South Central Austin Edition | December 2023

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South Central Austin Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 9 DEC. 22, 2023JAN. 25, 2024

This year, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ocials saw nine record-breaking days of passenger volumes.

GRANT CRAWFORDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Airport sta expect another record-breaking year

passenger levels would not return to what they were prior to the pandemic until 2024. Instead, the total passenger count from 2022 rose above what it was in 2019 by about 20%.

In 2022, the city-owned airport experienced its busiest year on record. Ocials anticipate that 2023 will break this record as passenger volumes continuously soar. In June of 2020, ABIA ocials projected that

BY ELLE BENT

As Austin’s population grows, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ocials are working to modernize and expand the airport to accommodate the needs of passengers over time.

CONTINUED ON 14

Also in this issue

Impacts: Yard Bard founder opens new restaurant (Page 6)

Government: Council updates single-family housing limits (Page 10)

Education: AISD names superintendent nalist (Page 12)

Dining: Sisters serve authentic Italian cuisine (Page 19)

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THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE Mobility Authority

Navigating the tolling landscape can be complicated. We’re the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and we’re here to help you understand important pieces of the tolling puzzle, like what we do and how your toll bill works.

The Mobility Authority is not the only toll operator

The Mobility Authority is not an electronic tag provider or operator. We encourage all electronic tag customers to log into their account with their tag provider to ensure they are in good standing and to avoid receiving a Mobility Authority Pay By Mail bill in the future.

Late payment fees do apply

Valid Payment Method

The Mobility Authority is not TxTag

We accept a variety of electronic tags

Tag Account:

+ $

There’s a reason you might get a bill in the mail even if you have an electronic tag

Pos ii itive Balance

There are payment options everywhere

Correct License Plate

Keep your electronic tag account in good standing

We use your address on file with the Texas DMV for bills

Vaild Tag

Learn what to do when you sell your car

Using the Pay By Mail program costs you more

* Check with your electronic tag provider for all criteria.

WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP

To learn more fast facts about paying your Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority toll bill, visit us at MobilityAuthority.com/tolling101.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Winter Weather PREPAREDNESS TIPS For updates and instructional videos visit: austinwater.org

Locate your water shutoff Make sure everyone in your residence knows where the water main shutoff valve is located and keep it clear of debris and obstacles at all times. In an emergency, Austin Water recommends you always try to shut off your water at your property owner’s cutoff valve first. For most homes in our service area, the property owner’s shutoff valve is on your side of the water meter at the meter box. If you are not sure where, check the property inspection report from when you purchased your residence. For renters, please consult with your property manager. If you cannot find your shutoff valve or if it is damaged, then you should be prepared to access the City shutoff valve in the meter box. You may need a water meter key to open the meter box, during an emergency, which can be purchased at most hardware stores. Keep out cold air Tightly close doors and windows to the outside. Make repairs to broken or drafty windows, doors, and walls. Seal all leaks in crawl spaces and basements. Winterize unheated spaces and close garage doors for the duration of the freeze. Exposed pipes and water heaters Insulate pipes in unheated and drafty areas, such as an attic or garage. Also check Also check manufacturer recommendations for your tanked and tankless water heaters. Hardware and plumbing supply stores carry insulation to help keep pipes from freezing. Outside faucets Turn off outside faucets. Remove all connected hoses and wrap faucets with towels or a Styrofoam insulator. Turn off and drain automatic sprinkler systems. Prepare before leaving town If you plan to be away during a time when freezing temperatures are possible, turn off your water at the meter and set your thermostat to 65 degrees or higher.

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES to have on hand

■ WATER METER KEY to access your meter box if necessary ■ INSULATION

■ Battery powered RADIO and FLASHLIGHT ■ Have enough water

for 1 GALLON PER PERSON PER DAY FOR 7 DAYS

for indoor and outdoor pipes

■ HOSE BIB COVERS for outdoor faucets

In the event of an emergency and you can’t access your meter box, please call Austin Water’s Emergency Dispatch at 512-972-1000.

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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EXHIBITION

NOW ON VIEW through March 24, 2024

Sharks is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York. The Museum gratefully acknowledges Warner Bros Discovery for its generous support of Sharks . A selection of footage in Sharks has been provided by Discovery's Shark Week.

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.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

NORTH AUSTIN

2 Modern Animal Representatives with Modern Animal opened their second Austin location on Burnet Road in early December. The veterinary clinic offers primary and preventative pet care in addition to surgery, dentistry and 24/7 virtual pet care. The first Austin location opened late September on South

Coming soon

183

Lamar Boulevard. • Opened Dec. 4

MOPAC

• 5118 Burnet Road, Austin • www.modernanimal.com

3 Rosa Pottery Studio Born and raised in Austin, Hillary Rose has founded a pottery studio that aims to serve as a safe space for those who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or people of color. The studio offers one-time classes and packages for multiple sessions. In addition to private lessons, Rosa Pottery Studio also hosts workshops and special events. • Opened Nov. 27 • 8711 Burnet Road, Ste. F65, Austin • www.rosapottery.studio 4 Honey Hill Market What started as an online shop has now evolved into a brick-and-mortar store called Honey Hill Market, which specializes in vintage clothing, hats, leather boots and more. The shop also hosts a Honey Hill Market on weekends and brings together other small, local vendors. • Opened Aug. 12

6 Camp Out Kristen Heaney Clark, founder and owner of Yard Bar, opened outdoor restaurant and bar patio Camp Out in late October on the Yard Bar property. The menu consists of what head chef Candace Landberg, formerly of Cenote, calls “comfort food with a campfire fusion,” with reimagined dishes such as hamburgers, hot dogs and more in addition to a curated cocktail menu. • Opened Oct. 21

290

• 6700 Burnet Road, Austin • www.campout.yardbar.com

MAP NOT TO SCALE

• 1800 W. Koenig Lane, Austin • Instagram: honeyhillmarket

North Central

Closing

Coming soon

7 Old Thousand The Chinese eatery closed on Burnet Road after more than three years in business. Major equipment failure and a pending increase in rent made it difficult to move forward with the location, an email from Old Thousand states. The restaurant’s original location at 1000 E. 11th St. will remain open, and officials staid there are plans to extend its operating hours and menu. • Closed Dec.

Now open

5 The Retreat at Mantra Yoga Collective A new yoga studio offering a wide range of classes, events, a relaxation space, and a full-service coffee and kombucha bar will open in Northwest Austin in mid- December. The studio, called The Retreat, will be split into two parts—one for practicing yoga, and the other for relaxing and socializing. • Opening in mid-December • 3300 West Anderson Lane, Ste. 300, Austin • www.mantrayogacollective.com

1 Playground ATX Sisters Sue Kim-Drohomyrecky and Katie Kim opened Playground ATX in mid-November. Playground ATX serves as a restaurant launchpad, with a six-month rotation of eateries occupying the 75-seat restaurant space to test the waters before a full-scale opening. Locals Kevin and Rosie Truong, who started the recently closed food truck Fil ‘n Viet, are the first tenants with their new eatery, East Meets Wings. • Opened Nov. 15

• 34805 Burnet Road, Austin • www.oldthousandatx.com

• 5001 Airport Blvd., Austin • www.playground-atx.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

Downtown/West Campus

WHITIS AVE.

Now open

1 Sapori Italian Roots After closing his South Austin food truck Il Saporis in May, Tony DeStefano opened brick-and-mortar restaurant Sapori Italian Roots with an expanded menu. • Opened Aug. 10 • 800 Brazos St., Ste. 215, Austin • www.saporiatx.com 2 Pearl Dive Oyster Bar Helmed by chef Peter Klimov, the Clarksville neighborhood oyster bar occupies the former Sushi Zushi space. Pearl Dive Oyster Bar oers a variety of oysters and other fresh, locally sourced seafood dishes. • Opened Oct. 1 • 1611 W. Fifth St., Ste. 105, Austin • 512-291-7898 3 Quince LakeHouse Sitting on the banks of Lake Austin, Texas restaurateur Brian Sneed opened Quince LakeHouse in early November. The restaurant oers a diverse menu, most of which is meant to be shared. • Opened Nov. 1 • 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Ste. 201, Austin • www.quincemas.com/atx 4 Cambria Austin Downtown Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown is situated near the Rainey Street District. The hotel has a rooftop lounge called Limestone that oers cocktails and live music, in addition to a lobby bar and restaurant called Grati. • Opened Dec. 5 • 68 East Ave., Austin • www.choicehotels.com

GUADALUPE ST.

MOPAC

included removing the orchestra pit, reconguring the lobby, replacing seats and upgrading the building’s infrastructure. • 2300 Whitis Ave., Austin • www.utexas.edu 6 Violet Crown Cinemas Mitch Roberts, founder of EVO Entertainment Group and an Austinite, announced EEG acquired Austin-based Violet Crown Cinemas in late October. Roberts said the acquisition is part of EEG’s growth plans; however, Violet Crown Cinemas will maintain its name. Violet Crown focuses on independent, documentary and foreign lms. • 434 W. Second St., Austin • http://austin.violetcrown.com

Closings

7 Counter Culture The vegan restaurant closed its West Campus food truck in hopes of opening a brick-and-mortar in late 2024, owner Sue Davis announced. • Closed Dec. 19 • 2908 Fruth St., Austin • www.countercultureaustin.com

In the news

5 Hogg Memorial Auditorium The 90-year-old performing arts venue nished its two- year, $27.7 million renovation in October. Renovations

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COFERCONNELLY.COM • 602 W. 11 TH ST., AUSTIN, TX 78701 • 512-200-3801

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

35 location in late November. The smoothie shop blends raw, cold-pressed juices with fruits and vegetables to create smoothies. Guests can also choose from grab-and-go plant-based meals, wellness shots and superfood lattes. One of the bestselling smoothies is the Originator, which is a blend of apple, almond milk, banana, blueberry, cherry, peanut butter, brown rice protein and spirulina. • Opened Nov. 28 • 600 E. Ben White Blvd., Ste. 400, Austin • www.juiceland.com Mason Levey and Sarah Larson Levey, has opened. The studio offers heated, candlelit yoga with no mirrors so attendees can attend without feeling any pressure. The small chain has a handful of locations in Los Angeles and New York City, making this the first location in Texas. • Opened in September • 2330 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.y7-studio.com 3 JuiceLand JuiceLand opened an East Ben White Boulevard

Now open

MOPAC

6 Nomade Cocina and Raw Bar The new eatery serves a gluten-free menu featuring flavors from several global cuisines. The new kitchen and bar was launched by Adam Weisberg and Jay Huang, the duo behind South Austin’s Lucky Robot Japanese restaurant. Nomade’s dishes are inspired by the varied foods of Central America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. • Opened Oct. 25

E. BEN WHITE BLVD.

In the news

• 1506 S. First St., Austin • www.nomadecocina.com

4 Odd Duck The restaurant, locally owned by brothers Bryce and Dylan Gilmore, celebrated its 10th anniversary Dec. 10. Odd Duck serves American classics, such as pasta, redfish, burgers, quail, pork shoulder and more. The restaurant also has a full bar with an extensive beer, wine and cocktail list.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

South Central

7 Heather Gordon Spa & Wellness The spa and wellness center celebrated 15 years of serving the South Austin community anniversary Sept. 1. The center was founded by Heather Gordon and has a team of licensed estheticians, massage therapists and more. Services offered include facials, chemical peels, waxes and tiny tattoos. • 2919 Menchaca Road, Ste. 101, Austin • www.heathergordonspa.com

• 1201 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.oddduckaustin.com

Now open

1 Radfish Radfish, a food truck, is now open outside of record store End of an Ear serving shrimp and fish tacos, fish sandwiches and burgers. • Opened Nov. 10 • 4304 Clawson Road, Austin • www.radfishtx.com 2 Y7 Studio Residents along South Lamar have a new fitness option as Y7 Studio, founded by husband-and-wife duo

5 Rivian Austin Hub California-based electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is working on a $3 million project on South Congress, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing. The project is stated to be a complete renovation of the interior of an existing 10,146-square- foot, two-story commercial office space with completion projected to happen sometime in December. • 200 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.rivian.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

290

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & KATY MCAFEE

EAST AUSTIN

2 Wolf and Wheat Helmed by chefs with Michelin-star experience, the shop’s dessert menu includes buckwheat brownies, oolong tiramisu and raspberry tres leches. Wolf and Wheat is owned by husband-and-wife duo Margarita Kallas-Lee and Phillip Frankland Lee. • Opened Oct. 26 • 1009 E. Sixth St., Austin • Instagram: wolfandwheatatx 3 DAWA HQ Founded by local Jonathan Chaka Mahone, Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action opened DAWA HQ to empower Austin’s BIPOC community and culture. The 1,100-square-foot, mixed-use venue can be used for live events, podcasting, workshops and more. • Opened Nov. 9 • 916 Springdale Road, Austin • www.dawaheals.org 183 4 Yellow Bell Tacos The South Texas-style taco truck opened by InterStellar BBQ owner John Bates opened at the new Northeast Austin location of Austin Beerworks. Menu items include tacos with brisket and longaniza, bean and

Now open

290

BERKMAN DR.

7 Not a Damn Chance Burger The eatery has opened its first brick-and-mortar location serving one classic burger, which includes a ⅓-pound of seasoned Texas wagyu beef, American cheese, pickles, onions and secret sauce. The shop is owned by chef Phillip Frankland Lee and professional skateboarder Neen Williams. • Opened Dec. 4

WEBBERVILLE RD.

• 1007 E. Sixth St., Austin • Instagram: nadcburger

cheese, or smoked chicken. • Opened early September • 10300 Springdale Road, Austin • Instagram: yellowbelltacos

MAP NOT TO SCALE

973

A D

5 Muzzy’s Bagels A new bagel shop touting high-quality sandwiches and late-night service opened in East Austin featuring five signature sandwiches as well as plain, everything, rosemary and jalapeno bagels. Muzzy’s Bagels is owned by Matthew Mussenden and Jimmy Ramirez. • Opened Oct. 14

East Austin

additional space will increase the capacity from 134 students to 283 students. • Expanded Sept. 29 • 2200 Aldrich St., Ste. 130, Austin • www.primroseschools.com/schools/austin-at-mueller 130 TOLL

Now open

1 Murray’s Tavern Local restaurateurs Travis Tober and Nic Yanes opened Murray’s Tavern in the former Gourmands Neighborhood Pub spot in East Austin. Murray’s Tavern offers dishes that include pancetta and corn chowder served in a bread bowl; oysters Rockefeller; and more. • Opening Dec. 11 • 2316 Webberville Road, Austin • www.murraysaustin.com 71

• 2909 E. 12th St., Austin • www.muzzysbagels.com

Closings

8 Cycleast Owner and founder Russell Pickavance announced on social media the bike shop has closed. • Closed early December • 1619 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin • www.cycleast.com

Expansions

6 Primrose School of Austin at Mueller The school, which provides early childhood education, started construction to expand its current space from 8,000 square feet to about 20,000 square feet. The

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Government

BY BEN THOMPSON

Austin moves to allow 3 homes on single-family properties

Officials moved to: • Adjust the allowed size of some housing units under HOME, and their distances from neigh- bors and property lines; • Encourage the preservation and planting of trees on residential lots; • Include preservation and sustainability bonuses to encourage retaining older structures; • Require regular, detailed reporting on HOME’s impacts in Austin What’s next While HOME will be in effect by late December, new development under the policy won’t be allowed until February to give city staff time to prepare for the updates. HOME’s second phase—cutting minimum lot sizes for residential construction, potentially by more than half—is set to be considered in the spring.

The first phase of a plan Austin officials hope will help tackle the city’s housing affordability crisis was approved by council on Dec. 7. Their 9-2 approval of Phase 1 of the “HOME” policy capped months of often-contentious debate over a plan allowing up to three homes on single-family properties. Additionally, City Council voted for an increase in the number of people who can live together. Supporters said they hope the update will allow smaller and more affordable homes to address the need for middle-income housing. Along with concerns about fueling gentrification and displacement, opponents said the plan was rushed, ill-conceived and may strain the city’s infrastructure and resources. The details Council passed HOME Phase 1 with several of their and the Planning Commission’s amendments.

Tracking the proposal Council members supporting HOME say the two-part plan will promote more middle- income housing by reducing development barriers and potentially allowing less expensive homes to be built.

Phase 1: Allow up to three housing units on single-family properties Status: Passed

Phase 2: Reduce minimum lot sizes for residential construction by more than half Status: Under consideration in the spring

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

COMPILED BY ELLE BENT, KATY MCAFEE, BEN THOMPSON

Ocials seek federal investigation of APD Travis County District Attorney José Garza and Austin leaders on Dec. 4 asked the Department of Justice to investigate the Austin Police Department’s response to the city’s May 2020 protests. Garza also announced protest-related prosecutions against 17 APD ocers will end, while four remain in progress. The specics Ocials requested a federal “pattern or practice investigation,” to determine whether residents were deprived of their constitutional rights. Garza’s update on the APD prosecutions came nearly two years after the indictments. Separately, Austin has paid more than $20 million in injury settlements stemming from the 2020 protests.

Travis County readies for immigration law costs A new Texas law allowing local governments to arrest and expel undocumented immigrants could have “enormous” nancial impacts on Travis County, according to county sta. Senate Bill 4 passed Nov. 14 and now awaits approval from Gov. Greg Abbott, who said he will

“I think there’s been a perception that the bill would just impact border counties, but any person that’s here that wouldn’t be able to show their

status could be charged with this new oense. You don’t need to be on the border

for that to happen.” INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER JULIE WHEELER

sign the bill. The impact

Currently, only the federal government can take on most immigration law enforcement including arresting and expelling undocumented immigrants. The new law could cost millions of dollars locally and put pressure on the Travis County Jail’s already short-staed corrections department that had a 32% vacancy rate in November, county intergovernmen- tal relations ocer Julie Wheeler said. One jailed person costs the county at least

$125-$600 per day, depending on their physical and mental health care needs. That range does not take into account the cost of indigent defense or inter- preters, costs Wheeler expects to go up when SB 4 takes eect. In August, the Travis County Jail saw 318 inmates with immigration detainers, which cost the county $1.65 million, according to data from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

Austin creates separate homelessness response oce The city established a new stand-alone Home- less Strategy Oce Dec. 4 after a recent review found its former structure wasn’t eective. The breakdown

Austin’s new stand-alone Homeless Strategy Oce will handle: • The city’s extensive homeless service contracts • Homeless shelter operations • City and community collaborations to make more housing available • Local, state and federal partnerships • Public space management, including cleanups and encampment closures • Homeless response fundraising • City communications

according to Austin ocials. The reorganization came with the promotion of David Gray as Austin’s permanent homeless strategy ocer. Gray took over that role on an interim basis in late September. The new structure will support an upcoming “joint independent assessment” of homeless services and spending by Austin, Travis County and several other community partners.

The city’s homeless strategy division previ- ously operated under Austin Public Health. The oce’s spino is aimed at better focusing the city’s work with the local unhoused community,

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Education

Real estate

BY ELLE BENT

AISD superintendent lone finalist named After more than a year without a perma- nent superintendent, the Austin ISD board of trustees named interim superintendent Matias Segura as the lone finalist on Dec. 14. The gist In a closed door meeting Dec. 7, trustees reviewed six applications and ultimately selected Segura as the top candidate. "[Segura] is Austin ISD's first homegrown superintendent. He's a product of Austin ISD, the son of a beloved Austin ISD teacher and a proud parent of two Austin ISD students. [Segura] is a shining example that anything is possible for Austin ISD students," board member Kathryn Whitley Chu said Dec. 14. The board plans to vote on Segura's contract on Jan. 25, following community feedback events.

Austin ISD begins work to expand internet access Austin ISD is making progress on a program to increase internet access around several of the dis- trict’s campuses. Construction is expected to begin as soon as winter break, Dec. 25-Jan. 5 and will take about three weeks to complete at each campus. The program—called Project Lighthouse—will bring monopoles, or towers that provide wireless services, to campuses in order to provide better connectivity to students as well as the surround- ing community. The backstory The district estimates that about 30% of students don’t have access to reliable internet at home, which can negatively impact academic performance and families’ communication with school, district officials said.

Median home sales price

November 2022

November 2023

Residential market data

The following campuses will be the first to receive the monopoles:

After a summer and early fall of higher interest rates, home sales in the Austin area rose by 4.1% in November, according to the Austin Board of Realtors’ most recent metro data.

2022

2023

2022

2023

Akins Early College High School Austin High School Liberal Arts and Science Academy

78701

78723

+63.6%

+1.29%

$810,000

$601,000

$495,000

$593,351

Blanton Elementary School Blazier Elementary School Cook Elementary School Graham Elementary School Perez Elementary School Jordan Elementary School

78702

78731

-20.84%

+3.77%

$617,450

$939,100

$780,000

$905,000

360

78703

78751

-7.94%

+62%

$1,450,000

$810,000

$1,575,000

$500,000

183

290

MOPAC

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

78704

78752

+1.33%

-21.47%

$950,000

$347,500

$937,500

$442,500

78701

78702 78722

78703

78704

Communications, a telecommunications company, which will construct the monopoles. The construction and maintenance of the mono- poles will come at no cost to the district. Instead, AISD will receive monthly rental income for any space leased to a mobile carrier which will be used to fund other projects that offer students network access, district officials said.

78705

78723

78731

78751

78752

78756 78757

78705

78756

-34.2%

-4.47%

$292,500

$812,000

$444,500

$850,000

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS 512-454-7636 WWW.ABOR.COM

In November 2021, the board of trust- ees approved a partnership with Branch

78722

78757

+31.82%

+14.94%

$725,022

$592,500

$550,000

$515,500

BRODIE LANE 4970 Hwy 290 W (512) 366-8260 SOUTHPARK MEADOWS 9900 IH-35 Service Road S (512) 280-7400

From the cover

Airport staff expect another record-breaking year

The action taken

What’s happening

On the journey

Spanning over multiple years, the airport’s expansion program consists of projects aimed at creating space and modernizing the airport that was first opened in 1999, said Haynes. Active projects include a new baggage han- dling system for outbound checked bags; the West Gate expansion, which will extend the terminal out past gates 33 and 34 where Spirit Airlines is located; and an airline fuel facility. On Aug. 30, officials broke ground on the West Gate expansion, which will add a total of 84,000 square feet across three levels. In addition, the airport made strides toward its new midfield concourse project in 2023. A new 20-gate concourse, or area in which travelers pass through the airport, will connect to the Bar- bara Jordan Terminal by a tunnel underground, Haynes said. In order to construct the new concourse, the airport acquired the South Terminal from its pre- vious operator, LoneStar Airport Holdings LLC. The previous operator had a 40-year lease on the terminal that began in 2016, and the city settled for $88 million in a lawsuit to end the lease early. Operations of the South Terminal moved over to the city Nov. 1, and the terminal is up for removal by 2025. “This year has been a lot of planning, prepara- tion, sprinkling a little bit of groundbreaking, but it's really a lot of the behind the scenes work that has to get done before we start bringing projects online,” Haynes said. In 2024, airport officials anticipate the comple- tion of its jet fuel facility and a new cargo facility. The year will also see ground breaking on three projects.

ABIA spokesperson Sam Haynes says the growth can likely be attributed to an increased interest in Central Texas. Austin is one of the top 15 largest cities in the United States and Georgetown was the fastest growing city in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “The story of Central Texas has always been growth,” Haynes said. “That's why we're doing our airport expansion. It's to meet the needs of today while building out a foundation for long term success for our community.” The multi-year expansion program is funded by airport revenue and federal grants and will address the need of a increasing volume of travelers.

In planning

• A new multi-level parking garage that will support both short and long-term parking for up to 30 days • A new arrivals and departure hall to expand ticketing and check-in • A new 20-gate concourse, or area which travelers pass through, that connects to the Barbara Jordan Terminal through an underground tunnel

In design

• Improvements to the international facility that will include new baggage carousels and more queuing space Timeline: estimated to begin construction 2024 • Two parallel taxiways to connect the east and west sides of the building • Ticketing-level atrium infill, which will fill in an open space with 13,000 square feet to avoid TSA lines from queuing outside Timeline: estimated to begin construction 2024 • West infill to expand TSA Checkpoint 3, which will add 16,000 square feet and add additional lanes to a TSA checkpoint Timeline: estimated to begin construction 2024

ABIA to break records

AS OF SEPT. 2023, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PASSENGERS IS 16.3M

25M

20M

15M

Under construction

• New baggage handling system for outbound checked bags Timeline: estimated completion 2025 • West Gate expansion, which will extend the terminal out past gates 33 and 34, where Spirit Airlines is located Timeline: estimated completion 2026 • New jet fuel facility Timeline: estimated to be completed Oct. 2024

10M

- 2019 -

- 2021 2023

SOURCE: AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Some context

Austin control tower staffing

This past year, city leaders and elected officials raised concerns about safety at the airport. On Nov. 9, Austin City Council passed a resolu- tion, authored by council member Vanessa Fuentes, that prompted action to develop a virtual ramp control system that will help navigate planes on the terminal ramp, the area where aircraft are parked and maintained. This came after an airline employee was killed in April and a city airport employee was killed in October due to accidents in this area. “Instead of having a City of Austin employee stationed somewhere where they are looking at the ramp, like unobstructed watching the aircraft move on the ramp, we are simulating that in a room that's actually north of the terminal,” Haynes said of the virtual ramp control system. In addition, Rep. Lloyd Doggett addressed the Federal Aviation Administration in a letter Oct. 16, urging the government agency to address low

staffing of air traffic controllers at ABIA, citing it as a safety issue for the airport after multiple near- misses were reported. “Austin is a growing city, and our airport must grow with it—including staffing up our air traffic control tower,” Doggett told Community Impact in an email. As part of his requests, Doggett suggested increasing ABIA’s rank to a level 10 terminal facility, meaning the airport is classified as high activity, to reflect the airport’s growth and provide more com- pensation to air traffic controllers. Fuentes echoed this in her resolution. “I really believe that [this resolution] will bring the necessary safety changes that the community requires in order for us to have a healthy opera- tional airport,” council member Mackenzie Kelly said Nov. 9. In response to the resolution, an FAA

Total amount of fully certified controllers: 35 Total amount of controllers in training: 8

43 total

The FAA staffing standard for ABIA, based on its size, is

51 controllers.

The minimum staffing level is 42.

STAFFING NUMBERS ARE AS OF PRESS TIME

SOURCE: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

spokesperson told Community Impact the agency is committed to safety. “The FAA maintains extremely conservative standards for keeping aircraft safely separated, and multiple layers of safety protect the traveling public,” a spokesperson said.

Busiest travel days in 2023

Looking ahead

April 17 36,253 March 13 36,265 March 10 36,740 Oct. 6 36,460 Oct. 9 37,058 Oct. 16 38,475 Sept. 1 36,290 June 30 35,780 Oct. 23 43,243

START OF SPRING BREAK FOR UT

15 domestic destinations. Despite the canceled routes, the airline will offer 19 additional daily departures on available routes compared to 2019, a spokesperson for the airline said. Travelers will also see new routes from other airlines, including a new nonstop route to Oregon from Allegiant, which will fly out of the South Terminal. Viva Aerobus will offer nonstop flights to Mexico beginning in March.

This past year, ABIA officials recorded nine dates as the airport’s busiest ever. The Monday following Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, Oct. 23, was the airport’s busiest day, with 43,243 passengers, according to airport data. In 2024, Haynes said passenger’s experiences may change as ABIA is under construction. Airlines are also announcing changes such as American Airlines, which will cut 21 nonstop flights in 2024, including six international and

BEGINNING OF LABOR DAY WEEKEND FRIDAY BEFORE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND

MONDAY AFTER FORMULA 1

ABIA OFFICIALS EXPECT MAY, JUNE AND OCTOBER TO BE THE BUSIEST MONTHS OF 2024

SOURCE: AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Events

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

• Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. • $65-$1,725 • Palmer Event Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin • Instagram: ssproducersaustin

December

Longhorn Lights The University of Texas officials put together a nightly Longhorn-themed light display, featuring 24 Heritage Oak trees decorated with burnt orange and white lights synchronized to music by the Longhorn Band. • Through Jan. 1, 5-10 p.m. • Free • Guadalupe Street between 21st and 24th streets • www.utexas.edu/longhornlights Pop A nightly holiday sing-along party at Zach Theatre called Pop will offer a mixture of classic holiday music and popular hit songs. Guests are encouraged to wear holiday attire and ugly sweaters. • Through Dec. 31, times vary • $25 and up • 1421 W. Riverside Drive, Austin • www.zachtheatre.org New Year’s Eve Aerial Spectacular The New Year’s Eve Aerial Spectacular show and dance party will feature performances from two dozen aerial artists from around the globe, with a midnight countdown to 2024 and a DJ dance party until 1:30 a.m.

January

Free Week Nonprofit Red River Cultural District—which works to protect the interest of local musicians and venues—will offer its 20th annual all-local, multigenre music festival. This year brings more than 60 musicians to nearly 20 downtown venues, restaurants, retail shops and more. • Jan. 5-6, times vary

• Free (admission) • Downtown Austin • www.redriverculturaldistrict.com

T—"The Tina Turner Musical" Tickets are on sale for the musical based on the life of Tina Turner. The show features her most popular songs and is recommended for those ages 14 and older. • Jan. 9-14, times vary • $35 and up • Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin • www.texasperformingarts.org

MLK Day March, Festival and Food Drive The annual event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. will begin at The University of Texas’s MLK statue, followed by a rally at the south steps of the Capitol. The march will head to Huston-Tillotson University for an afternoon of listening to live music and browsing local vendors. • Jan. 15, 11:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. • Free (nonperishable food donations accepted) • 900 Chicon St., Austin • www.mlkcelebration.com

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Community

BY KAMERYN GRIESSER

The group puts on seasonal performances each year.

Love Notes Chorus is composed of people with memory loss, their caregivers and professional singers.

PHOTOS BY KAMERYN GRIESSERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Memory loss patients perform in Love Notes Chorus Every Monday morning, St. Matthew’s Epis- copal Church’s parish hall lls with music sung by a choir of over 70 people. Two-thirds of the members are people with memory loss and their caregivers who sing, clap and dance to the classics. Love Notes Chorus is Austin’s rst choir for

From left: Edie Elkjer and Susie Higley founded Love Notes Chorus in 2019.

The impact Higley said music is a well-studied treatment for patients with memory loss, allowing them to connect with positive memories and improve their emotional state. In the middle of each of the group’s seasonal performances, a few choir members will go up to the microphone and share their personal memories about a song. “After each concert, it’s remarkable how many audience members tell us they’re moved and motivated to join the group,” said Andrew Ver- desca, a singer who joined the choir in 2021 with his mother-in-law, who has dementia. “There’s so many people out there with this condition—we all know someone.”

people with Alzheimer’s disease, and is meant to uplift people struggling with memory loss and foster community among their caregivers. The backstory In 2019, Edie Elkjer—the current music director for Love Notes Chorus—and her friend, Susie Higley, partnered to start the nonprot. In just four years their membership grew from 27 people up to 85.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 8134 Mesa Drive, Austin www.lovenoteschorus.com

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Dining

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

The Parma Prosciutto + Belgian Endive features shaved cheese, true oil, olives and green onion for $15.50 .

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The Chicken Parmesan is made with pan-fried breaded chicken, melted fontina, housemade roasted tomato sauce and spaghetti for $23 .

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68 Degrees Kitchen serves farmer-driven Italian food After opening 68 Degrees Kitchen in June 2016, sisters and business partners Joan and Marion Gillcrist hoped it would soon become a neighbor- hood favorite for those in the Lake Austin area and beyond. More than seven years later, Joan said she thinks they achieved their goal. Looking back to Deep Eddy Pool, Joan said, which stays around 68 degrees year-round.

Sister and business partners Joan (left) and Marion Gillcrist opened 68 Degrees Kitchen June 2016.

COURTESY 68 DEGREES KITCHEN

“We opened 68 Degrees quietly—starting with a very small sta just ve nights a week,” Joan said. The sisters did not realize how quickly it would become a success, Joan said, and found them- selves expanding their hours a few months later. What’s special about it? Marion specializes in creating fresh, seasonal recipes based on what is available from local farmers in addition to making the sauces, ravioli and lasagna in-house. “Our goal has always been to have 68 Degrees be a local produce-driven restaurant with a curated wine selection, all at reasonable prices,” Joan said.

After years of working together in the restaurant business, the Gillcrist sisters decided to team up to create an Italian restaurant that focused on seasonal, locally produced ingredients made fresh daily. Joan said they found the perfect space in the for- mer Stinson’s Deep Eddy Grill location. The name 68 Degrees Kitchen was inspired by the proximity

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