A multifamily project that focuses on housing for people rather than cars is a (walkable) step closer to taking shape in central Austin. On Friday, developers filed a site plan for Shoal Cycle, a proposed multifamily project in northwest Downtown.
Weaver Buildings, which is developing the project, aims to take full advantage of its central Austin location at 812 West 11th Street. Shoal Cycle’s proximity to businesses and institutions in the leafy neighborhood between the state Capitol and North Lamar Boulevard—including an Austin Community College campus, retail and restaurants, and a number lawyers' offices operating in repurposed turn-of-the-century houses—means it can be designed for residents who want to take advantage of mobility options (walking, biking, public transit) rather than being dependent on personal vehicles.
Plans for Shoal Cycle include underground parking with 53 spaces, fewer than would be required for a similar building in other parts of the city. Combined with a zoning change that allows height up to 90 feet, approved by the City Council in August, the design will allow for increased residential space. The 88,095-square-foot development will replace a two-story office building on the 0.4-acre site. Shoal Cycle will have seven floors of three-bedroom apartments, with room for 201 residents.
Shoal Cycle’s ground floor will offer approximately 3,000 square feet of retail that will be available to the public (a press release touts such possibilities as “a juice bar, bike repair, a taco stand, and an apothecary”). In addition to the subgrade car parking and ground-floor businesses, the development will include 70 parking spaces for bicycles as well as sidewalk bike racks. Residents will be able to access the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike and 10 miles of car-free commuting across the street from the complex, which is also close to several current Capital Metro bus stops and future rail routes. Shoal Cycle’s relative density and proximity to an array of transportation options aligns it with a number of city planning initiatives, including Imagine Austin, the Strategic Housing Blueprint, the Austin Strategic Mobility Blueprint, and, of course, Project Connect.
Weaver Buildings is partnering with Texas-based companies Studio8 architects, Pape-Dawson Engineers, Aptus Engineering, Lott Brothers Construction Company, and Coleman and Associates landscape architects on the project.
Groundbreaking for Shoal Cycle is anticipated for January 2023.
