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Bastrop Cedar Creek Edition VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6 AUG. 29 SEPT. 26, 2025
2025 Education Edition
Balancing growth Bastrop ISD passes balanced budget, boosts pay for all sta While some Central Texas school districts have postponed approving sta raises until later this summer, or are weighing the closure of campuses in the coming years due to new legislation and budget woes, Bastrop ISD has approved a balanced budget for the 2025-26 school year. This is possible through a combination of budget cuts made in the previous scal year—freeing up funds—and substantial growth projections, BISD’s Chief Financial Ocer Mike White said. (Brooke Sjoberg/Community Impact)
INSIDE
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Also in this issue
Education: Page 15 Get the scoop on the status of bond-funded construction projects in Bastrop ISD
Transportation: Page 18 Dive into planned expansions for Agnes Street and Blakey Lane, plus more updates
Feature: Page 19 Check out Double R Hat House, where locals—and celebrities—buy hand-shaped cowboy hats
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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 Katlynn Fox Dacia Garcia Elisabeth Jimenez Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Karoline Pfeil Sam Scha er Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Joel Valley Gracie Warhurst Sienna Wight Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Jones Sabrina Musachia Minh Nguyen Martha Risinger Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara
Leslie Bradshaw General Manager lbradshaw@ communityimpact.com
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BASTROP CEDAR CREEK EDITION
HAWTHORNE ST.
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111 3 The Farmhouse Kitchen With a new name, new owners and a new menu, local business owner Jeremy Story’s diner features menu items such as made-from-scratch entrees, breakfast platters and desserts. The restaurant is situated on Harvest Farms, which offers event rentals. • Opened July 11 • 739 Old Potato Rd., Paige • www.texasfarmhousekitchen.com L.A. Pawz Local couple Madame Moxie and Bryan Steele offer a variety of cat-grooming packages. A Certified Feline Master Groomer from the National Cat Grooming Institute, Moxie said services range from de-matting and de-shedding to belly shaving, toe tuft trims, honey- sugar scrubs and more. • Opened in late July • www.luxuryaustinpawz.com
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Now open
Coming soon
1 Mike’s Bikes Owner Jason Hernandez runs Bastrop’s only bicycle repair and rental shop out of a renovated 1967 Airstream Land Yacht near Fisherman’s Park. Bicycle rentals with safety equipment are available for a per-
4 McDonald’s Set to be located within Sendero, a 75-acre mixed-use development underway in Bastrop, construction on the fast-food chain spot is expected to begin this fall. • Opening in 2026 • Sendero, 917 Hwy. 71 W., Bastrop • www.mcdonalds.com
hour or per-day fee. • Opened in late July • 400 Farm St., Bastrop • www.mikesbikesbtx.com
What’s next
2 Nova Academy Utilizing the two-hour learning model, the private school offers personalized academic plans in the mornings and project-based workshops in the afternoons inside Bastrop Fitness Project. • Opened Aug. 13 • 303 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Bastrop • www.novaacademy.school
5 Tropical Smoothie Construction on a Tropical Smoothie at Burleson Crossing will run Aug. 31–Nov. 30, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The menu will feature smoothies, bowls, wraps and more. • Burleson Crossing, 717 Hwy. 71 W., Ste. 400, Bastrop • www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com
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BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & JOEL VALLEY
6 The Learning Experience The child care center will offer curriculum focused on hands-on activities to allow children to develop intellectually, socially and cognitively, according to The Learning Experience website. • 199 SH 304, Bastrop • www.thelearningexperience.com
and Austin-based composer and pianist Joseph Martin. • 1201 Water St., Bastrop • www.fbcbastrop.org
Coming soon
Closings
9 Sweet Tea Cafe Owners Randy and Jessica Walker closed the diner’s doors 10 months after opening. Sweet Tea Cafe offered scratch-made meals including $5 breakfasts, $7 lunches and $0.50 coffees. • Closed Aug. 4 • 117 Main St., Smithville
Relocations
7 Liberty Dance Center Owner and Director Marisa Bain will relocate her dance center to a 4,980-square-foot facility, which broke ground in July. Liberty Dance Center offers a range of dance classes, including ballet, pointe, musical theater and more. Classes are available for ages 2 and older, including adults. • Relocating in 2026 • 134 Hasler Shores, Bastrop • www.libertydancecentertx.com
Worth the trip
10 N28 Ristorante & Pizzeria Owner Marco Borghi will open the Southern Italian restaurant inside the former Bearded Baking Company spot, which closed in January. Menu items at N28 will range from Neapolitan wood- fired pizzas to handmade pasta, antipasti and more.
Fortune Teller Bar Owner Thomas Bailey’s all-day spot features coffees and cocktails. The mostly outdoor venue offers seating under the refurbished pavilion, while a restored 1920s-era cottage, formerly located behind Hill’s Cafe and slated for demolition, serves as the interior. • Opened June 30 • 5604 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.fortunetelleratx.com
• Opening in September • 1006 Main St., Bastrop • www.numero28austin.com
In the news
8 First Baptist Church—Bastrop The congregation celebrated the church’s 175th anniversary on Aug. 3, with former pastors, local leaders,
𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂 . 𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍 𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋 . 𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂 .
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BASTROP - CEDAR CREEK EDITION
Development
BY JOEL VALLEY
1
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PHOTOS BY JOEL VALLEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
• Installing railing • Installing decorative lights 1 Bastrop residents walk across the Old Iron Bridge during the kickoff event. 2 Community members used to place locks along the chain-link fence on the bridge. On Aug. 14, officials re- moved them, but said they have plans for the “symbols of love and Bastrop history.” 3 Construction crews are starting work on the project that will see the local landmark brought back to life.
Old Iron Bridge project kicks off Bastrop’s Old Iron Bridge was open to foot traffic July 26, when the city hosted a kickoff event for a $10.1 million project to rehabilitate the local landmark. The project—designed by Austin-based Huitt-Zollars and set to be completed by Dripping Springs-based Jay- Reese Contractors—will feature several improvements, including: • Adding a concrete deck • Adding steel truss components
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Events
BY AMANDA CUTSHALL
State of the City Dinner Hosted by the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, city officials will present updates on Bastrop’s initiatives.
September
Big Pink Benefit Guests can partake in snacks, shopping and more to support Lone Star Circle of Care’s mission of providing free and low-cost mobile mammograms. • Sept. 5, 4-7 p.m. • Admission prices vary • Community Impact Center, 5330 Bluffstone Ln., Austin • https://give.lonestarcares.org Texas Outdoor Family Night The workshop will explain how to camp and provide provisions such as tents, cots, lanterns and more. • Sept. 6, 9 a.m. through Sept. 7, 11 a.m. • $75 (per group, up to 6 people) • Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Rd. 1A, Bastrop • www.tpwd.texas.gov Community Pet Clinic Nonprofit officials will offer free and low-cost services for dogs and cats. Appointments are required. • Sept. 7, 8 a.m.-noon • Free (wellness exams, rabies vaccine), $10-$25 (additional services) • Bastrop City Hall, 1311 Chestnut St., Bastrop • www.saveanangel.org/communitypetclinic
• Sept. 8, 5-9 p.m. • $80 (admission) • Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center,
1408 Chestnut St., Bastrop • www.bastropchamber.com
Feed the Need Gala The formal fundraising event will offer dinner, live music and auctions. Speakers will discuss the impact of Feed the Need’s mission to feed locals physically and spiritually. • Sept. 13, 6-10 p.m. • $125 (admission), $800 (table of eight) • Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St., Bastrop • www.feedtheneed.org/gala Bastrop County Go-Texan Night at the Races The Bastrop County-themed night at Cotton Bowl Speedway will offer competitive dirt-track racing. Fans
Down Home Ranch Red Carpet Affair The nonprofit, which aims to empower the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will offer a red carpet-themed gala with dinner, live music, an auction and more. • Sept. 6, 5-10 p.m. • $150 (admission), $300 (VIP) • Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St., Bastrop • www.downhomeranch.org/events
are encouraged to dress in Western attire. • Sept. 13, 5 p.m. (grandstand), 7 p.m. (races) • $10 (kids ages 7-12, admission), $20 (adults, admission), $35 (pit passes), $100 (VIP) • Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 CR 202, Paige • www.cottonbowlspeedway.com
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BASTROP - CEDAR CREEK EDITION
Education
BY JOEL VALLEY
Education Edition
2025
Welcome to Community Impact’s 2025 Education Edition! Whether you’re a parent, resident, or business owner, our Education Edition provides valuable insight for everyone in the community. We’re committed to delivering unbiased, hyper-local news that keeps you informed about the issues that matter most in our schools. Inside, you’ll nd an article on after-school mental health resources, an update on the balanced budget and districtwide raises, details on the newest campuses in Bastrop ISD, and a bond project tracker. Delivering this important content is a team e ort. We’re incredibly grateful to all of our community partners. Please support these businesses —they make it possible for us to keep Bastrop and Cedar Creek informed, inspired and connected.
What's inside
Initiative targets youth mental health (Page 10)
Leslie Bradshaw General Manager lbradshaw@ communityimpact.com
Bastrop ISD unveils a new elementary and two updated middle schools (Page 11)
Follow our Bastrop ISD bond tracker for the latest project updates (Page 15)
For relevant news and daily updates, subscribe to our free email newsletter!
Initiative targets youth mental health
Zooming in
Emotional backpack workshops will be implemented at area campuses through partnerships with local school districts, including Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville ISDs. The team will also mobilize the Chill Out Zone—which emphasizes coping strategies and the importance of checking in on oneself as well as others—to underserved communities across Bastrop County. Mercado said she anticipates reaching approximately 1,500 students by mid-2026, through a combination of workshops, training and expanded Out of School Time Cares programming. “By meeting youth and families where they are, the [Out of School Time Cares] Team is helping ensure that all children have access to the support they need to grow, thrive and feel heard,” BCC o cials said.
Bastrop County Cares, a nonpro t that aims to build a stronger community through local partnerships, has a new program: the Youth Mental Health Initiative. Led by the Out of School Time Cares and comprised of BCC sta , the Youth Mental Health Initiative launched during a summer kicko event June 21. “The team is actively engaging youth and families through their chill-out zone and emotional backpack workshops, o ering tools and safe spaces that make mental wellness accessible and relatable for young people across the county,” said BCC Executive Director Norma Mercado in a newsletter.
Students at Mina Elementary in Bastrop ISD participate in an emotional backpack workshop as part of a Youth Mental Health Initiative with Bastrop County Cares.
COURTESY BASTROP COUNTY CARES
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
HAWTHORNE
Education
BY BROOKE SJOBERG
304 The renovation, restructuring and renaming of Creekside and Riverside schools brings the total number of BISD middle schools to four. The campuses are part of bond initiatives passed in 2021 and 2023 to address growth and make critical upgrades and replacements, officials said. Check out Bastrop ISD’s newest campuses Adelton Elementary School, Bastrop ISD’s new- est elementary school, opened its doors Aug. 13. It is joined by both Creekside and Riverside middle schools, formerly known as Bastrop and Cedar Creek intermediate schools. At a glance
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1 Adelton Elementary 119 Blume Drive, Bastrop www.bisdtx.org
2 Creekside Middle School 151 Voss Pkwy., Cedar Creek www.bisdtx.org
3 Riverside Middle School 509 Old Austin Hwy., Bastrop www.bisdtx.org
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BASTROP - CEDAR CREEK EDITION
Balancing growth From the cover
The conditions
In a nutshell
Rocky Gardiner, director of school district consulting for demographics rm Zonda Education, said BISD grew by 1,900 students in the last ve years, a 17.25% increase. In the next decade, BISD is projected to grow by about 6,000 students. Gardiner attributed this growth to housing and business development. White said this growth brings more state funding, accompanied by a need for new schools.
Bastrop ISD is one of two school districts in Community Impact ’s coverage areas in the Austin region to pass a balanced budget and provide raises to all sta for the 2025-26 nancial year—along with Georgetown ISD. Amid statewide enrollment and school funding challenges, the district’s student population is also one of the fastest-growing in the region. Chief Financial O cer Mike White said the district’s growth-based funding model guided administrators in responsibly planning for the future. The district made $7.6 million in budget adjustments during the 2024-25 nancial year to stave o a nancial challenge, he said. In addition to state-mandated raises for teachers with more than three years of experience, the district also approved pay increases for newer teachers and
Compensation increases
Support sta and paraprofessionals: 5% Administrators: 3.5% Teachers with one to two years of experience: 3% Starting pay for teachers raised from $56,000 to $57,750 per year
Enrollment projections
SOURCE: BASTROP ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
non-teaching sta . White said the raises are possible through state funding tied to enrollment growth and money freed up from budget cuts made last scal year. “We do everything we can for sta , but there’s a lot of uncertainty when you go into a legislative session,” White said.
+47.61%
20K
19,741
15K 10K
13,373
5K
0
SOURCE: ZONDA EDUCATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
BY BROOKE SJOBERG
The details
Funding gap BISD o cials said the additional funding provided by the state under House Bill 2 falls short of planned expenditures for the 2025-26 nancial year.
What’s next?
Throughout the legislative session, many public school superintendents and advocacy groups called on the state to make direct increases to the basic allotment—a per-student funding source. It was increased by $55 to $6,215, falling short of the additional $1,300 requested by some schools. Max Rombado, legislative director for the public school advocacy organization Raise Your Hand Texas, said creating targeted funding allotments can be complicated in a state as large and diverse as Texas. “While the impact may generally be positive, there are a variety of complexities and di erences between school districts that might create chal- lenges when you create these guardrails around this money,” Rombado told Community Impact on July 18. White said the district’s costs for items usually covered by the basic allotment have increased by about 25% in the last four years. Sen. Brandon Creighton, R Conroe, House Bill 2’s
As the district plans to accommodate a projected 47.61% increase in enrollment over the next decade, White said the district is taking a “conservative, measured approach.” “We’re just going to continue to remain diligent and do everything we can to protect our classrooms, [and] make every dollar count for our students,” White said. “A big part of that is having a handle on the projected growth because that will impact our funding for every future year.” This strategy includes careful planning, he said, to avoid outspending growth. “We’re setting budgets not just for next year—the decisions we make will impact two, three, four, ve years down the road,” White said.
HB 2 funding increases $364,000 to $786,000 $13.9 million to $14.5 million
Actual expenditure
Safety
$3 million
Special education
$17.4 million
Non- administrative raises
Up to $500,000
$2.07 million
SOURCE: BASTROP ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
sponsor in the Senate, said targeted funding will help ensure a larger share goes to classrooms. Several school districts in the area have approved smaller pay increases for sta who do not qualify for larger pay raises through HB 2, citing the legislation as a reason they were not able to provide more substantial raises.
BASTROP 739 State Hwy 71 (512) 308-0250
ELGIN 1100 US-290 (512) 285-2741
GIDDINGS 1920 E Austin St (979) 212-4031
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Education
BY BROOKE SJOBERG
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10 BISD police and operations facility • Schedule: Jan. 2025-March 2026 • Scope of work: 55,000 square foot facility to serve police administration, maintenance, custodial, groundskeeping, warehouse and the district’s print shop • Status: 20% complete • Scope of work: 60,000 square foot campus addition, new competition gym and fine arts facilities • Status: 55% complete 6 Creekside Middle School • Schedule: Oct. 2024-Dec. 2025 • Scope of work: 60,000 square foot campus addition, new competition gym and fine arts facilities • Status: 50% complete 7 Bastrop High School • Schedule: May 2025-Dec. 2027 • Scope of work: 38,000 square foot addition in permitting phase; new classroom wing and continued renovations • Status: 0% complete 8 Cedar Creek High School • Schedule: Sept. 2024-Dec. 2025 • Scope of work: 30,500 square foot campus addition • Status: 37% complete 9 Gateway School • Schedule: Begin fall 2025 • Scope of work: Addition of security vestibules • Status: 0% complete
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Check out the status of bond-funded construction projects in Bastrop ISD
Bastrop ISD has multiple bond-funded construc- tion projects underway throughout the district. What you need to know Voters in BISD passed over $500 million in bonds through two initiatives in 2021 and 2023, the first passed by voters since 2007.
2 Mina Elementary Phase 2 • Schedule: Jan. 2025-May 2026 • Scope of work: 35,500 square foot campus expansion • Status: 18% complete 3 Bastrop Middle School expansions • Schedule: Dec. 2024-Dec. 2025 • Scope of work: 21,000 square foot campus additions • Status: 28% complete 4 Cedar Creek Middle School expansions • Schedule: Dec. 2024-Dec. 2025 • Scope of work: 21,000 square foot campus additions • Status: 28% complete
Ongoing projects
1 Adelton Elementary School • Schedule: June 2024-Aug. 2024 • Scope of work: New 105,000 square foot elementary school • Status: 65% complete
5 Riverside Middle School • Schedule: Oct. 2024-Dec. 2025
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF BASTROP
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BASTROP - CEDAR CREEK EDITION
Government
BY JOEL VALLEY
Ordinance amended to make way for wireless transmission facility Bastrop City Council approved an ordinance amendment Aug. 12 that will allow wireless transmission facilities to be built in Bastrop’s “Employment Center” area. What we know The Employment Center, or P EC, is a zoning district for a mix of development types that accommodate commercial, retail and o ce uses, according to the city of Bastrop. “There’s an issue with proper cell communica- tions, mobile communications—not just for day- to-day operations but for emergency situations,” said James Cowey, Bastrop’s director of develop- ment services, during a council meeting Aug. 5 O cials discussed how a new wireless
County OKs mental health program Bastrop County Commissioners Court authorized a licensing agreement with the CredibleMind platform for its Behavioral Health 360 program during a meeting July 28. The public will have free access to: • Expert-reviewed resources to improve mental health and well-being • Interactive assessments • A blog on mental health and well-being The details The program, expected to be available by October, will be available 24/7 in English and Spanish. It will cost the county between $13,200-$17,700 for an annual license fee, $2,500 for an annual Spanish translation fee and $2,000 for implementation, and will be paid for with leftover grant funds.
Wireless transmission site
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transmission facility, which would be located just south of Hwy. 71 near Lovers Lane, would relieve existing sites from a lot of existing tra c. “It’s not going to be a really tall site,” said Vincent Huebinger of Vincent Gerard & Associates, the consultant for the landowner, tower owner and AT&T. “We have photo simulations made for it. You can barely see it from Hwy. 71, but it’s going to be adequate for coverage.”
Commissioners name committee for jail expansion A steering committee will help guide o cials in designing a jail expansion project after Bastrop County Commissioners Court authorized the panel during a meeting Aug. 11.
Some context The jail, located in the county sheri ’s o ce at 200 Jackson St., Bastrop, was built in 1990 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Presently, these facilities accommodate a sher- i ’s o ce sta that exceeds 200 personnel and an average daily inmate population of 300,” according to the Capital Improvement Plan.
“The current Bastrop County jail will continue to outgrow its current state as the population grows,” according to a Capital Improvement Plan. “The growth in population, unfortunately, includes the growth in Bastrop County’s crime rate.”
Built in 1990, the Bastrop County Jail was last expanded in 2008. O cials are now preparing to grow its capacity again.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY GRACE DICKENS
LCRA expands rebates for home water conservation projects the summer is used outdoors, depending on the region, about 50% of which is wasted partially due to overwatering, according to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2024. What’s covered Part of the WaterSmart program, the LCRA now offers higher maximum rebates on water-saving projects.
The Lower Colorado River Authority is expanding its water conservation rebate program from $600 to $3,000 per eligible residential property annually, the organization announced in a news release July 1. The details Rebates cover the cost of materials but not labor or taxes, according to the news release. The rebates are available to most businesses and residents who receive water from an LCRA firm water customer. It’s also available to domes- tic use LCRA customers with contracts to draw water directly from the Highland Lakes, the news release states. This includes cities such as Cedar Park, Dripping Springs, Pflugerville and Leander, alongside munic- ipal utility districts such as the Lakeway MUD, Hurst Creek MUD and several Travis County MUDs. The context About 30-60% of the water homeowners use in
Original rebate
New rebate
Of the 29 billion gallons of water used daily in households across the U.S., about 9 billion gallons are used outdoors primarily for irrigating landscapes, according to the EPA. The EPA also estimates that a single broken sprinkler head could result in up to 25,000 gallons of water being wasted over six months of irrigation. “We hope these rebates encourage residents to use technology and take other measures to cut back on outdoor water use, which saves both water and money,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of water. Rebates for water conservation from the LCRA are also available for businesses, schools and other institutions. Residents can sign up online at www.lcra.org/water/watersmart.
Type of improvement
Mechanical aeration
$100 $200
Compost and mulch
$600 $1,000
Converting turf grass to native garden beds or drought-tolerant landscapes
$600 $2,000
Rebates are also available on: • Soil moisture and rain sensors • Irrigation system evaluations • Pressure-reducing heads, nozzles, valves and in-line regulators • WaterSense smart controllers • Pool filters and covers • Soil testing SOURCE: LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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BASTROP - CEDAR CREEK EDITION
Transportation
BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & JOEL VALLEY
150
AGNES ST.
JONES ST.
BUTTONWOOD ST.
PERKINS ST.
PINEY RIDGE DR.
BLACKTAIL DR.
HIGGINS ST.
N
71
95
PERKINS ST.
$5.27M Agnes Street project continues Bastrop officials said work on a $5.27 million project to extend and expand Agnes Street is nearing completion. The project broke ground Feb. 15. Why it matters The roadway will expand from two lanes to four, providing a direct route from Home Depot to Walmart and easing congestion for nearby residents and businesses, City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino said.
MAYNARD ST.
JASPER ST.
GUTIERREZ ST.
150
N
N
N
Stop signs slated for 10 Bastrop intersections Bastrop drivers will see stop signs at 10 intersec- tions following traffic studies conducted by the city. What happened?
visibility, traffic volume, accident history and pedestrian activity,” Chief of Police Vicky Steffanic said. “Based on these assessments, the addition of stop signs is expected to improve overall safety and compliance with traffic control standards.” Although a cost for the installation was not immediately available, Colin Guerra, a spokesman for the city of Bastrop, told Community Impact most have already been installed.
Bastrop City Council approved a resolution for the stop signs Aug. 12. The Streets and Drainage Department will tackle the project, according to city documents. “Each of these intersections was evaluated for
Bastrop OKs $88K Blakey Lane roundabout redesign A project to expand access from Ed Burleson Lane East to Old Austin Highway is in the works. The overview
BLAKEY LN.
Zooming in During a meeting on Aug. 12, Bastrop City Coun- cil approved an $88,000 engineering professional services contract with The Goodman Corporation for a Blakey Lane roundabout redesign related to a planned intersection. Public Information Officer Colin Guerra said there were no other updates at this time.
PROPOSED REED STREET
OLD AUSTIN HWY.
The Blakey Lane project will extend Blakey Lane from Ed Burleson Lane East to a proposed street called Reed Way, connecting to Old Austin Highway. Work will include associated water, wastewater and stormwater improvements.
21
N
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Business
BY JOEL VALLEY
Rangel shapes the brim of one his house-brand hats.
JOEL VALLEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
ROY DAVIS RD.
290
95
N
462 Hwy. 290 E., Elgin www.doublerhathouse.com
Double R Hat House owner Emilio Rangel uses steam to soften and reshape a cowboy hat.
JOEL VALLEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Double R Hat House o ers hand-shaped cowboy hats ‘that last’ Emilio Rangel began his vision for Double R Hat House in 2016 at the age of 19 and has since grown a following, both locally and nationally. The past The idea for his own brand took shape about ve years ago, after a Mexico-based company—already
familiar with his work through Double R Hat House’s social media—reached out. “They sent me a couple of samples and we started dabbling,” Rangel said, adding that he uses customers’ feedback to improve his hats, which have been worn by popular country music artists. “There’s a lot of shops that sell cowboy hats, but we really strive to sell cowboys hats,” Rangel said. “If they’re buying hats here, that says something, because they’re hard on them. They want to have a hat that lasts and that is tried and true.” The focus For the rst few years, he largely worked alone with some help from his wife, mom and sister.
Now, Double R Hat House is truly a family-run business with friends often working on site. That evolution increased e ciency, as the business can sell between 75-80 hats a day, Rangel said. The future Rangel said he wants to continue building a community with a genuine experience. “I like to make the customer my friend. That’s how it should be,” he said. Going forward, Rangel said he hopes to purchase a property with an outdoor space to host ranch rodeos, and add more handmade cowboy products such as saddles, spurs and bits.
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BASTROP CEDAR CREEK EDITION
Real estate
Home sales in Bastrop and Cedar Creek moved in opposite directions year over year this July, down nearly 40% in 78612 and up about 30% in 78602, according to data from Unlock MLS. Residential market data
July 2024
July 2025
Number of homes sold by zip code
Average days on market
-30.43%
-15%
+28%
-36.84%
78602
78612
78602
78612
95
Homes sold by price point in July 2025
78602
71
21
78602
78612
21
0
0
$900,000+
304
78612
2 5
1 1
$700,000-$899,999
N
$500,000-$699,999
39
5
$300,000-$499,999
Bastrop-Cedar Creek
6
1
<$299,999
July
2024
2025
106 131
New listings
69 73
Closed sales
Median home sales price
Homes under contract
66 67
July
2024
2025
$359,990
$377,500
78602
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS AND UNLOCK MLS 512 454 7636 WWW.ABOR.COM
$479,995
$447,500
78612
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BASTROP - CEDAR CREEK EDITION
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BASTROP - CEDAR CREEK EDITION
512.303.1800 710 Hwy 71 W. Bastrop, TX 78602
We’re proud to support Bastrop families—not just with trusted banking, but with home lending solutions that make a real difference. From down payment assistance through our Bright Spark program to our Big Box Reno loan for home improvements, we are here to help you build, buy, and enhance your home—right here in the community we love. Here for Bastrop, Here for Good
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