Central Austin Edition | April 2026

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Central Austin Edition VOLUME 19, ISSUE 1 APRIL 30MAY 28, 2026

Coordinated response Austin’s expanded emergency response active downtown

By Ben Thompson

Also in this issue

On weekend nights, extra personnel and specialized equipment are deployed downtown to respond to minor infractions and serious incidents. ADRIAN GANDARACOMMUNITY IMPACT

Government Page 11 Discover the latest on TravCo’s child care initiative

Dining Page 21 Check out Kappo Kappo’s omakase dining downtown

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Safe Area WaterWise Water Saving Rebates Keep all text and critical images inside this line. This is the final size of the double truck ad. WaterWise Landscape Rebate* 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 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. 19.2 in x 11.25 in

20.5 in x 12.5 in Bleed Area (0.25 in bleed) This is the final size of the PDF that gets sent through the job jacket and Automator. (equipment rental is acceptable) Rebate $30 Maximize your rebate by doing all three $120 WaterWise Rainscape Rebate* Compost: 2 cubic yards or 54 cubic feet Rebate $50 Mulch: 2 cubic yards or 54 cubic feet Rebate $40 Core aeration service for entire front and/or back lawn area

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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* 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 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. *some rebates require pre-approval. Please check program guidelines.

Conservation Rebates, Tools, Tips, and more

austinwater.org

TRAVIS COUNTY, TX • 2025 PROPERTY TAX DATA REPORT • PAID FOR BY OWNWELL

54% of Travis County residential properties didn’t protest their 2025 property taxes.

46%

54%

Protested 1

Didn’t Protest 1

177,605

204,405

residential properties

$122.0M total missed potential savings

$160.2M total realized savings in 2025

Protestors won 89% of the time in Travis County1

WHY CHOOSE OWNWELL² 94%

IMPORTANT DATES

deadline for current & retroactive homestead exemption applications April 30, 2026 May 15, 2026

Travis County 2025 win rate

41,730

Travis County properties represented by Ownwell in 2025

property tax protest deadline

23% of Travis County residential protested properties chose Ownwell in 2025

$744 average annual property tax savings for Ownwell clients in 2025

PROTEST YOUR 2026 PROPERTY TAXES

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¹ ownwell.com/results/texas-protest-vs-non-protest • ² ownwell.com/insight/austin-area-property-tax-protest-results-agent-performance

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Impacts

NORTHLAND DR.

South Central Austin 4 Modern Bar Urbanspace Hospitality has debuted a new cocktail destination in the Rainey Street District, on the first floor of The Modern Austin Residences. • Opened April 10 • 90 Rainey St., Ste. 100, Austin • www.modernbaratx.com 5 Akiba Texas The new toy store from the creators of Toy Joy and Yummi Joy offers blind boxes, trinkets, accessories and more. • Opened Feb. 19 • 301 W. Second St., Ste. 200 • https://akibatexas.com 6 Orange Pocket The store is located on West Campus and offers blind boxes, beauty products and collectibles. • Opened Feb. 14 7 Duck Camp Hunt and Fish Outfitters Duck Camp sells tops, bottoms, outerwear, headwear, fishing gear, totes and camo. • Opened April 11 • 220 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 150, Austin • www.duckcamp.com 8 Stoney’s Good Time Ranch The patio bar is now serving up drinks in East Austin. The bar features pool tables and food trucks, including Flyrite Chicken. • Opened April 4 • 3526 E. Seventh St., Austin • www.stoneysgoodtimeranch.com 9 Pedroso’s Pizza Owners Thiago Vasconcelos and Alissa Gibson launched the second Pedroso’s Pizza location in late February. The pizzeria serves specialty, American and Sicilian-style pies all finished with pecorino cheese, garlic extra virgin olive oil and oregano. • Opened Feb. 28 • 2222 Rio Grande St., #170, Austin • Instagram: Orange Pocket Austin

2222

HANCOCK DR.

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CRESTMONT DR.

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ALDRICH ST.

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RIO GRANDE ST.

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W. CESAR CHAVEZ ST.

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2 Swingville Golf Club TJ Brogan launched a membership-only golf simulator club in Hyde Park in early March. • Opened March 1

Now open

1 Soleo Health Soleo Health launched a new center in Austin, providing specialty infusion therapy. The pharmacy services company, headquartered in Frisco, TX, has locations across the country. This marks its first Austin venture. • Opened in April • 8015 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste. 113, Austin • www.soleohealth.com

71 • 4227 Guadalupe St., Austin • www.swingvillegolf.com

3 The Loop Running Supply The locally owned specialty running store opened in Hyde Park.

• Opened February 2026 • 108 W. 43rd St., Austin • https://thelooprunning.com

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• 3850 Airport Blvd., Austin • www.pedrosospizza.com

The new cafe replaced Bureau de Poste—a French- inspired dinner restaurant at Tiny Grocer. • Opened in March • 4300 Speedway, Ste. 101, Austin • www.tinygrocer.com 15 Barrett’s Too Double Trouble recently reopened its doors in Austin under a new name: Barrett’s Too. The space is now owned by Travis Kizer, owner of Barrett’s Coffee on West St. Johns Avenue. • 103 N. Loop Blvd. E, Austin • Instagram: Barret’s Too 16 Red River Cultural District The district announced its five-year strategic plan for preservation and evolution April 14, following its first economic impact report. The strategic plan details exterior upgrades to existing venues, new signage, solar-powered lighting, public murals and more, according to a press conference. • Located between 5th and 15th Street in downtown Austin • https://redriverculturaldistrict.org

Coming soon

10 Royal Blue Grocery The Austin-based urban market franchise owned by Craig Staley and George Scariano will open its newest location in the city early next year.

• Opening January 2027 • 2010 Aldrich St., Austin • www.royalbluegrocery.com

11 Counter Culture Owner of the plant-based restaurant, Sue Davis, is gearing up to open a permanent Counter Culture restaurant in Austin this summer, she said. • Opening summer 2026 • 5812 Berkman Drive, Austin • www.countercultureaustin.com

20 Karaz A Middle Eastern restaurant from the team behind Suerte, Este and Bar Toti is headed to East Austin. The menu will include pita from a wood-fired oven, hummus, seasonal spreads and charcoal-grilled kebabs. • Opening TBD

Relocations

• 2627 Manor Road, Austin • Website not yet available

12 The Nines Men’s Grooming The men’s salon relocated from West Ben White Boulevard to a new spot on Crestmont Drive. • 5006 Crestmont Drive, Austin • www.theninesaustin.com

Closings

17 Austin Rocks After 12 years of business in Austin, the apparel and gifts store announced its closure on Instagram. • Closed Jan. 31 • 301 W. 2nd St., Austin • https://austinrockstexas.com 18 Sfingiday Store owner Christine Olson announced plans to close Sfingiday, a local artisan and gift shop in Austin. • Closing TBD • 2058 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.sfingiday.com 19 South Congress Hotel The hotel will close its doors to guests in early May for a renovation and will reopen as The Standard in Spring 2027.

• Closing May 2026 • 1603 S. Congress Ave., Austin • https://southcongresshotel.com

In the news

21 Uncle Nicky’s The Hyde Park location of the Italian eatery closed after eight years. In a social media post, Uncle Nicky’s staff said the closure will allow them to focus on the South

13 Eldorado Cafe Eldorado Cafe will add 4,402 square feet in restaurant space after becoming the tenant of an adjacent suite, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing. • 3300 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. 301, Austin • www.eldoradocafeatx.com 14 Tiny Grocer Café Tiny Grocer, a local grocery store in Hyde Park, opened a new cafe this spring serving French favorites and deli classic dishes alongside coffee cocktails and dessert.

Lamar location. • Closed April 26

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Government

BY BEN THOMPSON & CHLOE YOUNG

Travis County to withhold some of Tesla tax rebate Travis County is lowering its tax rebate to Tesla due to “partial noncompliance” with a perfor- mance-based local incentive agreement. Since 2020, the county promised Tesla tax breaks to build the 10-million-square-foot Giga Texas car manufacturing plant near Del Valle. On April 7, Travis County commissioners voted to withhold 9% of funds for 2020-22 after receiving “incomplete documentation” from the Colorado River Project, a Tesla subsidiary, County Judge Andy Brown said. “We have to continue to demand accountability in future compliance conversations,” Commissioner Ann Howard said. “I’m grateful for the work and the good, but it comes with a price, and we need to be accountable to the people for that.” The overview Under the agreement, Tesla would receive a 70% rebate on its maintenance and operations property taxes for the first $1.09 billion invested through Giga Texas. The company could receive a 75% rebate for investments beyond $1.09 billion and up to an 80% rebate for investments beyond $2 billion. Tesla was projected to receive a $14.65 million rebate over 10 years, according to initial county estimates from 2020. A Travis County spokesperson said the county has not yet calculated how much of a rebate Tesla will receive for 2020-22. To acquire these rebates, the company was required to create at least 5,001 new full-time jobs—50% of which had to be filled by Travis County residents—among other requirements. All employees had to receive a minimum base wage of $15 per hour and at least $47,147 a year for full-time jobs, according to county documents.

Austin moves to expand mixed zoning City Council took the first step toward broadening the types of multiunit housing that can be built in Austin neighborhoods and allowing more mixed-use development citywide. What happened On March 26, council advanced the creation of two new zoning categories over the year ahead meant to support: • Multi-unit, “missing middle” housing at scales in between single-family homes and bigger apartment complexes • Transit- and pedestrian-oriented develop- ments blending residential and commercial space, from smaller corner stores to larger mixed-use buildings Council member Paige Ellis said improved mixed-use zones can support a wide variety of development, from denser apartment proj- ects desired near downtown and transit lines to smaller businesses near neighborhoods. And Mayor Kirk Watson called missing middle a “logical step” toward improving housing affordability and choice. “Having a well-rounded, robust, and active housing market means addressing what’s missing, and these mid-density developments are what’s missing,” he said. The two concepts, laid out in a resolution from Ellis, will now be worked into new zon- ing in the year ahead. Her measure built on a recent city study into Austin’s current housing stock and recommending policy changes.

Tesla tax breaks Travis County extended tax relief to Tesla for the development of its Giga Texas plant.

County grant percentage:

• 70% in all payment years for first $1.1 billion invested • 75% for investments over $1.1 billion up to $2 billion • 80% for investments over $2 billion

As of 2022, Tesla:

Invested over $5.8 billion

Created nearly 12,300 new jobs

Jobs averaged hourly pay of $39.72 , and $26.53 for construction contractors

SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

“We are holding Tesla accountable,” Commis- sioner Brigid Shea said. “They have also met and significantly exceeded the key requirements in the contract of creating a very large number of very good paying jobs for people who have less than a college degree.” The update Tesla provided incomplete documentation on its building standards, construction site safety, mini- mum hourly wage, and janitorial and food contrac- tors. Tesla also exceeded many of the agreement’s provisions, Christy Moffett, the county’s director of economic development and strategic investments, said. As of 2022, Tesla invested over $5.8 billion into the property, surpassing the original target of nearly $178 million.

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Government

BY CHLOE YOUNG

$75M affordable child care initiative moving forward in Travis County

The approach

The Raising Travis County program is working to increase available spots for child care while also improving the quality of the programs, Meunier said. The county has awarded $17.34 million to Workforce Solutions Capital Area to cover 1,000 child care scholarships annually for children up to 3 years old. The organization has also received $4.16 million to cover quality improvements at 150 child care providers, such as teacher raises curriculum updates, Meunier said. Additionally, $4.85 million in annual funding has been allocated to cover extended prekindergarten and after-school care at Austin, Del Valle and Manor ISDs. The Salvation Army will receive more than $500,000 to provide emergency child care for families experiencing homelessness.

coming months, said Leah Meunier, strategic adviser for Raising Travis County. The county is seeking to offer contracted slots by paying child care providers to reserve seats for low-income families. The county plans to assist providers in offering child care during nontraditional hours.

Efforts are underway to provide more affordable child care in Travis County. In 2024, voters approved increasing the county’s tax rate to generate $75 million for Raising Travis County. The county has awarded more than $28 million to local organizations with plans to award an additional $17 million in the

Travis County children with parents working nontraditional hours

Family income below poverty (below 100% federal poverty level)

Family income low but not below poverty (100–199% FPL)

Family income not low (200%+ FPL)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Children under age 6

SOURCE: URBAN INSTITUTE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Austin ISD considers $117M-plus budget cuts Austin ISD is anticipating making more than $100 million in budget cuts to stang, academic programs and other operational expenses across campuses and departments. The sweeping cuts come as the district aims to reduce a mounting budget shortfall that has grown to $181 million for scal year 2026-27 The approach To reduce expenses, district ocials dis- cussed four scenarios that could involve making anywhere from $117 million-$132 million in budget cuts. Additionally, the district may save $9 million-$10 million by removing vacant positions and receive $50 million from monetizing three district properties, Chief Financial Ocer Katrina Montgomery said.

City looks to shape school closures The city of Austin is seeking to have a say in the future of some Austin ISD campuses—10 of which are slated to close this summer. What’s happening Following council’s approval March 26, the city manager will develop a land policy around when to acquire or partner in the redevelopment of land owned by other public groups, such as local school districts, council member Vanessa Fuentes said. The city has joint ownership of parks at 12 AISD campuses. Under council member Ryan Alter’s resolution, the city manager must now develop a process for managing city parkland condemnations. Previously, the city could greenlight the condemnation of public parkland without the council’s approval, Alter said.

The following are some of the top cuts the district is considering for scal year 2026-27.

Estimated savings

Strategies

$40.9M

Stang adjustments for departments

Elimination of funding tied to vacant department positions Reduction of current-year non-stang department balances Secondary campus teacher stang adjustment 15% reduction to non-stang department expenses

$23.1M

$17.1M

$16M

$9.2M

$6M

Elementary campus sta adjustments

$5.7M

Reduction of special education stipends

Reduction of campus safety monitors at secondary campuses Potential stang adjustments for campuses Conversion of librarian positions to support roles

$2.9M

$2.5M

$2M

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Austin ISD opts to close Blackshear, open new Oak Springs school

What they’re saying

Blackshear parent Gabe Hernandez said the campus has been eager to welcome Oak Springs students next school year and now feels blindsided by the decision to close Blackshear. Blackshear parent Laura Dablain said it is not ideal for students to move mid- school year. “He’s pretty devastated that he will no longer be at Blackshear,” Hernandez said about his son who will attend Oak Springs for part of fifth grade. “It was really disappointing.” Dream Together 2030, a coalition of community organizations, has advocated to preserve Oak Springs due to its importance and accessibility to the surrounding community, member Nehemiah Pitts III said. Securing transportation to attend another campus could be a challenge for many families, he said. “We’re delighted with the outcome,” Pitts said.

Austin ISD announced it will close Blackshear Elementary and relocate students to a new facility for Oak Springs Elementary in January of 2028. In November, the AISD board voted to close Oak Springs alongside nine additional campuses and merge the campus with Blackshear. After reviewing community feedback, AISD Superintendent Matis Segura said he has decided to continue constructing the $47.6 million modernized Oak Springs campus funded by the 2022 bond. As “a cornerstone of East Austin’s history,” AISD will seek a historic designation for the Blackshear, which opened in 1891, Segura said.

To maintain Blackshear’s fine arts programming, the new Oak Springs campus will feature:

Professional dance and yoga studio

Orchestra hall with private practice rooms

Outdoor performance stage

Theatre studio

Fenced garden

Zones for sensory play

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Ongoing projects

Completed projects

MOPAC

1 Zilker Multimodal Improvements Project: The city added a new 0.7-mile shared-use path around the Zilker Botanical Garden and enhanced bus stops as well as a crosswalk signal and crosswalk across Barton Springs Road at the Botanical Garden. Update: City officials celebrated the completion of the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early April. • Timeline: 2019-spring 2026 • Cost: $2.8 million • Funding source: city of Austin bonds, council District 8, CapMetro and Zilker Botanical Garden 2 Burnet Road Corridor Project: Construction work is underway on Burnet Road from Koenig Lane to MoPac, including the realignment of Burnet Lane at Burnet Road, traffic signal upgrades, shared-use paths, crosswalk signals and drainage improvements. Update: City officials broke ground on the corridor in early March. • Timeline: March-late 2028 to early 2029 • Cost: $59.5 million • Funding source: 2016 Mobility Bond

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3 Airport Boulevard Shared-Use Path Project: The city of Austin completed a new shared-use path along the west side of Airport Boulevard between East 51st Street and Middle Fiskville Road. Update: The project reached completion in early April. • Timeline: summer 2024-spring 2026 • Cost: $6.9 million • Funding source: 2016 Mobility Bond

ALLANDALE RD.

2222

KOENIG LN.

AIRPORT BLVD.

MIDDLE FISKVILLE RD.

STRATFORD DR.

290

MOPAC

BARTON SPRINGS RD.

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

Transportation

BY BEN THOMPSON & CHLOE YOUNG

City advances temporary museum relocation The Mexic-Arte Museum is planning to temporar- ily relocate to the Austin History Center during the redevelopment of its longtime home downtown. The overview The original three-story museum at 419 Congress Ave. is being demolished and reconstructed. The expansion, partially funded with $14 million from Austin’s 2006 and 2018 cultural bonds, will replace the museum with a four-story, 30,000-square-foot building with galleries, a gift shop and other upgrades. While that work takes place, Mexic-Arte could shift its operations to the history center at 810 Guadalupe St. City Council authorized the muse- um’s lease of 12,072 square feet at the AHC in April, although negotiations are ongoing. Under the approved lease outline, the museum would pay Austin $100 annually over a three-year

Elon Musk announces major chip plant Billionaire Elon Musk announced he’s bringing the world’s largest-ever semicon- ductor plant to Austin. The details Terafab—a joint venture between Tesla, SpaceX and xAI—would produce a combined compute capacity of 1 terawatt annually, according to a post by Tesla on X. The fab would enable the companies to escalate their production efforts, Musk said. “We either build the Terafab or we don’t have the chips,” Musk said at a March 21 livestreamed event downtown. Terafab could be 100 million square feet, he said on X, and several potential sites are under consideration.

1 Austin History Center

2 Mexic-Arte Museum

lease with optional fourth year extension. Mex- ic-Arte will also cover upkeep and security services at the history center. Other costs to the city like potential renovations are still under review. During its temporary stay at the AHC, the museum would be required to report on its programming including several annual exhibitions, educational events and tours.

From the cover

Coordinated response

the March 1 shooting downtown. Rapid response

CONTINUED FROM 1 Last month, a suspected gunman later identied as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne opened re on patrons in the West Sixth Street entertainment district from a vehicle, killing three people and leaving 15 others injured. The incident remained under investigation by the Austin Police Department and FBI, which labeled it a potential act of terrorism, as of press time April 22. The shooting also represented a test of Austin’s coordinated emergency response downtown. Multiple 911 calls came from the area around Buford’s at 700 W. Sixth St. during the shooting early March 1. APD and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services elded to the rst calls shortly before 2 a.m., and rst responders were on scene within a minute and began treating patients soon after. After he’d parked nearby, Diagne was located down the block and police shot and killed him at 2:03 a.m. In the aftermath, Austin ocials pointed to the rapid emergency response as a result of longtime coordination between public safety departments and the city’s focus on security in the city center. That’s included new programs and funding for work in the area, as well as continued support for longstanding initiatives like the APD’s Counter Assault Strike Team, or CAST. “There is no question in my mind that the quick response of the police ocers and of our EMS per- sonnel and those professionals made a dierence and saved lives,” Mayor Kirk Watson said hours after the shooting. The backstory On weekend nights, extra personnel and special- ized vehicles or equipment are available downtown to respond to everything from minor infractions around bars to more serious incidents, such as a shooting. Further preparation and resources are used around festival season, sports games and other major events. City ocials have also laid out specic responses in the past few years, like the “Safer Sixth” bar district plan created after a 2021 shooting, safety installations around Rainey Street, the reopening of East Sixth Street to vehicles last year, and emer- gency medical funding that was maintained despite other budget reductions. “Over the last several budget cycles, council has made targeted investments to strengthen downtown public safety, with a focus on faster response times, stronger coordination and ensuring resources are in place before emergencies occur,” said council member Zo Qadri, who represents downtown. “Last month’s incident underscored why these investments are critical.”

City ocials credited Austin’s public safety departments coordination, training and programs for their response to

1:57 a.m. First 911 call to APD

1:59 a.m. First APD unit on scene; rst call to EMS and rst EMS units dispatched

2:01 a.m. First police contact with a victim

2:03 a.m. Shots red, relayed to police dispatch

1:58 a.m. First APD call dispatched

2:00 a.m. EMS units on scene

2:02 a.m. First EMS patient contact, police engaged suspect

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

NOTE: TIMES ARE ROUNDED

responders and help get victims to safety. “If you’re shot, you can lose all of your blood volume very rapidly,” he said. “We need to have paramedics who can work to correct that more rapidly. And so we focused on what we can do that will be unique, that isn’t necessarily another yellow and blue ambulance working 24 hours a day.” Parker noted that CASTMED operations interact with typical EMS deployments downtown that can see medics patrolling in vehicles and monitoring 911 calls together throughout the night.

A closer look Police Chief Lisa Davis said APD ocers working downtown receive specic training to deal with issues unique to the busier, crowded area. A typical weekend will see at least a few dozen police around downtown in addition to other logistical changes like street closures, barricade placements and vehicle deployments. The CAST team is always on hand on weekends, and Davis said reassigning more than 70 ocers to APD’s patrols last summer has helped downtown— although the department still relies on frequent overtime shifts as a supplement. She also credited Austin’s participation in Advanced Law Enforce- ment Rapid Response Training, or ALERRT, oered through Texas State University for readying ocers for situations like the March shooting. Compared to what she’d seen during her previous work in Ohio, Davis said she was also surprised by the level of the city support needed to maintain safety in one of Austin’s most high-prole areas. There, more businesses and bars in entertainment districts pooled resources to chip in for added security, while she said “the dime’s on us” in Austin—something she could seek to change in the future to complement the city’s response to serious incidents. “You have a dense area that’s highly populated, those are issues that can occur,” she said. “As we look at the resources that we put in moving forward, certainly would like to have conversations with businesses about them maybe sharing some of the cost as far as adding extra patrols.” Zooming in Several EMS approaches for downtown include the department’s special events, emergency man- agement and special operations units. Building on APD’s program, the recently expanded CASTMED is a joint police-medic response to cases of violence that’s drawn national attention. The police-medic partnership oers advanced life-saving capability. ATCEMS Assistant Chief Kevin Parker said the added law enforcement presence can address threats, shield health care

“This approach ensures immediate, coordinated

response when seconds matter

most.” ZO QADRI, COUNCIL MEMBER

The outlook Last year’s failed tax rate election led city leaders to consider cutting some planned public safety support. However, in the end, ocials still used millions of dollars to boost or maintain EMS stang, a separate mental health response unit and downtown programs. Those decisions came a year after around $2 million was budgeted to link EMS with CAST and create a Downtown Area Command, or DTAC. The command now stages medics and all-terrain vehi- cles to treat patients around East Sixth. Another city initiative launched last year, Austin FIRST, now has police ocers responding to serious mental health calls alongside medics and clinicians in Central Austin daily. “Last month’s incident underscored why these investments are critical,” Qadri said. Multiyear labor deals with Austin’s police, re and EMS forces are all in place, and funding

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY BEN THOMPSON

Public safety push Austin leaders have funded and proposed several safety initiatives around downtown.

More than $1M remains budgeted for those initiatives this year. City Council funded two downtown safety updates in 2024: $1.81M to create the Downtown Area Command that stages medical resources near entertainment districts $275,702 to link police and EMS operations through CASTMED

Staging rapid response vehicles near bars

Street/sidewalk barricades

Reopening Sixth Street to vehicles as default; the street can close to vehicle trac when police deem necessary

Installing cameras and other security features in entertainment districts

Assigning more personnel on busy weekend nights

Adding new mental health response units

“It’s a three-legged stool. We all are one of those legs. There’s the emergency medicine, public health; there’s the re, patient evacuation; and then the law enforcement, patient safety side,” Parker said. “If any one of those legs is missing, the stool is not that stable. And so I think we are the example for a lot of other cities—that they come down and try to learn from us what we’re doing.”

for those departments is slated to increase over contract terms. City Council will be contending with revenue questions and likely budget cuts this year, including reviews of the programs and stang needed to support downtown while maintaining adequate service across the rest of the city. Ocials said department data and high-prole incident responses reinforce the value of the initiatives and training they now have in place.

Permanent pedestrian barricades are now installed along East Sixth Street more than a year after the street was rst reopened with temporary fencing in place.

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Events

BY KATLYNN FOX

May

Cinco de Mayo Festival Residents can gather at Republic Square for a day of celebration, including educational booths, traditional music and authentic Mexican food. • May 2, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free (admission) • 422 Guadalupe St., Austin • www.mexic-artemuseum.org CelebrASIA Austin 2026 The Asian American Resource Center will celebrate Asian Pacic American Heritage Month with performances, food vendors, cultural experience rooms Spring Markets at Zach Local artisans, artists and vendors will pop up at Zach Theater’s People’s Plaza for an outdoor market this spring. Visitors can expect to see home goods, jewelry, art, candles, food and clothing for sale. • May 2, 9; 3:30-7:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 202 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.zachtheater.org Much Ado About Nothing Fans of live theater can gather at Zilker Hillside Theater for a free Shakespeare performance each Thursday- Sunday, May 7-24. Audience members of all ages are encouraged to bring a blanket and pack a picnic for the outdoor show. and community tables. • May 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free • 8401 Cameron Road, Austin • Eventbrite: CelebrASIA Austin 2026

Austin Psych Fest 2026 The Far Out Lounge will host a three-day music festival featuring The Flaming Lips, Thee Sacred Souls and The Black Angels. • May 8-10, times vary

• Tickets starting at $92.02 • 8504 S. Congress Ave., Austin • https://bit.ly/4c7ueuX

Free Day at Zilker Botanical Garden Zilker Botanical Garden will host a free admission day. Final entry will be at 4:30 p.m. • May 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. • Free • 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin • www.zilkergarden.org/event/memorial-day-free-day ATX TV Festival The television festival will feature screenings, Q&As, panel conversations, live music and more. • May 28-31, times vary • $150 (TV Pass), $335 (GP Badge), $535 (Camp Badge) • Downtown Austin • www.atxfestival.com

proceeds will support mental health care and substance use recovery for professionals in the music industry. • May 16, 6-11 p.m. • $35-40 (general admission), $125 (VIP tickets) • 3504 Montopolis Drive, Austin • www.radiocoffeeandbeer.com/radio-east Summer Classic Film Series opening weekend Paramount Theatre will host an opening weekend for its 52nd annual summer lm series. Featured lms include “Casablanca” and “The Maltese Falcon,” as well as a 25th anniversary celebration for “Spy Kids.” • May 22-24, times vary • $15 (regular admission), $9 (youth) • 713 Congress Ave., Austin • www.austintheatre.org/events/2026-summer-classic- ilm-series

• May 7-24, 8 p.m. • Free (admission) • 2206 William Barton Drive, Austin • www.austinshakespeare.org

Feel Good Fest The SIMS Foundation will host a live music event at Radio East featuring performances by Elijah Delgado, Cigarettes at Sunset, Innity Song and Night Cap. All

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Dining

BY KATLYNN FOX

Kappo Kappo blends French and Japanese avors downtown

Restaurateurs Haru and Gohei Kishi bring together French and Japanese inuence, with a little Texas are, at Kappo Kappo in Austin Proper Hotel. A family aair Twins Haru and Gohei fell in love with food family-style, over holiday hams and turkeys shared with loved ones as they grew up in Paris. The pair later started working at their mother’s Japanese restaurant, TAGAWA, as teenagers, manning the kitchen and front-of-house. “We had a family ritual to do ‘on est bien’—good food, good drinks, a cozy space,” Haru Kishi said. “That feeling is what Kappo Kappo is built on.” After experiencing restaurant culture at their family-owned spot in France, culinary passion took each chef all over the world. Gohei worked in Tokyo, London, Madrid, Dubai and Saudi Arabia before coming to Austin. Haru worked in Tokyo, London, Versailles and Los Angeles, before moving to Austin to continue honing his craft as a private chef. What’s special about it? Haru and Gohei then collaborated as a team to create an intimate eatery with 25 total seats. The meal is t to ow like a “conversation—unexpected, personal and rooted in place,” according to the restaurant. Kappo Kappo, meaning “cut and cook,” follows an omakase-style tasting where each course is prepared and served in front of guests. On the menu The eight savory and three dessert courses show- case A5 wagyu, hand plated dishes and seafood all prepared with French, Japanese and subtle Texan inuences—such as smoking instead of steaming certain plates. The fresh ingredients are coupled with optional sake and wine pairings, as well as a selection of beers and cocktails with Japanese spirits. The tasting menu is not published online as the chefs rotate dishes out seasonally, evolving to accommodate available produce. The restaurant’s omakase is $195 per person for a two hour dining experience. One of the chef’s favorite dishes is the par- mesan-crusted gougère topped with a mix of A5 wagyu and o-toro and Osetra caviar. Another favorite is the wagyu beef cheek, the chef’s take

Seasonal oerings have included black cod miso, wagyu croquette, salmon mi cuit, yuzu gel and more.

PHOTOS COURTESY KAPPO KAPPO

Drink options include a spirit-free hojicha and ginger cocktail.

Twin brothers and chefs Haru and Gohei Kishi collaborated to open Kappo Kappo in late November 2025.

on a classic French bourguignon, slow-smoked with a red wine jus and served with potato foam. Kappo Kappo follows Japanese culture by extending hospitality beyond the meal with a parting gift, or omiyage. “Our omiyage reects seasonality and local craftsmanship, presented beautifully so it becomes more than a token—it’s a lasting connection to the evening and a way to carry its memory home,” Gohei Kishi said.

600 W. 2nd St., Austin www.kappokappo.com

CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Business

BY KATLYNN FOX

NEW LOCATION OPEN SOON!!

KESSHO’s owners started crafting chocolate rst, before producing gelato, because gelato is easier for people to consume at a larger volume, Liang said.

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Where community fuels progress, and every visit brings you closer to your fitness goals.

Liang was born and raised in China, while her co-owner Mark Huetsch is from the Midwest.

KESSHŌ has two locations, one located at South 1st Food Court, and another on Burnet Road, which opened last year.

PHOTOS BY KATLYNN FOXCOMMUNITY IMPACT

KESSHŌ blends Asian avors with Western desserts Liang Wang and Mark Huetsch shape Austin’s dessert scene by developing new avor proles for their locally made cookies, chocolate and gelato. The context here. However hot it is, we manage to ship chocolate [and] make gelatos.”

Chocolate avors include the guava lime dark choco- late bar, jasmine yuzu dark milk chocolate bar and black sesame chocolate butter cups. KESSHŌ also produces cookies, which are used to make ice cream sandwiches with signature gelato avors. For gelato, patrons can choose between mango sticky rice, ube, banana shoyu or yuzu lemon cheesecake. “We bake the cheesecake from scratch, and we cut the cookies into the gelato,” Wang said. “I’m a big believer in making things from scratch so that you know what you’re actually using.”

Wang’s rst introduction to the sweets industry was in 2009 when she and Huetsch started an American pie company in Beijing, China. For Wang, the goal was to bring American avors to Chinese households. Now, with KESSHŌ, she strives to bring a mixture of Asian ingredients to Austinites. After running the pie business for nearly a decade, Wang decided to study pastry and baking at Le Cordon Bleu in Tokyo. At school, her instructor inspired her to learn more about the chocolate-making process. Diving in deeper Wang and Huetsch ocially launched KESSHŌ in 2019, before the pair relocated to Austin. The rst food truck opened on South First Street in 2023, with KES- SHŌ’s Burnet location launching in May 2025. For dessert It all starts with the Austin-made chocolate. All the brand’s chocolate is made at its kitchen in South Austin, which is rare due to Texas’s hot weather. “It’s not so easy, but we never regret making the deci- sion [to come] here,” Wang said. “I really love the people

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Real estate

More Central Austin homes sold in March 2026 compared to March 2025, according to Unlock MLS data. Residential market data

Homes sold

March 2025

March 2026

+58.82%

+15.79%

+30.56%

+26.67%

+266.67%

-37.5%

+32.14%

78701

78703

78704

78731

78751

78752

78756

78757

78756 78731

78752

Median home sales price

290

78751

March

2025

2026

78703

360

$740,000 $1,103,750 $920,000 $950,950 $800,000 $391,750 $925,000 $802,000

$582,500 $895,000 $925,000 $977,500 $632,000 $455,000 $725,000 $787,000

78701 78703 78704 78731 78751 78752 78756 78757

183

78701

MOPAC

78704

Central Austin

March

2025

2026

677 644

New listings

Average days on the market

March 2025

March 2026

217 230

-81.1%

+13.33%

-37.04%

+8.82%

+7.89%

+3.7%

-37.93%

-32.33%

Closed sales

Homes under contract

237 303

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS AND UNLOCK MLS 5124547636 WWW.ABOR.COM

78701

78703

78704

78731

78751

78752

78756

78757

®️

+ +

$0 tuition at Austin Community College (ACC). High school graduates from the class of 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028 in ACC’s service area may qualify.

No income restrictions. No GPA requirements.

Santana G. & Apollo F.

LEARN MORE & APPLY FOR FREE AT austincc.edu/freetuition

CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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