A developer, Ardent Residential, has shelved plans to build around an Austin landmark, the Broken Spoke.  Around since 1964, the Broken Spoke is an almost legendary country music venue and dance hall on South Lamar Street.  Ardent had planned on building apartments and retail space around the Broken Spoke, but shelved the plans because they had too many other projects going.  I have read here and there that the vacancy rate of Austin apartments has been dropping.  I also know that many developers are in a bit of trouble in some areas where absorption of anything from homes to apartments to retail to commercial has been slow.  Halting this development may simply be because Ardent is just stretched a litele thin.  In any case, it doesn't hurt my feelings.  The Broken Spoke just wouldn't look the same surrounded by shiny new construction.