We have certainly made no secret of our impatience regarding the opening of the new South Lamar development. The mixed-use residential, shopping and entertainment development known as the Lamar Union project will be home to a renovated Alamo Drafthouse, a brand new The Highball and the first Austin outpost for New York's famed Shake Shack.

Today, the folks behind the Alamo Drafthouse made the first announcement regarding an opening date for the homegrown movie theater: Summer 2014. It's about a year behind the original projection — and, granted, it's more of a season than an actual date — but at least it's something.

Fans of the cinema can look forward to more parking, three new screens and a brand new lobby. Interestingly, BuildingATX is reporting the development is being led by Greystar, the same company behind the massive Corazon project on East Sixth Street.

Since most of the Lamar Plaza Shopping Center shuttered in November 2012 (the Alamo stayed open on the darkened, creepy lot for another few weeks), the area around it has undergone tremendous change. The addition of tony condos on South Lamar Boulevard stretching from Barton Springs Road all the way to Ben White Boulevard has rendered the South Austin community almost unrecognizable from a few years ago.

This latest, and arguably most prominent, development has not been without controversy, mostly from Austinites voicing their disappointment at seeing the mid-century shopping center flattened for the modern building designed by Michael Hsu.

But for those of you who can't wait for the newest addition to South Austin, rest assured that summer will be here before we know it — it's just a hop, skip and SXSW away.