10-07-2013 07:48 PM

Hotel Zaza heads to planning commission, seeks waiver


The 24-story Hotel Zaza project is set to go up at 401 Guadalupe St., immediately adjacent to the Plaza Lofts, at 311 W. Fifth St.




Hotel Zaza developer Gables Residential and project engineers Axiom Engineers Inc. are headed back to Austin's planning commission to ask for a curb cut waiver.
The Hotel Zaza, a 26-story building with 160 hotel rooms, restaurant and 226 apartments, has had a heated history at city hall. The developer had previously faced an extended fight with residents at the neighboring Plaza Lofts. Since then, the project has quietly moved forward and is reportedly expected to turn dirt in 2013, with completion expected in 2015.
The request for a waiver seems to be a good indicator that the project is continuing to move forward. The planning commission will decide whether to grant Gables Residential permission for the curb cut on Oct. 8.
City code prohibits curb cuts on streets adjacent to downtown parks. The Hotel Zaza is adjacent to Republic Square park. In exchange for the the waiver, Gables has pledged to screen the parking garage opening and recess it into the building, set it back from the sidewalk and install a metal, high-speed garage overhead door at the garage entrance.
Staff did not offer a recommendation on the waiver, documents show. Staff agreed that the project would not compromise safety, impair traffic or detract from the area's appeal, but wrote that "it is unclear if compliance with the prohibition of curb cuts is impractical."
Government, courts and economic development


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