Another Mixed-use Tower Wanted for Austin’s South Congress

A mixed-use skyscraper could become the tallest building in Austin south of Cesar Chavez Street. It’s the site where New York-based Tishman-Speyer previously made plans, although its potential developers weren’t identified in the zoning change application making its way to city council next week.

Law firm Drenner Group submitted the request to allow a tower rising 480 feet at 311-315 South Congress Avenue, adjacent to the former Austin American-Statesman headquarters, on behalf of the land owners, Wesley and Jerry Pearson.

They are requesting 488 residential units, 30,000 square feet of office space and 7,500 square feet of retail and “ground floor pedestrian-oriented uses,” the Austin Business Journal reported. The tower would rise almost 50 stories, significantly taller than Tishman-Speyer’s previous request for a 330-foot office building on the site, which spans less than an acre. It currently houses a Firestone Complete Auto Care and small office building.

Tishman Speyer declined to comment.

This ambiguity does not diminish the significance of the rezoning proposal, which signals a broader shift in the South Congress corridor toward high-density living and commercial activity.

Endeavor Real Estate’s plan to redevelop the former Statesman building on Lady Bird Lake into six mixed-use towers — the tallest being about 47 stories — has drawn lawsuits.

Known as the 301 South Congress project, it’s to include 1,500 residential units, 1.5 million square feet of office space, a hotel and expansive retail offerings.

However, it’s facing challenges, as Save Our Springs Alliance sued the city of Austin, contending it failed to meet legal requirements in approving a planned unit development for the project. The group won a previous lawsuit, which blocked the use of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone financing to pay up to $354 million for infrastructure needed for the 118-acre development.

Nevertheless, the area around South Congress and Riverside Drive is abuzz with redevelopment activity. Another multi-tower project, spearheaded by Stephen Ross’ New York-based firm Related Company, aims to bring 800 residential units, a hotel and significant commercial space to the 500 block of South Congress.

— Andrew Terrell