Over 400 micro units spread across two communities under development in Austin

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.

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 from across Fourth Street 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.

The Real Estate Roundtable, a group including major real estate firms such as Brookfield Properties, Blackstone, Empire State Realty Trust, Starwood Capital, as well as multiple major banks and CRE professional organizations, recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden on the implications of remote work within the federal government.

Multifamily Housing | Jan 9, 2023

New York City advances plan to build 500,000 new housing units

After New York Mayor Eric Adams announced a “Moonshot” plan to build 500,000 new housing units over the next 10 years in early December, he moved quickly to jumpstart the process.

1930 Broadway in New York City, where Glenwood Management first installed CarbonQuest's system. Photo courtesy CarbonQuest

Sustainability | Jan 9, 2023

Innovative solutions emerge to address New York’s new greenhouse gas law

New York City’s Local Law 97, an ambitious climate plan that includes fines for owners of large buildings that don’t significantly reduce carbon emissions, has spawned innovations to address the law’s provisions.

Fire and Life Safety | Jan 9, 2023

Why lithium-ion batteries pose fire safety concerns for buildings

Lithium-ion batteries have become the dominant technology in phones, laptops, scooters, electric bikes, electric vehicles, and large-scale battery energy storage facilities. Here’s what you need to know about the fire safety concerns they pose for building owners and occupants.

Multifamily Housing | Dec 29, 2022

San Jose is largest U.S. city to abolish minimum parking for new housing

San Jose, Calif., recently became the largest U.S. city to strike down minimum parking requirements for new housing development. The city reversed zoning devised in the 1950s that reputedly gave it the worst sprawl of parking space in northern California.

Codes and Standards | Dec 29, 2022

New York City multifamily owners concerned over fires caused by e-bikes

In 2022, there have been nearly 200 fires and six deaths in New York City caused by lithium-ion batteries used in mobility devices such as electric bikes and scooters.