Anyone interested in downtown SA living?

[urbansa]

Originally Posted by infinity & beyond

There desperately needs to be greater development in downtown SA. I've already seen a number of very modern lofts being built and I hope this trend continues. With the riverwalk, Alamo, and other attractions I can really see downtown SA being like downtown Austin in a number of ways.

Downtown has pretty much been blown out by tourism. The only residential that can take place in the CBD core, given land values, are $500/SF ultra-condos (Altezza and Piazza San Lorenzo). The local scene and local style residential (i.e., affordable by people employed in SA) is happening now in King William/Lavaca/Southtown/Flores St.. Lower Broadway is coming but there'll be another 1,000 units south of Durango before things get rolling in River North, and it has a 100yr core of a neighborhood serving as an anchor community. East SA is one of the coolest, but if they're not carefull the Red Roofs and Holiday inn Expresses of the world will price out the mixed-use and low rise residential, though still plenty of great houses for renovation.

[Chakapu]

Originally Posted by urbansa

Best bets are King William and Lavaca, and depending on price level, the Roosevelt neighborhood and Cevallos Street area are all coming on. Cevallos area has the Flores St area lofts bringing in more people and a 450 unit Class A apt project planned. King William is roughly $100 to $300/SF (location and state of renovation), Lavaca probably $80 to $150/SF (same deal), .

Lately, $150/SF _unrenovated_ seems to be the starting rate in Lavaca, with asking price even higher. My old place was listed at ~$250/SF and though it was in livable condition and had a new roof and re-finished floors, required major foundation work, new bathroom, new kitchen, modern wiring and had no HVAC. Decent sized lot, but nothing special - easily another $50K to upgrade, at least.

[faberoptic]

I'm currently paying $600/mo for 750sqft at 10 & Callaghan, and driving way too far to work, five days a week. I 'need' maybe half this much space and shop for groceries about twice a month, so the conveniences provided by the middle loop are unimportant to me.

Back in the early nineties when I moved here, I recall seeing vacant office space over the McDonald's downtown (remember Taco Cabana across from Rivercenter?) at Commerce and Alamo, and thinking it would be awesome to live there. Who knew white flight (or affluent flight, at least) would make a u-turn and reclaim downtown a decade later?

Anyway, I know it's hopeless to find rentals befitting an hourly worker anywhere near the CBD, so my question is - what kind of prices can one expect in Southtown or similar areas? I don't need a slum that's half Section 8/half MS 13, but if there exists a place near downtown that is inviting to the average SA service industry slave, I'd be eager to learn about it.

Concepts I've seen of Pearl and Blue Star-area developments look great, but prohibitive in cost. And then there's that low-rise residential construction that sat idle for years near 281/35 after the contractor split.

[Chakapu]

Originally Posted by faberoptic

I'm currently paying $600/mo for 750sqft at 10 & Callaghan, and driving way too far to work, five days a week. I 'need' maybe half this much space and shop for groceries about twice a month, so the conveniences provided by the middle loop are unimportant to me.

Back in the early nineties when I moved here, I recall seeing vacant office space over the McDonald's downtown (remember Taco Cabana across from Rivercenter?) at Commerce and Alamo, and thinking it would be awesome to live there. Who knew white flight (or affluent flight, at least) would make a u-turn and reclaim downtown a decade later?

Anyway, I know it's hopeless to find rentals befitting an hourly worker anywhere near the CBD, so my question is - what kind of prices can one expect in Southtown or similar areas? I don't need a slum that's half Section 8/half MS 13, but if there exists a place near downtown that is inviting to the average SA service industry slave, I'd be eager to learn about it.

Concepts I've seen of Pearl and Blue Star-area developments look great, but prohibitive in cost. And then there's that low-rise residential construction that sat idle for years near 281/35 after the contractor split.

It'd be tough. The rents in Southtown have increased with the property values. I used to rent a 1000SF 2bd/1ba house for $650 in Lavaca. When I moved out in 2005, they upped it to $800 and have since sold that house for >$250K. A number of other lower-end rentals have been sold off for flipping. I _think_ you might still be able to find a 1bd/1ba apt in the general area for less, but it's likely to not be very nice.... come down and take a look around.

[oldmanshirt]

I posted these pics in another thread, but as this one is about downtown living, I thought it might be nice to have a look at how some of the residential projects are coming along:

The roof of the Hyatt is topped out, and it appears all the structure for the penthouse is completed as well


On the far right is the crane constructing the Viadorra, which is currently on floor number 6


Viadorra in the foreground with the Hyatt and Marriotts in the background


The Tower of Americas overlooking its two new neighbors


The Viadorra, looking from the West. If I'm looking at the conceptual art correctly, this will be the front entrance


The Vistana, on the West side of downtown close to Christus Santa Rosa

[FastFerrari]

the pics are great...post more...not in town till Dec...help plz

[urbansa]

Originally Posted by faberoptic

I'm currently paying $600/mo for 750sqft at 10 & Callaghan, and driving way too far to work, five days a week. I 'need' maybe half this much space and shop for groceries about twice a month, so the conveniences provided by the middle loop are unimportant to me.

Back in the early nineties when I moved here, I recall seeing vacant office space over the McDonald's downtown (remember Taco Cabana across from Rivercenter?) at Commerce and Alamo, and thinking it would be awesome to live there. Who knew white flight (or affluent flight, at least) would make a u-turn and reclaim downtown a decade later?

Anyway, I know it's hopeless to find rentals befitting an hourly worker anywhere near the CBD, so my question is - what kind of prices can one expect in Southtown or similar areas? I don't need a slum that's half Section 8/half MS 13, but if there exists a place near downtown that is inviting to the average SA service industry slave, I'd be eager to learn about it.

Concepts I've seen of Pearl and Blue Star-area developments look great, but prohibitive in cost. And then there's that low-rise residential construction that sat idle for years near 281/35 after the contractor split.

Just had someone looking around and it looks like bottom end of the apartment would be maybe $550/month for a small studio or 1 bedroom. You might check with King William Realty 225-0009, they know all the decent rentals for KW & Lavaca.