South Central Austin Edition | October 2025

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South Central Austin Edition VOLUME 18, ISSUE 7 OCT. 30 NOV. 27, 2025

Tower stang falls short of airport growth

Local near-miss incidents coupled with rising employee stress hint at an agency struggling to keep pace with demand, further revealing local delays are part of broader challenges across U.S. air trac control.

Austin, or even Texas. A history of disrupted training pipelines, high academy turnover and challenging qualifying standards have resulted in understaed towers across the nation. As ABIA expands, ocials worry tower stang may not keep pace with growth— posing risks to safety and the region’s economy.

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Flight delays can feel random but Austin’s tarmac backups are just the tip of a country- wide air trac system under strain. The air trac control tower at Austin-Berg- strom International Airport is one of the most understaed in the country, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said, yet the problem isn’t unique to

CONTINUED ON 16

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Also in this issue

973

Impacts

Page 6

Discover a new bar in the historic Driskill Hotel

130 TOLL

Election

Page 10

183

Learn where campaign money is going

Austin’s air trac control tower, which oversees airplane takeo s and landings, is currently operating at less than half its recommended stang. HALEY MCLEODCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Development Page 13 Roller coasters coming soon to Circuit of the Americas

Reach higher

starting day one.

$25 in 2025

We’re proud to announce we’ve raised our U.S. minimum hourly wage — delivering on our promise to reach $25 by 2025. Together, we’re helping our employees, customers and communities thrive.

David Bader President, Bank of America Austin

What would you like the power to do? ®

Learn more at BankofAmerica.com/25

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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

Austinwater.org

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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.

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Reporters Brittany Anderson

Katlynn Fox Dacia Garcia

Manny Holguin Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Karoline Pfeil Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Joel Valley Gracie Warhurst

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290

Impacts South Central Austin

shop that launched in August 2024. The cafe serves small plates, large plates, grab-and-go options and pastries. Menu items include chilaquiles, a classic burger, scones, croissants and challah French toast. • Opened Sept. 3 • 200 E. Sixth St., Austin • www.gramortx.com 5 Veracruz All Natural Customers can nd bites such as a barbacoa taco, a shrimp macha taco, a migas taco, and salads and tortas, which are currently exclusively available at the newest location. • Opened Sept. 21 • 75 Rainey St., Austin • www.veracruzallnatural.com 6 The Victorian A new bar inspired by historic English pubs and old Western saloons opened at The Driskill, paying tribute to the hotel’s 140-year history. The two-story bar’s mezzanine level features pool and card tables overlooking a mahogany bar and plush lounge seating. The Victorian serves classic cocktails, heritage whiskeys and a range of beers alongside Texas-inspired pub fare, including burgers, homemade beef jerky, pretzel rolls, rattlesnake bites, and sh and chips. • Opened Oct. 2 • 604 Brazos St., Austin • www.thevictorianbar.com 7 Neighbor Co ee & Friends The coee truck has launched its second trailer location in South Austin with classic coee options and specialty drinks. • Opened Oct. 10 8 Taquería de Diez Founded by brothers Raul and Luis Esquer, the Mexican food spot has expanded with a second location in South Austin. The menu showcases tacos, quesadillas, burritos, volcanes and desserts. • Opened Oct. 24 • 2110 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. C, Austin • www.taqueriadediez.com • 1305 W. Oltorf St., Austin • www.neighborcoffee.co

KERBEY LN.

E. 11TH ST.

ROSEWOOD AVE.

183

BRAZOS ST.

MOPAC

3177

DAVIS ST.

RED RIVER ST.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

WOODWARD ST.

• 2068 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 100, Austin • Instagram: Polka Dot Secrets

Now open

1 Mr. Pickles Candy The latest candy store sells packaged gummies, Swedish candy, traditional candy and pup treats. A portion of each purchase will go toward animal charities. • Opened Aug. 23

3 Luby’s The Texas-founded restaurant has crafted a cafeteria- style dining experience since 1947 with nearly 40 locations throughout the state. The eatery oers fried sh, roasted chicken, chicken fried steak, meatloaf and more homestyle meals that can be paired with macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. • Opened Aug. 28 • 314 W. 11th St., Ste. 163, Austin • www.lubys.com/austin-lubyscafe-granger 4 Grá Mór From the team behind The Dead Rabbit, the cafe has replaced Neighbourhood Cafe, a Belfast-based coee

• 3703 Kerbey Lane, Austin • www.mrpicklescandy.com

2 Polka Dot Secrets Owned by Bonnie Tang, the local Etsy business recently launched its brick and mortar, which sells a variety of fabrics featuring styles such as polka dots,

stripes and more. • Opened Aug. 27

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

9 Shokunin A new sushi bar from Chef Phillip Frankland Lee and Executive Pastry Chef Margarita Kallas-Lee, also behind sister concept Sushi by Scratch Restaurants, is opening next door to next door to NADC Burger. • Opening Oct. 30 • 1009 E. Sixth St., Austin • www.scratchrestaurants.com 10 Bird Bird Biscuit The Austin eatery, founded in 2018 by Brian Batch and Ryan McElroy, oers buttermilk biscuits and biscuit sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. This is the third location of the restaurant. • Opened Oct. 20 • 2121 South Lamar Blvd., Ste. 110, Austin • www.birdbirdbiscuit.com

Now open

13 Fat Rabbit Social House The restaurant oers brunch classics such as chicken and wa¥es and French toast as well as specialty entrees like the Forthright brunch burger, which is topped with a bacon bourbon jam and a fried egg. • Opened Oct. 1 • 35 Brazos St., Austin • www.fatrabbitatx.com

16 Koko’s Bavarian Beer Hall The location features 7,000 square feet of Bavarian tradition and Texas hospitality with an expanded food and beverage menu including wings, mozzarella sticks, whitesh dip, Bavarian pretzel, Belgian-style fries and more. • Opened Oct. 10 • 3003 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.kokosbavarian.com

Coming soon

11 Moxies The chain eatery, bar and lounge is slated to bring two new locations to Austin over the next two years, per a representative for the business. One location is planned for Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. The menu features appetizers such as crab cakes, potstickers and bruschetta; entrees such as steak, seafood and pasta; and desserts such as key lime pie and sticky toee pudding. • Opening 2026 • 600 Congress Ave., Austin • www.moxies.com

14 Hideout Co ee House The Hideout Coee House and improv club will be moving to the ArtHub in South Austin in early 2026. The new space will feature a coee house, three classrooms and a large theater. • Relocating early 2026 • 2801 S. I-35 frontage road, Austin • http://hideoutcoffeehouse.square.site

Rye was launched in 2015 showcasing a seasonal menu with rare, heritage grains milled in-house daily, utilizing partnerships with local Texas farmers and a whole- animal butchery program. • 51 Rainey St., Austin • www.emmerandrye.com 17 Community First! Village The master planned development designed to support those leaving chronic homelessness is celebrating 10 years of serving the community and placing them into permanent homes. Behind the development is nonprot Mobile Loaves & Fishes. • 9116 Hog Eye Road, Austin • www.mlf.org/community-§irst

Relocations

12 Tagine Moroccan Cuisine The East Austin food truck relocated to a new spot o East Cesar Chavez. The food truck serves Moroccan street food, including chicken and lamb tagines, meatballs and Moroccan spiced beef sausage, known as merguez. Additional menu items include Moroccan square tacos and fries loaded with cheese sauce and meat. Owner Aziz Kabb, who is a Morocco native, rst opened the food truck in May 2024. • Opened Oct. 10 • 1906 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin • Instagram: @taginemr

In the news

15 Emmer & Rye Rainey Street restaurant Emmer & Rye will host events Nov. 8 and 9 to commemorate its 10th anniversary with specialty chefs and one-night-only dishes. Emmer &

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Photo By Suzanne Cordiero

Photo by Suzanne Cordiero

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Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

New city short-term rental rules in eect Approval of new rules for short-term rentals, or STRs, in September ended a reg- ulatory overhaul meant to curb unlicensed rental operations and nuisances in Austin. What happened For years, Austin hasn’t been able to keep up with the spread of rental units that aren’t registered with the city—and therefore not paying hotel occupancy taxes that support cultural initiatives. Multiple attempts to tackle the issue led to this year’s changes. New policies are aimed at making it easier to strike unlicensed STR listings from plat- forms like Airbnb and Vrbo, and ensuring full tax collections. City Council also moved to streamline the licensing process, allow renters to participate in the STR market, and permit up to two rentals on lots with multiple housing units.

Tax hike to boost Travis County health care services Travis County homeowners will see about $64 added to their property tax bills after commission- ers approved a tax increase to fund county health care services Sept. 16. The big picture • Curb avoidable hospital readmissions and emergency room visits • Expand health insurance coverage for more patients • Close gaps in care

County hospital district Central Health’s tax rate will increase 9.3% in scal year 2025-26, to $0.118023 per $100 property valuation. The aver- age homeowner will pay roughly $608 in property taxes to Central Health, up from $544 last year. Dubbed the “year of access” by Central Health ocials, the additional funding would expand and speed up health care options for low-income residents. District documents outlined several “patient-rst” priorities for the coming year: • Reduce appointment wait times to under two weeks

The biggest jump in spending is for primary care services, which would rise from about $74 million to just over $103 million, with most of that for an expanded partnership with CommUnityCare. Another major increase is for behavioral health specialty care, which would grow from about $25.7 million to more than $40 million. That reects additional funding for Integral Care. Beyond those two areas, most other services will see smaller, steady increases, as the agency strengthens its specialty health care programs and hires in-demand specialist doctors. There is also new funding designated for diagnostic services.

Central Health tax rate year-over-year Travis County leaders have raised the hospital district’s tax rate to fund health care services for several years.

“... We’re nally getting to a point where we have a workable, enforceable STR ordinance that will be able to stand up to legal challenge and also generate

$0.12

$0.118023

$0.11

$0.111814

$0.107969

the hotel occupancy tax that we’ve been trying to get into the city coers.” CHITO VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER

$0.10

$0.100692

$0.098684

$0.09

+9.31%

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

SOURCE: CENTRAL HEALTHTRAVIS COUNTY

Austin reghters contract to include pay increases, new work hours Austin reghters may see pay increases and a reduced work schedule after their union reached a tentative contract agreement with the city in late AFA members then approved by City Council in October. It includes:

of us safer and is an important step in the right direction,” City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a news release. The tentative agreement adjusts reghter pay in the rst year of the contract, followed by a cumulative 10.5% wage increase over its nal three years. The hours reghters work would also fall to an average 49.9 hour work week, requiring more reghters to be hired. The new schedule would be fully implemented by October 2027.

• Pay increases for all four years of the agreement • A reduced work schedule to be known as the “Austin Schedule” • A streamlined promotion process • More exible hiring, including the ability to hire already- certied reghters “Ultimately, this tentative agreement makes all

September. The details

The Austin Fireghters Association, representing the Austin Fire Department employees, was negoti- ating a four-year labor contract with city ocials since the summer. The Sept. 26 agreement is set to be ratied by

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Election

BY BEN THOMPSON

Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised by groups for and against Austin’s tax rate increase ballot measure, Proposition Q. Approval of a higher city tax rate would bring in almost $110 million for homelessness response, public health and safety, and other uses. Its rejection would force ocials to trim Austin’s budget based on a lower tax rate. Political entities campaigning around the tax rate election include Love Austin and Austinites for Equity, raising more than $130,000 in support by early fall. Restore Leadership ATX and Save Austin Now, which led the successful 2021 campaign to restore Austin’s public camping ban, raised more than $110,000 in opposition. TRE campaigns ramp up

Zooming in

Fundraising in focus From July though late September, political groups raised and spent tens of thousands of dollars for and against Austin's tax rate election.

Mayor Kirk Watson and council members Vanessa Fuentes and Chito Vela contributed a combined $26,000 to Love Austin. The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition and a public employee union also each donated $25,000, and a local EMS workers’ political group and nonprot Foundation Communities each pledged $25,000. Other homelessness and housing entities added thousands of dollars. Hundreds of people sent $10- $10,000 to Save Austin Now. Restore Leadership’s largest donation was $25,000 from an LLC linked to Horizon Bank. Donations of $1,000- $10,000 came from other entities and ve West Austin residents. Final preelection nancial reports are due Oct. 27, after press time.

Donations

Spending

Cash on hand

Austinites for Equity (supports Proposition Q)

$30,000

$307.48

$82,447.08

Love Austin (supports Proposition Q)

$102,870.30

$58,837.08

$41,972.92

$52,522.42 Restore Leadership ATX (opposes Proposition Q) $49,000 $2,549.29 $63,506.76 Save Austin Now (opposes Proposition Q) $10,309.13 $12,863.19

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

AISD takes steps on a ordable community Austin ISD is one step closer to building aord- able housing for its sta and community members in East Austin. The AISD Public Facility Corporation approved construction of the rst of two income-restricted apartment buildings near East Seventh Street and Airport Boulevard. Developers are expected to break ground on the 341-unit East apartment building in December with a projected completion date of 2028, said Nick Walsh, vice president of development for The NRP Group. What’s happening AISD will build a 675-unit aordable housing community and a new Alternative Learning Center at an 18-acre site in East Austin. The property houses the district’s Anita Ferrales Coy Facility, where a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program is located.

AISD naming rights opportunity opens Austin ISD and Austin Ed Fund ocials launched a naming rights and recognition opportunity for organizations to partner with AISD facilities. The details The program will generate revenue for the district and currently oers naming rights to six facilities including the AISD Performing Arts Center, House Park Field, Nelson Field, Burger Center, Delco Center, and Noack Sports Complex. Naming opportunities are available at multiple levels, from marquee facility naming rights to individual spaces such as press boxes, accommodating partnerships of various scales. All naming opportunities will comply with board policy and receive board approval.

Phase 2: Anita Coy West Apartments Phase 1: Anita Coy East Apartments

SPRINGDALE RD.

About half of the units will be income-restricted at 60% or 80% of the area median income, or AMI. The developer will give priority to leasing units to AISD teachers and sta when they become available in 2028. The site will feature a 5,000-square-foot non- pro t space that may be occupied by Todos Juntos, a center for English language learners, Walsh said. The NRP Group is expected to seek the district’s approval to develop the West apartment building in four to six months, he said.

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Development

BY JOEL VALLEY

A new amusement park, dubbed COTALAND, at Circuit of the Americas, will span approximately 30 acres with 33 attractions including: • Two high-thrill roller coasters • Two family-friendly roller coasters • One roller coaster for children ages 3-6 “Most parks would spread this many rides out over a wider space, but what we’ve tried to do with this park is actually condense it a little bit so that we have more shade,” Bobby Epstein said. The attractions will be located between turns 19 and 20 of the COTA racetrack, where guests can take a “Hot Lap” around the track into the amusement park. New thrills headed to Circuit of the Americas

More than a track COTALAND is the latest addition to the Circuit of the Americas site.

Key:

Circuit of the Americas COTALAND Racetrack Germania Insurance Amphitheater

812

The Circuit Breaker features a tilting track that rotates 90 degrees.

SOURCE: CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICASCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COURTESY CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS

Zooming in

Year-round oerings at COTA

draw crowds to COTALAND, which ocials hope will sell two million tickets annually. “That won’t necessarily be the case in year one, but most amusement parks grow over time,” he said. “So we plan to grow into success.” The COTA campus currently averages 1.3 million visitors each year.

The Circuit Breaker—a ride that features a 90-degree drop and reaches speeds of up to 60 miles per hour—was the second roller coaster constructed as part of COTALAND, Epstein said. Construction on the attraction concluded in late September, and attendees to the Formula 1 race Oct. 17-19 got to test ride the coaster. Epstein said Circuit Breaker is expected to

COTA Driving Experience

Karting

RV Park

Mini Golf

SOURCE: COTACOMMUNITY IMPACT

What ocials are saying

The outlook

Visit Austin President and CEO Tom Noonan said he believes COTALAND becoming more of a “year- round” destination will drive “great economic development” for Austin and bring in new tourists to the city. “For me, COTALAND is that new family desti- nation that we don’t have as much of in Austin as you’d have in other places like Fiesta Texas or Six Flags,” Noonan said. “... It makes us become a much better family destination with young kids and that’s really going to help our spring, summer and fall especially.” Dori Kelley, business attraction, retention and expansion manager for the Bastrop Economic

Epstein said he is optimistic that COTALAND could open next summer, and added a water park could be the next step. “I think that’s two or three years down the line—one year to prove that people want to experience things like what we’re building with the amusement park, and then a year or so to build the water park," he said. Epstein said he hopes when families plan their future weekends and vacations they stay close to home and think about heading out to COTA.

"When they have the races out there, it’s great. When they do concerts out there, it’s great. But the idea of having a new attraction out there ... making it more of a destination year-round is going to be great for Austin, Texas." TOM NOONAN, VISIT AUSTIN PRESIDENT AND CEO

Development Corporation, told Community Impact that the city views every COTA event as an eco- nomic opportunity for the city and county.

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

State

Development

BY HANNAH NORTON

BY BEN THOMPSON

Texas to phase out STAAR, launch 3 new exams in 2027

Austin skyline expanding south of Lady Bird Lake Two million square feet of new housing and com- mercial space are planned at the Ego’s bar property, the latest of many prominent high-rise redevelop- ments around the South Central Waterfront near downtown. What happened A 6.5-acre project from Related Cos. at 500 S. Congress Ave. was approved Sept. 11 with: • 950 residences • A 225-room hotel • 600,000 square feet of o ces and 135,000 square feet of commercial space Retailers, restaurants, a grocer and the return of Ego’s are planned. The site’s tallest tower may reach up to 650 feet, with the rest of the property capped at 500 feet.

South Central Waterfront development District boundary

High-rise projects

Beginning in fall 2027, third- through 12th-grade students will take three shorter exams in lieu of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. The changes come after state lawmak- ers passed House Bill 8, a law phasing out the STAAR, in September. The overview Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, RSalado, said in September that the new law will reduce test-related anxiety and help educators track student growth throughout the year. Critics of the plan, including most Democratic lawmakers and a few Republicans, said they were concerned it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and result in “another STAAR test.” In the 2027-28 school year, school districts will be required to administer a beginning-of-year assessment in late August or September, a mid- year assessment in January or February, and an end-of-year assessment in May.

What to expect The Texas Education Agency will develop the three new exams. Lawmakers said educators will be allowed to continue administering third-party assessments in the beginning and middle of each year with TEA approval. All districts will be required to implement the state-developed end- of-year exam to measure year-over-year growth. Students’ scores will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. Currently, most students take the STAAR in April and receive their results in June, per the TEA. Questions from the new state-owned exams will be reviewed by Texas teachers and piloted in schools ahead of the 2027-28 school year. The TEA is required to release a plan for the rollout of the new exams by February 2027, which Buckley said will allow lawmakers to provide feedback and make adjustments to the testing system before it takes e¢ect later that year.

“[HB 8] reforms our Texas assessment program ... creating greater transparency, oversight and, ultimately, predictability.” REP. BRAD BUCKLEY, RSALADO

Ego's bar

4K-capacity Riverside venue breaks ground Global live entertainment company AEG Presents broke ground on a 65,000-square- foot indoor music venue in September. The details The venue plus two apartment buildings and a hotel at 4700 E. Riverside Drive will anchor the 109-acre River Park mixed-use development. AEG o cials said the venue with space for 4,000 attendees, opening in 2027, lls a gap in Austin’s music market.

Another project A 510-foot tower planned nearby at 600 E. Riverside Drive was also reviewed in September, but its nal approvals are months away. Endeavor Real Estate Group’s lakeshore project would replace the Cidercade bar with 200 condos and retail space. Other mixed-use tower projects are also coming to the waterfront district, like the 19-acre “Statesman PUD” redevelopment on Lady Bird Lake.

"No parent has asked for this; no parent wants this. This bill was supposed to be [a] win for our public schools and for

our kids. This is no win." REP. GINA HINOJOSA, DAUSTIN

NORTH LAMAR 914 North Lamar (512) 214-6665

BRODIE LANE 4970 W Hwy 290 (512) 366-8260

35TH STREET 1500 West 35th St (512)-277-2518

Tower stang falls short of airport growth From the cover

Some context

The big picture

The tower at ABIA is one of the most under- sta ed in the nation, operating at only 45% of its target stang level, according to U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett. Doggett said the air trac control tower is down to just 27 of the 60 needed controllers. Tower controllers are assigned to airports based on stang needs and qualications, rather than their preferred location, agency documents state. The FAA may o er incentives for control- lers willing to work in low-sta ed airports. According to the FAA’s Air Trac Controller Workforce Plan 2025-2028, today’s challenges are linked to the current hiring pipeline. The plan cites three major events that weakened its ability to train new controllers: • The March 2013 government sequester, which imposed federal spending cuts • The 35-day government shutdown beginning in December 2018 • The COVID-19 pandemic These disruptions contribute to stang challenges that persist today, the report states, noting the high turnover rate for new trainees. According to the workforce plan, “academy attrition” is the single largest projected source of controller loss between 2024-28, accounting for 3,206 of the 6,872 total expected losses. More controllers are projected to be lost during training than from retirements, promotions and resignations combined. The agency launched a hiring campaign in late 2024 bringing on 2,026 new controllers, with plans to hire 8,900 total by 2028. Yet with 6,872 departures anticipated over that time, the net gain results in just over 2,000 controllers.

in air trac controller stang. However, the reality includes a mix of tough working conditions, red tape and systemwide problems that go beyond a simple headcount, said Ashley Lane, a former ABIA air trac controller of eight years, now a contracted instructor. “[Flying] is safe, but it’s not as safe as it could be,” Lane said.

Since late 2022, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has seen six near-catastrophic events, per Federal Aviation Administration incident data. Just last October, an American Airlines jet carrying 122 passengers nearly collided with a single-engine Cessna plane—coming within 350 feet of each other. The reason most often reported is a shortage

Federal Aviation Administration stang at AUS tower FAA established target tower stang Certi ed Professional Controller X

*JANUARY 2019FEBRUARY 2025

CPC in training

20 10 30 40 50 60

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024 *2025

SOURCE: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Total aircraft operations overseen at ABIA by AUS tower ABIA was among the fastest airports in the nation to rebound from the COVID-19 downturn after 2020, according to airport ocials, hitting record trac volumes in 2022 and 2023.

Indicates a reported safety incident that year

12K 16K 20K 24K 28K

8K 4K

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024 2025

SOURCE: AUSTINBERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Airports overseen by AUS tower sta Controllers at major airports are often responsible for air trac up to 50 miles away from the radar room. A Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

The local lens

The outlook

Lane said local controllers are not only managing Austin’s busy airport trac but are also responsible for the air trac landing at surrounding satellite airports, like Austin Executive in P¡ugerville and Georgetown Executive Airport. Lane explained new trainees without prior radar experience are being thrown into a fast-paced environment with no time to learn the basics— what she calls a “re hose” situation. “We’re doing the best with what we’ve got,” Lane said. ABIA was among the rst airports to deploy the FAA’s new Surface Awareness Initiative in 2024, which gives air trac controllers real-time, bird’s- eye views of everything happening on the ground. The FAA did not respond to a request for com- ment as of press time. Community Impact has been in contact with the FAA for several months, but the recent government shutdown has prevented responses after Oct. 1.

Tower stang falls under the FAA’s authority; the city has no control over it. “These stang-related disruptions are now systemic, recurring with increasing frequency and intensity. … With record- setting passenger growth and a multibillion- dollar expansion underway, [ABIA] cannot meet its operational or safety commitments without immediate stang relief,” ABIA CEO Ghizlane Badawi wrote in a letter to FAA administrators. Badawi said shortages have caused frequent delays, threatening ABIA’s reliability as a major hub, but expressed optimism following a recent $12 million federal investment for technology upgrades. Earlier this year, the FAA announced short- term bonuses, faster hiring and a new fatigue mitigation plan adding new rest requirements for controllers. As of press time, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported worsening conditions amid the government shutdown at an Oct. 6 news conference. The Austin airport saw ground delays following major city events Oct. 13 and Oct. 20.

Georgetown

183

Taylor

Cedar Park

130 TOLL

Lago Vista

Lexington

Pugerville

620

290

Austin

Bastrop

290

Giddings

130 TOLL

San Marcos

Smithville

Lockhart

La Grange

304

183

130 TOLL

Seguin

Gonzales

SOURCES: ASHLEY LANE, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION¨COMMUNITY IMPACT

Fewer than 10% of applicants meet the criteria for the FAA’s controller training program, per agency documents. Eligibility : U.S. citizen under 31, one year work or college experience, medical checks

Of note

“I’m really encouraged and hopeful that by the time we complete

Airport ocials and Doggett have urged the FAA to upgrade Austin’s airspace from Class C to Class B, which was hoped would improve safety and lead to increased incentive pay for controllers. Class B is a stricter standard used at major hubs like Chicago and Atlanta. However, the FAA denied the request in June—a decision Lane said further hurt morale. Doggett said the FAA has not responded to inquiries as to why the request was denied.

the infrastructure, ve years from now, the FAA will have advanced air trac [control] stang.” GHIZLANE BADAWI, ABIA CEO

On-the-job training : 1-3 years working under supervision, practical experience FAA Academy : 2-5 months classroom and simulation training Certi cation & career : receive certi cation, evaluations, additional testing for advancement Application : pass Air Trac Skills Assessment, clear background checks

SOURCE: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION¨COMMUNITY IMPACT

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Transportation

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Upcoming projects 1 South Lamar Boulevard mobility program Project: Austin is adding mobility, safety and connectivity improvements along South Lamar. Update: Construction along three miles of South Lamar Boulevard from Barton Springs Road to Hwy. 290 will see new bike and pedestrian facilities, intermittent medians, intersection improvements and upgraded trac signals. • Timeline: Project is in inal design. Construction is expected to begin early 2026. • Cost: $60.5 million • Funding source: 2016 Mobility Bonds Ongoing projects 2 I35 Capital Express Central Project Project: The project will add two nontolled high- occupancy-vehicle lanes stretching 8 miles from Hwy. 290 to the north down to Hwy. 71 to the south. Update: The northbound I-35 entrance ramp at 15th Street and the southbound upper deck exit to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard are closed, with limited lane access on the bridge through late 2025 • Timeline: 2024-2026 • Cost: $34.4 million • Funding source: TxDOT, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

2222

Ongoing projects

W. KOENIG LN.

AIRPORT BLVD.

MT BONNELL RD.

290

MOPAC

W. 15TH ST.

LAKE AUSTIN BLVD.

E. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD.

BARTON SPRINGS RD.

3 South Lamar Boulevard mobility program

EVERGREEN AVE.

Project: The city of Austin is adding mobility, safety and connectivity improvements along South Lamar. Update: Drivers can expect road construction and detours as crews build a new roundabout at West Mary Street and Evergreen Avenue. • Timeline: September 2025-March 2026 • Cost: $3.2 million • Funding source: 2016 Mobility Bonds

W. MARY ST.

290

W. OLTORF ST.

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Events

BY DACIA GARCIA

Texas Book Festival Featuring over 300 authors, the festival will give community members an opportunity to experience presentations, panels, book signings, cooking demonstrations, kids programs, activities and more. • Nov. 8-9 • Free (admission) • Downtown Austin, Texas State Capitol and surrounding area • www.texasbookfestival.org

Austin Food & Wine Festival The 14th annual event will showcase a range of chefs and wine and spirit experts and attendees will get to taste bites from local Austin restaurants. The event will feature cooking demonstrations, drink tastings, a hands-on grilling session and more.

• Nov. 7-9 • $185+ • 900 W. Riverside Drive, Austin • www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com

• Free • 1401 Trinity St., Austin • www.waterloogreenway.org

• Nov. 19-23, entry times vary by day • $25 (one-day admission) • 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin • www.jlaustin.org/a-christmas-affair

November

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ The show based on the “Peanuts” special will feature a pay-what-you-wish weekend, markets and an ASL night. • Nov. 7-Dec. 28, showtimes vary by date • $21-$31 • 1421 W. Riverside Drive, Austin • www.zachtheater.org Two Step Night In partnership with Native Texan Two Step, Waterloo Greenway will host an evening of two-step. • Nov. 8, 7-10 p.m.

Blue Genie Art Bazaar The holiday market will oer in-person and virtual

2025 ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot The race will bene¨t nonpro¨t Caritas of Austin. • Nov. 27, 8:30 a.m. • $12-$30 • 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin • www.thundercloud.com/turkeytrot

shopping options. • Nov. 14-Dec. 24 • Free (admission) • 6100 Airport Blvd., Austin • www.bluegenieartbazaar.com

A Christmas Aair The Junior League of Austin will host its annual fundraiser which will include over 200 vendors.

Six monumental skull sculptures, each designed to celebrate the rich cultural influences that have shaped Austin’s identity. NOW AT REPUBLIC SQUARE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Business

BY DACIA GARCIA

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar celebrates 50 years of community

What started out as a two-day Christmas market with 50 vendors has bloomed into one of Austin’s must-do holiday experiences. Now featuring over 200 artists, Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is celebrat- ing its fth decade bringing artists, musicians and community members together, all in one space. The backstory The event rst launched at music venue Arma- dillo World Headquarters in 1976 with 50 vendors with the intent to save the venue from closing. While the event brought the headquarters four more years, the space ocially closed in 1980 and the experience moved across the city. The venue shifted from South Austin, Austin Opera House, Austin Music Hall and Austin Convention Center before landing at Palmer Events Center in 2010. The atmosphere From Dec. 13-21, the bazaar will ll the Palmer Events Center from oor to ceiling with a variety of art paired with live music and food. “It’s such a creative high,” executive producer Bruce Willenzik said. “We have artists say it’s the well spring of creativity.” Willenzik has been the brains behind the opera- tion since its inception. He’s been able to watch the event and its vendors expand throughout the years. “I got to see so many young artists, both exhibitors and performers, grow and prosper as they built careers—many to national prominence coming from the show,” Willenzik said. The impact Producer and general manager Anne Johnson has been in the Armadillo scene since she was a child. As the daughter of two Armadillo employ- ees, she started her career at the bazaar at ve years old passing out yers. “Some families have Christmas dinner or their Christmas traditions. We had Armadillo,” John- son said. “My dad always told us that Armadillo was what our Christmas was about and the way he funded our Christmas and that’s where our Christmas presents came from.” Artist and longtime attendee Greg Davis has his fair share of transformative memories from the bazaar. In one of his early years selling his photography at Armadillo in 2009, an employee with National Geographic viewed his pieces and a year later, Davis was oered a contract with the

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar will begin its 50th season featuring nearly 200 artists and live music at Palmer Events Center.

COURTESY ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

The bazaar showcases artists with various art forms including photography, ceramics, paintings and jewelry.

The bazaar rst launched at Armadillo World Headquarters in 1976.

COURTESY ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

COURTESY ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR PHOTO BY SAM YEATES

publication’s image collection. He said Armadillo stands out from other art fairs with its high quality production and sense of community. Looking forward The bazaar has impacted generations of employees, artists, musicians and attendees alike. Willenzik hopes the legacy tradition will continue to evolve alongside the city’s culture.

900 Barton Springs Road, Austin www.armadillobazaar.com

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL 300+ Authors | Nov. 8–9 | Downtown ATX | Free

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Dining

BY DACIA GARCIA

Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden is main- taining its classic charm while in the midst of rapid change in the Rainey Street District. The backstory Banger’s owner Ben Siegel came across The Best Wurst sausage cart one night as a The University of Texas at Austin student. While waiting in the cart’s extensive line, Siegel wondered why the business didn’t open a brick and mortar. With no experience in the restaurant industry, Siegel brushed o his idea for a sausage-focused restaurant thinking it was too big of a feat. He worked in the commercial real estate business before moving to Los Angeles. One day a new restaurant named Wurstküche opened in downtown Los Angeles. The eatery mirrored Siegel’s idea. “I walked in and it was like, ‘Oh my gosh here it is,’” Siegel said. “It was very successful and so I immediately was like, ‘Man, if this can work in Los Angeles, I think it can work in the capacity that I want it to work in,’” Siegel said. While on a plane from a friend’s wedding in December 2010, Siegel had a handful of epiphanies in the air which led to his decision to move back to Austin and work on his restaurant idea. As soon as the plane touched ground, he called his boss and put in his two week resignation. “That moment for me was very much that shift in my own system of, ‘Hey, this is something that I want to do. This is something I am going to do,’” Siegel said. What’s changed Since its launch 13 years ago, Banger’s has expanded in a few ways from opening a sandwich shop, a sausage house, a meat processing facility, a pickling facility, a curing facility and a smoking facility—all on the same property. “One of the things that drove us to doing this big expansion and create this space that you’re seeing now is to give our people and ourselves the opportunity to be excellent,” Siegel said. The eatery features 200 beers on draft and 20 varieties of sausage on the menu at any given time. Must-try menu items • Italian sub: salami, hot coppa, mortadella, provo- lone, giardinnaise and peppadew vinaigrette • Jalapeño cheddar sausage: sausage smoked and Banger’s Sausage House showcases German in uence

Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden features 20 sausage varieties at any given time including its Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage from its on-site smokehouse.

DACIA GARCIACOMMUNITY IMPACT

The restaurant also serves a handful of appetizers such as the Fried Cheese Curds which are hand breaded.

Ben Siegel, Lauren Siegel, Sonny Siegel, Hank Siegel and Birdie Bell Siegel.

DACIA GARCIACOMMUNITY IMPACT

COURTESY BANGERS SAUSAGE

stued with roasted jalapeños, cayenne peppers, red pepper akes and cheddar cheese • Sweet and spicy pit ribs: ribs seasoned with brown sugar, mustard and pig dust sauce Looking forward Siegel said the restaurant is taking its bites on the road with the upcoming launch of its catering operation, Bangers Cowboy Kitchen. Services will be operated out of a live-re catering chuck wagon.

79 Rainey St., Austin www.bangersaustin.com

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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Real estate

Central Austin homes spent more days on the market in September 2025 compared to September 2024, according to Unlock MLS data. Residential market data

Homes sold

September 2024

September 2025

+50%

+14.29%

+130%

+30.3%

-0.13%

+166.67%

78701

78702

78703

78704

78705

78722

78705 78751 78752 78756

-30%

+7.14%

-33.33%

+100%

+40%

+24%

78757

78731

290

360

78723

78703

78701

78722

78702

78704

290

183

78723

78731

78751

78752

78756

78757

MOPAC

Median home sales price

Central Austin

September

2024

2025

September

2024

2025

$599,000 $605,000 $1,300,000 $755,000 $410,000 $730,500 $565,000 $1,075,000 $663,750 $480,000 $885,000

$1,100,000 $615,000 $1,556,000 $875,000 $385,000 $626,250 $615,000 $930,000 $755,500 $375,000 $650,000 $620,000

78701 78702 78703 78704 78705 78722 78723 78731 78751 78752 78756 78757

428 407

New listings

180 213

Closed sales

Homes under contract

209 220

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

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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