AUSTIN, TEXAS — Transwestern Development Co. and its partners have broken ground on a 445,952-square-foot mixed-use project at 1621 and 1645 E. 6th St. in Austin. The two-building project will occupy a 4.2-acre site at the intersection of East 6th Street and Comal Avenue.
The development’s first building is a 94,500-square-foot office facility, which is scheduled for completion in January 2016. The second building, called The Arnold, is slated for delivery in July 2016 and consists of 346 apartment units with 9,600 square feet of specialty retail. The cost of development was not disclosed.
Amegy Bank of Texas and Comerica Inc. provided construction financing for the project. Kirksey Architecture designed the office portion, and Wilder Belshaw Architects designed The Arnold. The general contractors are Harvey Cleary for the office portion and Andres Construction for the mixed-use building. KimballBruehlGarciaEstes is the civil engineer for both buildings.
“We are very pleased to get started on this exciting development,” says Josh Delk, associate vice president of Houston-based Transwestern Development. Delk is leading the project team. “This location is in the center of one of Austin’s most culturally rich and defining neighborhoods, and we are thrilled to be bringing a project of this caliber to the area. The Arnold and accompanying office building will add to the creative energy with its mix of office, multiple housing options and prominent local retail and restaurant offerings.”
The Arnold residential community will feature a large, resort-style pool; activity courtyard; roof deck with views of downtown Austin; business meeting areas; upscale fitness center with yoga studio and classes by FX Fitness; and private storage units.
Each unit in The Arnold will feature quartz countertops, custom wood cabinets, a gourmet prep island, stainless steel appliances, full-sized washer and dryer connections, bike storage and private balconies.
The site for the mixed-use project provides easy access to downtown Austin, the University of Texas and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Additionally, the Austin MetroRail’s Plaza Saltillo station sits immediately adjacent to the development site at the northwest corner of 5th Street and Comal Avenue.
As of year-end 2014, Transwestern Development Co. had 15 active projects totaling 6.4 million square feet. Developments currently underway include two office towers in Houston and Washington, D.C.; mixed-use developments in Bethesda, Md., Dallas and Austin; and two industrial facilities in Houston.
— John Nelson