Waterfront Condo Project Hits First Bump

The site of a proposed condo project at Riverside and Lamar (Photo by Jana Birchum)

If their first public meeting is any indication, it looks like it's going to be a bumpy road for the "Taco PUD."

The proposed Planned Unit Development slated for 211 South Lamar – currently home to a Taco Cabana – was scheduled to go before the Waterfront Planning Advisory Board last week. But that discussion was delayed after three separate groups (and the board itself) asked for the case to be postponed. The Bridges on the Park Condominium Assoc­ia­tion, the Zilker Neighborhood Association, and Save Town Lake all asked for more time to consider the case, and more information about what exactly was being proposed. It was a position that the board seemed to grasp easily – more than one member of the advisory board mentioned that the only renderings that they had seen were in a newspaper. Board member Roy Mann seemed especially put out, saying the omission of a complete site plan, and lack of reference to the Waterfront Overlay Ordinance in the brief request to go ahead with the presentations was "in disregard of the need to present wholly, completely, and fairly." Steve Dren­ner, the Austin attorney who's representing the developers, explained that his full presentation contained the information and renderings the board was looking for, which they would see if the case was not postponed. Drenner further claimed that the project was in complete compliance with the Waterfront Overlay Ordinance.

When completed, the building would be home to ground floor retail, a public plaza, and up to 175 condominiums. Developers are seeking PUD zoning, which will allow them to build up to 96 feet in height, instead of the current limit of 60 feet. In return, they have promised community benefits that include extended sidewalk improvements, tree preservation, three-star green building compliance, rent-free space to the city's Parks and Recreation Department, space for a bike-share program, and money or space dedicated to the city's affordable housing program.

Despite these amenities, the project has already garnered enmity from the Zilker NA. There also seems to be little love lost between developers of the project and the neighbors directly to the south – the Bridges on the Park Condominiums. Though once considered the same project, the Bridges sued for control of its condominium association and has been in talks with developers for the past 14 months about the new proposal. Drenner told the board that he had every intention of continuing to negotiate with the association, but asked that he not be held to satisfying them, saying, "I'm not sure we can get there."

The board voted unanimously to postpone the case, with board members Tyler Zickert and Eric Schultz absent, and Vice Chair Robert Pilgrim recused. The board will reconsider the case at its next meeting and asked that more information be provided before that time. "It's a pretty prime location, and we need to be sure what is going to be built there," said Chair Brooke Bailey.