AUSTIN — New high rises in the Rainey Street District are about to change Austin’s Skyline. Gone are the days of thinking small.
“It's a great time to be in Austin, the sleepy town I remember from the 80s is long gone,” said Rachael Kennedy with La Vie En Rainey.
Austin is growing and it's growing fast in areas, including popular destinations like Rainey Street.
“This was single tiny resident houses and they weren't in super great repair,” said Kennedy.
Now high rises stand in the place of homes and the buildings just keep getting bigger. At more than 545 feet tall on 44 East Avenue, a new high-rise condo is coming to town.
“The views that so many of these homes are going to have are going to be just incredible,” said Brad Stein with Intracorp.
With a view of downtown and Lady Bird Lake, Brad Stein with the development company Intracorp said the new 51-story building will have 330 homes, more than 500 parking spaces, a swimming pool and fitness center with possible restaurants and coffee shops on the bottom floor.
“The retail will be a really amazing space because it will have outdoor seating,” said Stein. “It will have access to Waller Beach which is a city park and obviously the hike and bike trail is just steps away from the front door.”
Stein said they hope to appeal to young professionals, people that are downsizing, or empty-nesters.
Just a short walk away, another high rise in the works between Davis Lane and Driskill Street. We received photos of the 30-story mixed use building called the Red River Tower. These developments are giving nearby businesses lots to look forward to.
“Hopefully it means that we're busier than ever,” said Kennedy.
Stein said the current buildings that exist on 42 East Avenue and 44 East Avenue will have to be torn down to make room for the new condo tower. The 51-story building is expected to be under construction in spring of 2020 and be completed by fall of 2022.