Correction: The original version of this article mistakenly placed the Violet Crown Cinema inside the W Hotel Building. It is, in fact, a block away at 434 W. 2nd St. We regret the error.
Earlier: With the W Hotel closed indefinitely after glass from the high risecrashed to the ground below yesterday for the third time in just over two weeks, ACL Live is now having to cancel today’s edition of Wine Down Wednesdays. However, the future dates set in July are still on schedule.
Meanwhile, other businesses in the Second Street District, such as the Violet Crown Cinema, a block away on Second Street, remain open for business.
The emergency measures were taken yesterday after glass balcony panel “shattered in place and fell, breaking two panels directly below,” according to a statement from Stratus Properties CEO Beau Armstrong.
Armstrong said that, after consulting with several experts, “We still do not know why this happened.”
Read the full statement from Armstrong below.
For Immediate Release June 28, 2011 Today as you know, another glass balcony panel at the W Austin building shattered in place and fell, breaking two panels directly below, and sending glass into the pool area, which was closed. The entire team here at the W couldn’t be more devastated that this has occurred, but unfortunately after consulting with numerous experts we still do not know why this has happened. So here’s what we’re doing. We are replacing every piece of balcony glass on the building. To do this safely we are working with the City to: 1. Shut down several lanes of traffic around 3 sides of the building. This will mean some delays on Lavaca, Third and Guadalupe until the panels on those sides of the building can be removed. We apologize for any inconvenience but our first priority is public safety. 2. Close the sidewalks entirely around the building until protective pedestrian walkways are installed. We are also working to relocate current and future hotel guests, and closing the hotel until further notice. We’d like to thank our local hotel partners in advance for welcoming our guests and helping us during this difficult time. We have experts and the City of Austin on site to ensure this work is done safely and as expeditiously as possible. Safety is our top priority. Again, the entire team is devastated by these incidents, and we apologize to our hotel guests, our residents, our neighbors, and to the City. We will make this right.
