Transwestern Development Co. has acquired a 0.56-acre site and a 1.6-acre site in Austin, Texas with the intention to build two micro-unit communities. The communities will be the second and third micro-unit developments for the company in Downtown Austin.
The 1.6-acre site, located between East Third and East Fourth Streets on Waller Creek, is dubbed Block 36 and will include 263 units and a 3,000-sf restaurant space on the ground floor.
Block 36 will comprise primarily studio units with 14% of the community slated for two-bedroom units. Apartments will average 443 sf and include Murphy and platform beds, hideaway kitchen modules, convertible coffee/dining/bar tables, modular furniture, 10-foot ceiling heights, and stainless steel, Energy Star-certified appliances.
See Also: U.S. multifamily market stays strong into 4th quarter 2019
The community will feature amenities such as a resort-style pool, bike storage, a fitness center, a clubroom and business lounge, and an elevated courtyard with fire pits, grills, and outdoor seating.
Block 36 broke ground in January of 2019 with delivery in the first half of 2020. Wilder Belshaw is the project’s architect.
Block 36. Rendering: Wilder Belshaw Architects / Transwestern.
Transwestern’s third micro-unit development in Austin will rise at the 0.56-acre site acquired by the company in late 2019. Located at 817 W. 12th St., the development will include 147 units and 3,600 sf of retail space on the ground floor.
The West 12th Street project will consist of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units that average 444 sf. Like Block 36, this development’s units will feature Murphy and platform beds, hideaway kitchen modules, and convertible coffee/dining/bar tables. The community will have a resident clubhouse, pool, bike storage, laundry facilities, courtyard, and fitness center.
The project is slated to break ground in the second half of 2020 with delivery in 2022. Both projects will fill a gap in Austin’s rental market for those who wish to live in the city for under $1,500 a month. They will join the Indie, Transwestern’s first micro-unit development in Austin, in offering better value for Austin renters seeking a premium product in a compact space.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Mar 31, 2023
EV charging stations in multifamily housing
Ryan Gram, PE, EV Charging Practice Leader at engineering firm Kimley-Horn, provides expert advice about the "business side" of installing EV charging stations in apartment and mixed-use communities. Gram speaks with BD+C Executive Editor Robert Cassidy.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023
Washington state House passes bill banning single-family zoning
The Washington state House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would legalize duplexes or fourplexes in almost every neighborhood of every city in the state.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023
Momentum building for green retrofits in New York City co-ops, condos
Many New York City co-op and condo boards had been resistant to the idea of approving green retrofits and energy-efficiency upgrades, but that reluctance might be in retreat.
Legislation | Mar 24, 2023
New York lawmakers set sights on unsafe lithium-ion batteries used in electric bikes and scooters
Lawmakers in New York City and statewide have moved to quell the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries used in electric bikes and scooters.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023
Multifamily developers offering new car-free projects in car-centric cities
Cities in the South and Southwest have eased zoning rules with parking space mandates in recent years to allow developers to build new housing with less parking.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023
Coastal multifamily developers, owners expect huge jump in insurance costs
In Texas and Florida, where Hurricane Ian caused $50 billion in damage last year, insurance costs are nearly 50% higher than in 2022.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023
Average size of new apartments dropped sharply in 2022
The average size of new apartments in 2022 dropped sharply in 2022, as tracked by RentCafe. Across the U.S., the average new apartment size was 887 sf, down 30 sf from 2021, which was the largest year-over-year decrease.
Geothermal Technology | Mar 22, 2023
Lendlease secures grants for New York’s largest geothermal residential building
Lendlease and joint venture partner Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, have acquired $4 million in support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to build a geoexchange system at 1 Java Street in Brooklyn. Once completed, the all-electric property will be the largest residential project in New York State to use a geothermal heat exchange system.
Urban Planning | Mar 16, 2023
Three interconnected solutions for 'saving' urban centers
Gensler Co-CEO Andy Cohen explores how the global pandemic affected city life, and gives three solutions for revitalizing these urban centers.
Building Tech | Mar 14, 2023
Reaping the benefits of offsite construction, with ICC's Ryan Colker
Ryan Colker, VP of Innovation at the International Code Council, discusses how municipal regulations and inspections are keeping up with the expansion of off-site manufacturing for commercial construction. Colker speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield.
