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Paul D'Arcy

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Austin's Low Population Density

01-11-08
Paul D'Arcy
Population density, the number of people per square mile, is an indicator of suburban sprawl. A large city with a low population density will be spread across a broader geographic area than an equally sized city with a higher level of density. The lower the density, the more land it takes to fit all of a city's residents. The more land, the longer people must drive for work or to get groceries, the more lawn there is too water, the more the natural environment is reclaimed for malls and yards and roads.

There are many benefits to having a higher density city. The environmental impact is minimized, public transportation is easier, sprawl is reduced. Today, Austin is not a high density city: even the central downtown area is relatively low density compared to the core of other major cities. Of the top 25 cities, Austin is the 20th most dense city. In Texas, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio all have higher levels of density than Austin. If you you think Houston is sprawling, than you probably won't like Austin in a few decades if current growth rates persist. El Paso is the only large Texas city with a lower level of density than Austin.

While many people question whether downtown development is good or bad, there is no better way to improve population density. A dense urban core is vibrant, ecologically-friendly, and traffic-friendly. It is the best antidote to sprawl. Downtown development won't stop sprawl in Austin: the number of building permits for single family homes in Austin is nearly the highest per capita of any city in the country, it is the first step in the right direction. It provide people who want to bike to work or walk to dinner with an alternative that hasn't previously existed in Austin.

Here is the raw data from Demographia. The data is from 2000 and just looks at the city of Austin --- it excludes many of the suburbs with the lowest population density.


Rank
Pop / SQ Mile
City

1

26,401

New York city

2

16,633

San Francisco city

3

12,749

Chicago city

4

12,165

Boston city

5

11,233

Philadelphia city

6

9,316

Washington city

7

8,058

Baltimore city

8

7,876

Los Angeles city

9

6,855

Detroit city

10

6,717

Seattle city

11

6,214

Milwaukee city

12

5,118

San Jose city

13

3,772

San Diego city

14

3,617

Denver city

15

3,470

Dallas city

16

3,383

Columbus city OH

17

3,372

Houston city

18

2,808

San Antonio city

19

2,782

Phoenix city

20

2,610

Austin city

21

2,327

Memphis city

22

2,263

El Paso city

23

2,163

Indianapolis city

24

1,152

Nashville-Davidson

25

971

Jacksonville city FL

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***Visit http://www.austintowers.net for a complete guide to all downtown condo projects, real-time downtown Austin condo listings, and the complete AustinTowers Blog****

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BartonPlace Sells 61 units, Lines Up Financing

01-11-08
Paul D'Arcy
There has been lots of mixed news on the national and local real estate front over the last few months -- so it is a relief to see good news from BartonPlace Condominiums.

According to the developers, the project has taken $30 million in deposits on 61 of their 270 units. With strong pre-sales, the project has been able to secure financing for the project from IBC Bank in Austin -- clearing the biggest hurdle to a new project and setting them up to begin construction in the first quarter of 2008. The project is being developed behind Austin Java on Barton Springs road.

BartonPlace Barton Place Condos in Austin

Here is the summary from the Statesman:

The BartonPlace announcement comes amid a dramatically changed lending and credit environment nationwide, with experts predicting that some Austin condo developers who don't already have financing might find it much tougher to get, meaning some projects might not get built.But the credit crunch hasn't hurt the BartonPlace project. It is expected to break ground in March at 1600 Barton Springs Road, replacing the Shady Grove RV Park.Unit prices will range from $259,000 to about $700,000.Warshaw said BartonPlace sales are the strongest he and Constructive Venture principal Perry Lorenz have seen in any of their projects, which include four in East Austin. Austin Java co-owner Rick Engel also is a partner in BartonPlace, which will incorporate the Austin Java restaurant at the front of the 4.3 acre site.

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***Visit http://www.austintowers.net for a complete guide to all downtown condo projects, real-time downtown Austin condo listings, and the complete AustinTowers Blog****
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Austonian Condo Fees Set a New Record!

01-11-08
Paul D'Arcy
The Austonian is going to be nice. At 56-stories, it will be the tallest building in Austin. In fact, it would be the tallest residential building in San Francisco. It has a beautiful pool and a dog park with a special doggie toilet.

These luxury features, however, are not free. Units in the Austonian start at $500K and top out at more than $7 million -- more than the selling price of almost any apartment or single family home in the history of Austin. On top of this, residents will pay the highest condo fees of any project in the city -- an amazing $0.64 per square foot per month which equates to almost $1,300 per month for a 2,000 square foot unit.

Condo fees fund the daily operations and maintenance of most condo buildings. They cover security, landscaping, cleaning of common area, common area energy use, maintenance, and other key building functions. Prior to the introduction of the W and Four Seasons Residences, the highest condo fees in Austin were $0.40 per square foot and the average was a low $0.34. At $0.64, the fees at the Austonian are the highest in the city. According the sources, the $0.64 fee is actually a reduction from the $0.67 per square foot which was originally offered to buyers.

Here is our updated list of condo fees by project:

Fee by Building - - - - - $ / SF / Month
Avenue Lofts.................$0.28
Milago.......................$0.31
The Sabine...................$0.33
360..........................$0.33
Plaza Lofts..................$0.33
The Shore....................$0.36
Five Fifty Five Condos.......$0.40
W Hotel & Residences.........$0.61
Four Seasons Residences......$0.61
Austonian.... . . . . . . . .$0.64
Average......................$0.42

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***Visit http://www.austintowers.net for a complete guide to all downtown condo projects, real-time downtown Austin condo listings, and the complete AustinTowers Blog****

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