Placemakr, a Washington, D.C.-based company that owns and operates apartment-style hotels, has expanded into Texas. The move includes rebranding two Austin apartment complexes in popular downtown tourism centers to "provide a blended experience of home and hospitality for short-term and extended-stay travelers" — not dissimilar to the concept behind Rainey Street's Natiivo — according to a company statement.
To that end, Placemakr recently purchased 3Waller, a new midrise multifamily building on I-35 near the Austin Convention Center, from Houston's Transwestern Development Company. The apartment complex at 710 East Third Street has 259 fully furnished studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom microunits averaging 467 square feet and amenities such as an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a guest lounge, coworking space, and a communal kitchen with dining and entertaining space.
CBRE's Austin office advised Placemakr on its acquisition; JLL represented Transwestern. The reinvented 3Waller is open for bookings as of today, May 8.
Placemakr also announced that Austin's Littlefield Lofts will be the first in its new hospitality line, which features buildings with fewer than 75 units and "offering a seamless tech experience and 24/7 virtual support." The lofts at 119 East Sixth Street are part of a bustling entertainment zone that includes the Driskill Hotel across the street. It's also now open for bookings.
