South Central Austin Edition | March 2025

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South Central Austin Edition VOLUME 17, ISSUE 11 APRIL 2APRIL 30, 2025

$10B projects underway a mile from Capitol

INSIDE

Capitol building

Old 6th

Sixth & Blanco

Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative

South Central Waterfront

There are roughly 16 projects underway in the downtown area totaling millions of square feet under construction— many within just a mile of the Capitol building. JEREMY PROCTOR, CENTRAL TEXAS AERIALSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

NOTE: LOCATIONS APPROXIMATE

WaterWise WATER SAVING REBATES

WaterWise Landscape Rebate 6 Austin Water customers who replace a minimum of 200 sq feet of healthy turf grass with native plant beds may be eligible for $100 per 100 square feet, up to $3,000 in rebates. Landscape Survival Tools Rebates 6 By using a combination of mulch, compost and core aeration of your lawn, you will be prepared for the damage that an Austin summer can do to your yard. These techniques will ensure that water stays on your yard, reducing the need for supplemental irrigation. y Compost: 2 cubic yards or 54 cubic feet Rebate $50 y Mulch: 2 cubic yards or 54 cubic feet Rebate $40 y Core aeration service for entire front and/or back lawn area (equipment rental is acceptable) Rebate $30 y Maximize your rebate by doing all three $120

WaterWise Rainscape Rebate 6 The Rainscape Rebate Program helps residents install landscape features (berms, terraces, swales, rain gardens, porous pavement, etc.) to keep and beneficially use rainwater on the property. The rebate pays $0.50 for every square foot (100 sq. ft. minimum) converted, up to $1,500 per property. Rainwater Harvesting Rebate 6 Rebates of $0.50 per gallon capacity for non-pressurized systems or $1.00 per gallon capacity for pressurized systems up to a maximum rebate of $5,000 are available for rainwater harvesting systems. Irrigation Upgrade Rebate 6 Customers may receive up to $1,000 in rebates for making improvements to their existing irrigation systems to increase water efficiency. New irrigation systems and expansions to existing systems are not eligible.

Conservation Rebates, Tools, Tips, and more

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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 Amanda Cutshall Dacia Garcia Sarah Hernandez Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Jamie Moore Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Amira Van Leeuwen Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Alissa Foss Abigail Hines Sabrina Musachia Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer

Krista Box General Manager kbox@ communityimpact.com

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Austin Market President Travis Baker Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Gonzalez Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara

Elle Bent Editor ebent@ communityimpact.com

Gail Watson Account Executive gwatson@ communityimpact.com

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Impacts

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

NORTH AUSTIN

• Reopened March 1 • 2700 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. 320, Austin • www.heartsongmusic.net 5 Gen Korean BBQ House Gen Korean BBQ House is now open in The Linc. Patrons can cook marinated meats and enjoy traditional Korean banchan. • Opened March 12 • 6406 N. I-35 Frontage Road, Austin • www.genkoreanbbq.com 6 Uptown Cheapskate The curated clothing thrift store chain opened a fourth Austin-area location this spring. Uptown Cheapskate sells and purchases gently used men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories from brands including American Eagle, Old Navy, Lululemon, Nike and more. • Opened March 1 to buy only; officially selling this spring • 7501 Burnet Road, Austin • www.uptowncheapskate.com/location/north-austin 7 Kan Sushi All you can eat sushi restaurant Kan Sushi will open a new location in North Austin, a part of neighborhood center The Linc. The restaurant boasts “top-notch” sushi at affordable prices—making high-quality sushi accessible to everyone, according to the company’s website. • Opened March 15 • 6406 N. I-35 frontage road, Austin • www.kan-sushi.com

Now open

183

MOPAC

AIRPORT BLVD.

2 Dotty’s Cafe: Gelato & Juice Owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo Yair and Lior Cohen Hoshen, the new space was created to bring people together over life’s indulgences, the owners wrote on the cafe’s website. The menu includes gelato, coffee, crepes, smoothies, juices and crowd-favorite frozen yogurt swirls, according

SHOAL CREEK BLVD.

7 5

290

to Yair Cohen Hoshen. • Opened in January • 6719 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.dottys-cafe.com

MAP NOT TO SCALE

North Central

3 Moody Bank The new banking center offers personal and business banking services and features a motorbank and drive- thru ATM. The bank was founded in 1907 and has 14 locations across Texas. • Opened Feb. 10 • 7900 Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin • www.moodybank.com 4 Heartsong Music On the heels of its 20th anniversary of serving local families, Heartsong Music announced the reopening of its former location in North Austin, offering family- style, interactive music classes. Founded in 2004 by certified Montessori teacher Carey Youngblood, the program introduces music and movement for babies to children up to second grade.

Coming soon

Now open

8 Chicken Salad Chick The national fast-casual restaurant chain will open its first Austin location in the Hancock Center shopping mall this year. Chicken Salad Chick offers a variety of chicken salads, as well as sandwiches, soups and desserts. • Opening this spring • 1000 E. 41st St., Ste. 200B, Austin • www.chickensaladchick.com

1 The Austin Wine Merchant The Austin Wine Merchant has opened its second location in Jefferson Square Shopping Center, next to Anderson’s Coffee Company. The business from John Roenigk and Lucinda Scott Roenigk offers a selection of wines and spirits, and can also be found off West Sixth Street. • Opened Jan. 25 • 1601 W. 38th St., Ste. 3, Austin • www.theaustinwinemerchant.com

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Impacts

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

• Opened March 19 • 2530 Guadalupe St., Austin • Instagram: 1972pub

In the news

EXPOSITION BLVD.

In the news

MOPAC

WESTOVER RD.

5 Cactus Café The club celebrated 45 years of live music in February. The music venue and bar has seen local, regional, national and international acts, from rising stars to music legends. • 2308 Whitis Ave., Austin • www.cactuscafe.org 6 Estilo Boutique The Tarrytown clothing boutique celebrated 20 years in February. The business is also expanding its current space at Casis Village to offer a full range of women’s, men’s and children’s clothes. The clothing collection

W. 30TH ST.

8 4

WHITIS AVE.

2 Clown Dog Bikes Dubbed “Austin’s oldest bike shop,” Clown Dog Bikes celebrates 25 years of service and sales April 1. The shop offers a selection of regular and electric bikes, along with parts, tires, accessories, clothing, car racks and more. Repair experts are on hand for everything from routine tuneups to full bike overhauls, ensuring riders stay road-ready. • 2821 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin • www.clowndogbikes.com

includes national and international brands. • 2727 Exposition Blvd., Unit 121, Austin • www.estiloboutique.com

7 Sip Pho The pho spot celebrated five years of business this February. The Vietnamese restaurant, just north of The University of Texas at Austin, serves pho with a choice of broth and protein, egg rolls, vermicelli dishes, banh mi sandwiches, boba tea and more. • 512 W. 29th St., Austin • www.sippho.com

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Downtown/West Campus

3 I Panini Café A food truck offering panini sandwiches and tacos by El Mariachi Tex-Mex is now open Monday through Friday at the Old Bakery and Emporium off Congress Avenue. Breakfast and lunch options are offered, and the bread is made on-site from scratch. • Opened Feb. 24 • 1006 Congress Ave., Austin • Instagram: ipaniniatx 4 1972: ATX Women’s Sports Pub A pub streaming only women’s sports is now open on Guadalupe Street. Co-founders Debra Hallum and Marlene du Plessis have been working to open the pub’s doors since last spring and named it after the year Title IX was signed into law.

Closings

Now open

8 Moody’s Kitchen and Bar The bar closed its doors in January. Moody’s served appetizers and entrees and had a full bar with handcrafted cocktails, beers, margaritas and more. Moody’s was also known for its karaoke and trivia nights. A new bar, 1972: Women’s Sports Bar, is now located at the former Moody’s spot. • Closed in January

1 Harbor Health Express Care Clinic The multispecialty group provides care for infants, children, adolescents and adults. Express Care clinics offer walk-in appointments and after-hours care. The health provider was founded by Eric Scott, Tony Miller and Dr. Clay Johnston, a former dean of the Dell Medical School. • Opened in January • 3200 Red River St., Ste. 201, Austin • www.harborhealth.com

• 2530 Guadalupe St., Austin • www.moodysaustin.com

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Impacts

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Coming soon

Now open

MOPAC

5 Framebridge The custom framing store will open its second Austin store this year. The online retailer opened its first brick- and-mortar location in Washington, D.C. in 2019, and its first Texas store in Central Austin last year. Framebridge offers custom framing and design services. • Opening in May • 701 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. E, Austin • www.framebridge.com 6 Method Pilates The Houston-based studio is coming to the Bouldin Creek area this spring. The high-intensity reformer pilates space will have 15 reformer machines and a retail space. • Opening in March

8 6

2 Texas Standard South Congress Trading Post The men’s clothing brand opened a retail location on South Congress Avenue, offering Texas- made apparel such as the brand’s signature Tejas Guayaberas, gameday wear, outerwear and accessories. The business also donates 10% of all profits to Texas-focused charities. • Opened March 2 • 1603 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.texas-standard.com

• 1600 S. First St., Ste. 130 • www.methodpilates.com

PICKLE RD.

Relocations

7 ATX Family Dental The dental practice moved from 3100 S. Congress Ave., Austin, to 1700 S. First St., Austin, at the end of March. Owned by Dr. Adam Gutwein, ATX Family Dental opened in 2016 and offers routine dental care, cosmetic dentistry, emergency dentistry and more. • Relocated March 28 • 3100 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.atxfamilydental.com

MAP NOT TO SCALE

South Central

3 The Greek Bar The new restaurant from hospitality veterans and husband-wife duo, Dimitri Karas and Daphne Greer, serves Mediterranean dishes prepared by Executive

Now open

Closings

Chef Brian Beach. • Opened Feb. 26

1 The Wheel South The second location of East Austin’s bicycle-themed bar offers a curated draft and package beer list, and a cocktail menu similar to the original location. The space includes indoor and patio seating. Food trailer Side Eye Pie will also open at The Wheel South and serve pizza, wings and sandwiches. The Wheel is a product of FBR Management, the hospitality group behind Lala’s Little Nugget, Gibson Street Bar, Sign Bar and Mean Eyed Cat. • Opened Feb. 26 • 3116 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.thewheelsouth.com

• 534 E. Oltorf St., Austin • www.thegreekbar.com

8 Underdog Owners Claudia Lee and Richard Hargreave announced the restaurant and wine bar’s closure in a social media post. They also announced that they, along with a new partner, will open a new neighborhood restaurant in Underdog’s place, which will tentatively open in May, according to a news release. • Closed March 8 • 1600 S. First St., Ste. 100, Austin • www.underdog-atx.com

4 Jackpot K9 The pet service business is now open in South Austin. Jackpot K9 offers services including dog boarding, training, day care and weight loss. • Opened in December • 121 Pickle Road, Ste. 110, Austin • www.jackpotk9.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

290

Impacts

EAST AUSTIN

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Relocations

Now open

5 Texas Coffee Traders The local coffee roasting company relocated its cafe and retail space to a new spot on East Seventh Street. The cafe offers coffee, espresso and tea drinks as well as pastries and fresh roasted coffee beans. • Relocated in December 6 Poeta The Italian restaurant from Chefs Ian Thurwachter and Krystal Craig recently closed its space at The Frances Modern Inn and will move to take over what was formerly Swoop House in East Austin. • Relocating in spring • 3223 E. Seventh St., Austin • www.texascoffeetraders.com

290

183

N. PLEASANT VALLEY RD.

3 Mother’s Ruin Austin is now home to the fourth location of the New York-based bar, following the footsteps of Nashville and Chicago. Mother’s Ruin offers signature cocktails, beer, wines and food in the mixed-use development Centro. • Opened March 7 • 1401 E. Sixth St., Bldg. A, Ste. 204, Austin • www.mothersruinaustin.com

• 3012 Gonzales St., Austin • www.poetarestaurant.com

In the news

7 Dan’s Hamburgers The Austin hamburger joint’s Airport Boulevard location will be closing within the next couple of months for extensive renovations, including expanding the kitchen and dining area and adding a drive-thru. The restaurant will remain closed for roughly six to eight months, according to owner Katie Congdon. 973

GONZALES ST.

C O

183

MAP NOT TO SCALE

East Austin

• Opened Feb. 12 • 1115 E. 11th St., Austin • www.radiocoffeeandbeer.com

• Remodeling spring 2025 • 844 Airport Blvd., Austin • www.dans-hamburgers.com 130 TOLL

Now open

Coming soon

Closings

1 ATX Pizza Co. The new pizzeria operates out of 5610 Food Co and is now serving New England-style pizzas and more. • Opened Jan. 25 • 5610 N. I-35 frontage road, Austin • www.atxpizzaco.com

4 Burlington Formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory, the department store will soon open in shopping center Capital Plaza, offering items from home decor to clothing. • Opening Aug. 29

8 Coral Snake The live music venue and bar permanently closed, according to an announcement from staff in January. On a social media post, staff wrote they “tried collectively” to “keep the place alive” but were unfortunately laid off and all shows canceled Jan. 16. • Closed Jan. 16 • 1910 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin

2 Radio Rosewood The third location of Radio Coffee & Beer is now open, serving coffee, cocktails and food.

• 5431 N. I-35, Austin • www.burlington.com

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

Eligible Austinites to get ood insurance aid A new pilot program launching this year will give lower-income Austinites impacted by ooding access to new nancial assis- tance for ood insurance. What’s happening City Council members have sought to address rising insurance costs and local risks in the area known as “Flash Flood Alley.” After Austin’s ood mitigation eorts earned its residents an extra 5% discount on insurance policies last year under a federal program, city ocials funded the new local initiative now rolling out. The project Council voted March 6 to advance the $130,000 program through a contract with the Del Valle Community Coalition. The project kicked o in March and the DVCC is expected to begin reaching out to residents about available support soon. Details about qualifying are to be determined.

Drying out Travis County and other Central Texas counties remain in extreme drought conditions.

Abnormally dry

Moderate drought

Severe drought

Extreme drought

Exceptional drought

100%

March

80%

60%

40%

20%

SOURCE: TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

New transparency standards set for public safety labor talks Negotiations with Austin’s police, re and emergency medical services labor groups will now be fully accessible to the public, after materials used during last year’s bargaining with the Austin Police Association were withheld. Central Texas watering restrictions ramp up The Lower Colorado River Authority, or LCRA, enacted Stage 2 outdoor water restrictions March 3 in response to continuing drought conditions. The details All customers, including municipalities like Austin, will be limited to outdoor watering once a week. The LCRA aims to cut water demand by 20%. The maximum once-per-week watering restric- tion aects residents, businesses, industries and lakeside property owners that draw water from the Highland Lakes.

The LCRA determined the eorts were nec- essary after reported declines in water levels of Lakes Buchanan and Travis—the primary reser- voirs in the Highland Lakes system. “These actions are needed to help preserve and extend our water supplies in the face of a drought that shows little signs of easing over spring and summer,” John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice

president of water, said. What you need to know

“By providing this pilot program around ood insurance, we really will be making

Ocials encourage utilizing low-water landscap- ing that can thrive on no more than once-a-week watering, and to: • Use drought-tolerant plants • Cover swimming pools when not in use • Add mulch to landscapes and compost to turf

a big dierence in our community.” VANESSA FUENTES, DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL MEMBER

The big picture The recent labor talks between the city and APA led to a ve-year deal hailed by both sides as a step forward in the political relationship between City Hall and the police force. Although meetings between Austin and the APA were open to attend and livestreamed, the public couldn’t view any documents like draft agreements or nancial information related to the contract—a dierence from previous years. That came at the APA’s request, with ocials citing state law that makes police labor agreements and related materi- als public only after a nal deal is signed.

What happened Despite the state public records provisions, a resolution from council member Ryan Alter approved on Feb. 27 will require future labor talks to be publicly recorded and broadcast, and make all documents publicly accessible during the process. Private negotiations could be allowed if needed, with formal council approval. APA President Michael Bullock pressed against the update, saying it runs afoul of the state stan- dards that inspired last year’s change.

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State

BY HANNAH NORTON

Texas Senate advances $1B education savings account plan

The debate

“[The ESA funds] will possibly cover tuition, but it may not cover uniforms, transportation, lunch [or] books. If parents can’t afford to make up the difference, are they really eligible?” SEN. JOSÉ MENÉNDEZ, D-SAN ANTONIO

In a 19-12 vote Feb. 5, Texas senators passed their first bill of the 89th legislative session, Senate Bill 2. The proposal by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, was sent to the House. SB 2 proposes spending $1 billion annually for education savings accounts, which families could use to help cover the costs of private education. About 100,000 students would qualify for the program, Creighton said. “Across Texas public schools, despite the hard work of our teachers that we value and respect so much and the billions of dollars we spend in our state budget, many students are feeling left behind,” Creighton said on the Senate floor. “That is unacceptable.” The voucher-like proposal, also known as school choice, is a top priority of Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Texas Republican leaders. Abbott declared education savings accounts an emergency item during his Feb. 2 State of the State address, allowing lawmakers to fast-track the proposal. Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, filed a separate education savings account proposal, House Bill 3, on Feb. 20. HB 3 would give most participants a stipend equal to 85% of the state and local funds that public schools receive per student. This was about $12,800 during the 2022-23 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency. Neither measure had been scheduled for a House committee hearing as of Feb. 21.

Breaking down the bill Senate Bill 2 would give families an annual stipend to spend on tuition and other educational expenses, including:

“Anything helps. There are thousands of families in Texas that are low-income or middle-income that are struggling to pay for private school out of pocket already.”

$10,000 annually for each private school student

annually for private school students with disabilities

$11,500

NATHAN CUNNEEN, STATE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN

$2,000 annually for homeschooled students During the 2023-24 school year, the average cost of Texas private school tuition was: $10,965 for kindergarten-eighth grade $14,986 for high school

Also of note

Senators also discussed public schools Feb. 5, noting billions of new dollars for public schools were included in initial drafts of the 2026-27 budget. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, asked Creighton for his “commitment that the next bill we’re going to see for education will be an investment in our teachers.” Creighton said that would be the case. On Feb. 20, the Senate Education Committee sent SB 26, which would raise salaries for third- and fifth-year teachers, to the full Senate.

Quick facts

Any school-age student in Texas could apply for the ESA program.

Funds would be administered by the state comptroller.

If applications exceed available funds, 80% of the money would go to low-income families and students with disabilities.

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, TEXAS PRIVATE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Recent increases in reported wage theft cases have prompted Travis County leaders and worker rights advocates to push for new initiatives to protect workers. Local leaders introduced provisions in recent years to protect workers, including Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, who launched the county’s Economic Justice Enforcement Initiative in September 2021. Between 2013 and 2020 there had been only four prosecuted cases across Texas, but since launching the initiative, Garza said his office has taken on nearly two dozen local cases over the last four years. Austin officials also passed a wage theft prevention ordinance in December 2022. TravCo addresses wage theft issues

What you should know

Wage theft claims

In 2024, reported wage theft cases in Central Texas led to $21 million in wages due back to workers.

Wage theft can take many forms. While most people associate it with not getting paid, it also includes misclassification. Rick Levy, president of workers’ rights union Texas AFL-CIO, said the issue is common in a multitude of industries and often goes unenforced. “People need to understand just how widespread the issue is,” Levy said. Anyone that suspects an instance of improper pay can submit a wage claim to the Texas Workforce Commission for free. Requirements and additional information on Texas Payday Law can be found on the agency’s website. Members of the public, regardless of their immigrant status, can also report incidents of wage theft to the Travis County District Attorney’s office.

Travis County

Williamson County

Hays County

1,000 800 600 400 200 0

Most claims by industry, FY 2023-24

Food services: 3,827 Health care: 2,376 Construction: 1,966 Retail: 1,217 Agriculture: 659

SOURCE: TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Next round of I-35 construction begins

Airport breaks ground on parking garage Airport and city officials broke ground on a new parking garage at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Feb. 28. The details Marking another milestone in the parade of projects coming online for the airport’s sweeping multimillion-dollar expansion, the new parking garage will add an estimated 7,000 spaces, as well as electric vehicle charging stations and smart parking and toll gate technologies. Other project highlights include roadway realignment, additional lanes on Presiden- tial Boulevard and an enclosed pedestrian bridge connecting Yellow and Blue Garages. The Economy Lot B parking closed this month. The project will finish in 2027, according to airport officials.

HOLLY ST .

The Texas Department of Transportation announced the next phase of construction to begin along I-35 between Holly Street and Hwy. 71 in Central Austin as the agency moves forward the next segment of its planned I-35 overhaul. A closer look The road work falls under TxDOT’s $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project, which broke ground last October. The undertaking will add two nontolled high-occupancy-vehicle, or HOV, lanes stretching roughly 8 miles from Hwy. 290 to the north down to Hwy. 71 to the south. The I-35 facelift will also see the removal of the upper decks, sink portions of the roadway and widen the corridor to a range of 17-22 lanes. The segment of work along Lady Bird Lake includes: • The reconstruction of the Lady Bird Lake bridge

WOODLAND AVE.

• Construction of road configuration at Riverside Drive that will accommodate future Capital Metro light rail routes • Adding a pedestrian-only bridge at Woodland Avenue • Bicycle and pedestrian paths and improvements along the corridor The $630 million Lady Bird Lake stretch has been contracted to international infrastructure group Balfour Beatty.

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From the cover

$10B projects underway a mile from Capitol

The big picture

Downtown redevelopments Over 7 million square feet of developments are under construction in Austin’s downtown, totaling over $10 billion in construction.

Estimates from city ocials indicate that more than $10 billion in construction projects are currently underway. Many of the projects are aiming to revitalize and expand dierent areas of downtown. “We are a very successful city, and as a result of that, you have a lot of demand for improvements,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. “... There are going to be some eggs broken to create the omelette—but we’re doing it in a methodical way.” According to property advocacy group Downtown Austin Alliance, 7.2 million square feet of development is actively under construction in the downtown district, including redevelopment projects along Sixth Street and proposed changes to Congress Avenue near the Capitol.

Planned and underway projects

5 completed projects in 2024

16+ projects under construction

25 planned projects

7.3M square feet under construction

10.6M proposed square feet

1.1M recently completed square feet

SOURCE: DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCECOMMUNITY IMPACT

NOTE: THIS MAP IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE

Old 6th

31 properties to be renovated

expensive, but it does mean that we want really great chefs that bring really great concepts to spread a really wide array of aordability and experience.” Building rehabilitation work is underway. By April, restoration eorts on seven properties are expected to be complete, with the rst restaurants opening by summer 2026, Bodenman said. Tenant demand will play a large role in the remaining redevelopment timeline. City ocials recently reopened several blocks of the street to vehicle trac on the weekends.

What has colloquially been dubbed Dirty Sixth is undergoing changes as Stream Realty Partners, the owner of 31 properties along the bar-heavy block, seeks to revitalize the area. That project, called Old 6th, includes both cosmetic and business changes with the goal of creating a “true downtown neighborhood,” said Paul Bodenman, Stream’s senior vice president of investments. “We want really high-quality restaurants,” Bodenman said. “That doesn’t mean it has to be

Several historic properties are being rehabilitated under the Old 6th project to welcome new businesses.

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Put in perspective

Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative

4 blocks of reconstruction

Longtime South Central Austin resident Bryce Hendrix said he welcomes the inux of high-density and mixed-use projects. Having commuted into downtown for years, he said he’d like to see more walkable, mixed-use developments. With massive interstate reconstruction and trac worsening, he’d rather be able to just walk to grab a cup of coee. “You only get that with density,” he said. On the other hand, Andrew Tippen, another longtime resident, said he worries that having large scale developers working on blocks worth of projects might undermine some of Austin’s historically unique qualities in the downtown area. “It’s entire blocks and it’s the same developer—the same installation going in there,” Tippen said. “That’s a scale thing. It’s not because that developer just wants to completely erase old Austin; it’s because that’s what it took for it to be viable.” Bodenman, in reference to the Old 6th project, explained the real estate group was able to seize an opportunity for redevelopment after the COVID-19 pandemic saw the closure of many bars and restaurants on the street, in turn driving many legacy landowners’ departure from the entertainment district. In response to the wave of major projects, city ocials called for a new Downtown Strategic Oce expected to open this year. The program will be formed to oversee downtown initiatives and infrastructure updates, and to coordinate with several organizations working around the city center.

City ocials proposed plans to reconstruct Seventh to 11th streets into four blocks of public plaza space. Vehicle trac on Congress Avenue would end at Seventh Street; however, cross trac will still ow east and west on Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, 10th and 11th streets. The rst phase of construction is expected to begin as early as mid-2025.

RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT A proposed project for Congress Avenue would redevelop the street into four blocks of public plaza space.

South Central Waterfront

Up to 6 new high-rises

Eorts to extend the skyline south of Lady Bird Lake are continuing. Plans for a new 480-foot mixed-use tower received approval in November with another two 500-foot towers close to secur- ing nal city approval. The 19-acre former Austin American-Statesman campus received approval in late 2022 for the redevelopment intended to bring up to six high-rises.

The 19-acre site along Lady Bird Lake south of downtown would receive multiple towers.

RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF AUSTIN

Sixth & Blanco

5 stories of mixed-use space

The Sixth & Blanco venture by MML Hospitality and Riverside includes a vertical mixed-use makeover of a stretch of properties along West Sixth Street. Developers broke ground in October, with several buildings already demolished, while others are being gutted and refurbished in order to preserve the street’s historic character.

The new development will oer new residential and retail where businesses like Swedish Hill once resided.

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Development

Education

BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ

BY BEN THOMPSON

Austin ISD teachers on path to higher salaries Eligible Austin ISD teachers can now earn higher salaries through the Texas Education Agency’s Teacher Incentive Allotment, or TIA. The details AISD was accepted into the TIA program which rewards “high-performing” teachers with higher salaries. Eligible teachers can earn $3,000 to $28,000 per year through TIA based on the teacher’s designation. TIA designates teachers as Recognized, Exemplary or Master using data on appraisals and student growth submitted by AISD, according to a news release. Over 600 teachers representing 95% of cam- puses across the district met approved appraisal and student growth standards to be submitted for TIA designation, according to the news release. The designations bring in additional funding to the district, with 90% going directly to the

2 towers proposed at light rail connection site in South Central Waterfront Plans for new high-rises south of downtown at a key juncture in Austin’s Project Connect rail are close to securing nal city approval. The overview thumbs-up in December and a second approval on Feb. 27. Their nal vote could come on March 27, after press time. 200 E. Riverside PUD BARTON SPRINGS RD.

AISD, Dallas Cowboys team up to start girls’ ag football league Austin ISD and the Dallas Cowboys are partnering to launch a high school girls ag football league in the district. The overview The Girls FLAG Football League will begin their competitive play this spring. Each Aus- tin ISD high school will form a varsity-level 7-on-7 team to participate in the league, a news release said. AISD is one of 11 Texas districts to partner with the Cowboys to start girls ag football leagues. Each participating school district receives grant funds for the program, includ- ing funding for coaching stipends, team uniforms, equipment packages from USA Football and more, the news release said.

"We’re excited to be a part of the TIA system which encourages teachers to stay in the classroom. Our

hope is they continue to do the best work of their careers in Austin ISD.” BRANDI HOSACK,

City Council signaled in February the developers could meet an aordable housing requirement by paying into the city’s housing fund rather than include income-restricted units onsite. Speaking for property owners the Hunt family, attorney Richard Suttle said the fee option ensures taller towers can be built instead of a smaller residential building. He also noted the property’s relationship to the planned Project Connect transit system. Zooming in The property o Riverside Drive may end up as a hub for the proposed Project Connect branches. Current designs call for southern, eastern and central rail lines to meet at 200 E. Riverside Drive alongside the elevated Waterfront Station. Suttle said the project team has faced diculties with the city zoning case while negotiating over

AISD CHIEF TALENT STRATEGY OFFICER

The rezoning of 200 E. Riverside Drive would allow for two high-rise towers up to 500 feet, or potentially 50 stories, near the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. They’d include about 1.4 million square feet of oces and 30,000 square feet for retail. The property is being rezoned as a planned unit development, or PUD, which can see greater building allowances traded for public benets. A quick note A broader city framework for new development in the surrounding South Central Waterfront dis- trict is stalled. Still, several other high-rise project plans around the district remain in progress. What happened City ocials gave the Riverside PUD an initial

LADY BIRD LAKE

90% of funds go to eligible teachers 600 district teachers met the appraisal standards

teacher if they remain TIA-eligible based on their role, the release said. AISD is hoping to expand their TIA eligibility in 2025-26 to include special education teachers and content and dyslexia interventionist sta who are supporting the general education areas included in the 2024-25 eligibility, ocials said. The TIA was created by a 2019 state law that aims to help top-performing teachers reach six-gure salaries.

rail and station designs with the Austin Transit Partnership, the entity overseeing Project Connect. Still, he said the property owners plan to save space for transit infrastructure. ATP executive vice president Jennifer Pyne said the entity is coordinating with property owners on the rail blueprint, and aims to minimize impacts to adjacent properties where possible before moving for any right-of-way acquisitions.

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A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MARCH 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: An El Paso Refuge CRITTER: American Bumblebee OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas

MADE IN TEXAS: A Leathermaking Legacy FEATURE PREVIEW: Where to Eat Now

Above: The Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

DETOURS

A Tribal Sanctuary On a Sacred Trail

Location: eleven miles southeast of downtown El Paso. BY JOSH ALVAREZ

CRITTER

American Bumblebee

The bumblebee does something most bees don't: buzz pollination, which involves gripping the plant with its legs and vibrating its whole body. If you eat blueberries, potatoes, or tomatoes— all of which rely on buzz pollination— you’ve got a bumblebee to thank. WHY IS IT SO BIG? The better to collect all that sweet pollen to feed its young. That fuzz is actually densely packed hairs, or setae, that trap pollen as the bumblebee floats from flower to flower. Its large body likely evolved to provide even more surface area.

DOES IT STING? Only if you mess with its nest.

HOW MANY SPECIES ARE THERE? Texas has between seven and eleven types. The most common is the American bumblebee, found statewide. North Texans might spot the brown-belted bumblebee, while those in the west are likely to see the Sonoran variant. The gentle giant is in trouble, though: Since 1974, popula- tions across North America have fallen by 46 percent. SCIENTISTS KEEP TABS, RIGHT? Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is one of several Texas orga- nizations partnering with Jacqueline Staab, the owner of Darwin’s Bee Dogs. Her German shorthaired pointers are trained to sniff out bumblebee nests for population surveys. “If we lose bees,” says Staab, “we lose Texas ecosystems.” —Rose Cahalan

INSIDE THE ADOBE walls of the Ysleta Mis- sion are clues to a deep history of acculturation that characterizes El Paso to this day. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe, more commonly known as the Tigua, established the mission in 1682, making it one of the oldest in Texas (much of the current structure was built in 1851). The Tigua arrivedherefromNewMexico,whichtheyfled after the Pueblo Indians there overthrew the

Spanish colonial system, in 1680, forcing Span- iards and Christianized Pueblos to seek safety elsewhere. The Tigua dedicated the mission to Anthony of Padua, patron saint of things that have been lost, whose figure stands atop the entrance; inside are blankets dyed in brilliant blues and reds and a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic Church’s first Native American saint. The structure, part of the El Paso Mission Trail, holds a mass every day. If you can, plan your visit for June 13, when the Tigua celebrate Saint Anthony with traditional dancing.

The church interior at the Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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MADE IN TEXAS

He Goes With the Grain Clint Wilkinson carries on his grandfather’s leatherworking legacy out of the same downtown Denton storefront. BY PAUL L. UNDERWOOD

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

After the San Antonio Zoo announced the birth of Tupi, the first capybara born there since 2000, it had to clarify to X users that it was “not associated with or benefiting from” a crypto- currency named after the baby animal. The number one item on the TSA’s top ten list of the most unusual airport confiscations in 2024 was a gun tucked into the back of a baby stroller at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. The Texas State Aquarium, in Corpus Christi, released into the Gulf of Mex- ico some 270 green sea turtles it had rescued when they became hypother- mic during a recent cold snap. A Temple woman was sentenced to felony probation for theft after with- drawing money from a GoFundMe account created for her after she lied about a cancer diagnosis so that her friends “would like her more.” A Bexar County jail officer was arrest- ed and fired after allegedly giving an inmate food from Whataburger . After the Houston Police Department announced plans to clean up its prop- erty warehouse, authorities revealed that rats had possibly compromised ongoing cases by eating mushrooms and other drugs stored as evidence. A man stole a pickup truck and led police on a chase to the Midland airport, where he drove through the perimeter fence and onto the runways before abandoning the vehicle. —Meher Yeda

George W. Bush and Fort Worth soul star Leon Bridges, as well as Stetson and 7-Eleven. Wilkinson works out of the downtown cor- ner storefront once owned by his grandfather Weldon Burgoon, who opened Weldon’s Sad- dle Shop & Western Wear in 1957. Burgoon, who helped cover the cost of Clint’s birth, in 1982, by giving a saddle to the obstetrician, taught his grandson the craft. Wilkinson started an e-commerce site for the shop and, with his grandfather’s encour- agement, began branding his own handsewn leather goods with his name. In 2019, a year after Burgoon died, Wilkin- son reopened the shop, which he renamed Wilkinson’s Fine Goods. He’s known for his leather tote bags, belts, and wallets, and he sells wares from other brands, like Nocona- based Fenoglio Boot Company. He’s also de- veloping a line of leather-crafting supplies. The intention, he says, is to create “a way that I can still be in the leather community when I’m seventy-five years old and can’t make anything anymore.”

LAST SUMMER, WILKINSON’S FineGoods, in Denton, received its biggest online order to date. Owner Clint Wilkinson was intrigued by his new client, who purchased a massive array of custom desk mats, bootjacks, and cherrywood boxes with hand-tooled leather accents. “I was just like, ‘Holy crap,’�” Wilkin- son recalls. “He must be a politician or lawyer or something.” Not quite. Wilkinson looked up the buyer, a Utah resident named Austin Post, and re- alized that he was doing business with Post Malone, the rapper who was raised in nearby Grapevine. Wilkinson emailed him to explain that fulfillment would take some time be- cause every item would be handmade. The two now exchange texts about everything from the order’s progress to the woes of their be- loved Dallas Cowboys. Eventually Wilkinson’s client list would include former President

Clint Wilkinson and Charlie Talkington in the Wilkinson’s Fine Goods workshop, in Denton.

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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