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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6 SEPT. 26 OCT. 23, 2022
ONLINE AT
SECURE ENTRANCES Security is one of the main focuses of the school bond. The plan includes building security vestibules—two sets of doors that require a sta member to allow entry.
$29.5 MILLION for secure entry vestibules
84 schools
receiving secure entries
IMPACTS
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$10 MILLION for upgraded security fencing and new locks
ACL Fest, Oktoberfest, Formula 1 & more
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Voters to decide on $2.44 billion AISD bond package The district’s funding proposal prioritizes safety measures and campus modernizations
TO DO LIST
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BY ZACH KEEL
The AISD board of trustees autho- rized the $2.44 billion bond package election by unanimous vote at an Aug. 11 meeting. AISD board of trustees President Geronimo Rodriguez Jr. said after the
bond election vote that trustees will need to reach out to voters. “The next piece of the work [is] to advocate and work hard to earn the trust of our voters to get a majority
November’s election featuring races for governor and Austin mayor will have another high-pro le item as Aus- tin ISD asks for approval of its largest bond package in district history.
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DEVELOPMENT
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Historically high food prices change Austin's restaurant scene
BY KATY MCAFEE
doing their artistic thing in the back, managers are walking by, it’s just the whole vibe thing. And then when you don’t have that [customer] interaction, the show’s di erent.” Fried acknowledges that market conditions are forc- ing restaurants to make tough choices but has maintained a traditional
Austin diners are seeing higher checks, more QR codes, and “Please bus your own table” signs as restau- rants adapt to the cost of doing business. “Being in the restaurant, it’s like we’re putting on a show every night,” Eldo- rado Cafe owner Joel Fried. “The server comes up does their spiel, the chefs are
PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE 20
Eldorado Cafe owner Joel Fried shows a customer the menu. When not working in the kitchen, Fried is out talking to customers.
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BUSINESS FEATURE
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KATY MCAFEE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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ONE SMART NEIGHBOR
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Benefits of My ATX Water 6 Continuous usage and leak notifications 6 Personalized alerts 6 Water budgeting features 6 Customized water-saving tips and rebate information Don’t have your new meter yet? Don’t worry! You can still join the My ATX Water Customer Portal now to access monthly water use data and other benefits at myatxwater.org .
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Curious what is selling in your neighborhood? Scan me *All prices shown are list price
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
realtyaustin.com/p/7958380
realtyaustin.com/p/4355243
realtyaustin.com/p/8458327
realtyaustin.com/p/2838068
$580,000
$585,000
$624,900
$625,000
3 bds
2 ba
1,353 sq ft
3 bds
1.5 ba 1,164 sq ft
3 bds
2 ba
1,254 sq ft
2 bds
1 ba
1,080 sq ft
206 E Lisa Dr, Austin, TX 78752 Jeffrey and Gina Nyland Team | 512-626-8552
7002 Miranda Dr, Austin, TX 78752 Elisha Perez | 512-705-2530
6813 Miranda Dr, Austin, TX 78752 Kim Fodor | 512-809-3844
4604 Depew Ave, Austin, TX 78751 Sumina Bhatti | 512-940-9140
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
realtyaustin.com/p/4000556
realtyaustin.com/p/7002929
realtyaustin.com/p/3722827
realtyaustin.com/p/5046740
$675,000
$800,000
$845,000
$875,000
3 bds
2 ba
1,518 sq ft
2 bds
1 ba
1,261 sq ft
3 bds
2 ba
1,332 sq ft
3 bds
2 ba
1,754 sq ft
2102 Pasadena Dr, Austin, TX 78757 Jennifer Hogue | 512-712-8283
906 E 43Rd St, Austin, TX 78751 Kathy Sokolic | 512-809-3497
4609 Sinclair Ave, Austin, TX 78756 Susan Degraffenried | 512-699-7577
4606 Rosedale Ave, Austin, TX 78756 Jen Berbas | 512-655-3371
ACTIVE
PENDING
PENDING
SOLD
realtyaustin.com/p/6404667
realtyaustin.com/p/8674607
realtyaustin.com/p/1897201
realtyaustin.com/p/3455547
$1,585,000
$799,900
$949,000
$600,000
4 bds
3 ba
3,123 sq ft
5 bds
2 ba
2,167 sq ft
3 bds
2 ba
1,998 sq ft
2 bds
1 ba
873 sq ft
3901 Pebble Path, Austin, TX 78731 Tracie Patterson | 512-695-1235
7508 Meadowview Ln, Austin, TX 78752 Suad Krebber | 512-571-4992
2902 Greenlawn Pkwy, Austin, TX 78757 Betsy Gallagher | 512-431-8265
3306 Werner Ave, Austin, TX 78722 Matthew Ames | 512-771-7441
Are you planning on selling your home in Austin? Pricing your home appropriately is key for getting the biggest return possible and to avoid deterring prospective buyers.
How to Price Your Home Correctly
An experienced agent can help advocate for you and get a complete picture of what your home is worth. Scan the QR code to learn how to make your home stand out and sell quickly.
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
Save BIG on select homes!
Get ready for all the feels. When you see our new incentives, you’ll know this love was meant to be. Choose from innovative layouts that fit your family and lifestyle, with popular features like dedicated work-from-home spaces, guest suites, high ceilings, and smart home technology. And it’s not just Brookfield homes that are amazing – it’s also the communities: Addison, Easton Park, and Kissing Tree. Quick move-in homes are now available with less wait time for construction. See the homes online at brookfieldtx.com/available-homes , or call 512-829-3163 to find out how you can save thousands on select homes!
View available homes
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. Now in 2022, CI is still locally owned. We have expanded to include hundreds of employees, our own software platform and printing facility, and over 30 hyperlocal editions across the state with a circulation to more than 2.4 million residential mailboxes.
FROM DEEDA: One of the things I missed most early in the pandemic was going out to eat. I didn’t just miss the food and service. I missed the sound of chatter at the next table. The past few years have walloped our restaurant industry. Now with in ation and a lack of sta , many restaurants are asking customers to pay more and do more than ever. In our front-page story, Reporter Katy McAfee explores the changing dining scene and where we go from here. Deeda Lovett, GENERAL MANAGER dlovett@communityimpact.com
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROM DARCY: Next month is Community Impact Newspaper’s in-depth Voter Guide, but we are kicking o election season this month with a cover story on Austin ISD’s $2.44 billion bond package. Darcy Sprague, EDITOR dsprague@communityimpact.com
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
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MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Deeda Lovett EDITOR Darcy Sprague REPORTERS Zach Keel, Katy McAfee, Ben Thompson GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Don Grabowski, Joseph Veloz ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Gail Watson METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Travis Baker MANAGING EDITOR Amy Denney COPY CHIEF Andy Comer SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Haley Grace CORPORATE LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT & GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING Tess Coverman CONTACT US 16225 Impact Way, Ste. 1, P ugerville, TX 78660 • 512 989 6808 PRESS RELEASES ctanews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING ctaads@communityimpact.com SUBSCRIPTIONS communityimpact.com/subscriptions
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CORRECTION: Volume 1, Issue 5 Austin ISD’s funding sources were listed incorrectly under District Data on Page 15. Corrected information can be found on Page 15 of this issue.
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TRAVIS COUNTY WANTS TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU Travis County Purchasing Office is located at 700 Lavaca Street Suite 800 Austin, Texas 78701 Phone: 512 854-9700
Visit our website for current solicitations. https://www.traviscountytx.gov/purchasing
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon
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serves coffee, pastries, milk breads, and handmade sandwiches and cakes. It also has Korean influences on the menu like matcha lattes, red bean bread and mochi doughnuts. It is open daily from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. 512-520-5019. www.parisbaguette.com 4 Warby Parker opened its third Austin location near Central Park at 4001 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, on Aug. 20. The new location will offer eye exams, a full selection of lenses, kids options and Warby Parker’s new brand of daily use contact lenses. The new location will feature artwork from Austinite Emily Eisenhart. 888-492- 7297. www.warbyparker.com 5 Urban Lagree opened its second location at 4800 Burnet Road, Ste. A-100, Austin, on Sept. 1. Urban Lagree is a fitness center offering 45-minute classes that include cardio, strength training, core stability and flexibility. Urban Lagree is by local women Katie Hayes and Abbie Rosser. 737-226-3797. www.urbanlagree.com RELOCATIONS 6 College Tutors relocated to 4412 Spicewood Springs Road, Ste. 104, Austin, on Sept. 1 from its previous location on Far West Boulevard. College Tutors offers homework assistance for all grade levels and college test prep. The company opened in 2007 and has since open several other offices in the area. It also has services available online. 512- 372-8526. www.tutoringinatx.com
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CLOSINGS 7 The Steeping Room announced it will close at 4400 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, on Sept. 24. The founders, Amy March and Emily Morrison, said they want to shift focus to their online tea market and wholesale program, which will include packaged baked goods and pastries. They will also release a line of “teahouse-inspired” frozen doughs and baking mixes to make at home. The Steeping Room has been serving the Austin community for 15 years. 512-467- 2663. www.thesteepingroom.com 8 Tio Pepe , a Portuguese chicken restaurant, closed in July after four years. The restaurant, located at 6406 N. I-35, Ste. 2510, Austin, in the Linc, served chicken, grilled vegetables, cilantro rice and desserts. The owners are continuing to sell six flavors of Peri Peri sauce, a Portuguese and African
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2 Dell Children’s Comprehensive Care Clinic opened Aug. 15 inside Austin ISD’s Rosedale School—a special education school for children who need medical or behavioral support. The clinic is designed to treat children with complex medical issues and has space for about 800 patients who are not enrolled in Rosedale School. The clinic is located at 7505 Silvercrest Drive, Ste. 200, Austin. 512-628-1898. www.dellchildrens.net 3 Paris Baguette , a South Korean bakery chain, opened its first Austin location at 110 Jacob Fontaine Lane, Austin, in August. Paris Baguette
1 Love Cycling Studio reopened in Austin at the Grove at Shoal Creek on Sept. 10. Love Cycling holds 45-minute cycling classes that incorporate weights, crunches and pushups. The facility has a state-of-the-art music video wall that plays curated music videos during the workout and a gathering space to connect with other riders after the workout. Love Cycling is located at 2609 Perseverance
sauce, on their website. www.tiopepechicken.com
Drive, Austin. 512-761-3398. www.lovecyclingstudio.com
MAJORLY INNOVATIVE What happens when you combine a tiny incision with a ton of innovation? Image-guided procedures performed by our interventional radiologists to treat problems that might otherwise require surgery. And with more than 115 subspecialized radiologists, we deliver exceptionally accurate exam results as quickly as possible. At ARA, you get a clear picture of your health. Imagine that.
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon
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and identify their goals. The rst ride at Cyclebar is free. 512-528-3112. www.cyclebar.com/location/west-5th 4 Local owners Raj and Kristen Shah opened a burger truck called Out of Nowhere ATX at the Mort Subite bar in July. The truck began in East Austin before moving to its permanent location at 308 Congress Ave., Austin. The menu includes burgers served on brioche buns, hand-cut tru e frites, Wisconsin cheese curds, wings and charcuterie. Mort Subite is a Belgian beer bar. 737- 471-4484. www.outofnowhereatx.com 5 Sugared + Bronzed opened at 237 W. Second St., Austin, on Aug. 24. The salon o ers a service called sugaring—a process using sugar, lemon juice and water to remove unwanted hair—and spray tans. The sugaring services range from lip and eyebrow treatments to full-body hair removals. The new location is in the Second Street district. 512-666-4088. www.sugaredandbronzed.com 6 Oaxacan restaurant Tellus opened on Aug. 25. The restaurant is the nighttime counterpart to Tellus Joe, a cafe that opened in the same space in August. Both concepts at 3108 Windsor Road, Austin, come from the team behind the Beer Plant, which is located next door. Tellus features vegan Oaxacan dishes. It also o ers agave spirits and natural wine. Tellus Joe, a plant-based cafe and co ee bar, o ers beverages, breakfast tacos and sandwiches. 512-220-0459. www.tellusjoe.com
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RELOCATIONS 7 Kung Acupuncture relocated to 805 W. 10th St., Austin, in mid-September. The practice owned by local Dr. Debbie Kung, specializes in Eastern medicine, including acupuncture, cupping, guasha and herbal remedies. Previously, the studio was located at 812 W. 11th St., Ste. 300B, Austin. 512-900-1932. 8 Southwestern restaurant Z’Tejas Southwest Grill extended the lease on its 1110 W. Sixth St., Austin, location until March 2023. After it closes, Z’Tejas will reopen in Kyle and potentially open another downtown location. “We are excited to con rm that we’re able to stay in our historic location on Sixth Street for eight more months to be able to serve the community,” Z’Tejas Chief Operations O cer Robby Nethercut said. Z’Tejas has been serving the Austin community for 33 years. www.ztejas.com www.kungacu.com IN THE NEWS
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2 Mañana co ee shop opened a second location at 111 Sandra Muraida Way, Ste. 101, Austin, in the Seaholm district on Aug. 14. The shop o ers locally sourced co ee, freshly baked pastries, smoothies, and a grab-and- go section with snacks. The shop also serves natural beer and wines on tap. Mañana is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. www.mananaaustin.com 3 Cyclebar , an indoor cycling gym, opened its rst Austin location at 507 Pressler St., Ste. 900, Austin, in August. Cyclebar has spin classes and inter- val training—high-intensity workouts interspersed with rest. Cyclebar classes are taught by certi ed instructors who strive to get to know guests personally
1 Nori , a locally owned plant-based Japanese restaurant, opened at 3208 Guadalupe St., Ste. B, Austin, on Aug. 4. Nori has an entirely vegan menu with vegetable-based nigiri, rolls, and main entrees such as eggplant katsu and gin- ger miso ramen. It also serves appetizers such as blistered shisito peppers, beet fries and kimchi. Nori is serving a limited menu but is planning on expanding its o erings to include more rolls, gyozas, cocktails and mocktails. 512-520-5775. www.noriaustin.com
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NEW OWNERSHIP 6 French pastry shop La Patisserie changed owners in June. The previous owner, Soraiya Nagree, stepped away after 15 years to spend time with family. The new owners Shawn and Jess Quinn have over 35 combined years of restau- rant experience. The couple said they will retain the classic French pastry La Patisserie offers while also bringing in new seasonal flavors such as a pumpkin spice eclair and fig morning bun. La Pa- tisserie has two locations: 602 W. Annie St., Austin and one on Burnet Road. 512-912-0033. www.lpaustin.com ANNIVERSARIES Twin Liquors —a fourth-generation fam- ily-owned company—celebrated its 85th anniversary in August. Twin Liquors was first opened in Austin and has grown to over 100 locations throughout the state offering fine wine and spirits from around the world. Twin Liquors has more than a dozen locations in Austin. www.twinliquors.com
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food. The truck will serve rice bowls, such as the Thit Ko—coconut milk- braised pork over rice—corn fritters and avocado ice cream. The truck will be located at 1109 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, and is set to open in late September. Instagram: @bisous_viethomecookin 3 The founders of Hopdoddy will open a new Mexican restaurant called Masa y Más in Austin this fall. The restaurant will serve handmade tortillas, tacos and tortas from a variety of cultural regions throughout Mexico as well as margaritas, agua frescas and Mexican beers. Masa y Más will be located at 1817 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, in the space where Austin Pizza used to be. Instagram:@masaymasatx 4 Blade and Timber Axe Throwing will open a location in Austin on 3005 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 110-A, Austin in late 2022. The location will have 15
axe-throwing lanes, a full bar and snacks. The venue will host leagues and is designed for birthday pirates, bach- elor parties, team-building activities.
www.bladeandtimber.com NAME CHANGES
1 Aussie cafe Proud Mary opened an Austin location on 2043 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, in September. Proud Mary origi- nated in Melbourne and then opened in Portland, Oregon, serving house-roasted coffee, breakfast sandwiches and lunch. The menu also includes frozen coffees, Vegemite toasts, ricotta hotcakes and sausage rolls. Proud Mary is owned by husband-and-wife duo Nolan and Shari Hirte. www.proudmarycoffee.com COMING SOON 2 Former Foreign & Domestic chef Bianca Frasier will open a food truck called Bisous —French for “kisses”—serv- ing Vietnamese and Southern comfort
5 Screenprinting company Fine South- ern Gentlemen rebranded to Feels So Good in August during its 15th year of business. The new label is intended to better represent the brand and staff at the company while still retaining the FSG acronym. Feels So Good offers design and screenprinting services and has a retail section with T-shirts, patches, vinyls and home goods. Feels So Good is located at 211 E. Alpine Road, Ste. 700A, Austin. 512-666-9050. www.fsgprints.com
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon or expanding
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1708 E. Sixth St., Austin, in mid-Octo- ber. Allday serves New-York style pies, made to order or by the slice. Allday serves specialty pies, such as its white pizza with roasted broccolini, garlic and lemon pepper seasoning; build-your-own options; salads; cold brew coffee; and gelato. The restaurant will be operating next to the Daydreamer bar out of a tiny home. Allday is owned by Daniel Sorg, Townsend Smith and Zak Drummond. www.allday.pizza 5 G’Raj Mahal , an Indian restaurant with a Texas-inspired menu, is reopen- ing on Austin’s East side in late 2022. The new menu will feature brisket tikka masala, smoked Tandoor-style chicken and frankies, and other South Asian and Texan combinations. It will also serve beer, wine and nonalcoholic drinks. G’Raj closed last July after 14 years on Rainey Street and will reopen at 2207 Alamo St., Austin. Facebook: G’Raj Mahal 6 A new hangout spot for book read- ers and wine drinkers will open this fall at 1101 E. 11th St., Austin. Vintage Books and Wine will feature a global selec- tion of wines, local beers, Nespresso coffee and tea, and a selection of new books. Vintage will be located in the Haehnel Building, a registered historic landmark that was built in 1880. Owner Jean Buckner says the name Vintage is a homonym that refers to both the decor in the shop and the year grapes are harvested for wine production. 512-551- 9215. www.vintagebooksandwine.com 7 Industry restaurant is opening a second location in Austin at 1211 E. Fifth St., Austin, in early October. Industry is owned by Harlan Scott and Cody Taylor, who named their restaurant as an
homage to people working in the service industry. They have an expansive menu with Texas-influenced dishes all made from scratch, 30 draft beers, wine and cocktails. Industry will offer breakfast and coffee in the morning and keep its kitchen open late. 512-564-8686.
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973 little pups. Jackie’s Small Paws will be located in the building next door and open to dogs under 30 pounds for overnight stays, supervised day care, nail trims, baths and other grooming services. Owner and Austinite Zachary Biderman said the new addition will be perfect for dogs who are intimidated by larger pups or for dogs who prefer play- ing with dogs their size. Jackie’s Small Paws is located at 2023 Airport Blvd., 8 Jackie’s Play and Stay , a dog groom- ing, boarding, and day care business, is expanding in fall 2022 to accommodate
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71 the first of eight planned locations. 512-900-1051. www.viomedspa.com COMING SOON ments. The Cepeda Branch Library is located at 651 N. Pleasant Valley Road, Austin. All Austin Public Library locations are now open for the first time since the start of the pandemic. 512-974-7372. www.library.austintexas.gov 3 Austin owners Kirk and Rebecca Risha opened V/O Med Spa Mueller on Sept. 22. The spa offers memberships for services such as body contouring, injectables, skin rejuvenation and spa services. The loca- tion, 1900 Aldrich St., Ste. 120, Austin, is 4 A new late-night pizza restaurant called Allday is expected to open on
130 TOLL Ste. 5, Austin. 512-626-4909. www.jackiesplayandstay.com ANNIVERSARIES
1 On Aug. 11, a skate and cycle track opened in Mueller. The Gaylord Sackler Memorial Skate Park is located at 3730 Manor Road, Austin. The park is free and open to all for skateboarding, incline skating and BMX riding. The track includes quarter pipes and a half-bowl. The park also has shaded rest areas, public bath- rooms and water fountains. 512-703-9202 2 The Cepeda Branch Library reopened Aug. 6 after being closed for a year and a half for renovations. The updated build- ing has new drywall, flooring, furniture and lighting, and landscape improve-
9 Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches is celebrating its fifth anniversary in Sep- tember. In addition to the anniversary, Batch will launch its new taco concept Lote. The menu, which includes sweet and savory kolaches, beer and coffee, will expand with tortas sliders, picadillo burritos, tacos, nachos and mulitas. Batch is located at 3220 Manor Road, Austin. 512-401-3025. www.batchatx.com
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
TO DO LIST
October & November events
OCT. 07 16
ENJOY AN ICONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL ZILKER METROPOLITAN PARK
OCT. 22
WALK TO CURE ARTHRITIS MUELLER LAKE PARK
OCT. 28 29
DANCE AT A SPOOKY DISCO THE BELMONT
The annual Austin City Limits Music Festival will take place over two consecutive three-day weekends. The lineup will include artists such as The Chicks, SZA, Pink, Lil Nas X and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The ACL food court will also o er treats from surrounding restaurants. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Tickets start at $145. Zilker Metropolitan Park, 2207 Lou Ne Road, Austin. www.aclfestival.com
The Arthritis Foundation will host a walk to support over 54 million Americans battling arthritis. Participants can help raise money to fund research, treatments and support for those battling the disease. Registration is available online. An event schedule will also be available online soon. The event starts at 8:30 a.m. Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd., Austin. 210-441-7121. www.events.arthritis.org
Have fun, but keep quiet, at the Spooky Silent Disco Party in downtown Austin this October. Partygoers will receive Quiet Events headphones and glow- in-the-dark gear. Attendees will have three DJs to choose from as they dance and party with their friends. 21 and over only. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. $22.25 (online), $25 (at the door). The Belmont, 305 W. Sixth St., Austin. 800-833-9281. www.quietevents.com
OCTOBER 01 DRINK SOME COFFEE The 2022 Austin Co ee Festival will bring special exhibitions from Austin co ee roasters. Live music, co ee tastings and pastries will all be available in one spot for co ee enthusiasts. Children under age 13 do not need a ticket but must be accompanied by an
10 sample tickets. There will also be food trucks and live music. 21 and over. Noon-6:30 p.m. $20 (designated driver), $45 (general admission). Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St., Austin. www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org 05 SEE A BELGIAN MUSIC GROUP Front 242 is a Belgian electronic music group that is touring the U.S. with their “Black to Square One” tour. The
adult. 9 a.m. (VIP ticket holders), 10 a.m. (general admission tickets). Tickets start at $37.69. Fair Market, 1100 E. Fifth St., Austin. www.austinco eefestival.com 01 SAMPLE CRAFT BEERS The Texas Craft Brewers Festival will hold a sampling-focused festival that features more than 200 Texas- brewed craft beers. All attendees will get a commemorative tasting cup and
band will perform at a concert hosted by Cold Waves Festival and alternative clothing shop Secret Oktober. 9:30 p.m. $41.89 (per person). Elysium, 705 Red River St., Austin. 512-478-8385. www.secret-oktober.com/f242 07 THROUGH 08 GET YOUR PUN ON The 45th O. Henry Museum Pun-O World Championship brings together
PUNCH! PUNCH! POWERBOMB EM!
THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY
Written By Kristoffer Diaz Directed By Jerry Ruiz
Begins September 28 The Topfer at ZACH Theatre tickets.zachtheatre.org
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(512) 874-3724 3563 Far West Blvd. #112 Austin, TX 78731
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY TAYLOR CRIPE
NOV. 04 06
GET A TASTE OF AUSTIN AUDITORIUM SHORES
The Texas Pumpkin Fest in Leander returns Oct. 8.
pun enthusiasts with 32 contestants facing o live. The Pun-O will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. Times vary. Free. Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St., Austin. 512-974-6723. www.puno atx.brushsquaremuseums.org 08 EMBRACE GERMAN HERITAGE The Oktoberfest celebration will take place at the German Texans Heritage Society in the Red River Cultural District. Live music, kid-friendly events and Oktoberfest beer will be available for attendees. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free (age 12 and under), $15 (per person). German Texans Heritage Society, 507 E. 10th St., Austin. 512-467-4569. www.germantexans.org/oktoberfest 21 THROUGH 23 EXPERIENCE AUTO RACING The Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix, one of the biggest motor racing events in the world, will return to Austin this October. In addition to seeing some of the world’s fastest race car drivers, there will also be performances by artists including Ed Sheeran along with child-centered activities throughout the event. The event will start at 8 a.m. on Friday. Tickets start at $89. Circuit of The Americas, 9201 Circuit of The Americas Blvd., Austin. 512-301-6600. www.circuitoftheamericas.com 21 THROUGH 28 WATCH A FLICK The Austin Film Festival and Conference will return for eight days of movies, television, panels and parties. The celebration of screenwriting will include Q&A sessions with writers, actors and lmmakers. The fest will feature movies such as pandemic comedy “Little Jar” and Texas-made documentary “Song of the Cicada.” Passes start at $70. Locations vary. www.austin lmfestival.com 24 THROUGH NOV. 4 VOTE EARLY Voters will be able to cast ballots early for the November election. The ballot includes state races, such as governor, and local positions, including some city council and school board districts. Voters can also submit their ballot by mail. Polling locations will be made available closer to Election Day and are subject to change. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 11, and early voting begins Oct. 24. Travis County District Clerk, 1000 Guadalupe St., Austin. 512-854-9188. www.countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/departments/elections NOVEMBER 04 THROUGH 13 CELEBRATE SAUSAGE Take part in this annual German-style festival in New Braunfels. Guests can enjoy German food, music and beer during the 61st Wurstfest Celebration. Various hours. Free (Nov. 7-10 and 3-10 p.m. on Nov. 13 for children age 12 and under), $20 (general admission). 120 Landa St., New Braunfels. 830-625-9167. www.wurstfest.com At the annual Austin Food and Wine Festival, attendees will be able to sample an assortment of foods from top Austin chefs and drinks including wines, beers and spirits. 21 and over only. Saturday and Sunday events start at noon. Two-day passes available starting at $250. Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Drive, Austin. www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com
REGIONAL FALL GUIDE SEPT. 17 NOV. 06 PICK FLOWERS AND RIDE PONIES
Crew Memberships Available!
Visit Sweet Berry Farm to pick owers, stu scarecrows, ride ponies and paint pumpkins. All events are family-friendly. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Mon.-Sat.), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sun.), closed Wed. Prices vary by event. $4 (hayrides), $5.25 (pumpkin painting), $3.25 (candy corn kid maze). Sweet Berry Farm, 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls. 830 798 1462. www.sweetberryfarm.com SEPT. 22 OCT. 30 EXPLORE A SPOOKY PUMPKIN PARK At Pumpkin Nights, visitors can journey into six pumpkin- themed lands, watch re dancers and dig for buried treasure in Pirate Cove. Other games, entertainment and food vendors will be available for guests to enjoy. 6 11 p.m. Free (children 3 and younger), $14-$18 (ages 4 12), $18-$26 (adults). Jourdan- Bachman Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive, Austin. 512 837 1215. www.pumpkinnights.com SEPT. 17 NOV. 06 GET LOST IN A CORN MAZE IN BASTROP Visit a family-owned farm for the Austin Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch. Visitors can pick pumpkins, complete a 5-acre corn maze, play with farm animals and more. There is also a craft beer and cider garden. The festival is open Saturdays, Sundays and on Monday, Oct. 10. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $21.95 (per person). Barton Hill Farms, 1115 FM 969, Bastrop. 855 969- 1115. www.bartonhillfarms.com OCT. 08 30 EXPERIENCE THE TEXAS PUMPKIN FEST The annual festival in Leander will feature 5 acres of pumpkins and gourds, trains, photo-ops, a “tent of terror,” food trucks and entertainment on weekends. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (closed Mondays except Oct. 10). Free (Tue.), $5 (Wed.- Thu.), $10 (Fri.-Sun.). 8760 FM 2243, Leander. 512 222- 8055. www.texaspumpkinfest.com OCT. 14 WATCH A HALLOWEEN MOVIE IN THE PARK The city of Kyle Parks and Recreation Department will host a Halloween movie in the park event. The movie will begin at sundown on the basketball court at Gregg-Clarke Park. Movie information will be announced closer to the event date. 8 p.m. Free admission. Gregg-Clarke Park, 1301 W. Center St., Kyle. 512- 262 3939. www.cityoyle.com OCT. 22 23, 29 30 VISIT A TREE FARM For the last two weekends in October, Elgin Christmas Tree Farm will host its fall festival. This outdoor event will include activities such as rubber duck races, train rides, animals to visit and pumpkin photo-ops. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Sat.), noon- 5:30 p.m. (Sun.). $8 (per person). 120 Natures Way, Elgin. 512 281 5016. www.elginchristmastreefarm.com/fall-fun
Starting at $70 a month!
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Find more or submit Central Texas events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
13
NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
BY CHRISTOPHER GREEN Texas Transportation Commission adopts $85B plan the UTP outlines investments in public transportation, maritime, aviation, rail and freight.
ONGOING PROJECTS
Capital Express Central project The Uni ed Transportation Program will direct $4.5 billion to the Capital Express Central project.
On Aug. 30, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced the adoption of an $85 billion 10-year statewide road construction plan known as the Uni ed Transportation Program. The UTP is the master document for the Texas Department of Transportation. According to Abbott’s o ce, the UTP funds will coincide with an additional $32 billion over 10 years for routine maintenance and project development, including more than 7,000 projects and a total invest- ment of $117 billion statewide. One of the projects outlined in the plan is $4.5 billion for the I-35 Capital Express Central project to expand the highway in Austin between Hwy. 290 East and SH 71. Locally, funding will be used to improve the Trautwein Road and Hwy. 290 intersection in Dripping Springs. In addition to highway projects,
35
In a press release, Abbott said the UTP will help with population and economic growth in Texas. “As more people move to Texas and businesses grow across the state, we are working together to make sure Texans’ transportation safety and mobility are secured and businesses can ourish for genera- tions to come,” Abbott said. The projects that will be part of the UTP will be funded through legislative and voter-approved ini- tiatives that allocate portions of oil and gas taxes, sales taxes, and other money to the state highway fund. The Texas Transportation Commission, the governing board for TxDOT, is required to approve a new 10-year plan each year. Texas Transportation Commis- sion Chair J. Bruce Bugg Jr. said the UTP remains one of the top priorities of TxDOT.
N
290
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF SEPT. 8. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT CTANEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. and updated signals and signage. Timeline: August-December 2022 Cost: estimated $750,000 Funding source: 2016 mobility bond I-35 intersection improvements The Austin Transportation Department has broken ground on projects at the intersections of I-35 and Seventh and Eighth streets. The improvements in- clude high-visibility crosswalks along Seventh Street and a raised median on the I-35 frontage road. A new segment of bicycle lanes will be added on Sev- enth Street along with a right-turn- only lane on the eastbound side. Other work includes new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps
MOPAC
35
183 TOLL
71 TOLL
N
Project details
• removing the I-35 upper decks • lowering the main lanes
• adding two nontolled high-occupancy vehicle managed lanes in each direction
SOURCE: TXDOT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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14
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Austin Community College & Austin ISD
Austin ISD Meets Oct. 13 and 26 at 5:30 p.m. 4000 S. I-35, Austin www.austinisd.org Austin Community College Board of Trustees Meets Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin. www.austincc.edu MEETINGS WE COVER special education students. Black students in Austin ISD, 6.5% of the student population, accounted for 17.5% of all disciplinary actions during the 2021-22 school year. Students receiving special education services, 13.4% of the district’s student population, accounted for 29.7%. The discipline rate for Black students dropped by 0.2 percentage points from 2020-21 to 2021-22, while the rate for special education students decreased by 11.4 percentage points. DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN ISD Changes proposed during an Aug. 18 meeting for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Austin ISD school year calendars would make Election Day a holiday for students. If approved by the AISD board of trustees, Nov. 8, 2022, and Nov. 7, 2023, would become student holidays and professional development days for sta . The move is aimed at making campuses safer as many of the district’s schools are used as public polling sites, according to Jacob Reach, AISD chief of governmental relations and board services. AUSTIN ISD The Texas Education Agency released the 2021-22 accountability ratings for school districts and individual schools on Aug. 15. Austin ISD received an overall B rating, scoring 88 out of 100 points. The TEA did not give ratings in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AUSTIN ISD Data presented Sept. 1 to the board of trustees shows Austin ISD lags behind in reducing the disproportionate discipline of Black students but is making progress with
ACC advances $770 million bond
AISD board to vote on 2022 23 tax rate
BY CHLOE YOUNG
If approved by Central Texas voters, the bond would go toward expanding ACC’s workforce training in elds, such as health care, advanced manufacturing and infor- mation technology across 11 existing campuses. The founding would also create a new campus in southwest Travis County and reopen and expand the Pinnacle Campus. “We are committed to giving Cen- tral Texans the most opportunity to prepare for the future,” said Nora de Hoyos Comstock, ACC board of trustees vice chair. The bond would not raise the property tax rate, as property values are anticipated to keep rising, said Sydney Pruitt, ACC senior media relations coordinator. A $500,000 household would pay a maximum of $5 per year for the rst ve years and up to $25 per year for the remaining years of the bond, Pruitt said. Disabled residents and seniors 65 and older would not be a ected due to a tax ceiling set by ACC. based on midpoint salaries, according to district o cials. It also includes stipends based on length of service. Additionally, $8 million will go to raise the district’s minimum hourly wage to $16, from $13.50, and another $1 million will go to increasing the minimum hourly pay for bus drivers to $21 from $17. The district is projecting $1.66 billion in revenue. That includes $1.57 billion from local revenue, $62.64 million in state funds and $19.97 million in federal funds.
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE The board of trustees voted Aug. 11 to add a $770 million bond to the November ballot.
BY ZACH KEEL
AUSTIN ISD The board of trustees will decide Sept. 29 whether to adopt a proposed 2022-23 tax rate of $0.9966 per $100 of property value. If passed, the rate would be the low- est among surrounding Central Texas school districts, according to Chief Financial O cer Eduardo Ramos. The overall rate is a combination of two property taxes levied by the district—the maintenance and oper- ations rate, or M&O, which pays for ongoing maintenance and operations costs including facility repairs and teacher salaries, and the interest and sinking rate, or I&S, which is used to service bond debt. The proposed M&O rate is $0.8836, and the I&S proposal is $0.113. Based on the median taxable property values for each year, a homeowner would pay slightly more to Austin ISD in 2022-23 than 2021- 2022 in under the proposed rate. Austin ISD income An increasing amount of AISD’s revenue is expected to come from local taxes. Local revenue $1.4B
WHAT’S IN THE BOND?
Austin Community College is putting forward a $770 million bond on the November election.
$200M $100M $100M $80M $75M $75M $40M $30M $25M $15M $15M $10M $5M
Southeast Travis County † Hays Highland Cypress Creek Pinnacle ‡
Round Rock Rio Grande San Gabriel Elgin Eastview Northridge Riverside South Austin
† new campus in Del Valle ‡ explanation and reopening
SOURCE: AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Austin ISD starts new scal year
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23*
$1.45B
BY DARCY SPRAGUE
$1.57B
AUSTIN ISD On Oct. 1, Austin ISD will start the 2022-23 scal year with a $1.68 billion budget. The budget, passed June 23, is centered on retaining teachers and sta , according to the district. The budget provides a $1,000 annual pay bump and 2% raise for teachers
State revenue $71.45M 2020-21 2021-22 $64.63M $62.64M 2022-23* Federal revenue
$1.66B total revenue projected for 2022-23
$43.53M $105.1M $19.97M
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23*
*2022 23 PROJECTED REVENUE
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
TWO LOCATIONS
NEW CENTRAL AUSTIN LOCATION NOW OPEN
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15
NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
Winner of Four Tony Awards® including BEST PLAY
THE INHERITANCE
Foster & Adopt &
Volunteer & Advocate & Donate & Care.
WRITTEN BY MATTHEW LOPEZ | DIRECTED BY DAVE STEAKLEY
PART 2 BEGINS SEPTEMBER 14 tickets.zachtheatre.org
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
16
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
CITY & COUNTY
News from Austin & Travis County
COMPILED BY BEN THOMPSON
Austin City Council Meets Oct. 11 and 25 at 9 a.m. and Oct. 13 and 27 at 10 a.m. 301 W. Second St., Austin www.austintexas.gov Travis County Commissioners Court Meets Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 9 a.m. 700 Lavaca St., Austin www.traviscountytx.gov MEETINGS WE COVER the police oversight measure proposed by the political group Equity Action will be placed on the May 2023 election ballot. grocery cooperative. The new retail location will serve Austin’s Eastern Crescent, an area facing a lack of access to healthy foods and related health issues. TRAVIS COUNTY The Central Health board of managers approved its $300.75 million fiscal year 2022-23 budget Sept. 7. The budget increased more than $20 million from last year, funded in part by an increase in property tax revenue and tobacco litigation settlement, which together brought in $286.1 million. Central Health lowered its property tax rate to $0.09868 per $100 HIGHLIGHTS TRAVIS COUNTY Commissioners unanimously voted Aug. 30 to raise the minimum wage for Travis County employees from $15 to $20 an hour and implement a 5% salary increase across the board. The wage increases will take effect Oct. 1 with the start of fiscal year 2022-23. AUSTIN Officials signed off on an agreement with the east side community coalition Go Austin/ Vamos Austin on Sept. 1 to establish the city’s first community-managed valuation—down from $0.11181 in FY 2021-22. Travis County commissioners will approve the budget and tax rate by the start of the fiscal year Oct. 1. AUSTIN City Council voted against passing the Austin Police Oversight Act on Sept. 20. Instead,
Homeless shelter program seeing mixed results AUSTIN More than one year since its launch, Austin’s Housing-focused Encampment Assistance Link, or HEAL, program has brought hun- dreds of people off the streets and toward potential housing. HEAL has cleared 10 public encampments and relocated more than 360 people into temporary shelter for connection to housing ser- vices. Through late July, more than one-fourth had moved into housing. Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Grey also said the program AUSTIN City Council’s recent discussion of how Austin handles its short-term rental market could point to further review of local regulations in the near future. A Sept. 6 briefing on short-term rentals, or STRs, covered issues including the widespread presence of unlicensed units in Austin and the challenges with related enforce- ment. Around 1,975 STRs operating in the city as of early September, including Airbnbs and Vrbos, were licensed, out of an estimated 9,000- 11,000 total, city staff said. Austin Code Department Director José Roig said complaints related to STRs are most often tied to City to review short- term rental policy
HEADING TOWARD HOUSING Austin has moved hundreds of people into shelter and housing since June 2021 through August 2022. 10 encampments decommissioned 361 people moved into shelter 182 people enrolled in housing services and 108 people moved into housing 118 returned to homelessness Average time from shelter entry to housing move-in: 173 DAYS
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
is reducing the amount of time its clients spend waiting for housing. Since HEAL began in June 2021, the average shelter-to-housing timeline was just under six months. Since last October only, the process averaged 3.5 months. Nearly half of those who have exited shelter ended up returning to
AUSTIN Police can once again use automated license plate readers following a 7-4 City Council vote. District 6 Council Member Mackenzie Kelly has pushed to bring back the police data tracking program for $114,775 after it was shut down in 2020. Kelly and several law enforce- ment groups said the program can help police respond to crimes such as kidnappings and auto thefts. Other residents and council members, most vocally District 4’s Chito Vela, opposed the program given concerns related to expanded police powers and potential privacy and civil liberties infringements. Council funds plate readers amid concerns homelessness while 44% moved on to housing. Grey said that trend was due in part to how long the program’s service and housing connections initially took, and that totals will likely shift in a more positive direction as clients in the city’s two shelters, which are at or near capacity, secure housing.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL ENFORCEMENT The city is considering revamping practices around homes on rental sites, such as Airbnb and Vrbo.
9,000 and 11,000 Between STRs advertised*
STRs licensed with the city* 1,975
*AS OF SEPTEMBER
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
unlicensed spaces, and that nailing down any penalties for those homes is often difficult due to “savvy” property owners and a lack of data from the larger companies. Council signaled in September that it hopes to review city policy to ensure compliance.
WHISPER VALLEY
Solar PV
Google Fiber
Future 600-acre park
Eco-Friendly, Connected, Revolutionary
Geothermal heating and cooling
Dog park
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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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