An Austin Apartment High-Rise Without A Parking Garage? It Might Become Reality

AUSTIN, TX -- How do you encourage people to take public transportation or bicycle to work instead of driving their cars and adding to congestion. You build them a luxury apartment complex that has no parking area, that's how.

At least that's the approach one developer has taken, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Congress Development Partners Ltd. is building the high-rise on a vacant Congress Avenue lot in downtown Austin that will have 30 stories, 135 luxury units, office space, a restaurant with bar but no parking garage.

It's being dubbed "The Avenue." Developers call it the first "...truly car-free luxury development in downtown Austin," with the unusual design sans parking space as a not-so-discreet hint for people to bike, walk, ride-share or take the bus to work.

“This is the first true urban residential tower in Austin,” Brad Nelsen told the Statesman. “This is built for people who work and live 24 hours a day downtown,” and who walk, bicycle, or use ride-hailing services to go to the grocery store or other trips, the newspaper further reports.

Nelsen said the “carless” residential concept has worked in other places, including Seattle, Portland, New York and Denver, and told the Statesman he believes it will work in Austin.