North Central Austin Edition | October 2023

The e-edition is an exact replica of the newspaper with interactive and searchable articles from all your favorite sections.

North Central Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 7 NOV. 230, 2023

Dozens of clients visit South Austin’s Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center to pick up food and clothing or be connected with support services on Oct. 3.

BEN THOMPSONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Homelessness strategy evolves amid service gaps

Less than a year into his term, Mayor Kirk Watson said he stands behind the city’s plan to fund both new temporary shelter and permanent housing investments, but more scrutiny and changes may

federal pandemic-related funds for homelessness services are expected to drop o next year. The federal funds add to tens of millions of city dollars used to serve those experiencing homeless- ness, which the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition estimates is 6,200 people.

BY BEN THOMPSON

Two years after Austin reinstated its camping ban, the city’s homeless population continues to grow, and the city is preparing to change its strategy. Local leaders are anticipating hard decisions as

CONTINUED ON 22

Also in this issue

Impacts: French, Italian bistro opens on Congress (Page 8)

Health care: Arena demo makes way for medical towers (Page 18)

Real estate: Home prices increasing in Central Austin (Page 21)

Events: Trail of Lights tickets on sale (Page 25)

Know what to do in case of an outage. Stay Ready . Weather disasters keep coming, with bigger storms that last longer. As Austin Energy prepares for future power outage emergencies, you can get ready, too. Get Ready .

•Know what information you need and where to get it. •Make sure Austin Energy has your cell phone number and email address . •Learn how Austin Energy prepares for outages.

austinenergy.com/go/outage

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

The more you feed the blob the bigger it gets, becoming a monster clog causing expensive repairs, foul odors and sanitary sewer overflows! Fat, oil and grease comes from food like cooking oil, meat drippings, butter, sauces, gravy, dairy products, and even salad dressing. Help stop the Grease Blob! 6 Scrape food scraps into the trash or compost if you can 6 Collect cooking oil in a container then toss into the trash 6 Use paper towels or wipes to remove grease. DON’T FLUSH , toss them into the trash

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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE

New exhibitions. New programs. New vibe. From ancient Maya art to Curator’s Choice tours, there’s plenty that’s new at Austin’s art museum. We’re open till 8 p.m. every Saturday (date night, anyone?), and on Second Saturdays you can enjoy

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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

Late payment fees do apply

The Mobility Authority is not an electronic tag provider.

Electric tags from providers we accept:

However, we accept all interoperable tags as a form of payment, such as TxDOT’s TxTag, NTTA’s TollTag, HCTRA’s EZ TAG, Kansas Turnpike Authority’s K-Tag, Oklahoma Turnpike

The Mobility Authority is not TxTag

We accept a variety of electronic tags

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

There are payment options everywhere

Authority’s Pikepass, Florida’s Prepaid Toll Program SunPass, and BancPass/PlusPass.

Keep your electronic tag account in good standing

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

Learn what to do when you sell your car

Using the Pay By Mail program costs you more

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

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Impacts

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

NORTH AUSTIN

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Coming soon

WOOD HOLLOW DR.

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NORTHCREST BLVD.

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MOPAC

4 Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen Business partners Beth Lasita, Matt Berendt and Reed Clemons, all former residents of the Northwest Hills area, will open a fifth Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen location. Wine will be available by the glass, in a flight or by the bottle. The food menu will consist of vegan, vegetarian and gluten- free options as well as meat-based dishes. • Opening in spring 2024 • 7719 Wood Hollow Drive, Ste. 100, Austin • www.grovewinebar.com

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North Central

2 Tiny Grocer Steph Steele opened a second Tiny Grocer location with its French bistro, Bureau de Poste, in the former post office helmed by former “Top Chef” contestant Jo Chan. The new spot also has a deli serving up coffee, wine, made-to-order sandwiches and pastries. • Opened Oct. 3 • 4300 Speedway, Austin • www.tinygrocer.com, www.bureaudeposteatx.com

toys for people of all ages, while Yummi Joy is stocked with candy, coffee and ice cream. • Relocated Sept. 15 • 5501 W. Burnet Road, Austin • www.toyjoy.com

Now open

1 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Locals Mike and Kara Sheppard opened the smoothie cafe serving both healthy and indulgent smoothies, flatbreads, wraps, quesadillas, sandwiches and more. One of the bestselling smoothies is the Detox Island Green, which consists of spinach, kale, mango, pineapple, banana and ginger. • Opened Sept. 15

In the news

5 Rees Bros. Watch Repair Owners Bert, Arthur and Charlene Rees celebrated their jewelry business’s 70th anniversary in September. Originally located on The Drag in Austin, the business now operates out of the Rees’ home workshop, offering watch and jewelry repair, sales, sizing and appraisals. • 110 W. Odell St., Austin • 512-452-3426

Relocations

3 Toy Joy/Yummi Joy The toy and candy store hybrid relocated to Burnet Road from 4613 Airport Blvd., Austin. Toy Joy offers

• 815 W. 47th St., Ste. 102-B, Austin • www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com

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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

Coming soon

SHOAL CREEK BLVD.

GUADALUPE ST.

RIO GRANDE ST.

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SABINE ST.

4 Gina’s on Congress Located where La Traviata formerly called home, the new French- and Italian-inspired bistro will be led by award-winning chef Jason Tallent. Gina’s on Congress will offer dishes such as pasta, tartare, carpaccio, mussels and frites, and signature cuts of veal chops and other meat. Small-vineyard wines, cocktails and espresso drinks will also be available. • Opening in December

• 314 Congress Ave., Austin • www.ginasoncongress.com

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Downtown/West Campus

new bookstore opened in the former Malvern’s Book Spot and focuses on works by small, independent presses in addition to comics and graphic novels, books in translation and more. • Opened Aug. 15 • 613 W. 29th St., Austin • www.alienatedmajestybooks.com

sink, countertops and bottles. • 1609 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste. 200, Austin • www.aquasana.com

Now open

5 The Sobering Center The Sobering Center marked its five-year anniversary in October. The center provides a safe alternative to jail or the emergency room for those needing to detox. Since its opening in 2018, the center has helped over 9,000 people. • 1213 Sabine St., Austin • www.soberingcenter.org

1 Marlow Bar Founded by locals Mike DeBonville and Joe Schumacher, Marlow Bar overlooks Waller Creek and offers rotating local beers, a seasonal cocktail menu and a back bar featuring drinks dressed with local produce. • Opened Sept. 17 • 700 E. Sixth St., Austin • www.marlow.bar 2 Alienated Majesty Books Owned by locals Melynda Nuss and Jose Skinner, the

In the news

3 Aquasana Aquasana, a high-performance water filtration company, celebrated its 25-year anniversary in September. Headquartered in Austin, the business provides water filters to reduce contaminants in locations, such as showers and drinking water, with filters for under the

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BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

Coming soon

MOPAC

360

4 Mad Hippie The Austin-based skin care and cosmetics company owned by Sam and Dana Stewart will open its first brick-and-mortar location. The spot will offer a place to try on products before buying them. In addition, the Stewarts plan to host musical events and yoga classes in the space. • Opening in early 2025 • 700 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.madhippie.com

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South Central

2 Drinks Backyard Co-owner and longtime Austinite Sara Lupa opened Drinks Backyard in late September in the old Pilot Knob Liquor Store. The space offers a variety of cocktails, spritzers, margaritas and locally crafted beers with bites from food truck Smokin’ Brew-B-Q. • Opened Sept. 26 • 6328 S. US 183, Austin • www.drinksbackyard.com

1,300-square-foot space in South Austin, offering cuts, colors and chemical treatments. Owner and local Tim Durant said the original location will remain open at

1601 E. Fifth St., Austin. • Opening in November • 1632 S. First St., Austin • www.scruffsbarbershop.com

Now open

1 Jive Turkey Texas Longhorns wide receiver Deandre Moore, along with his mother, Taleea Moore, opened the turkey- based food truck in South Austin in late August. The menu consists of three options: the Jive Burger; the Jive Turkey Bowl, a cornbread bowl with slow-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese; and the OJ Jive, a deep-fried turkey taco. • Opened Aug. 27 • 1637 E. Riverside Drive, Austin • www.jiveturkeyatx.com

5 JuiceLand The smoothie chain owned by Matt Shook 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. • Opening in November • 600 E. Ben White Blvd., Ste. 400, Austin • www.juiceland.com

Coming soon

3 Scruff’s Barbershop A gay-owned barbershop that aims to be welcoming for LGBT people will open its second location in a

NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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Impacts

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

Now open

East Austin

BARBARA JORDAN BLVD.

4 Seven Spirits Co-founded by Jose De Loera, founder of El Tacorrido and the former Barzón, along with locals Peter Ponce and David Blauer, Seven Spirits offers a place in the east-side entertainment district for people to grab a bite to eat and try a handcrafted cocktail composed of one of the seven spirits of Mexico: tequila, mezcal, sotol, pox, charanda, bacanora and raicilla. • Opened July 26

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• 1411 E. Seventh St., Austin • www.sevenspiritsaustin.com

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East Austin

2 Sprouts Farmers Marke t The healthy grocery chain serves produce from a handful of local Texas farmers, ready-to-eat meals and deli sandwiches, and dozens of organic and plant-based products. The store has also partnered with DoorDash for grocery delivery services. • Opened Oct. 13 • 1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd., Austin • www.sprouts.com

130 TOLL Officials said the 2,000-square-foot former residence will be catered to and designed from a Black cultural perspective to encourage entrepreneurial and creative endeavors. • Opening this fall • 2925 E. 12th St., Austin • www.originstudiohouse.com

Now open

71 1 Pershing East Cafe Austinite Kip McClanahan opened Pershing East Cafe in the former location of Greater Goods Coffee Roasters, which closed Aug. 25. The cafe is across the street from Pershing Hall, an event space also owned by McClanahan. The cafe serves Greater Goods coffee and teas along with pastries and sandwiches. • Opened Sept. 30 • 2501 E. Fifth St., Austin • www.thepershing.com/pershing-east

Closings

5 Spartan Pizza The pizza shop closed its east-side location earlier this summer after closing its Northwest Austin location at 7318 McNeil Drive, Ste. 109, Austin, on March 12. Spartan Pizza was known for its authentic New York- style pizzas. • 1007 E. Sixth St., Austin

Coming soon

3 Origin Studio House A community space offering art, coffee, food, drinks and events is set to open in the historic district in late 2023.

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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Transportation

BY KATY MCAFEE

$22.87M grant to fund safety upgrades across Austin area

More than 60 intersections, crosswalks and traffic signals are slated for safety improvements funded through a $22.87 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and $1.5 million from the city of Austin’s fiscal year 2022-23 budget Sept. 14. The backstory Austin received the federal award in February through the Safe Streets and Roads for All pro- gram, which targets high-crash sites in cities and counties. A Sept. 14 city council vote marked the city’s first move to implement the funding for projects around Austin. The details The DOT grant will fund: • Five to seven major intersection improvements • 10 pedestrian hybrid beacons—a traffic control system used to help people cross busy roads

• Dozens of crosswalk marking, traffic signal and street lighting upgrades • A safety campaign on roundabouts Construction on the first of the newly-funded projects will begin in fall 2024, according to the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department. Diving in deeper Over half of the grant funding will be used for safety projects in areas designated by the DOT as historically underserved—many east of I-35. City transportation data shows Austin’s Black and Hispanic population is disproportionately dying and getting seriously injured in car crashes. As of Sept. 27, Black residents made up 18.4% of serious injuries and fatalities in Austin, and Hispanic residents made up 35.2%. Austin’s population is roughly 7% Black and 32% Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2020 census.

Safety upgrades

$24.37M total funding approved Sept. 14

50% of projects will be in areas considered to be underserved by TxDOT

60+ safety projects including:

Intersection improvements

Pedestrian hybrid beacons

Crosswalk markings

Traffic signal upgrades

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

COMPILED BY ELLE BENT, KATY MCAFEE & BEN THOMPSON

Council taps city manager search firm Mosaic Public Partners will lead the national search for Austin’s next city manager, the appointed head of local government. The details After vetting several interested firms, a City Council subcommittee picked Mosaic to handle candidate recruitment and public engagement for a $150,000 contract. A search timeline isn’t finalized but officials previously said they hoped to install a new manager by next fall. “This is a big, big, big decision on behalf of the city, one of the biggest decisions that we will take on as a group and as a council,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. “We want to make sure we take the appropriate amount of time and we don’t limit ourselves.”

Austin funds response initiatives for sex crimes Nearly $1 million has been set aside for audits of the Austin Police Department’s sex crimes inves- tigations, victim counseling services and sexual assault prevention initiative. This represents another step in ongoing reform efforts in response to the city’s history of failures responding to such cases and their survivors. The approach City Council voted Sept. 21 to fund new over- sight of the APD’s work combating sex crimes as well as new local policing programs. The updates follow the city’s $875,000 settle- ment deal last year over a pair of lawsuits filed by survivors against Austin over how their cases were handled. In addition to the compensation, that agreement included many required actions for the city to take on, which are now being addressed. “These items aren’t just contracts and grants.

Local response funding

• $507,510 for a one-year crisis intervention project for counseling and victim services • $106,063 for a policing program to monitor places with a high risk of sexual violence • $237,500 for an audit of APD’s Sex Crimes Unit and its response to recently-proposed changes • $100,000 to review a random sampling of sexual assault cases opened in 2021 and 2022

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

They are agreements. They are commitments that stem from hard, collaborative work and involve real lives, real traumas and real persistence on the behalf of advocates and survivors who are holding us accountable to make real systemic change,” Council Member Alison Alter said of the new initiatives in September. The funding follows the creation of a new city and community collaborative formed to advance more than 100 proposals for structural changes across Austin’s sexual assault response system in the years ahead.

Review lays out extreme-weather response flaws A consultant’s recent review of lessons learned from Winter Storm Mara advised Austin and Travis County to fix communication breakdowns with residents, address planning and operational short- falls, and dedicate more resources to resilience efforts and infrastructure. The details The after-action report released Oct. 3 dove into city and county emergency planning around the storm from late January into February, highlight- ing how governments can better ready for extreme weather events. Dozens of improvements were proposed in the review. Austin leaders said multiple departments will create a citywide corrective action plan by the end of the year—especially after similar propos- als weren’t fully addressed in the past.

Revising crisis response

The latest review of local crisis response proposed 78 fixes across six areas of improvement.

Technology, infrastructure: 8

Resource, asset management: 18

Communications: 14 action items

78 total fixes

Operational coordination: 11

Planning, preparedness: 13

Shelter management: 14

SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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Education

BY ELLE BENT

Austin ISD approved a proposal for a state- appointed monitor over the district’s special education department Sept. 26, four days prior to a deadline set by the Texas Education Agency that would have implemented a conservatorship for the department instead. The board’s 8-1 decision came with Vice Presi- dent Kevin Foster voting against. The breakdown Austin ISD agrees to state monitor plan district’s special education evaluations. Taking one step down, a monitor was offered to the district on Aug. 30 after an informal review by the TEA. On Sept. 25, additional changes were made to the deal. Before voting to accept the monitor, trustees in favor emphasized that agreeing to the proposal is the best option to ensure progress for special education as well as to maintain local control and district values. Foster, who voted against approv- ing the proposal, said he believes things would not get better for special education students with outside intervention.

Terms of the agreement

A state monitor will sit in on board meetings and report on AISD’s progress. AISD officials will receive state training and work with a governance coach. 50% of board meeting time will focus on student outcomes and special education. All TEA evaluations and requirements must be completed on a deadline.

Goals moving forward October-December Adopt Lone Star Governance goals January-March

By agreeing to the proposal from the TEA, AISD will now have a monitor sit in on board meetings and report on the district’s progress on its backlog of special education evaluations. The district will also pay for a Lone Star Governance coach to provide board training and evaluations focused on improving student outcomes, as required by the deal. AISD was notified by the state agency in March that it would seek to implement a conservatorship due to the findings of an investigation of the

If AISD doesn’t fulfill the terms in the agreement, the district then waives any right to petition for further state review to avoid stricter oversight and may be assigned a conservator instead. “I don’t feel we’re giving up anything by giving up our right to appeal, because we are currently in a situation where the commissioner could put the conservator here anyhow,” District 7 board member David Kauffman said on Sept. 25.

Complete all outstanding evaluations, develop a plan based on third-party audit, train staff using TEA guidance April-May Develop a special education evaluation manual outlining responsibilities, processes, and timelines

SOURCES: AUSTIN ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Health care

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Austin health official shares tips for combating seasonal illnesses

Lab-reported cases of COVID-19 in Travis County in 2023 *

The details

Diving in deeper

What's next

All three viral illnesses can be mitigated with vaccinations, Walkes said. In addition to vaccinations, per the CDC, other basic preventive measures include hand-washing, wearing a mask to reduce the amount of germs breathed in, improving air quality through air filters and keeping a distance from those who are sick.

Walkes said the COVID-19 variant circulating the state is of XBB lineage, one of the newer reported strains. Laboratory-reported cases of COVID-19 are down significantly in Austin since 2022, according to data from the Austin Public Health COVID-19 dashboard. In 2022, there were nearly 150,000 lab cases reported. So far, there are just over 21,000 reported this year. Results from these tests do not include at-home tests, however, meaning numbers could be higher. Health care providers will begin collecting flu data at the beginning of October for the 2023-24 flu season, Walkes said. APH will post its first flu report—which collects data weekly through the end of flu season in May— at the end of October. Testing is required to know if an illness is COVID-19 or the flu, as many symptoms are shared, according to the CDC.

RSV can be severe for infants and older adults and require hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control, so vaccines and other preventive measures are recommended. Symptoms typically include: • Fever • Decrease in appetite • Coughing, sneezing or wheezing • A runny nose For infants up to 1 year old, breathing difficul- ties, irritability and decreased activity may be the only signs, according to the CDC. RSV can result in a lower respiratory tract diseases such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. By the time children reach the age of 2, almost all will have had an RSV infection at some point, accord- ing to the CDC. APH officials said local RSV case data is not available as it is not a reportable condition.

21,076 cases

33 median age diagnosed

As flu season begins, the number of local cases for seasonal illnesses confirmed by laboratory testing remains stable, said Dr. Desmar Walkes, medical director and health authority for Austin- Travis County. Seasonal illnesses include COVID-19; the flu; and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Walkes encourages residents to be prepared and know the signs of seasonal sicknesses. “These diseases can cause severe illness. The risk is higher in the very young and very old, especially those who are living with a chronic health condition or those that are immunocompromised,” Walkes said. Given how similar symptoms are between the illnesses, it can be tricky to know which one someone has, Walkes said.

Signs of seasonal illnesses to watch out for can include:

71 deaths

71 median age of fatalities

2022-23 flu season data *

Fatigue

Upper respiratory congestion

12 adult flu-associated deaths

“Each of these respiratory viruses can be treated, but it is important to know what is making you sick.” DR. DESMAR WALKES, MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY

Cough

Muscle pain or aches

14 flu cases across county schools

3,000 positive flu tests during week of Oct. 31, 2022, the peak of the season

Loss of taste or smell

Fever or chills

*DATA AS OF SEPT. 25, 2023. THE 2022-23 FLU SEASON ENDED IN SEPTEMBER.

SOURCE: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Health care

BY HANNAH NORTON & BRITTANY ANDERSON

A once-bustling basketball, live music and commencement venue in Central Austin is being demolished to make way for two new hospital system facilities. The Frank Erwin Center will be torn down by fall 2024 and replaced by The University of Texas at Austin Medical Center, consisting of a UT Austin hospital and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Hospital towers to replace Erwin Center

Diving in deeper

E. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD.

FRANK ERWIN CENTER

DELL SETON MEDICAL CENTER

The project will be funded by: • UT System • UT Austin • MD Anderson • Other donors and partners The UT Austin hospital will be built and oper- ated by the university, while the cancer center will be built and operated by MD Anderson. The adjacent hospitals will be located near the Dell Medical School. “We are bringing our research-driven patient care, our compassion and empathy, our

NEW HOSPITALS

nation-leading patient experience, and the largest cancer clinical trials program in the world to Aus- tin, Texas,” MD Anderson President Peter Pisters said. “This will be a cancer center that will provide hope and cures to Central Texas and beyond.”

What’s next

The two facilities will bring hundreds of new patient beds to downtown’s medical district. Specialty hospital:

UT board of regents votes to demolish the Frank Erwin Center for $25 million May 2022

Claudia Lucchinetti, the dean of UT’s Dell Medical School, said many Austin-area residents often have to seek care outside the city for cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal issues and neuroscience. The specialty hospital will have around 250 beds for patients with complex conditions. UT students studying medicine, nursing, pharmacy and social work will have opportunities to work and learn at the new hospitals, she said. The new cancer center will include 156 beds and over 230 outpatient exam rooms. “We will bring the same subspecialty focus around specific types of cancers that we have in Houston,” Pisters said. “That would involve, for example, a breast cancer clinic, a

around 250 beds

Cancer center:

156 beds

$2.5 billion hospital investment announced August 2023

230 outpatient exam rooms

4,000 employees hired

Frank Erwin Center demolition finished Late 2024

SOURCES: DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL, MD ANDERSON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

colorectal cancer clinic and [other] specialized services.” The center will be staffed by MD Anderson physicians and thousands of employees overall.

Hospitals break ground 2026

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS BOARD OF REGENTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

CENTRAL AUSTIN LOCATION

WE’RE HIRING

Swimming is a critical life skill and a lifelong fitness activity.

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• Learn to Swim • New Fall Programs • Adult Lessons and Fitness • Private Lessons PROGRAMS AT WATERLOO

• SAFETY! Chlorinated/UV Filter Pools • Low instructor: student ratios • Curriculum that gets results! • Trained Instructors...we do this year round • Two indoor heated pools

3200 W. ANDERSON LN. � AUSTIN � NEAR MOPAC � WATERLOOSWIMMING.COM

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Health care

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Austin-area expert shares insight on breast cancer October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Christal Murray, a hematology and medical oncology specialist at Baylor Scott & White Cancer Center-Round Rock, shared her insight with Community Impact . What are some common signs of breast cancer? Women who are getting mammograms are typically diagnosed at earlier stages, before they would develop any symptoms. If a woman does have symptoms, they may notice a breast mass or a mass in the armpit ... breast pain or nipple drainage, or skin changes, such as redness or an ulcer. Who is most at risk? The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Women are at higher risk than men. However, about 1% of all breast cancers do occur in men. Women with a family history of breast or ovarian

cancers are at higher risk for developing breast cancer, as well as women with more dense breasts. Have there been any recent advancements in treating this? In the last five years, we have had significant advances in radiation as well as in chemotherapy and hormone therapy, which can work to improve outcomes as well as tolerance of treatments. It has been a hopeful time in breast cancer research. What preventative measures do you recommend be taken? There are some lifestyle changes that can lower the risk of developing breast cancer, such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding hormone replacement therapy, not using tobacco and limiting alcohol consumption.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

COURTESY BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE

NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Being a great place to work has its rewards. And awards.

Because of our investments in industry-leading programs and resources, and our commitment to helping teammates achieve their personal and professional goals, we were awarded the Grand Stevie Award for Organization of the Year. I’m proud of this recognition, really proud of our dedicated employees, but most especially proud to be part of this community we all serve.

David Bader President, Bank of America Austin

Learn more at bankofamerica.com/austin

What would you like the power to do?®

The Stevie Awards recognize the achievements of businesses and professionals worldwide. Organizations self-nominate, providing data for various categories, and winners are determined by the average scores of more than 240 professionals worldwide serving as judges. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender © 2023 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Real estate

Median home sales price

September 2022

September 2023

Residential market data

Most Central Austin ZIP codes saw an increase in median home prices year over year in September, but there were a few exceptions, according to data from the Austin Board of Realtors.

2022

2023

2022

2023

78701

78723

-49.4%

-2.95%

$570,000

$599,950

$1,125,600

$618,175

78702

78731

-0.28%

-10.55%

$700,000

$890,000

$702,000

$995,000

360

78703

78751

-50.53%

+23.83%

$889,200

$1,018,500

$1,797,500

$822,500

183

290

MOPAC

78704

78752

+27.67%

+8.49%

$887,278

$575,000

$695,000

$530,000

78701

78702 78722

78703

78704

78705

78723

78731

78751

78752

78756 78757

78705

78756

+1.99%

+53.56%

$385,000

$926,750

$377,500

$603,500

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

78722

78757

+9.44%

+2.37%

$985,000

$627,500

$900,000

$613,000

NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Homelessness strategy evolves amid service gaps From the cover

who challenged officials’ choice to direct one-time funding away from supportive housing. “[Supportive housing] won’t just house one person for each unit,” said Matt Mollica, executive director of ECHO. “We’re talking about units that will be here to serve the community for decades to come, and that’s exciting and new and important.” Local efforts for supportive hous- ing are continuing amid a renewed focus on temporary shelters, with initiatives such as Finding Home ATX, the public-private initiative started in 2021 to house thousands of Austinites through 2024. Watson said an immediate demand in the community showed the shift was needed. “That’s the market speaking,” Watson said. “People wanted a place to go.” In this past fiscal year, operations across five city-supported shelters cost more than $26 million. Austin officials estimate it cost more than $34,000 per person per year to maintain fewer than 800 beds, including supportive services, meals and housekeeping. Additionally, one city program has moved more than 600 people from encampments into shelters since 2021 at a cost of about $25,000 per person. Nearly $5 million is set aside for general encampment cleanups over the coming year. Beyond those efforts, many

CONTINUED FROM 1

Summing up services

be coming. “If I didn’t think the money that we were putting into it was the right amount of money, I wouldn’t have been in favor of doing it,” Watson said. “But I want to make sure that it’s being done the right way, and I think that it would be appropriate for us to take a step back and review.” The city’s current budget priori- tizes temporary shelters after several years of focusing on supportive housing. Between local and one-off federal funds, Austin will spend about $80 million addressing homelessness this year, up from $73 million the prior year. The money will fund smaller-scale mental health and client support programs as well as higher-cost temporary shelters and permanent supportive housing. Permanent supportive housing offers employment, behavioral health and other services; an expen- sive and long process. Temporary shelters, such as the Marshalling Yard, a city warehouse, welcomed hundreds of clients soon after coun- cil authorized its $9 million con- version into a shelter this summer, focused on providing an immediate place for people to go. What’s happening? The budget priorities drew a mixed response from some com- munity members and advocates

Austin reserves tens of millions of dollars for housing and other homelessness services out of its annual budgets, including this year’s $4.5 billion overall spending plan.

$81M

Preventing homelessness Crisis response Housing Managing public spaces Supportive services

$74.7M

$80M $40M $60M $20M $0

$72.5M $72.6M

FY 23-24 (budgeted)

FY 22-23 (estimated)

FY 21-22 (estimated)

FY 20-21

Did you know?

Unsheltered Sheltered

Aug. 2021 Aug. 2022 Aug. 2023

2,321

591

The number of people accessing local services shows Austin’s homeless population is growing. However, analysts said numbers have also risen in part thanks to improved data tracking.

3,235

969

981

5,216

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000

Annual counts offer a snapshot of a region’s homeless population on a given night—but they don’t provide a comprehensive view of everyone seeking local services.

Austin/Travis County: 2,374* population: 1.27M**

Greater Houston/Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties: 3,270* population: 6.35M**

San Antonio/ Bexar County: 3,155* population: 2.06M**

*COUNTS CONDUCTED IN JANUARY 2023 **2021 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY FIVE-YEAR ESTIMATES SOURCES: COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION, SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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WHETHER YOU’RE ACHEY OR BREAKY.

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BY BEN THOMPSON

addressing public encampments, those involved said many clearings are followed by the unhoused indi- viduals returning to a nearby area without anywhere else to go. Long waitlists and referral issues remain as barriers to temporary shelters, while many permanent housing spaces have yet to open. Jose Cruz, who’s been homeless for about six years, said he’s given up on finding a housing solution through city systems after years of trying; he’s now hoping to find help from community members. Cruz said he doesn’t believe what he views as a backed-up housing process can work without more support for clients along the way as he’s seen many people be housed and then return to the streets. “They don’t have an actual plan that will ensure that the homeless people are not going to leave the apartment as they’ve been doing,” he said. What’s next Many said the goal of adding supportive housing can free up shel- ter beds as clients transition from temporary to permanent spaces. The first of more than a dozen new supportive housing facilities includes a few city-owned hotels that are being revamped for new tenants and could begin opening late this year or in early 2024. Many of the projects will be brand-new construction, and altogether, the additions will expand Austin’s supportive housing network by more than six times. Mollica said a key area of improve- ment can be the use of tenant-based tools, such as vouchers, to address the housing shortfall in private apartments as well. However, hundreds of people who’ve already secured their vouchers are still struggling to get housed. “That part of the strategy needs to be fine-tuned and reworked and needs to be better, quite frankly,” he said. “We have some areas of improvement; there’s no doubt about it.”

homelessness services are scattered throughout the city and remain difficult for clients to navigate. Mark Hilbelink, executive director of South Austin’s Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, said the city prioritizing shelter or housing outcomes alone, while important, means other community needs aren’t met. He said more resources are needed on the “front end” of homelessness work, such as day centers offering walk-up services, which could also produce better data on Austin’s homeless population and its needs. Emergency shelters in Austin served a total of 2,601 people in fiscal year 2020-21 and more than 2,900 people in FY 2021-22, but data for the most recent fiscal year is still being collected. Between 173 and 238 people have moved into permanent supportive housing each year since 2017, according to ECHO and the city, which keeps tabs on housing and shelter statistics. The breakdown In the next year, the city will spend $17 million of its dedicated funds to combat homelessness for the development of supportive housing and related services. Addi- tionally, $9 million will be used for shorter-term housing or vouchers for tenants. Stakeholders agreed homelessness solutions aren’t cheap or simple. Still, the high and increasing cost of services draws some criticism, including recent calls from com- munity members and officials for a closer look at spending. “I think we ought to be doing [spending reviews] on a routine basis on anything that has this kind of expenditure, this kind of expo- sure and this kind of passion behind it just to make sure we’re doing it right,” Watson said. A focus exclusively on the price of homelessness services also illustrates the challenge of balanc- ing needs that often outpace the available resources. As millions of dollars are spent

System shortfall

Austin has ramped up its sheltering efforts over the past few months, but the city still projects a wide gap between available beds and those in need over the coming years.

Key:

100 beds

Across Austin, just over 1,000 shelter beds exist for all populations, including women, youth and immigrants.

Of those, about 541 are available for single adults, the largest share of those experiencing homelessness in Austin.

The city projects 1,428beds for single adults will be needed by 2026, leaving an 887-bed gap for that population. At least 115 are in the works.

SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Housing pipeline

Adding more supportive housing is among the most expensive and time-consuming pieces of how local governments and nonprofits are addressing homelessness. Hundreds of units are planned or under development around Austin.

New construction

Hotel conversions

Already completed

45 TOLL

Pugerville

WELLS BRANCHWAY PKWY.

183

130 TOLL

Austin

PECAN GARDENS 78 UNITS • 2024 OPENING

E. PARMER LN.

183

MOPAC

Austin

290

360

3177

E. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD.

W. CESAR CHAVEZ ST.

183

S. LAMAR BLVD.

130 TOLL

290

SOURCE: ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Events

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

30th annual Austin Powwow Hosted by the nonprofit Great Promise for American Indians, the festival will give those attending an up-close look at Native American culture with traditional music, dancing competitions, a Native market and food. • Nov. 18, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. • $7 (online), $10 (at the door) • Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane, Austin • www.austinpowwow.net

ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot Benefiting the nonprofit that has the goal to end homelessness in the area, Caritas of Austin, the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot is known to be the most attended 5-mile run in the state and attracts more than 20,000 runners each year.

• Nov. 23, 8:45-10:45 a.m. • Free (attendees), prices vary (participants) • The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin • www.thundercloud.com

A Christmas Affair: Holiday Market Benefiting The Junior League of Austin, the holiday bazaar will offer more than 200 vendors from both small and midsize businesses. • Nov. 15-19, times vary • $25 • 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin • www.jlaustin.org Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting Since its first lighting in 1967, the Zilker Holiday Tree has become a tradition for many in Austin. • Nov. 26; 5:15 p.m. (music), 6 p.m. (tree lighting) • Free • Zilker, 2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin • www.austintexas.gov

connecting more than 300 authors with their readers. There will be panels and author presentations throughout the event, along with book signings and

November

activities for children. • Nov. 11-12, times vary • Free

Austin Tequila Fest The Austin Tequila Society will team up with Casa Chapala to present Austin Tequila Fest. The festival will provide those attending a chance to explore 25 different brands of agave spirits, including tequila and mezcal. • Nov. 4; 4-5:45 p.m. (VIP), 6-10 p.m. (general admission) • $55-$90 • Casa Chapala Mexican Cuisine and Tequila Bar, 904 Research Blvd., Ste. 100, Austin • Instagram: AtxTequilaFest Texas Book Festival This nonprofit’s annual festival is dedicated to

• 1100 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.texasbookfestival.org

Quesoff A cook-off hosted by Mohawk Austin and built around cheese will benefit Central Texas Food Bank. Both professional and amateur cooks will compete. • Nov. 12, noon-3 p.m. • $20 • Mohawk Austin, 912 Red River St., Austin • Instagram: quesoffatx

Download the mobile app & submit your service request today. it st @ATX_311

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