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Plans are underway to revamp a 6-acre site at the intersection of South Congress Avenue and West Riverside Drive into a walkable, environmentally friendly district, with New York-based developer Related Cos. leading the initiative.
The site is slated to have:
The details
Early plans for the site include several “ambitious” environmentally friendly features, said Mike Iannacone, executive vice president of Related Cos.
Once finished, the development will feature an elevated boardwalk and trails connecting South First Street and South Congress Avenue; a pedestrian bridge providing access to the Texas School for the Deaf; a habitat for bees and other local pollinators; and a vertical green wall to reduce the urban heat island effect.
The development will also feature entirely below-ground parking—excluding street parking—and charging stations for electric vehicles.
What else?
Related Cos. has two other local projects in the works: a 15-story office building on the downtown waterfront to be completed in 2025 and a luxury office building at 901 South Congress that will open by the end of this year.
What’s next
Related Cos. is set to submit its Planned Unit Development application—a tool that allows developers more flexibility outside typical zoning standards—which could pave the way for final approval of the plans by 2026. Construction is projected to take three to four years following approval, Iannacone said.
