This rendering shows the former Seaholm power plant once it is fully redeveloped.[/caption]
The Seaholm redevelopment project is nearly complete, allowing major commercial tenants to begin occupying the former power plant.
Athenahealth, which agreed in January 2014 to expand its operations to Austin after receiving roughly $649,000 in economic incentives from the city, on Feb. 2 will begin moving into the Seaholm facility. The medical research and operations company is expected to hire more than 600 employees for the new downtown office space, said John Rosato, managing partner of development group Seaholm Power LLC.
Underarmour, a sports performance company based on the East Coast, will leverage its 2014 buyout of Austin-based MapMyFitness to launch a new social media operation from Seaholm. Underarmour plans to move into the space in February with an anticipated 70 employees, Rosato said.
By March the inside of the new Trader Joe's at Seaholm should be complete, said Rosato, who expects the grocery store to open shortly after. Developers are also working to secure a coffee shop tenant to accompany the new overlook, a public viewing area opening in the coming months.
Also, May is the target opening of Boiler Nine Bar + Grill, a four-story, 11,000-square-foot restaurant run by the same group that operates Congress and Second Bar + Kitchen.
Other tenants include eyewear boutique Optique, which is expected to soon relocate from the 360 Residential Condominiums, and a hair salon called Ruiz, which is scheduled to open in April or May, Rosato said.
Construction on the Seaholm tower will continue through September, Rosato said, while other unrelated construction projects surrounding the redevelopment could take three more years.
"It's going to be nice once that area of town is turned around," he said. "I think people will be surprised by what they see."