The Domain, a mixed-use development built on 304 acres of former IBM property, has paved the way for the City of Austin to plan more mixed-use developments in the North Burnet/Gateway area.

When Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group began planning The Domain Phase I, the land was zoned as a major industrial/planned development area, but needed an ordinance passed by the city council to allow for the mixed-use development the developers envisioned.

The ordinance allows greater flexibility for the developers to have mixed-use developments that combine retail and housing, which the city hopes to use as a catalyst for development growth.

"The Domain exemplifies the type of development we want in the area," said Molly Scarbrough, senior planner with the urban design division of the Neighborhood Planning and Zoning. "The City wants to facilitate this area to a mixed-use area, so people can live, work and play all in one area. This is an alternative to the typical sprawl pattern, to allow us to keep population in the city instead of on the fringes. Extending infrastructure to the outskirts of the city is expensive to the city, too, because the infrastructure is already there [in the city]."

The Domain Phase II is two separate developments with the same name, one being developed by Simon Property Group and the other by Endeavor Real Estate Group. Phase I was co-developed by both groups, but is now owned entirely by Simon Property Group.

Domain Phase II - Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, which owns nine shopping centers in Austin, including Gateway Shopping Center, the Shops at Arbor Walk, Arboretum at Great Hills and Barton Creek Square Mall, is developing a retail development similar to the existing Domain just south of Phase I, with more mixed-use buildings and entertainment added to the mix. Phase II, expected to open in 2009, will include an additional 300,000 sq. ft.of retail and restaurants, 75,000 sq. ft. of Class A office space and additional residential units.

Entertainment will include a Village Road Show Gold Class Cinema complex with eight auditoriums. Additional shopping will be added with a 200,000 sq. ft. three-level Dillard's and a 75,000 sq. ft. two-level Dick's Sporting Goods.

Simon plans on building another 350 housing units in The Domain Phase II, the same high-end luxury apartments that are available at The Domain now.

Lincoln Property has leased 85 percent of the 390 apartments available in The Domain, and by summer, 40 more units will be available.
Residential Property Manager Karmin Lynch said the benefits of living in the Residences at The Domain are the close restaurants, shopping, hotels and entertainment coming in Phase II.

"We're still less expensive than downtown," Lynch said. "It's more pedestrian friendly."

To read more click here.