Austin Business Journal writes, "With Austin’s reputation as a live music capital, perhaps it isn’t surprising that the origin story of The Modern, a 56-story condominium tower hailed as “authentically Austin,” includes a sweet nod to Austin music icons, the Fabulous Thunderbirds. In 2009, still reeling from a recession which had Urbanspace CEO Kevin Burns rethinking the brownstone plans he had for the property he purchased at 90 Rainey Street, he began to envision something with a larger footprint.
While renting his property to a shipping container bar as a stop gap measure, Burns became friends with the property owners next door, Thunderbirds’ drummer Fran Christina and his partner, artist Julie Speed. Over the course of the next five years, with Rainey Street booming as a nightlife district, it became clear that this neighborhood was not the ideal place for single-family homes. “Everything happens for a reason,” says Burns, “and over time it became obvious that townhomes weren’t congruent with the new fabric of the area, since there were so many bars at ground level.” Thus, the seeds were planted for a new vision: a luxurious, modern residential condo tower.
Once Burns had purchased 92 Rainey Street from Christina and Speed, it was off to the races.
In 2010, Burns met Urbanspace principal Merrill Alley, when she came on board as an intern with the company’s furniture store and design studio. “I really wanted to bring her on because I saw her natural talents and passion for design, I just didn't have any money to pay her!” Fortunately for Burns, Alley shared his enthusiasm for this new tower project, which would come to be known as The Modern Austin Residences.
With her background in human-centered architecture, Alley has been well suited as a true collaborator in creating floor plans with the end user always front of mind. “We're making sure that from the smallest one bedrooms, to the largest penthouses–each resident has a fully, thoughtfully designed space.” Alley says she often sees developers sideline smaller units when it comes to design choices considered too small for consideration. “Meanwhile, in the kitchen you're left with a nine inch wide drawer, and who can really use that? We spend just as much time thinking about the smaller units as we do the large ones,” she asserts.
Burns adds that with Urbanspace offering turnkey solutions to clients that include interior design and furnishings as well, this holistic approach allowed them to design floor plans with a mind toward the kind of furniture they anticipate will one day fill the space. “We are very keen on designing different spaces for different demographics of buyers,” enthuses the CEO. “So it's not just this homogeneous building, right? When someone walks through the door of our sales center, there's a good chance that we have something for them.”
Asked if anything surprised them in the process of developing The Modern, Alley notes that they’d originally been permitted for 370 units, with the idea of many more small spaces. Instead, they began to have more and more interested parties who were thinking about moving their families downtown.
Burns notes that much to the chagrin of their architecture team, their adaptability was definitely a key to their success in the early days. “The ability to respond to what people were asking for,” argues Burns, “is what made it such a hugely successful sales process.” He says ultimately it’s a net win for downtown, as this type of age diversity is necessary for any downtown to reach its full potential as a thriving community.
In terms of the amenities in the building, Alley points with pride to The Modern’s 16th floor terrace. “Three quarters of that floor plate is all exterior space, so you have these private spaces within a public space, right? There’s an outdoor fireplace, lounge seating, and barbecue pits, so you can have your own dinner parties in this larger space, but pretty much privately.” Alley says the piece de resistance, however, is a 20 foot long community table that was made from a large tree that had previously lived on the site.
Burns interjects, “It was the giving tree.” Alley laments that it was hard to take it down, “but also great to give it a new life as this community table, that will live in a new form beyond itself.”
Burns points to several apartments that have either gone up recently nearby, as with 700 River Street, or will go up this year, as is the case with The Waterline and Paseo. But he’s quick to point out that if buyers want a condominium, they need to act quickly. “When people see all these cranes and all of this development, they assume it's all condos, but that isn’t true. We are the only condo tower currently under construction in downtown Austin. Think about that for a minute,” posits the CEO. “The Modern is the last condo tower to deliver until the end of 2028. So if you like what you see, now is the time to act.”
The Modern offers unparalleled downtown living in the Rainey Street District. With demand for downtown condos high and supply limited, secure your place in Austin's vibrant future. 1 to 5 bedroom plans available from the $600s. Visit our website today to explore available residences, amenities, and schedule your private tour.
Founded in 2000, Urbanspace provides a comprehensive approach to Austin urban living. As downtown's leading real estate authority, we integrate development, interior design, modern furniture, logistics, and hospitality to transform ideas into spaces that have shaped Austin's urban core for over two decades."
Source: Austin Business Journal
Written by: Urbanspace
Published: July 14, 2025
Posted by Grossman & Jones Group on
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