Austin Developer Announces Plan To Build Micro-Unit Apartments In East Austin

EAST AUSTIN, TX -- Locally based real estate firm Transwestern Development Co. this week announced plant to develop Indie Apartments, an apartment complex comprising 139 micro-units, along Sixth Street.

Groundbreaking on the complex is scheduled in June of this year, with the first units expected to be completed by August 2017, officials said in a press release. The address for the "specialty micro-unit commuity is 1648 E. Sixth St.

To develop the property, Transwestern officials bought a 0.5-acre tract of land on which they'll build the community that will include a 2,500-square-foot restaurant space in East Sixth.

“Younger generations like millennials have personal incomes that aren’t growing as fast as rental rates in most areas, yet they want to live in the middle of restaurants, bars and entertainment areas,” said Josh Delk, vice president at Transwestern Development Co., in a prepared statement. “This project will answer that growing demand for more efficient, affordable living space that is located close to numerous amenities.”

The 55,814-square-foot property will consist primarily of 350-square-foot studio units and 520-square-foot, two-bedroom units, officials said. The fully furnished apartments will maximize space through built-in storage units and flexible furniture systems such as Murphy beds, hideaway kitchen modules and convertible tables, Transwestern officials added.

"Located less than one block from the Plaza Saltillo metro station, Indie Apartments is in a rapidly gentrifying area of Austin that has embraced the arts as well as the local food scene," officials wrote. "The project will feature a large communal area that will flow from the inside of the lobby into the outdoor courtyard, which will feature fire pits and outdoor televisions.

"The development and design team maximized space by including 108 below-grade parking spaces, as the residential population in the area embraces walking, biking, light rail and ride-sharing as alternatives to owning a vehicle and parking is in lesser demand than traditional multifamily projects."

The general contractor for the project is Martines Palmeiro Construction, and the architect is Wilder Belshaw Architects. Comerica provided the financing for the project.

Transwestern Development Co. is also developing a two-building, 445,952-square-foot project directly across the street from Indie Apartments that includes a 94,500-square-foot, Class A, creative office building and 350 multifamily units with 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, officials said.

The office building, located at 1645 E. Sixth St., is 100 percent leased and The Arnold apartments will begin leasing this month. The retail space will be occupied by restaurants Gatto Nero, Enoteca Gattino and Blenders and Bowls, as well as urban grocer Royal Blue.

“We strategically planned these two projects, Indie Apartments and The Arnold and its adjacent office building, to complement each other and provide a suite of amenities for residents of both communities,” Delk said. “The residential population in this area is a diverse mix – old and young, permanent residents, business travelers and visitors, etc. – so we have designed living spaces to cater to a variety of renters. Because we are developing so much land in this immediate area, Transwestern Development Co. is able to create a cohesive environment among all its projects.”

>>> Artist rendering courtesy of Transwestern Development Co.