Black + Vernooy worked with the developer to generate a program of dense residential space above substantial retail space at street level. The design solution recognizes the potential of Austin’s warehouse district and creates a vibrant place to live, work, and play.

The project site offers residents easy access to downtown businesses, a variety of dining and evening entertainment venues, the hike and bike trail, and other downtown theater and arts activities, all within walking distance.

The design parti creates a ground-level plinth for retail with two levels of parking below and six floors of residential above. Retail bays are 45 feet deep, with 18-foot ceilings, and serve a range retail tenant types. Placing the parking below grade was critical to creating substantial retail space. Above, the residential units have private balconies with trellises that animate the street edge and overlook sidewalks, integrating the project into the urban fabric and providing a 24-hour street presence.

The Downtown mixed-use residential development sets a new standard for residential/retail projects in downtown Austin. It creates a new prototype for very high-density urban housing that supports the quality of life urban dwellers seek.