate move-in, located in downtown Austin!

This is the perfect place for an active professional, close to the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail, less than a mile from 6th and Congress, and under a minute comute to downtown, this almost 1300 foot loft is located in the very cool Pedernales community (www.pedernales.com).

Features and amenities:

*Beautifully stained concrete floors

*Large balcony (approx. 22'x7')

*1 bedroom

*1.5 baths

*Walk-in closet

*Huge live in Living Room

*Modern kitchen

*Stainless steel appliances

*Granite Countertops Throughout

*High ceilings

*New washer, dryer, fridge, oven, and microwave

*Covered parking

*Secure, Gated complex

*Beautiful green-space

*High speed internet available

The Pedernales offers the rare combination of urban living with private community greenspaces.  Offered at $1500 a month, plus one months deposit, the unit is available for immediate move in after April 20th, 2006.  Cats and dogs are welcome, and the unit has a large greenspace located behind it, perfect for Rovers afternoon romp.

[Click to view Craig's List listing]
[Local Contact Information]

More Pictures after the jump!

Editorial: What loft designers and architects get wrong

For a while now I have been writing on all things cool about loft and urban living, but often I get asked if it is so great why doesn't everyone do it? And the proponents of that questions are on to something, because in truth, there are a few things about loft living that are hard to get used to, and some things that urban loft designer just get wrong. Here are my basic two complaints that either need to change when designing loft spaces, or that architects and designer just get wrong, and they mirror the number one complaint from LoftyWords readers.

Current Austin loft and mod projects

Here is a listing of current ModAbode and Loft projects in the Austin, Tx market that I know of, if you are aware of other Austin projects please post the links in the comments section.

1305 Lofts - East 6th
AustinCityHomes
Esperanza - 1111 E 11th
Esperanza-Robertson Hill
Guadalupe 31
Metrohouse
Milago Condos on Town Lake
MoonUnits
Satsuma 53
space2525
The BelAir
The Pedernales Lofts
The Saltillo Lofts
Urbannature
Waterstreet Lofts
wedgeHOUSE

In the market for an Austin Modern pad, then try one of these fine folks to find the digs of your dreams:

Austin Cool
Green Mango
In Town Properties
Urban Living Austin
Urban Space

US and Canadian readers, if you know of any projects in your market, email them to me so we can get a grouping of projects together for the major metro areas, such as: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, etc.

SXSW tickets via cellphone SMS

South By Southwest (SXSW) Austin, Tx., one of the largest film festivals in the U.S., with over 1331 bands playing live across seven days at 58 venues, offered wrist bands early to a lucky few who signed up via cell phone SMS message this evening (Wednesday Night, Febraury 22nd). 

The messages directed the interested to tickets being sold at Waterloo records in downtown Austin.

According to the SXSW official site:

If you are a SXSW Registrant, sign up and receive special notices through the Online Registrant's Directory. SXSW will send you alerts and updates specific to your badge type from last minute schedule changes, special events, breaking news and more. Get the latest lowdown and don't miss a thing!

In addition to an early notice of ticket sales, SXSW SMS, will also will notify you of band schedules, as well as allow you to vote in the Film Festival Audience Award, or vote for your SXSW favorite film.

"To sign up for general updates and alerts about SXSW 2006 just send the text message 'sx add' to '56658' from your mobile phone!"

Click here for more SXSW SMS info! or here for the latest SXSW info!

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Update: According to those who have recieved the text messages, there will be more wristbands on sale to the public Thursday, February 23rd, at Waterloo Records in Austin, Tx.

Agave! East Austin ModernArchitect Designed Homes.

Agave, a new concept in neighborhood developments, is going up in East Austin today.

The concept, though simple, has been a tough idea to pull off in reality.  Essentially, it is a traditional subdivision with homes designed by some of the best architects specifically for the lots they will inhabit.  With 129 lots to be developed by 7 architects, Agave itself is phase three of Sendero Hills, phase one supplied low income housing by moving and refurbishing antique barracks from the recently converted Bergstrom Air Force Base, and selling them at reasonable prices to families at or below 80 percent of the Austin Area Median Family Income.  Phase two resembled a traditional tracked development, with low to middle income houses.  Phase three, or Agave, is an adventure to sell upscale housing to middle class individuals. 

Houses will range in price from $160,000 to $260,000.  Each home will be custom designed to the lot by one of the following six architects: ...

AIA Home Show - Austin, Texas

This Post is a little tardy, but the original can be found at LoftyWords. "The 20th Annual AIA Austin Homes Tour will take place on October 1st and 2nd, from 12 Noon - 6PM each day. Presented by AIA Austin (the Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Architects), this year's tour will feature an intriguing collection of 11 one-of-a-kind homes designed by professional members of AIA Austin for real clients representing a wide range of lifestyles."

"Tickets for the Tour are $25 each (for all 11 homes) and are on sale now. They are valid for the entire weekend. Tickets for the Premier Party are $75 and include a full Homes Tour ticket."

Click on over to aiaaustin.org for more information.

The Pedernales on East 6th.

One of the newer Loft Developments in Austin, Tx. is The Pedernales Lofts located just east of downtown. This loft was designed with an eye towards green high density living. As one of the first projects built in East Austin, it has helped revive the local community, and re-vitalize the local economy. There are at least three large units availble at this time, the units are approximatley 1290 sq. ft.. Currently they are leasing in the range of $1300.00, and selling for ± $255,000.00.

You can visit their website at: http://www.thepedernales.com/

For More Pictures visit the Lofty Words Photo Album

Housing Prices

According to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp, the U.S. national average home price jumped 13% this year to $401.767.00 (US Dollars), and in half the markets sampled, the cost was less than $300,000.00.

It was not a surprise to this editor that the survey found "rapid price appreciation" in markets outside of those hit by Hurricane Katrina (and I would assume the same for the 'imminent 'Rita' hangover', Houston, TX will suffer in the coming hours).  Astutely, Coldwell Banker attributed the rise in price to an imbalance in supply and demand (sarcasm is just so hard to write).

AIA Home Show - Austin, Texas

"The 20th Annual AIA Austin Homes Tour will take place on October 1st and 2nd, from 12 Noon - 6PM each day. Presented by AIA Austin (the Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Architects), this year's tour will feature an intriguing collection of 11 one-of-a-kind homes designed by professional members of AIA Austin for real clients representing a wide range of lifestyles."

"Tickets for the Tour are $25 each (for all 11 homes) and are on sale now. They are valid for the entire weekend. Tickets for the Premier Party are $75 and include a full Homes Tour ticket."

Click on over to aiaaustin.org for more information.