Austin Real Estate Scene

This was from an email I recieved yesterday about the Mueller Redevelopment that is has been underway. The first homes are due out in 2008. Read the full report below…… 

We’re getting closer to the day when Austinites like you can call Mueller home! The initial team of homebuilders at Mueller will be announced before the end of the year. The 300-plus new homes at Mueller — the first wave of the nearly 2,500 single-family homes destined for Mueller — will be sold at a range of price points starting at approximately $120,000 for affordable homes to $500,000 for larger-lot homes near Lake Park. Construction of the first phase of both row houses and yard houses will likely begin in the summer of 2007 with the first residents living at Mueller by early 2008. Make sure you stay in touch with Mueller via our Web site at www.MuellerAustin.com to learn more about our housing options and sales programs.

Of Mueller’s diverse housing types, yard houses will form the fabric of the neighborhoods. The award-winning Mueller master plan includes a wide variety of floor plans, elevations, materials and colors, making for lively neighborhoods and streetscapes with Austin character. Common design features will include front porches, sloping and gabled roofs, and detached and semi-detached garages accessible to mid-block alleyways. We’ll be able to share specific floor plans once marketing of homesites begins in 2007. Look for features of other Mueller housing types in future LiveWire editions.

Conceptual rendering of a yard house.

The Scoop on Regional Retail

Ever since the 1980s, the Mueller vision has called for a community that pays for itself while bringing much-needed investment and opportunity to Central and East Austin. Mueller’s new regional retail center, at the intersection of I-35 and 51st Street, creates that economic energy that helps support the community’s ambitious social goals and public benefits such as open space and affordable housing. The regional retail, which is expected to begin serving shoppers by mid-2007, will feature national brands making their debut in Central Austin as well as locally owned businesses. Mueller’s Small Business Diversity Program is actively recruiting small, local and minority- and women-owned businesses to be a part of regional retail and all other commercial phases at Mueller, including the Town Center.

Each building will exceed Austin’s green building requirements and feature high-end architectural standards on all sides, including Texas limestone, glass and brick. Mueller will also put loading docks and dumpsters out of site, display a prominent public art project along I-35, offer extensive ingress/egress access to the site and provide pedestrian-friendly parking spaces that feature one tree for every four parking spaces. These higher standards will set Mueller retail apart from other typical projects throughout Austin.

Transportation in and around Mueller

The Transportation Sub-Committee of the Mueller Neighborhoods Coalition held its quarterly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19 and addressed several projects and issues. Most prominent was the topic of proposed streetcar alignment. Capital Metro is studying the proposed streetcar alignment and gathering public input, which the Capital Metro Board of Directors will consider once the study is complete. The current proposed route brings the streetcar line into Mueller from Manor Road, to Berkman and over to Mueller Blvd. Some neighborhood representatives also expressed support for a 51st Street connection over I-35.

Also addressed in the meeting was the finalization of the “Longhorn” design on Scheiffer Ave. A Longhorn is a street configuration that mitigates congestion, allowing traffic to flow more smoothly. Catellus also reminded committee members that all contractors are required to agree to travel specific routes in and out of Mueller to prevent trucks from going through neighborhoods. For updates, including information on transportation related topics, neighbors can call the information hotline at 512.473.9963 or visit www.MuellerAustin.com/latest.

Mueller Central Coming Into Focus

Fifty years ago, the hub of Austin’s airport was a modest two-story building off Airport Boulevard. Soon, that historic locale will be the hub of the excitement surrounding the new Mueller community—the old airport administrative headquarters is being renovated into Mueller Central. The visitors center, adjacent to Mueller’s Lake Park, will be the place to go for the complete Mueller story: the history, the neighborhoods, the employment centers, the shopping and recreation options, the parks and amenities, and the exciting future.

Tall ceilings and expansive glass windows will provide views of Lake Park and the nearby Mueller Town Center; as the community evolves, Mueller Central will be a hot spot for community gatherings and events. Friendly, professional staff will be available to answer questions and direct those interested in Mueller to multiple sites within the 711-acre community. Look for information later this year about a grand opening celebration for Mueller Central and the entire community in 2007.

Artist rendering of Mueller Central.

Mueller Energy Center Dedicated

Austin Energy dedicated the new Mueller Energy Center on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The energy center will fully power the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, which is scheduled to open at Mueller in the spring of 2007, while also serving other buildings at Mueller. Energy efficient design features of the Energy Center include solar panels and a rainwater collection system.

An Update on Recent/Upcoming Events

On Sunday, Oct. 15, Catellus and the City hosted the latest in a series of Mueller Family Days. Despite the wet weather and the last-minute venue change, more than 300 people attended the event to learn more about Mueller. Mueller representatives were on hand to answer preliminary questions, especially about upcoming residential opportunities, which were addressed at the top of this e-newsletter. If you missed it, no worries, there are plenty of ways to get information about Mueller including visiting our Web site, www.MuellerAustin.com, writing us at ContactUs@MuellerAustin.com, calling the information hotline at 512.473.9963, and, of course, registering for our regular e-blasts and newsletters.

Next up, we will host Mueller 301. As with the past two meetings, Mueller 101 and 201, we are inviting the public to attend this open forum to give feedback and ask any questions about the redevelopment. Topics will include regional retail, local business outreach, transportation, affordable homes and the medical complex. (NOTE: this forum is an opportunity to address the multiple aspects of Mueller; because homebuilders have not yet been announced, there will be extremely limited discussion about Mueller residential opportunities.) Mark your calendars for Thursday, Nov. 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and get ready to talk Mueller. The meeting will be held at Region XIII Education Center located at 5701 Springdale Road in East Austin.

Mueller in the News

Recently we’ve made some big announcements at Mueller and you’ve probably seen some of the stories in the news. But, in case you haven’t caught them all, log on to www.MuellerAustin.com and click on the “News” tab to find the “Mueller in the News” document highlighting what the media has been saying about the project. This document will be updated regularly so check back to see all the latest of what people are talking about related to Mueller.