Old power, new spark: Austin’s Seaholm project nears completion

​​​​​​AUSTIN - A downtown Austin project on the grounds of the decommissioned Seaholm Power Plant is beginning to come alive with retail and office locations operating and a residential tower starting to populate. 

The 7.8-acre Seaholm development is bounded by Cesar Chavez St., West Ave., Third St. and Walter Seaholm Dr.

The broader Seaholm district encompasses an area roughly bounded by Lady Bird Lake, Fifth St., Lamar Blvd. and San Antonio St. 

As of early May 2016, 100 condos in the high-rise tower were occupied; 180 units remained vacant at that time. Of the entire 209,000 sf developed, about 15,000 sf are in play, said John Rosato, managing partner with developer Seaholm Power LLC.

Greg Kiloh, redevelopment project manager with the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department, said including private investment, he estimates the total amount of money poured into the district at $2 billion.

The city invested more than $100 million in infrastructure improvements in the Seaholm district. Construction on a bridge over Shoal Creek connecting Second St. to the Seaholm district is expected to be completed in September.​​ An additional $120 million went toward funding the New Central Library, the Austin Public Library’s soon-to-be-completed “library for the future,” staff said. 

​See Austin-Round Rock Multifamily​, Retail and Office Market Research.​