Austonian and Four Seasons Condos to Open

Published June 11, 2010 at 5:05 p.m.

Visualist Images / FlickrDowntown Austin will soon have a few hundred more residents. People will begin moving in to the 188 condos at the Austonian next week and the 148 condos at the Four Seasons later this month. The 165 condos at the W are expected to open later this year.

While not all the condos will be occupied, the influx of residents at these and other downtown condo projects could mark a turning point for downtown Austin, allowing the downtown population to surpass its previous peak from the 1930's. Plus, they will create a massive increase in property taxes, which have to be paid whether or not the condo is occupied. These funds should pay for bike and pedestrian improvements, maybe even urban rail, to accommodate the new residents, even if downtown property taxes continue to subsidize outlying areas.

As downtown Austin evolves into a self-sufficient neighborhood with a substantial residential population, local businesses will likely start to focus more on serving local residents. Areas like Second Street that are floundering as destination shopping areas could thrive by providing essential services to car-free locals.

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