**Austin City Council Considers Approval for High-Rise Development in South Central Austin**
If the Austin City Council grants final approval later this month, an aging waterfront office building in South Central Austin may soon be replaced by two 500-foot-tall high-rises. The proposed project, led by developer Hunt Companies, would transform the site at 200 E. Riverside Drive. However, if the council rejects the plan, the developer will still have the option to build apartments up to 96 feet high.
The proposed development would feature nearly 1.4 million square feet of office, apartment, and condominium space, along with approximately 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Additionally, public amenities would enhance the area near the south shore of Lady Bird Lake.
Rather than incorporating income-restricted units within the high-rises, Hunt Companies has proposed contributing to the city’s housing fund, which would support affordable housing in other locations. City officials have indicated support for this payment approach as the zoning case continues toward a final vote.
The site would also include the future Waterfront Station, currently under consideration as an elevated stop leading to a new bridge across Lady Bird Lake.
