Caswell Lofts offers downtown real estate in an unprecedented location in the heart of Austin, Texas. These unique loft units enjoy an amazing list of high end luxury features such as sophisticated French balconies, soaring ceilings, unique wood ceilings, Italian plumbing fixtures, natural stone counters, walk-in closets, ceiling fans, big windows and lots of natural light.

Caswell also offers many green environmentally friendly features such as a high efficiency aqua-therm heating and cooling system, double lazed windows, native landscaping throughout the development,natural exterior materials.

Come and enjoy the contemporary modern design of Caswell Lofts in downtown, Austin, Texas.

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Soltiva is perfectly located within the University Park Development, just minutes from the University of Texas , St.David’s Hospital and historic Hyde Park district.

Since the townhome units at Sotiva enjoy a wonderful downtown location, they offer a wonderful alternative to driving, jut walk to where you need to go.  Each townhome offers a wide variety of sophisticated finishes and amenities such as modern design, roof terraces, two car garages, three bedroom and three bathroom floor plans, custom kitchens and upscale Miele appliances.

Soltiva is also a leader in green environmental initiatives with refined interiors an eco-friendly development with a four-star rating from the City of Austin’s Green Building program.

Come and find out why everybody loves Soltival in Austin, Texas.

Use the Todd Smith Fine Austin Living Featured Property Search to find more townhomes in Austin, Texas.

The East End District of Austin, Texas is a vibrant place to live, work and play.  Located in the heart of the East End District are the environmentally, contemporary condos of The East Village.

The entire ground level of The East Village is huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which is a dramatic solution that allows the use of less energy and more natural light. The residential development also has a lovely, secluded rooftop garden that adds to the enjoyment of its residents and further insulates the building.

Choose from a variety of floor plans including efficiency, 1 bedroom lofts, 2 bedroom flats and 2 bedroom lofts.

These lofts offer a true urban lifestyle that is close to shopping, dining and all the conveniences of Austin, Texas.

Use our Featured Property Search to find more lofts, flats and efficiencies in Austin, Texas.

Facebook jobs might be headed to Austin

Austin could gain more than 500 new jobs with proposals by a Chinese solar energy company that is considering building a $20.7 million manufacturing plant here and by Facebook to open a sales office here.

Gov. Rick Perry announced the Facebook proposal this morning, and said the state would provide $1.4 million in incentives, conditioned on the approval of local incentives.

Facebook, the top social networking site, would create a 200-employee sales and operations center in Austin, with about 180 of those jobs filled locally. The average wage would be $54,000 a year.

The city is proposing an incentives package totaling $200,000, tied to job creation targets, said Brian Gildea, Austin’s economic development manager.

The city also is proposing property tax breaks for Yingli Green Energy Associates, which is considering Austin for a solar-panel manufacturing plant that would create more than 300 jobs. Austin also would become Yingli’s U.S. headquarters.

Yingli, the U.S. subsidiary of a large Chinese solar-energy company, would get 80-percent property tax breaks for 10 years under an incentives offer from the City of Austin.

The company also has received preliminary approval for a federal clean-energy grant, said Dave Porter, senior vice president for economic development at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Yingli also is considering Phoenix, Ariz., Porter said. The company needs to choose a site by March 15 in order to qualify for the federal grant.

The Yingli jobs range from 245 manufacturing workers who would make $13.50 an hour to 45 staffers at $50,000 a year and 2 executives at $125,000 a year.

The City Council will have public briefings on both proposals next month, with public hearings and votes to follow on March 11.

Details on both proposals are on the city’s Web site, at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/

Austin, Texas is a forward thinking and no where is that more apparent than in its ever-growing environmentally-friendly home designs. There are many energy-efficient residential developments throughout Austin that boast recycled materials,energy efficient appliances, use of passive solar heating and advanced water conservation features.

There are also a few net-zero concept buildings that have begun to spring up in Austin a well.  The SOL Development in East Austin and the The ZeroHouse are both projects that are designed to save as much energy as it consumes.

The ZeroHouse utilizes a composting unit, solar panels, installation without excavation and energy and water-saving devices.  The concept is to focus on self-sufficiency and minimal environmental impact.

The ZeroHouse is still in the planning stage but is now “shovel-ready” but it is another example of just how forward-thinking Austin, Texas really is.

Use the Fine Austin Featured Property Search to find more environmentally homes in Austin, Texas.

Environmentally-friendly Austin living is at its peak can be found as SOL (solutions oriented living).  This affordable zero-energy community is located in popular East Austin, just three miles from the bustling downtown metro area. SOL is a new, very modern development that features the perfect combination of value, quality and environmental awareness.

This is Austin’s first affordable, genuine net-zero energy consumption residential development. The unique design of these contemporary homes provides spacious open floorplans, large carports private balconies, decks and shaded outdoor areas to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Homes at SOL average approximately 1800 square feet of living space and start around $350,000.00.

Come and experience the 5-star green homes of SOL in Austin, Texas.

Use our Featured Property Search to find more environmentally-friendly in Austin, Texas.

Welcome to the environmentally-friendly townhome development of Soltiva, a 4-star rated building by the City of Austin’s Green Building program.

Soltiva is situated in the University Park development of Austin, Texas. It is also conveniently close to the University of Texas, St. David’s Hospital, historic Hyde Park and the Texas State Capitol building. Right outside the front door is also an array of wonderful restaurants, cafe, shopping, and entertainment options.

The townhomes of Soltiva are sophisticated, spacious and very modern. Each unit has a spacious roof terrace, a two-car garage, gourmet kitchen, high end appliances and dramatic views of downtown Austin.

Come and enjoy the distinctive metropolitan lifestyle of Soltiva in Austin, Texas.

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Austin’s Mueller airport development, on the site of the former Robert Mueller Airport and on which we currently represent one of the select few homebuilders, Saldana Homes, will benefit from the recently announced $10.4 million grant awarded by the US Department of Energy to The Pecan Street Project to fund an advanced smart grid technology project at Mueller.

The project will create an open platform Energy Internet, which is two-way electricity and information flow grid, modeled on the architecture of the Internet. Additionally, a Technology Review and Advisory Committee will be formed, with representatives from a number of energy companies such as CPS Energy San Antonio and Pedernales Electric Coop.

Austin's Mueller airport redevelopment project

Read the full story in the Austin Community Impact News

The City of Austin and German automaker Daimler AG have partnered up to launch the nation’s largest car-sharing program featuring a fleet of 200 fuel-efficient Smart cars, targeted initially for use by the City of Austin’s 13,000 employees.

Austin's fleet of Smart cars on display at the Long Center

 The car2go program, introduced successfully in Ulm, Germany, makes its first appearance in North America with Austin as the test model. More Smart cars plan to be rolled out in the city after the pilot’s duration. Mayor Lee Leffingwell stressed the opportunity to demonstrate a better transit alternative, while not sacrificing convenience, as a priority. Ongoing challenges with urban growth, mobility and environmental sustainability make the program’s arrival opportune.

Driving routes, mileage, vehicle usage and emissions among city employees will be tracked and evaluated to determine if there are opportunities for vehicle sharing in departments and within building complexes. Director of Transportation, Robert Spillar, is interested in gauging which types of commutes employees are taking as a way to assess driving patterns. “The goal is to change commuter habits,” he said. “And it is more economically advantageous to take short trips as opposed to driving all day.”

The program supplements Austin CarShare, in place since 2006. The nonprofit membership-based organization offers seven vehicles including hybrid cars and a pickup. Councilmember Chris Riley, who commutes via bike, has benefited greatly from Austin CarShare and is excited to see the two programs coexist. “Car share made it easier for me to get around,” he said. “I am hopeful these programs can help significantly reduce vehicle miles,” he said.

The City Council and the City of Austin has long been focused upon becoming the recognized leader in environmental stewardship, energy conservation and fuel efficiency, and the Car2Go program is just another way our community can lead the way for “going green.”

Read the full article here.

Photo credit: Mary Tuma

Bel Air is a true urban oasis in the heart of Austin, Texas.  Combining technological innovation and contemporary design, Bel Air features functionality, aesthetic lines and environmentally friendly materials.

Bel Air boasts many green features such as low volatile organic paint, energy Star appliances, Low E double pane windows, recycled steel and concrete and an underground water retention system.

Bel Air also enjoys more than 7oo square feet of private rooftop decks.  These decks offer the perfect place to entertain or to take in the view.  Each unit is multi-level so nobody will ever live above or below you.  Residents also enjoy a direct access garage for secure parking

Come and enjoy downtown Austin living at Bel Air.

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