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South Central Austin Edition VOLUME 18, ISSUE 9 DEC. 31, 2025 FEB. 2, 2026
2025 Senior Edition
New lakeshore landscape unfolding
INSIDE
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505 Barton Springs Road (One Texas Center) City-owned o ce tower campus that could be redeveloped in the future
500 S. Congress Ave. Hundreds of residences, a hotel and a new iteration of Ego’s
151 S. First St. (One Lady Bird Lake)
)
17-story mixed-use waterfront building now under construction
305 S. Congress Ave. (Former Austin American-Statesman site) 19-acre redevelopment with 6 high-rises hundreds of feet tall
The built environment south of downtown is set to change with the construction of several high-pro le developments across the South Central Waterfront district. (Ben Thompson/Community Impact)
Also in this issue
Transportation
Page 11
Community
Page 12
Events
Page 18
Learn about an airline’s expansion at the airport
Check out our annual guide to senior living
Discover things to do around Austin this January
Expert care for every move.
At UT Health Austin’s Musculoskeletal Institute, specialists work together to meet your orthopedic needs from head to toe. As the clinical practice of Dell Medical School, UT Health Austin combines world-class care and breakthrough research so you get the right care, right here in Austin.
Call 1-833-UT-CARES (1-833-882-2737) to request an appointment.
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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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About Community Impact
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
Market leaders & metro team
Reporters Brittany Anderson Brian Davis Katlynn Fox Dacia Garcia Manuel Holguin Jr. Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Daniel Schwalm Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Joel Valley Gracie Warhurst Sienna Wight Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Jones Sabrina Musachia
Krista Box General Manager kbox@ communityimpact.com
Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara Austin Market President Travis Baker
Elle Bent Editor ebent@ communityimpact.com
Gail Watson Account Executive gwatson@ communityimpact.com
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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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Impacts South Central Austin T
• 603 Sabine St., Austin • https://taconmaiz.toast.site
5 Paseo Rainey Street’s newest mixed-use high-rise features 498 apartments, four penthouse units, a 59-room hotel, and two dining options. • Opened this fall
LAKE AUSTIN BLVD.
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• 80 Rainey St., Austin • www.paseoatx.com
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6 Daydreamer Coffee The coffee shop serves coffee, tea and more in Paseo off Rainey Street. The cafe can also be found in the Rambler Apartments. • Opened Nov. 7 • 80 Rainey St., Austin • www.daydreamer.coffee 7 Ciccio Bomba Co-owned by chef Gianbattista “Gianba” Vinzoni and actor and comedian Tom Segura, the Italian bakery is 8 Restaurant François The French-American restaurant from Guy and Larry Restaurants along with Chef and Proprietor Harold Marmulstein is now serving dinner in the AMLI building. • Opened Nov. 24 • 401 W. Third St., Ste. 100, Austin • www.restaurantfrancois.com 9 Kitsu Nori Chef Paul Qui’s latest concept Kitsu Nori offers a Japanese handroll and sushi experience. The menu features crispy nori, warm rice, dry-aged fish, premium shellfish and farm-fresh vegetables. • Opened Dec. 13 • 2310 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 102, Austin • https://kitsunori.com now open at Fareground. • Opened in November • 111 Congress Ave., Austin • www.faregroundaustin.com/cicciobomba
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• Opened Dec. 3 • 811 W. Live Oak Street, Austin • www.theinnatgreenpastures.com
Now open
1 HOPE Outdoor Gallery The outdoor art park and creative campus has reopened in Austin. The new home for the gallery, near the Austin airport, is complete with outdoor park space, mural walls and a 6,000-square-foot gallery event space. It also features a coffee bar, gift shop and art supply store. • Opened Nov. 28 • 741 Dalton Lane, Austin • www.hopeoutdoorgallery.com 2 Henry’s A new all day cafe and bar is now open on historic estate Green Pastures, as part of the debut of The Inn at Green Pastures. Henry’s provides coffee service, snacks, meals and cocktails.
3 The Inn at Green Pastures Green Pastures, a historic estate in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood, has expanded its offerings with the debut of The Inn at Green Pastures, a 63-room boutique hotel built to preserve the site’s iconic live oaks. • Opened Dec. 12 • 811 W. Live Oak Street, Austin • www.theinnatgreenpastures.com 4 Taco N Maíz Family owned by Andy Mendez and Paola Abarca, the new eatery serves a variety of tacos and quesadillas. • Opened in November
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
10 Oak Haven Massage The business launched its third Austin-area location which features relaxation, deep tissue, therapeutic and lymphatic drainage massages. • Opened Dec. 15
Now open
Now open
• 900 S. First St., Ste. 150, Austin • www.oakhavenmassage.com
Coming soon
11 Bohème The new boutique is expected to pay homage to Austin’s soul and heritage, as stated in a news release. With 20 unique rooms, guests will have the opportunity to have an individualized experience combined with the city’s culture and history. The space will offer 14 standard rooms and six signature suites including options like The Den, a warm suite inspired by Austin’s music scene green rooms, and The Pearl, a suite depicting Janis Joplin’s spirit with vibrant colors and texture.
14 Amaya Mediterranean rooftop restaurant and bar is now open in the Paseo luxury high-rise. Amaya serves shareable dishes blending Mediterranean and Texan influences in addition to a selection of cocktails, frozen drinks and aperitifs. • Opened Dec. 5
17 Konbini The new sushi spot opened inside the Papercut cocktail bar. The restaurant serves nigiri, sashimi and crudos featuring a variety of protein options, including wagyu, madai, maguro zuke and kanpachi. Konbini’s menu is inspired by traditional Japanese cuisine alongside flavors from Texas and Mexico. • Opened Nov. 12 • 908 E. Fifth St., Ste. 107, Austin • www.papercut.bar/konbini
• Opening summer 2026 • 400 Comal St., Austin • www.stayatboheme.com
• 80 Rainey St., Austin • www.amayaatx.com
12 The Twelve Thirty Club A restaurant concept by Sam Fox of Author & Edit Hospitality and artist Justin Timberlake, also found in Nashville, is headed to a historic space previously known as a former U.S. Post Office and later gifted to The University of Texas at Austin. The restaurant will be unfolded across four levels with an exclusive private
15 Hyatt Regency Austin The downtown hotel marked the completion of a property-wide renovation in November. The renovation impacted the hotel’s 448 guestrooms and suites and introduced three new dining concepts: Ripple & Roots, Cypress Grove and Juniper Breeze Market.
Closings
club in the upper levels. • Opening in late 2027 • 210 W. Sixth St., Austin • www.thetwelvethirtyclub.com
18 Limbo Jewelry & Triple Z Threadz After 20 years off South Congress Avenue, the two businesses are looking for a new space and will continue to operate online in the meantime. • Closing in January • 1708 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.triplezthreadz.com; https://limbojewelrystore.com
• 208 Barton Springs Road, Austin • www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/ en-US/ausra-hyatt-regency-austin 16 The Paramount Theatre & The State Theatre
In the news
13 Cosmic Cosmic’s south location has undergone renovations including an expanded patio, a double-sized deck, a new traditional seated bar, upgraded bathrooms, an added walk-up service window, newly enhanced landscaping and a reimagined chicken coop and green spaces. • 121 Pickle Road, Austin • www.cosmichospitalitygroup.com
The Austin Theatre Alliance has kicked off a $65 million campaign to renovate the Paramount and State Theatre. • 713 Congress Ave., Austin; 719 Congress Ave., Austin • www.austintheatre.org/shineon
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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
Austin’s trimmed budget, lower tax rate approved Austin officials passed a reduced $6.3 billion budget and tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26, weeks after voters rejected a tax hike under Proposition Q. The specifics The proposition’s failure automatically dropped the city tax rate, removing about $100 million from Austin’s general fund. City finance staff recommended cutting most extra Proposition Q spending, which had centered largely on homelessness response, public safety and parks upkeep. Further adjustments in the November budget review shifted some funding toward medic overtime and mental health response, homeless shelter and services, and employee benefits. The big picture Austin’s FY 2025-26 tax rate is $0.524017 per $100 property valuation, a 5-cent decrease from the
4-year firefighter contract approved City and Austin Firefighters Association leaders agreed to a new labor contract on Dec. 18, capping off months of negotiations. What happened A new working schedule with reduced weekly hours will be implemented as staffing increases under the new contract, expected to cost about $63 million over four years. Officials said the deal will improve hiring, promotions, pay and firefighter wellness. The agreement also maintains fire depart- ment operations unless the city ever reaches a “severe financial crisis.” If such budget issues arise, a new collaborative framework was created for both sides to agree on next steps and possible impacts to fire engines or stations.
Taxpayer impact City property taxes and other charges will rise about 4% in the coming year, and are expected to rise more than 6% next year.
Utility charges Property taxes City fees
Fiscal year 2024-25
$2,557.92
$1,969.56
$920.04
$2,603.76 $2,074.28 Fiscal year 2025-26 (revised)
$988.8
Fiscal year 2026-27 (planned)
$2,732.4
$2,242.8
$1,042.92
NOTE: ESTIMATES BASED ON AUSTIN'S MEDIAN HOMESTEAD VALUE, TYPICAL CUSTOMER UTILITY AND SERVICE USAGE, AND TYPICAL SINGLE-FAMILY HOME CHARACTERISTICS AS DEFINED BY THE CITY.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Proposition Q rate but still about 10% higher than last year’s. The owner of a home valued at about $495,000, the city median, can now expect to pay about $100 more in taxes and city or utility charges.
City reports on 1st year of ‘HOME’ building policy Hundreds of new units were cleared for construc- tion during the initial year of the Home Ownership for Middle-income Empowerment, or HOME, initiative’s first phase. The overview The policy allowing more housing on single-fam- ily lots was approved in late 2023 and became effective in February 2024. Over the following year, applications for 436 housing units in duplexes and two- or three-unit projects were approved along with 148 single-family infill projects. Based on limited results so far, city staff reported HOME is potentially playing out as officials had hoped—encouraging smaller housing units at lower price points—although they said more time is needed before drawing firm conclusions.
HOME review Austin’s one-year HOME report found:
Declining residential demolitions Slightly lower sales prices for homes on smaller lots A slightly higher share of applications in areas at risk of displacement Minimal impacts on traffic, trash service, drainage and tree canopies
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Austin ISD voted to close 10 campuses next school year at a Nov. 20 board meeting. Seven of these campuses have received three consecutive F ratings from the Texas Education Agency and require state- mandated intervention through turnaround plans. Three of the campuses offer school- wide dual language programs that will relocate. In total, 3,796 students will be reassigned, and 6,319 vacant seats will be eliminated under this plan. The plan is expected to save around $21.75 million in costs for the district. AISD delayed voting on districtwide rezoning and the potential closure of Palm, Bryker Woods, and Maplewood elementaries until the fall of 2026. Austin ISD to close 10 schools
School closures (School’s A-F Rating, according to the Texas Education Agency) 1 Barrington Elementary (F) 2 Becker Elementary (B) 3 Bedichek Middle School (F) 4 Dawson Elementary (F) 5 Martin Middle School (F) 6 Oak Springs Elementary (F) 7 Ridgetop Elementary (B) 8 Sunset Valley Elementary (B)
What else?
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The board approved turnaround plans to provide intervention at 24 campuses with two or more unacceptable ratings—seven of which are closing. The district will reassign students from these campuses and restart Linder, Sánchez, Pecan Springs and Wooldridge elementaries as well as Paredes Middle School using the Accelerating Campus Excellence, or ACE, model. The model involves restaffing the schools with high- performing teachers and principals as well as providing extra support staff and academic resources. If AISD does not see improvement in reading and math, the district may partner with a charter school to operate the campuses. The TEA commissioner may close a school or takeover the district if a campus receives five consecutive unacceptable ratings.
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Give the gift of safety this holiday season
stay focused and drive sober
www.mobilityauthority.com
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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Transportation
BY HALEY MCLEOD
I-35 Cesar Chavez Street entrance ramp will also remain closed through early 2026, and drivers on the northbound frontage road will instead use the entrance ramp between Eighth and 11th streets. In addition, the east side Levander Loop pedestrian trail—from just north of the Montopolis Bridge to just south of E. Cesar Chavez Street—will be closed through 2028. The southbound I-35 frontage road at River Street will be closed through mid-2028, with drivers detouring to East Avenue and River Street to reach the southbound frontage road. Eastbound and westbound River Street will also be reduced to one lane in each direction at I-35. • Timeline: 2025-2029 • Cost: $4.5 billion • Funding sources: TxDOT and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization 3 Zilker Park multimodal access improvements Project: This project will improve the safety and mobility of pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders in the Zilker Park area. Update: Construction on the final phase of improvements is expected to wrap up by spring. • Timeline: 2021-2026 • Cost: $3.4 million • Funding sources: 2016, 2020 Mobility Bonds and Council District 8 Quarter Cent funding
Upcoming projects
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1 South Lamar Boulevard mobility program Project: The city of Austin is adding mobility, safety and connectivity improvements along South Lamar Boulevard between Riverside Drive and Hwy. 290. Update: Construction along roughly three miles of South Lamar Boulevard from Barton Springs Road to Hwy. 290 will see mobility improvements. • Timeline: Construction to begin early 2026. • Cost: $60.5 million • Funding source: 2016 Mobility Bonds
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2 I-35 Capital Express Central project Project: The Texas Department of Transportation’s multibillion-dollar I-35 overhaul, which broke ground last October, will add two nontolled high-occupancy lanes along the roughly 8-mile stretch from Hwy. 290 to Hwy. 71. The project also includes removing upper decks, sinking sections of the roadway about 25 feet and widening the corridor to 17-22 lanes. Update: Entrance and exit ramps, along with several frontage roads, remain closed. The northbound I-35 frontage road between 11th and 12th streets has its right lane closed through early 2026. The northbound
BARTON SPRINGS RD.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Transportation
BY BEN THOMPSON
Backed by city and state incentives, Southwest Airlines will expand its presence at Austin-Berg- strom International Airport, an initiative local o cials hope will bring thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact to the area. “This is all about being where the business is. And that business is in Austin, and that business is in Texas,” said Bob Jordan, president, CEO and vice chair of Southwest’s board. The big picture City o cials joined Jordan and Gov. Greg Abbott at ABIA Dec. 12 to detail the millions of dollars in incentives o ered by Austin and Texas, and expected bene ts from the airline project. The event came a day after City Council unanimously approved a $5.5 million, ve-year economic devel- opment framework, and as Abbott announced a Southwest Airlines to expand at ABIA
$14 million state grant for the expansion. In the coming years, Southwest will relocate a command center and establish a new crew base at the airport that’s expected to bring 2,000 new jobs to ABIA by mid-2027. That facility will open in March with about 335 pilots and 650 ight attendants. Southwest’s growing footprint also ties into the city’s ongoing expansion of ABIA, including the development of a second terminal where the airline could lease up to 18 new gates. Airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi said the project sets up Southwest as the “anchor tenant” of ABIA’s future Concourse B. The airline will triple its local workforce while improving air service reliability and options in Austin, Jordan said, growing from 130 to as many as 220 daily ights. Zooming in The project is expected to generate nearly $20 million in local annual tax revenue, plus thou- sands more indirect jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in total economic impact and earnings.
Gov. Greg Abbott and city o cials joined Southwest CEO Bob Jordan for an announcement about the airline’s expansion plans in Austin.
BEN THOMPSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
Southwest’s economic development deal with Austin, supported by the city’s general fund, also calls for the airline to provide community bene ts. Abbott said Southwest’s expansion bolsters Texas’ status as a top location for job creation and economic development.
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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Community Senior Living Guide
BY ELLE BENT, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
SoCo Village Type: assisted living, memory care Opened: October 2020 Cost: $4,675-$7,215 per month Total units: 99 Amenities: dining room, courtyard, movie theater, rehab gym, salon, art room, game room with pool table, library, van for transportation, walking path, outings • 3700 Payload Pass, Austin • www.socovillage.com Westminster Type: independent living, assisted living, memory support, hospice care, nursing home/skilled nursing Opened: 1967 Cost: $4,200+ per month Total units: 373 independent living apartments, 36 assisted apartments, 38 memory care units and 85 skilled nursing units Amenities: community with all levels of care, nearly 60 years of experience • 4100 Jackson Ave., Austin
Amenities: 24-hour inclusive care, bed management, showering, extra-large rooms with in-room bathrooms
2025
• 9205 Collinfield Drive, Austin • www.assistedlivinginaustin.com
Heritage Park Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center Type: nursing home with memory care unit Opened: information not provided Cost: private rooms starting at $315 daily; costs vary by insurance Total units: roughly 210 Amenities: onsite rehab, designated smoking area, activities team • 2806 Real St., Austin • www.wellsentialhealth.org/location/heritage-park- rehabilitation-and-skilled-nursing-center The Village at The Triangle Type: independent living, assisted living, memory care, hospice care
Austin RNC Type: nursing home/skilled nursing facility Opened: 1976 Cost: information not provided Total units: 157 Amenities: courtyard, therapy gym • 6909 Burnet Lane, Austin • https://austinrnc.com Brookdale Beckett Meadows Type: assisted living, memory care Opened: over 20 years ago Cost: $4,610-$9,525 per month Total units: 59 Amenities: pet-friendly, concierge services, salon • 7709 Beckett Road, Austin • www.brookdale.com
Total units: 108 apartments, 16 room suites Amenities: restaurant-style dining, activity rooms, weekly events, library, pet-friendly, outdoor garden area, courtyard, transportation • 5715 Mesa Drive, Austin • www.brookdale.com Clearwater at The Arboretum Type: assisted living, memory care, respite care Opened: December 2024 Cost: $6,200-$7,000+ per month Total units: 130 Amenities: home maintenance, weekly housekeeping, linen services, fifth-floor terrace with views of downtown, in-house salon, onsite physical therapy, transportation options • 10001 Stonelake Blvd., Austin • www.clearwaterliving.com
Types of communities
Independent-living communities cater to older adults with limited care needs. Most include amenities, such as fitness programs, housekeeping and communal meals. Assisted-living communities specialize in providing care and supervision. These facilities frequently offer a full range of amenities as well as limited medical assistance. Memory care facilities specialize in providing care to seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive issues. Staff members are trained to help residents manage these diseases. Hospice care is intended to relieve symptoms and suffering associated with a terminal illness in those who have been given six months or less to live. The patient must choose to forgo further curative treatment. Nursing home/skilled nursing facilities provide care to those with illnesses or mental conditions requiring full- time monitoring and medical care.
Southern Hospitality Home Type: assisted living Opened: information not provided
Cost: $7,245-$9,245 per month (shared room); $8,745-$10,745 per month (private room); costs vary on level of care; pricing all inclusive Total units: 10 Amenities: Residents can select their own doctors or opt for in-home care, where an internal medicine physician specializes in “house calls.” • 5000 Shoalwood Ave., Austin • www.southernhospitalityhome.net
Opened: September 2018 Cost: $6,125+ per month Total units: 208
• www.westminsteraustintx.org This list is not comprehensive.
Amenities: 24-hour concierge, indoor heated pool, restaurant- and casual-style dining, full-service salon, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood • 4517 Triangle Ave., Austin • www.villageatthetriangle.com
Brookdale Northwest Hills Type: assisted living, memory care Opened: over 25 years ago Cost: $5,095-$6,440+ per month
The Collinfield House Type: assisted living, hospice care Cost: $5,500-$7,500 per month Total units: 8
BRODIE LANE 4970 W Hwy 290 (512) 366-8260
NORTH LAMAR 914 North Lamar (512) 214-6665
35TH STREET 1500 West 35th St (512) 277-2518
Nonpro t
BY SIENNA WIGHT
For over half a decade, Meals on Wheels Central Texas has been supporting seniors and functionally homebound Texans to remain in their homes for as long as possible. From meal delivery to home repairs, the nonpro t conducts various e orts in the Greater Austin area. “Our mission is to help those who are aging or functionally homebound age in place,” MOWCTX CEO Henry Van de Putte said. “Because that’s the most digni ed way to live, and it’s the most economical way to live, and it’s the most human- itarian way to live.” The big picture Founded in 1972 as a part of Meals on Wheels America, MOWCTX has grown the number and scope of its services over the past 52 years. MOWCTX also provides daily social connection and community. Assessing the need A 2024 presentation by the Texas Demographic Center showed that the population 65 and older grew approximately ve times faster than the total U.S. population. “We do not have the infrastructure in place and don’t have the time to build an entire aging network from scratch,” Van de Putte said. MOWCTX services support the elderly pop- ulation, but a lack of government funding has put pressure on the organization. Over the past three years, there has been a de facto 35% cut in government funding, according to Van de Putte. Additionally, the recent federal government shutdown, which lasted 43 days, resulted in administrative delays. MOWCTX is partially funded by federal and state reimbursement grants, meaning the organization spends money that is later repaid by the government. Van de Putte said any delays in reimbursements are “really hard to deal with.” Quote of note “As we enter the holiday season, ... a lot of the people we serve have outlived a lot of their family and friends,” Van de Putte said. “And so, please don’t forget about those who have no one.” Nonpro t Meals on Wheels supports Central Texans to age with dignity
Meals on Wheels Central Texas relies on volunteers to help deliver daily meals.
List of services
MOWCTX o ers various meal and nutritional programs, including:
• Home-delivered meals • Healthy Options Program for the Elderly, which provides grocery delivery • Groceries to Go, which has volunteers provide support for grocery shopping • Congregate lunch centers
Meals on Wheels Central Texas delivers approximately 3,000 meals per day.
Other services include:
• Home repair • Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors, or PALS • Personal care services, such as medication reminders or personal hygiene • Homemaker services, such as laundry, shopping or light housekeeping • Supportive services, such as respite care for caregivers, prescription pickup or company to medical appointments • Concierge services
CEO Henry Van de Putte began working at Meals on Wheels Central Texas four years ago.
SOURCE: MEALS ON WHEELS CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Development
BY BEN THOMPSON
UT, MD Anderson medical center may move to North Austin
Northwest Austin is under consideration. “We’re not just building an integrated academic medical center, we’re building a district for the future. For that reason, we are looking at a larger site on UT land north of campus near The Domain to allow for a long-term vision for this monumental step forward,” he said Nov. 20. UT owns several Northwest Austin properties, and it’s unclear which are under consideration for the future medical center. An alternate location hasn’t been nalized yet, and the Erwin Center property remains under consideration. The timing of a decision for the location hasn’t been determined and the medical center is still expected to open in 2030.
The University of Texas at Austin and MD Anderson Cancer Center may develop their new medical complex in Northwest Austin, a potential change to the institutions’ original plans to bring a “state-of-the-art” hospital and research campus downtown on the former Frank Erwin Center site. The UT Medical Center was rst announced in summer 2023, envisioned as a pair of medical towers with an MD Anderson clinical and research cancer center and UT Austin specialty hospital. Following the Erwin Center’s demolition at 1701 Red River St., the UT Medical Center’s groundbreaking on the old arena property was expected in 2026 ahead of a 2030 opening. However, UT System board of regents Chair Kevin Eltife recently announced an expanded campus in
Moody Center
New arena and housing project
Original proposed UT Medical Center
OAKWOOD CEMETERY
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Something to note
In other news
Moving away from a downtown medical center would represent a reversal from just months ago, when Texas law was adjusted to remove develop- ment restrictions and allow taller hospitals on the Erwin Center site. Legislators this spring passed House Bill 3114 from state Rep. Charlie Geren, R Fort Worth. The bill removed several Capitol View Corridors—reg- ulatory limitations that block new development within certain sightlines of the Capitol dome—that spanned the medical district property. While UT didn’t comment on the legislation, Geren cited the hospital plans when laying out his bill, and MD Anderson thanked the university for steering HB 3114 through the Legislature.
The university also opened a solicitation for a new arena and student-athlete housing complex covering 4 acres of campus. The new venue will serve as the home of Longhorns women’s volleyball. It’ll have capacity for roughly 6,000 attendees, with exibility to expand for other events like concerts as a complement to the adjacent Moody Center. The 2033 Higher Education Development Foundation, which supports UT real estate activity, will review proposals for one or both facilities that must be submitted by Feb. 6.
A new multi-use arena and housing complex for student athletes will be developed next to the Moody Center o I 35 downtown.
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15
SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
New lakeshore landscape unfolding From the cover
South Central Waterfront
What’s happening?
District developments 1 151 S. First St. (One Lady Bird Lake) 2 305 S. Congress Ave. (Statesman PUD*) 3 311-315 S. Congress Ave. 4 500 S. Congress Ave. 5 200 E. Riverside Drive 6 600 E. Riverside Drive (Cidercade PUD*)
The lakeside landscape south of downtown is moving closer to long-awaited transformation with millions of square feet of mixed-use space and public areas across a series of high-rises. The redevelopment of vacant or underused land throughout the nearly 120-acre South Central Waterfront district has been anticipated for well over a decade. Several landmark projects are planned around the area, with most yet to break ground. The RiverSouth o ce tower on the district’s west side, completed in 2022, was billed as the rst of many higher-pro le modern developments coming to the South Central Waterfront. That wave of construction has yet to materialize but is on the way, starting with the One Lady Bird Lake residential tower that broke ground this year. Development is taking place without formal city regulations—and requirements for community bene ts—that were envisioned through a public framework for projects districtwide. While some aspirations from that process may not be realized, the city launched a broader planning e ort this fall to set a 10-year blueprint for downtown that now includes the waterfront district. Council member Zo Qadri, who represents the area, said it’s among the most important opportunities for shaping Austin’s growth in the years ahead. “These areas sit at the heart of our city, and the planning decisions we make today will determine how accessible, connected, and welcoming they are for decades to come,” he said in a statement.
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Central City District West Campus Downtown
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South Central Waterfront
Colorado River
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In 2024, a city consultant projected about 30 million square feet of new development across the South Central Waterfront within 15 years, including:
*PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS; LARGER, COMPLEX PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE MORE CITY REVIEW AND PUBLIC BENEFITS
Housing: 16.84M sq. ft. Parking: 6.79M sq. ft. O ce: 3.9M sq. ft. Retail: 1.9M sq. ft. Hotel: 541,750 sq. ft.
In addition to private projects, the district will also serve as the juncture of the proposed Austin Light Rail system. That would include lines running to the south, east and north connected to a new waterfront station with infrastructure on or near some redeveloping properties.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT
The backstory
oversee the district vision plan also hasn’t convened since March, putting it at risk of being dissolved under city policy. At its last meeting, former Chair Jim Stephenson said project outlines became “wildly inconsistent” with local goals with developers “wiggling out” of a ord- able housing requirements. Looking ahead, Qadri said he’s prioritizing development that improves public spaces, mobil- ity options and local environmental goals while providing a ordable housing bene ts. “Past planning e orts created a strong foun- dation, and the work ahead gives us a chance to build on that foundation with a more coordi- nated and accountable approach,” he said.
Goals for South Central Waterfront construc- tion were set in a formal vision framework plan adopted in 2016. That served as a roadmap for residents’ desire to bring public amenities to the area alongside expected growth, such as including hundreds of a ordable housing units to ensure the district didn’t build out for luxury living only. However, regulations intended to turn vision plan goals into rmer requirements never came together. After months of public review, zoning updates crafted for that purpose were inde - nitely shelved before a City Council vote last September. A community advisory board formed to
District goals A local vision plan highlights hopes for millions of square feet of new construction, including:
20% of new housing built being a ordable
A districtwide network of streets, sidewalks and open space
Waterfront parks and trails
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY BEN THOMPSON
The speci cs
A closer look
One Lady Bird Lake, the 17-story tower from real estate rm Related Cos., will feature almost 300 units, a restaurant and retail space, and a lakeside park area. The property will also house a future boardwalk trail extension. The largest and most prominent planned project, the waterfront “Statesman PUD,” or planned unit development, is expected to bring up to six mixed- use high-rises o Congress Avenue. While City Council passed the PUD in late 2022, construction is currently stalled due to ongoing litigation. Down the block, Related is also adding millions of square feet of housing, hotel, o ce, retail and venue space at 500 S. Congress Ave. Related Texas President Mike Iannacone said the project, which could rise up to 650 feet, will serve as the heart of the waterfront district—an area he called a “mixed- use city of the future.” Other towers are expected to replace a local auto shop and salon, a vacant o ce building and Cider- cade. The city’s 4.6-acre One Texas Center property may also be redeveloped.
members have also contended that planned construction con icts with civic protections for the waterfront area and isn’t aligned with past desires for the area. Private development is also taking place without millions of public dollars anticipated under the vision plan. In late 2022, o cials created a district-wide funding mechanism for new infrastructure as the area built out. It would’ve reserved a share of rising property tax collections there to fund upgrades such as roadways and parkland. That tax reinvestment zone was shut down before funds were used. Some Austin residents sued over the plan, claiming the zone was improperly created and unnecessary for the district’s growth. A district court judge agreed last year, ending the nancing strategy. E orts to guide the area’s future still remain in progress, as the waterfront area is now part of Austin’s renewed “Central City” plans running from north to south of downtown.
Since regulatory plans for the area fell through last year, projects in the South Central Waterfront have been handled on a case-by- case basis. The area is now unlikely to see the bene ts outlined by residents and other stakeholders amid market conditions that di er from those a decade ago. Some community
Waterfront planning December 2022:
“Statesman PUD” and tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ, approved April 2024: TIRZ struck down September 2024: District zoning regulations inde nitely postponed November 2025: Austin launches Central City District planning process
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT
Get involved
the South Central Waterfront and West Campus to the north. The process is meant to support public spaces, retain and attract businesses and cultural institutions, improve public safety and mobility options, and ensure access and a ordability. Further engagement will take place in 2026 ahead of the plan’s adoption late next year.
Last summer, o cials also asked to update the city’s existing downtown-area blueprint. That process kicked o this fall, and residents can weigh in on what they want to see around Austin’s core. That new Central City District Plan extended downtown’s traditional boundaries to add
Find out more
More information about the Central City District Plan initiative is available online.
Hello, Neighbor! Hello, Neighbor!
Austin winters aren’t the same, but I am prepared. I am prepared.
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17
SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Events
BY DACIA GARCIA
January
Red River Cultural District Free Week The annual Red River Cultural District live music series will return at downtown venues such as Stubb’s Bar-
B-Q, Mohawk and Flamingo Cantina. • Jan. 9-10, performance times vary • Free • Multiple venues across downtown Austin • www.redriverculturaldistrict.org
AARC Makers Market Hosted by the Asian American Resource Center, the event will feature over 20 local Asian American and Pacific Islander creatives, makers and cottage bakers. Participating artists include Picnic Ants Press, Kaiju Cut & Sew and Kitsune Hirano Photography. • Jan. 10, 1-4 p.m. • Free (admission) • Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin • www.austintexas.gov/event/aarc-makers-market Mushroom Cultivation with Recycled Reads The Central Texas Mycological Society will teach attendees the basics of mushroom cultivation including how to turn old books into mushroom gardens. Participants are asked to bring a worn-out paperback or choose one from the library’s donated section as they will leave with a mycelium-inoculated book, ready to grow. • Jan. 17, 2-4:30 p.m. • Free • Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Drive, Austin • https://library.austintexas.gov Spurs Austin International Half Formerly the 3M Half Marathon, the annual event will feature a downhill course paired with live music. A total of $10,000 in monetary prizes will be awarded to the top five male and female finishers. • Jan. 18, 7:25 a.m. (wheelchair start), 7:30 a.m. (general start) • $199 (standard admission with no refund)
Art with an Expert: Revealing the Secrets of an Enconchado Masterpiece at The Met As part of the Blanton Museum of Art’s All Day programming, José Luis Lazarte Luna, associate conservator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, will
discuss paintings inlaid with mother-of-pearl. • Jan. 10, 4-5 p.m. • Free (Blanton members and ages 5 and under), $10 (ages 6-17), $20 (ages 18 and up) • 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Austin • www.blantonmuseum.org/programs
MLK Community March and Festival Community members can gather in downtown Austin for the annual event that will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. The festival portion of the event will feature local vendors and musical artists and take place at Huston-Tillotson University. • Jan. 19, 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free • Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave., Austin • www.mlkcelebration.com/celebration-events/march- and-festival Hi, How Are You Day 2026 The annual benefit concert will celebrate Daniel Johnston and mental health awareness with headliner Nathaniel Rateliff.
• Jan. 23, 7 p.m. • $64 and up
• The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin • https://tickets.austintheatre.org/13069/13070
The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short The two comedians have been touring together since 2015. The duo’s performance will be accompanied by The Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko. • Jan. 30-31, 8 p.m. • $125 and up • Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin • www.texasperformingarts.org
• 9700 Stonelake Blvd., Austin • www.downhilltodowntown.com
NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR WINTER Follow These Four Steps to Get Prepared
Build a Kit
Make a Plan
Exhibition On View October 18, 2025 – March 8, 2026
Know Your Neighbors
Stay Informed
Learn more at ReadyCentraltexas.org
T. rex: The Ultimate Predator is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org).
The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.
Illustration by Zhao Chuang; courtesy of PNSO
18
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Business
BY DACIA GARCIA
Since its inception in 1915, The Paramount Theatre has established roots in Austin as a safe haven for community members from all walks of life and interests. While the theatre has seen many changes in physical attributes and ownership, its presence as a community staple has remained strong throughout the decades. How we got here Jim Ritts, CEO and executive director of non- pro t Austin Theatre Alliance—which operates the theatre—said the milestone is an accomplishment for theaters nationwide, not just the local Austin community. He said it’s rare for a theatre to operate for over 100 consecutive years and remain in their same location without closing. “Us having been here since 1915, it means when we opened, we were in the middle of World War I,” Ritts said. “We survived the Spanish u which killed tens of millions of people all over the world and we came back from World War II, and obvi- ously this last bit of the pandemic. We have always been there for the community to be able to come together.” The theater’s stage has crossed paths with artists from far and wide including industry stars such as Willie Nelson and Miles David to gures like Barack Obama and Harry Houdini. The impact The theatre is home to various annual events including South by Southwest Conference and Festivals, Austin Film Festival, ATX Television Festival and Moontower Comedy Festival. In addition to these larger-scale events, commu- nity members can nd all sorts of entertainment hosted at the theatre from live podcasts and comedy to special movie screenings and musical concerts. With strong roots tied to a multitude of Austin communities, the space has become known as a hub for individuals of all backgrounds to nd connection. Ritts said he has come across people who call the theatre “Austin’s church” because of its reputation as a gathering place. “They come together to be entertained, they come together to be to be informed, they come together to celebrate whether it’s you know a rst date, a marriage proposal, they’ve been married here, they’ve been eulogized here, they have been able to gather in a sense of community that I think Austin’s Paramount Theatre celebrates 110 years of community
The theatre has hosted various notable performers including Gary Clark Jr., Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.
COURTESY PARAMOUNT THEATRE
The theatre is located on Congress Avenue.
The theatre has hosted a variety of events.
COURTESY PARAMOUNT THEATRE PHOTO BY RACHEL PARKER
COURTESY PARAMOUNT THEATRE PHOTO BY RACHEL PARKER
is so incredibly important,” Ritts said. As the theatre celebrates its 110th birthday, Ritts said he hopes the space will continue impacting the lives of audience members by providing entertainment, education and connection. “Our mission is to inspire generations and that means to inspire them to think, to feel, to laugh, to cry, but in doing so we meet the objective of our theater which is to remind people of how extraor- dinary humans can be,” Ritts said.
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713 Congress Ave., Austin www.austintheatre.org
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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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