A New Chapter on Rainey Street: Introducing Paseo
Completed late last year, Paseo brings a fresh energy to Rainey Street, a neighborhood in Austin, Texas known for its eclectic mix of historic homes, vibrant nightlife, and ever-evolving urban fabric. Transforming a former food truck lot and two existing bungalows, this 48-story mixed-use tower designed by PH, reimagines the site as an active, engaging destination that both celebrates and builds on the spirit of its surroundings. At the ground level, Paseo comes alive. Retail spaces and thoughtfully carved alcoves animate the street frontage, creating opportunities for gathering, lingering, and connection. These spaces extend the social rhythm of Rainey Street, reinforcing the neighborhood’s signature patio culture.
Rainey Street hasn’t always been what it is today. It started out as a quiet residential pocket east of downtown, filled with small 20th-century bungalows. For a long time, it felt a bit removed from the rest of the city’s rapid growth, holding onto a slower, more neighborhood-driven pace.
Things began to change in the early 2000’s, when zoning updates opened the door for those homes to be converted into bars, restaurants, and hangout spots. Instead of losing its identity, the street evolved into something unique. Front porches turned into patios, living rooms into dining spaces, and backyards into social settings.
Paseo carries that same layered history. In many ways, the neighborhood’s original spirit still shows up in how the project meets the street today: open, social, and connected to the energy that’s long defined the area. The two original historic bungalows have been carefully preserved and woven into the site plan, keeping a link to the past. Between them, a landscaped paseo invites pedestrians through the site, creating a welcoming connection from Rainey Street to the riverfront trails and park, an experience that blends urban life with access to nature.
Architecturally, Paseo strikes a balance between context and expression. The podium is wrapped in rich masonry brickwork and rising above, the residential tower introduces a dynamic composition that reflects the layered, diverse character of the neighborhood.
The amenity levels are designed as a series of staggered tiers, giving the building a sense of movement as it transitions from podium to tower. Besides these amenity spaces, Paseo offers a wide range of experiences, including two pools, fitness and wellness areas, and social lounges, all designed to foster community while capturing expansive views of the city.
With 557 units including the addition of the hotel ROOST Rainey, Paseo creates a vibrant vertical community that blends living, hospitality, and shared experience. Paseo is more than a new addition, it’s a continuation of Rainey Street’s story, bringing new life, connections, and possibilities to one of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible team behind the project. We are grateful for the collaboration and expertise of our consultants:
Architect: Pappageorge Haymes Partners
Owner: LV Collective
Contractor: JE Dunn
Structural Engineer: DCI Engineers
Consulting MEPF Engineer: Blum Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Landscape Architect: TBG Partners
Civil Engineer: Wuest Group
Interior Designer: AVRO | KO
Our team at Pappageorge Haymes Partners dedicated a significant number of hours to bringing this project to life, with 34 architects contributing at various stages. Key team members included:
This article marks the beginning of a new series exploring Paseo (80 Rainey), diving into the ideas, design, and details that make it unique, and the impact it brings to Austin.
