Say goodbye -- finally -- to the old KVET building ...

[intx]

... and hello to a parking garage atop some shops.

http://www.statesman.com/business/two-projects-in-works-on-lamar-near-whole-2303489.html

 

[willdav713]

Just what we need more parking spaces. Thanks Lee, Mike, Kathy, Sheryl, Laura, Chris for making Austin a green city -sarcasm.

 

[CTHank]

It's so nice to see Austin turned into San Francisco East, same high tech companies, same sounding radio stations, soon there will be nothing heard on the airways that says "Welcome To Austin Texas, Live Music Capital of the World" :'(

 

[mmnassour]

Well, you have to admit that the old KVET building wasn't exactly a architectural marvel. Yes, a lot of great memories came out of it when Austin actually HAD radio stations above 91.9 that gave a damn about the local community. But HEY! Those days are gone. And there are Californians with money in their pockets from the sale of their overpriced houses and they're lookin' ta BUY something. Can't let THAT kind of opportunity pass us by now, can we?

 

[MisterRadio]

Yes there are great memories associated with that building and yes a great era of Austin radio is symbolically being destroyed, etc. However, that building was so disgustingly dirty and mold-ridden that the whole thing should be wrapped in plastic and hauled away to a hazardous waste site. When CC moved out of there, Whole Foods was supposed to use the building for temporary office space while they moved into their new current headquarters. They took one look inside and said no way. The building is used for nothing but parking now anyways. May as well expand the capacity.

 

[JDawg512]

I don't see why people would be upset about it. Im glad that something will be built on that lot. Remember these are sidewalk front stores and fact is parking is needed for that part of Downtown. Until Austin gets more mass transit oriented, we will have to deal with cars. its better than an empty building and a surface parking lot which is UGLY.

 

[willdav713]

Until Austin gets more mass transit oriented, we will have to deal with cars.

That's because our Public Transit option (Capital Metro) is HORRIBLE! Until that agency is abolished and replaced with a better solution, more parking garages will be built.

I could go on FOREVER about this, but that is for another blog I am on. Or should I say blogs. But the cities Urban rail plan is even UGLIER! I leave that discussion for the folks at AM 590 KLBJ!

 

[Mediafrog+]

I was living in Austin when KVET moved into the studios on Lamar. Can't remember which year (mid-late 1960's.) The station had previously been in South Austin.

The Lamar location was a bland, utilitarian building even back then. Hardly some architectural gem. Its time is up, and any historical significance is vastly exaggerated.

 

[fredcantu]

I was living in Austin when KVET moved into the studios on Lamar. Can't remember which year (mid-late 1960's.) The station had previously been in South Austin.

You may be confusing it with KOKE which IIRC used to be on South Lamar near where Alamo Draft House is now. They moved up North Lamar near Seton.

KVET--I believe-- started downtown near the capitol and then moved to Lamar just north of 6th street.

 

[grantchester]

I remember making a tour of Austin stations, looking for work in the early '70s. I walked from 9th and Brazos (KLBJ) to 7th and Lamar (KVET/KASE) 12th and Lamar (KRMH) up Lamar to KNOW, over 19th to KHFI, then back to Lamar to KFMA and finally UP to KOKE. It was quite a hike on a summer day, made more difficult by the lack of sidewalks along the east side of Lamar. Stupid me, I was unaware of the Shoal Creek greenbelt!

 

[jd]

KVET--I believe-- started downtown near the capitol and then moved to Lamar just north of 6th street.

You're right. That would have been 113 W. 8th, just west of Congress.