Feature Photo: (above): The breezeway entrance to the existing cluster of buildings that were sold to Schlosser Development by Austin ISD. Image: Google Streets.
Posted 3-25-2019
by Adolfo Pesquera
Austin (Travis County) — Schlosser Development anticipates reaching the construction phase on a redevelopment project of the former headquarters of the Austin Independent School District.
The school district agreed to sell the Carruth Administration Center, 1100 block of West 6th Street, in 2017 as part of a mass sell-off of school district properties. Since then, Schlosser Development has been working on plans to convert the site into a mixed-use office/retail complex.
The Austin-based developer’s plans involve demolition of a cluster of six buildings on the north site of the site. Some of the buildings were used as offices, but they also include 13 residential units. The total area of the existing square footage is 108,000 square feet.
In reports filed earlier this month with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, Schlosser described the project in two parts. Building A is a 181,016-square-foot, four-story shell that will include a two-level underground parking garage. It has an estimated cost of almost $27.3 million.
Building B is an addition and renovation project of an existing building. The scope of work has an area of 9,761 square feet. The four story office building on the south side of the property–facing West 5th Street–is not mentioned as part of the project. The Building B project has an estimated cost of more than $10 million.
Nelsen Partners, the architect, estimated both projects will begin construction by August 1 and reach completion by February 2021.
The Schlosser Development project at 1111 W. 6th Street. Image: Google Maps.
The property Schlosser purchased from Austin ISD has an area of 2.75 acres. Schlosser’s project application has not cleared review with the city’s Development Services Department; the status is “awaiting update.”
A number of concerns have been raised. For one, the proposed impervious coverage exceeded the maximum in a site plan submitted Jan. 25.
The ratio of square footage dedicated to office space versus retail has been fluctuating as the design progresses. An October 2018 filing had the apportionment at 150,000 square feet for office space and 23,500 square feet for “shopping center.”
Having street level retail makes business sense on this block. The site is surrounded by retail shops and restaurants and the location is a few blocks west of the central business district. Schlosser was the developer in 2005 of the Whole Foods Landmark store two blocks east at West 6th and Lamar Boulevard.
Across West 6th Street from the project site exists a well established row of retail businesses. Image: Google Streets.
LJA Engineering Inc. has been working with Schlosser on obtaining the building permit.
adolfo@virtualbx.com
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