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 Pittsburgh 2030 District, an alliance of property owners in the Pittsburgh area, says that it has reduced carbon emissions by 44.8% below baseline. Begun in 2012 under the guidance of the Green Building Alliance (GBA), the Pittsburgh 2030 District encompasses more than 86 million sf of space within 556 buildings.

Industry Research | Jun 15, 2023

Exurbs and emerging suburbs having fastest population growth, says Cushman & Wakefield

Recently released county and metro-level population growth data by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the fastest growing areas are found in exurbs and emerging suburbs.

Engineers | Jun 14, 2023

The high cost of low maintenance

Walter P Moore’s Javier Balma, PhD, PE, SE, and Webb Wright, PE, identify the primary causes of engineering failures, define proactive versus reactive maintenance, recognize the reasons for deferred maintenance, and identify the financial and safety risks related to deferred maintenance.

Mixed-Use | Jun 12, 2023

Goettsch Partners completes its largest China project to date: a mixed-used, five-tower complex

Chicago-based global architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) recently announced the completion of its largest project in China to date: the China Resources Qianhai Center, a mixed-use complex in the Qianhai district of Shenzhen. Developed by CR Land, the project includes five towers totaling almost 472,000 square meters (4.6 million sf).

Mixed-Use | Jun 6, 2023

Public-private partnerships crucial to central business district revitalization

Central Business Districts are under pressure to keep themselves relevant as they face competition from new, vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods emerging across the world’s largest cities.

Multifamily Housing | Jun 6, 2023

Minnesota expected to adopt building code that would cut energy use by 80%

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to soon sign a bill that would change the state’s commercial building code so that new structures would use 80% less energy when compared to a 2004 baseline standard. The legislation aims for full implementation of the new code by 2036.

Student Housing | Jun 5, 2023

The power of student engagement: How on-campus student housing can increase enrollment

Studies have confirmed that students are more likely to graduate when they live on campus, particularly when the on-campus experience encourages student learning and engagement, writes Design Collaborative's Nathan Woods, AIA.

Image by Rebecca Moninghoff from Pixabay

Multifamily Housing | Jun 1, 2023

Income-based electric bills spark debate on whether they would harm or hurt EV and heat pump adoption

Starting in 2024, the electric bills of most Californians could be based not only on how much power they use, but also on how much money they make. Those who have higher incomes would pay more; those with lower incomes would see their electric bills decline - a concept known as income-based electric bills.

Multifamily Housing | May 30, 2023

Boston’s new stretch code requires new multifamily structures to meet Passive House building requirements

Phius certifications are expected to become more common as states and cities boost green building standards. The City of Boston recently adopted Massachusetts’s so-called opt-in building code, a set of sustainability standards that goes beyond the standard state code.