Round Rock Edition | October 2025

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Round Rock Edition VOLUME 21, ISSUE 2 OCT. 7NOV. 4, 2025

O ce Evolution

Making space Rental rates drive retail, oce alternatives

Mark Brody, owner of consulting rm Brohawk Solutions, has used space at Oce Evolution in Round Rock for a year. BROOKE SJOBERGCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Coworking spaces such as Oce Evolution provide an intermediary step for businesses, Linton said. His goal is ultimately to help his clients expand. Oce Evolution is just one of several enterprises in the Round Rock, Pugerville and Hutto area oering support to small businesses.

facility to ll a gap in the local commercial real estate market. “I wanted to do something that married the idea of doing something every day that was meeting new people, connecting them to other people, helping them grow their business, and giving them tools and resources that would be useful to a small business,” Linton said.

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

In recent years, developers and economic devel- opment professionals in the area have taken on local projects to address the needs of small-business own- ers for appropriately scaled oce and retail space. Lee Linton, who owns the Round Rock location of Oce Evolution with his wife, Suzy, opened the

CONTINUED ON 20

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We’re proud to be recognized among the nation’s best for heart and spine care. But what means even more is seeing Texans like you become their very best. That’s the recognition we work for. And it’s what drives us to keep raising the bar for healthcare in Round Rock.

Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. Not all hospitals recognized in all specialties. See USNews.com/BestHospitals for complete listings. ©2025 Baylor Scott & White Health. 99-AUS-1498904 BB

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Impacts Round Rock

4 Highland Rejuvenation Clinic A new clinic, owned by husband and wife Dr. Bruce Beheshtin and Mona Madjid, offers cosmetic treatments, spa services, and reconstructive and rejuvenation surgeries. • Opened June 2 • 2951 FM 1460, Ste. 1801, Georgetown • www.highlandrejuvenation.com 5 Homegrown Physical Therapy Tiffany Sheffield recently opened Homegrown Physical Therapy in Round Rock, providing individualized care for community members. With the private practice, Sheffield helps patients address orthopedic injuries, pelvic floor dysfunction, headaches and migraines. • Opened Aug. 18 • 3309 Forest Creek Ave., Ste. 104, Round Rock • www.homegrownphysicaltherapy.com 6 Ida Mayes Floral Design House Tiffany Weinbender opened a physical location for her floral service in downtown Round Rock in late August. The shop is closed to the public, Weinbender said, but customers can place orders and book workshops online. • Opened Aug. 26 • 306 W. Main St., Round Rock • www.idamayes.com 7 Instill Coffee Owned by Michelle and Ryan Bell, the shop sells coffee, cold brew, matcha and avocado toasts. • Opened Sept. 17 • 1551 E. Old Settlers Blvd., Round Rock • www.instillcoffee.com 8 Monk’s Indian Fusion Franchise owner Jagadish Vallabaneni said the restaurant’s menu consists of noodles, curries, biryanis and street-style starters. • Opened mid-September • 200 University Blvd., Ste. 200, Round Rock • Facebook: The Monk’s Indian Fusion — Round Rock 9 Rally House The purveyor of licensed sports gear, featuring teams

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• Opened Aug. 13 • 3203 S. I-35, Ste. 490, Round Rock • www.dbliquors.com

Now open

1 El Callejón Del Beso Bakery The bakery sells traditional Mexican sweet bread as well as beverages and breakfast tacos. Customers will find pan dulce, feite, cookies and other pastries. • Opened Aug. 30

3 Golden Chick The Texas-based fast food restaurant offers chicken tenders, sandwiches, wings, salads and fried catfish. The franchise is locally owned by father-son duo Bill and Chad Glendening. The pair own six more Golden Chick locations throughout Central Texas. • Opened Sept. 8 • 3220 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock • www.goldenchick.com

• 2021 N. Mays St., Ste. 500, Round Rock • Facebook: El Callejón Del Beso Bakery

2 DB Liquor The liquor store is located adjacent to the Desi Bros. Farmers Market in the Round Rock Crossing. DB Liquor carries a variety of beer, wine and spirits, and also hosts tasting events.

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Wings is set to open in October in the Round Rock Town Centre retail center, according to a representative of the restaurant. The restaurant will offer a variety of wings with sauce, appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and more. • Opening in October

from several major professional sports leagues, opened a retail storefront at the Round Rock Premium Outlets. • Opened Sept. 5 • 4401 N. I-35, Ste. 0149A, Round Rock • www.rallyhouse.com 10 Snatched Shapewear A shapewear brand offering slimming solutions for both men and women opened in the Round Rock Premium Outlets, according to a retail center representative. • Opened July 23 • 4401 N. I-35, Ste. 269, Round Rock • www.snatchedshapewear.us 11 Starbucks A new Starbucks Coffee location is now open near the Sunglass Hut at the Round Rock Premium Outlets, a representative of the shopping center confirmed in September. • Opened Aug. 5 • 4401 N. I-35, Round Rock • www.starbucks.com 12 Texas MedClinic Texas MedClinic offers a variety of injury and illness urgent care services, minor surgical procedures, diagnostic X-rays and lab tests, sports rehabilitation, physical examinations, and more. • Opened in August • 16191 RM 620, Austin • www.texasmedclinic.com 13 Nana B’s Country Kitchen The restaurant, owned by Victor Friar and Keysha Nichols-Friar, is located in the former space of Mi Vida Comida and offers comfort food. The menu includes smash burgers, fried catfish, wings, chili and more. • Opened Sept. 18 • 101 Limmer Loop, Ste. 100, Round Rock • Facebook: Nana Bs Country Kitchen

Now open

• 2051 Gattis School Road #520 • www.buffalowildwings.com

15 Los Campeones Gym The gym will feature over 200 new exercise machines, 100 feet of cable stations, 100 feet of turf and 100 feet of dumbbells and benches. The facility will also include a HYROX Performance Center and over 20 Eleiko platforms and racks for power lifters. • Opening this fall

• 1201 I-35, Ste. 200, Round Rock • www.loscampeonesaustin.com

19 Round Rock Art Classes Art instructor Jessica Padgett opened her art studio near the banks of Brushy Creek in early September. The business offers classes in a variety of mediums, including pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, graphite, acrylic paint, oil paint, sculpture, crochet and others. Lessons are available to students age four and up, Padgett said. • Opened in September • 900 Round Rock Ave., Ste. 305, Round Rock • www.roundrockartclasses.com

Relocations

16 Gardner Chiropractic Family & Wellness Center The center, which moved just down the road from its previous location, provides chiropractic care, perinatal chiropractic care and pediatric chiropractic care. Owned by Dr. Jennifer Gardner, the practice treats a variety of conditions. With the new location, the business added a new massage therapist. • Relocated July 2025 • 3000 Joe Dimaggio Blvd., Ste. 23, Round Rock • www.drgardnerchiro.com 17 VeraBank The bank will relocate from its current location near East Palm Valley Boulevard to the corner of I-35 and Hesters Crossing later this year.

first opened Sept. 28, 2015, and is celebrating 10 years in business. • 107 W. Main St., Round Rock • www.longbranchsaloonrrtx.com

Closings

• Relocating in December • 2300 S. I-35, Round Rock • www.verabank.com

20 PhoNatic Vietnamese Owners Pat and Sara Lee announced the closure of both their Cedar Park and Round Rock locations on Aug. 27 on Facebook. The Cedar Park location closed on Aug. 27 and the Round Rock location is set to close on Sept. 14, according to the restaurant’s post. • Closed Sept. 14 • 200 University Blvd., Ste. 530, Round Rock • www.pho-natic.com

In the news

Coming soon

18 Longbranch Saloon Locally owned by Minerva and Roger Villarreal, who also own the La Esquina Cantina, the Longbranch Saloon

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Impacts Pugerville

138

A.W. GRIMES BLVD.

RED BUD LN.

3 Teakeasy Tea The business, owned by Duane and Tara Godby, provides a curated collection of luxury teas sourced from around the world. The shop recently leased space in Pflugerville and will sell black, chai, green, caffeine-free and other varieties of tea. One popular tea is the Pecan Street, a tribute to the city of Pflugerville that includes apple pieces, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, dark chocolate chips and marigold flowers.

Now open

LIMESTONE COMMERCIAL DR.

137

1 Monument Pilates The business offers three types of Pilates classes, including classical, contemporary and beginner sessions. The studio, owned by Maggie Jones and Andrew Abrahamson, offers memberships ranging from four to twelve months, as well as single-class passes and private instruction. • Opened Sept. 9 • 1900 E. Howard Lane, Ste. G2, Pflugerville • www.monumentpilates.com

45 TOLL

HEATHERWILDE BLVD.

HILLTOP COMMERCIAL DR.

130 TOLL

DESSAU RD.

• Opening February 2026 • 1553 FM 685, Pflugerville • www.teakeasytea.com

130 TOLL

WINDERMERE DR.

4 Hopdoddy Burger Bar The Austin-based restaurant serves a variety of handcrafted burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, fries and loaded brussel sprouts. The menu includes the Wagyu Smash, which comes with two wagyu beef patties, shaved onions, pickled jalapeños and Hopdoddy’s secret sauce; and the Buffalo Bill, which includes blue cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, buffalo sauce and Doddy Mayo. • Opening in 2026 • 500 Limestone Commercial Drive, Pflugerville • www.hopdoddy.com 5 Shake Shack International food chain Shake Shack is set to open a location in North Austin’s mixed-use urban center EastVillage. The eatery serves American-style cuisine

Coming soon

2 The Card Gurus Comics & Collectibles The new shop will offer trading cards and collectibles. Owned by Blake Perkins, Justin Johnson and Vo Nguyen, the business will provide space for not only The Card Guru’s merchandise, but also other vendors specializing in trading cards, comics, games, action figures, memorabilia and more. • Opening Oct. 25 • 2401 W. Pecan St., Ste. 102, Pflugerville • Facebook: Card Gurus

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including burgers, chicken sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries, hand-spun milkshakes, lemonades, beer and wine. • Late 2026 • 3101 E. Yager Lane, Austin • www.shakeshack.com

Now open

In the news

6 Cinemark Stone Hill Town Center The movie theater filed plans with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to renovate 21,500 square feet, with plans to convert the auditorium seating into recliner seating and upgrade the building. The project is expected to begin in January. • 18820 Hilltop Commercial Drive, Pflugerville • https://tinyurl.com/yeyucwvx 7 Red Rooster’s Pub and Grub The bar known for its LED dance floor and karaoke nights reached its 15-year anniversary in September. The bar also serves classic and boneless wings, fried ravioli, cheese sticks, jalapeno poppers, fried pickles, truffle parmesan fries and corndogs. • 109 E. Pecan St., Pflugerville • www.facebook.com/PartyPubAndGrub

8 Soccer Pups The Pflugerville franchise location, owned by Lizzy Cloud, offers classes offers classes for children 3 years and older, with a variety of curriculum for youth of all skill levels. Soccer Pups also provides advanced soccer training for ages 5-9 through its academy. The business has multiple locations, including in Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Leander and Austin. • Opened July 26 • 15803 Windermere Drive, Ste. 301, Pflugerville • www.soccerpups.com

9 Tortilleria Rio Grande The restaurant makes its own tortillas to serve gorditas and tacos with bistec, chicken, barbacoa, lengua and more. Customers will also find enchiladas, salsas, churros, stuffed chiles and other dishes. The restaurant also has locations on East Braker Lane in Austin and West Williams Cannon Drive in Austin. • Opened Aug. 14 • 907 FM 685, Pflugerville • www.facebook.com/tortilleriariogrande

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Impacts Hutto

Beeware Beekeeping The business, owned by Ethan Witt, leases bees to landowners who own 5-20 acres and are looking for an agricultural tax exemption on their property. Depending on the acreage, owners would need roughly 5-12 beehives to acquire the exemption, which in Texas requires proof of agricultural activity for five of the previous seven years. For land that doesn’t currently meet the requirement, owners can start the process and file for the exemption once the land becomes eligible. The company provides the bees and equipment, and manages the hives. • Opened Aug. 1 • www.beewarebeekeeping.com

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1 Panera Bread The fast-casual restaurant serves cold and hot sandwiches such as the Chicken Bacon Rancher and Ciabatta Cheesesteak. Customers will also find soups, pizzas and breakfast options, including egg sandwiches, avocado toast, parfaits and more. The restaurant also offers catering. • Opened Sept. 30 • 320 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto • www.panerabread.com 2 Village at Hutto Station The residential project by Empire Group of Companies is now open with one-, two- and three-bedroom single- family homes. The 276-home neighborhood features rental homes ranging from 680 to 1,300 square feet, according to a news release. Each home comes with a private backyard and smart home technology, with garages and storage units also available for rent. The neighborhood provides onsite management and maintenance. It also includes a pool, fitness center, co- working rooms, outdoor fire pits, dog parks, a car care station, clubhouse and walking paths.

ED SCHMIDT BLVD.

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Coming soon

Hutto

3 Rice Stop The restaurant, where Stockade Kitchen was previously located, will offer a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine along with boba tea. The menu will include dishes such as orange chicken, lo mein, banh mi, fried rice and vermicelli bowls. • Opening this fall • 210 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Ste. 100, Hutto • Facebook: Rice Stop Hutto

137

1660

138

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Closings

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4 Salad and Go The restaurant is no longer open after the company announced the closure of 41 locations across Texas and Oklahoma. The menu included salads, wraps and soups. Company officials plan to maintain a presence in the Dallas area and also in Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas. • Closed Sept. 19 • 130 Chris Kelley Blvd., Hutto • www.saladandgo.com 5 East Street Pizza The restaurant announced on social media it closed its doors in September. “We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of the support you have given us,” the restaurant wrote. The restaurant first opened in the downtown area in September 2023, serving a variety of pizza combinations and side dishes. • Closed Sept. 15 • 113 East St., Hutto

6 Freebirds World Burrito The restaurant serves burritos, bowls, nachos and salads. Customers can choose from a selection of proteins, including steak, carnitas, chicken and ground beef. The restaurant also offers vegetarian options. Sides include queso, salsa, guacamole, corn salsa and potatoes. Freebirds also provides catering. The company has locations throughout the area, including in Austin, Round Rock and Cedar Park. • Opened Oct. 2 • 126 Chris Kelley Blvd., Ste. 100, Hutto • www.freebirds.com

7 Jump! Gymnastics The business offers gymnastic classes and camps for ages 1-10. Instruction involves structured, curriculum-driven classes to teach students gymnastics skills quickly. Jump! Gymnastics also offers preschool for ages 3-5, which incorporates literacy, science, engineering, art, math and imaginative play. Jump! Gymnastics also has three other locations in Austin. • Opened Sept. 29 • 571 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Ste. 140, Hutto • www.jumpgymnastics.com

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Government

BY GRANT CRAWFORD & GRACIE WARHURST

City’s cost for bus service to Austin rises The city of Round Rock’s cost for bus service to Austin is expected to increase, as City Council approved an agreement with the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Sept. 11. The gist As part of the agreement, Capital Metro will continue to provide fixed route bus service from Round Rock to Austin. Capital Metro provides the vehicles, supervisors, fuel and bus operators for the service. The contract amounts to over $1.5 million—up from the $1.3 million agreement approved last year. Half of the cost will be funded by federal funding and the other half will come from the city’s general revenue. The agreement will go into effect Oct. 1 and expire at the end of September 2026.

In FY 2025-26, the median household in Round Rock—valued at $395,240— will pay $123 in city property taxes per month, which helps fund a variety of departments and services. Breaking it down

Police: $39 Fire: $30 Parks and Recreations: $15 Transportation: $11 Management and Planning: $10 General services: $8 Fiscal support: $6 Library: $4

Median tax bill: $123

SOURCE: CITY OF ROUND ROCK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

City approves $789.7M budget, tax rate increase Round Rock City Council approved its final fiscal year 2025-26 budget, as well as a property tax rate increase, at its meeting Sept. 11. The details The $789.7 million budget is supported by a prop- erty tax rate of $0.372 per $100 valuation. A 6.9% increase over the no-new-revenue rate, the median homeowner can expect to pay $123 per month in

property taxes to the city. This is approximately $7.88 more per month compared to the last fiscal year. The budget can be broken down into: • $188.7 million for the general fund • $418.7 million for the community investment program, or CIP • $182.3 million for special revenue funds like hotel occupancy tax and Type B sales tax revenue Digging deeper The budget will fund 17 new public safety posi- tions, $161.7 million in road expansions and $33.8 million in utilities and stormwater upgrades.

Commissioners pass $702M budget, tax rate hike Williamson County commissioners approved a $702.4 million budget and supporting tax rate of $0.413776 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2025-26 at a Sept. 3 meeting. What residents should know

The Williamson County budget for FY 2025-26 is broken into three funds. WilCo budget

Using the new tax rate, a resident’s estimated county property tax bill for the upcoming fiscal year comes out to $1,556, based on the median property value of $358,542. This is an increase of approxi- mately $122 per year from FY 2024-25. The budget is about $67 million more than the previous year’s. Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said the rising cost of materials is contributing to the hike.

General fund: $401M

Debt service fund: $223M

Total: $702M

Road and bridge fund: $78M

The newly approved tax rate is the highest rate commissioners can adopt without calling for an election. It is a 3.4% increase over FY 2024-25’s rate.

SOURCE: CITY OF ROUND ROCK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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ROUND ROCK EDITION

Election

BY HANNAH NORTON

Breaking down the 17 state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot

Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution during the Nov. 4 election. The propositions, which were adopted by state lawmakers this year, include measures aimed at reducing property taxes, funding water supply projects and creating a state dementia research institute. SOURCES: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE, TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/ COMMUNITY IMPACT DISCLAIMER: AMENDMENT TEXT DOES NOT REFLECT OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE.

Proposition 6

Proposition 12

Ban on securities transaction taxes HJR 4 would bar lawmakers from imposing taxes on the purchase and sale of financial assets or requiring financial market operators to pay a tax to conduct business.

Judicial oversight SJR 27 would rework the 13-member State Commission on Judicial Conduct to include six judges appointed by the Texas Supreme Court and seven citizens appointed by the governor.

Proposition 1

Proposition 7

Proposition 13

Texas State Technical College funding Senate Joint Resolution 59 would create two new funds to support the Texas State Technical College System, which has campuses statewide. Up to $52 million could be appropriated this year.

Tax exemption for military spouses HJR 133 would allow lawmakers to create a future property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from an illness related to their military service.

Increasing homestead exemption SJR 2 would raise the property tax exemption on a person’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, from $100,000 to $140,000. This would apply to taxes charged by public schools.

Proposition 2

Proposition 8

Proposition 14

Ban on capital gains taxes SJR 18 would prohibit the Texas Legislature from imposing any future taxes on capital gains, which is income received from selling an asset. Texas does not currently have such a tax.

Ban on death taxes HJR 2 would prohibit the legislature from imposing future taxes on a deceased person’s estate or an inheritance passed to their heirs. Neither tax currently exists in Texas.

State dementia research institute SJR 3 would allocate $3 billion to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. An additional $300 million would be available for dementia-related research grants.

Proposition 3

Proposition 9

Proposition 15

Tightening bail rules SJR 5 would require judges to deny bail for certain felony offenses, including murder and aggravated assault, if the state demonstrates that a defendant is a flight risk or threat to public safety.

Business tax exemption HJR 1 would exempt up to $125,000 of businesses’ personal property, such as equipment and vehicles, from taxation. Texas business owners currently receive a $2,500 exemption.

Parental rights SJR 34 would add language to the Texas Constitution stating that parents have the right to “exercise care, custody and control” of their children and determine how to raise them.

Proposition 4

Proposition 10

Proposition 16

Water supply funding House Joint Resolution 7 would send $1 billion in sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund each year from 2027-47. The state fund was formed in 2023 to finance water projects.

Homes destroyed in fire SJR 84 would allow a future state legislature to create a property tax exemption for someone rebuilding a home that is completely destroyed in a fire.

Requiring citizenship to vote SJR 37 would enshrine in the Texas Constitution that people who are not U.S. citizens may not vote in Texas elections. Only U.S. citizens are currently eligible to vote under state law.

Proposition 5

Proposition 11

Proposition 17

Animal feed tax exemption HJR 99 would allow state lawmakers, in a future legislative session, to create a property tax exemption for stores that sell animal feed.

Exemption for elderly homeowners SJR 85 asks voters to raise the property tax exemption for homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability to $200,000. This would apply to taxes charged by public schools.

Border security tax exemption HJR 34 would exempt increases in a property’s value from taxation if the land is along the Texas- Mexico border and the added value is due to the installation of border security infrastructure.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

Cuero fills empty RRISD board seat Round Rock ISD trustees selected an appointee in September to serve out the remainder of the term being vacated by Place 6 Trustee Tiffanie Harrison. The action taken Fabian Cuero, one of five applicants interviewed by the board Sept. 17, was unan- imously approved as the board’s appointee. Cuero said he has a long history of volun- teering with the district, and most recently served as the co-chair of the Citizens Bond Committee for the 2024 bond alongside Lindsey Ledyard. Cuero will serve in Place 6 until the original term expires in November 2026. Harrison tendered her resignation in an Aug. 21 meeting, after serving on the board for nearly five years.

RRISD signs contract for employee health clinic Trustees approved a contract with Marathon Health for a future worksite clinic to provide employee health services in August, just over two months after giving the go-ahead for administrators to begin negotiating with the health care company. In a nutshell The worksite clinic will provide in-house medical services to RRISD employees, Chief of Human Resources Eddie Curran said. The contract states services will begin Jan. 14, with an initial contract period of four years. After this initial term, the contract will renew for one year at a time until either the district or Marathon Health chooses to terminate it, the document states. The contract also includes a provision to allow the district to scale services in the event of a layoff or increase in headcount. It will provide a variety of services to district

SETTLEMENT DR.

SUNRISE RD.

Employee health clinic

DAVID CURRY DR.

staff, including: • Primary and preventative care • Men’s and women’s health • Mental health • General wellness • Condition management • Urgent care • Pharmacy

The clinic could also potentially provide primary care to dependents of staff, Curran said previously.

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Transportation

BY GRACIE WARHURST

Update: approximately 50% complete • Timeline: Completion expected fall 2026 • Cost: $33 million • Funding source: Type B sales tax revenue, CO bonds, Texas Department of Transportation 4 Old Settlers Boulevard Extension Project: Creating a new four-lane roadway with a center median and twin bridges over McNutt Creek Update: approximately 35% complete • Timeline: Completion expected spring 2026 • Cost: $23.4 million • Funding source: Type B sales tax, CO bonds, Williamson County Road Bond Program 5 Red Bud Lane North Project: Will expand the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided road with intersection and pedestrian improvements Update: approximately 10% complete • Timeline: Completion expected in spring 2027 • Cost: $34.7 million • Funding source: Developer contributions, Type B sales tax revenue, CO bonds

Upcoming projects

A.W. GRIMES BLVD.

1 Kenney Fort Boulevard Segments 5 & 6 Project: Will connect Old Settlers and University Boulevards Update: 60% design completion • Timeline: Construction expected to begin early 2026 • Cost: $4.5 million for design • Funding source: Type B sales tax revenue and CO bonds 2 Gattis School Road Segment 6 Project: Reconstruct existing four-lane roadway to six lanes with median, intersection and pedestrian improvements Update: Design is complete and the project will be bid this summer • Timeline: fall 2025-winter 2027 • Cost: $20 million • Funding source: Road COs and Type B sales tax revenue

110

Round Rock

112

MCNUTT CREEK

OLD SETTLERS BLVD.

130 TOLL

KENNEY FORT BLVD.

GATTIS SCHOOL RD.

Ongoing projects

3 Gattis School Road Segment 3 Project: Will expand the existing four-lane roadway to a six-lane divided road with updated pedestrian paths and turn lanes

Pflugerville

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

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Development

BY GRANT CRAWFORD, BROOKE SJOBERG & GRACIE WARHURST

Round Rock green lights new fire station Round Rock City Council approved a land purchase agreement in August to build a new fire station next to Ascension Seton William- son Hospital. What happened The city purchased the land for Fire Station No. 11 for a little over $489,000. The project is part of $44 million in public safety projects funded by the 2023 bond. Fire Station No. 11 will house a police satellite office.

Council to vote on downtown zoning

Commissioners fund over $25M in facilities Williamson County Commissioners Court allocated over $25.5 million in capital improvement projects in September. What happened The commissioners allocated $1 million to purchase a building at 600 Forest Street, Georgetown, to potentially house Jail and Justice Center offices. Commissioners also allocated almost $4 million for contractors associated with the new justice center project. Some of the other allocations included: • $7.6 million for technology and software for internal operations • $4.6 million for a 911 training center in the Lake Creek annex • $2.5 million for an internal asset manage- ment solution

ACC awarded $3.6M semiconductor grant Austin Community College received a $3.6 mil- lion grant from the state of Texas in August, which will go to a new space at the Round Rock campus for semiconductor manufacturing training. In a nutshell ACC will dedicate about 10,000 square feet of a new semiconductor advanced manufacturing lab on campus, featuring the Samsung Austin Semi- conductor Advanced Manufacturing Classroom at ACC and a simulated semiconductor fabrication facility. The space will also include a locker room and gowning area, an airlock transition space, a simulated clean room and a storage area. The grant is part of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, an incentive program to encourage semiconductor research, design and manufacturing in Texas. The fund awards grants to state entities and

Downtown area

620

In October, Round Rock City Council will vote on amendments to downtown zoning that would expand the boundaries, increase the density allowed on Mays Street and Round Rock Avenue, and provide for taller buildings in certain parcels of downtown. Overview Brad Dushkin, director of planning and devel- opment services, said at a September hearing that the proposal comes from a desire to provide more diverse dining, retail and entertainment opportu- nities to residents in the downtown area. Certain segments of downtown would be rezoned to a mixed-use medium density district, allowing for four different building types ranging from two and a half stories to 12 stories. Other segments would be rezoned from sin- gle-family parcels to mixed-use limited districts,

ACC Round Rock

ROUND ROCK AVE.

112

designed to allow limited commercial uses while also maintaining the area’s residential look, according to city documents. Lastly, certain parcels of land would be rezoned as open-space districts, including the area surrounding the city’s Town Green project. This project will upgrade the square around the city’s historic water tower, creating wooden-deck seating, turf lawns, food-truck parking and reno- vations of the Johnson building. Council is expected to vote on the zoning measure at its Oct. 23 meeting.

higher educational institutions for manufacturing and design projects, as well as businesses with established presences in the state. “Texas continues to lead America’s resurgence in semiconductor manufacturing thanks to our highly skilled and growing workforce,” Gov. Abbott said in a news release. “Already recognized as a national model for semiconductor workforce training, ACC will establish a new semiconductor advanced manufacturing lab and a precision welding skills lab on their campus in Round Rock.”

Fire Station 11

1460

SETON PKWY.

ROUND ROCK 201 University Oaks Blvd (512) 341-9066 CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681

GEORGETOWN 1013 W University Ave (512) 868-6696

PFLUGERVILLE 19000 Limestone Commercial Dr (512) 953-4070

From the cover

Making space

The conditions

The current situation

Austin-area rental rates

Higher rental rates drive business owners to seek alternative options for office and retail space, Robinson said. Coworking spaces help multiple business own- ers shoulder the costs of being in a high-quality space, she said. “If they only need a conference room once a week or a few times a month to host clients, they’re not bearing that burden all on their own,” Robinson said. Alternative retail spaces, such as the storefronts available at Affordable Storage in Hutto, which combines retail and storage spaces, can help lower the cost of entry into a community, Postar said. Postar owns over 20 such facilities in Texas. He opened his Hutto facility in 2022, driven in part by local growth and the community feel. “People still open doors for you [in Hutto],” Postar said. “People are still saying hello. People still shake hands.” The retail portion of the facility is now home to a variety of locally owned small businesses, including breweries, beauty shops, gyms, art

New facilities, storefronts and resources for small businesses and startups are on the way in Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto. Round Rock Chamber President Jordan Robinson said coworking spaces were identified this year as part of the chamber’s strategic plan for economic development. This comes as area facility owners are working to expand spaces, and new facilities are planned to support local entrepreneurs. For small-business owners looking for a storefront, a new facility in Hutto presents an affordable option. Michael Postar, owner of Michael Postar’s Affordable Storage, has blended storage and retail to bring more options for those in need of a storefront in Hutto. Postar’s creative venue for storefronts launched as rental rates for retail and office have grown in recent years by about $5 per square foot—usually around $30, Postar said. Additionally, support for new business concepts in their earliest stages is coming in the form of a new startup accelerator in Round Rock and a co-warehousing project in Pflugerville.

Austin office rental rate

Austin retail rental rate

Round Rock office rental rate

Round Rock retail rental rate

$50

$40

$30

$20

SOURCE: PARTNERS REAL ESTATE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

studios, consignment stores, auto shops and more. Providing an affordable entry into owning a small business is part of his mission, Postar said.

Office, retail alternatives

Who it’s for

Office Evolution Round Rock 551 S. I-35, Ste. 300, Round Rock

Spaces such as Office Evolution in Round Rock and the future WorkHub in Pflugerville provide business owners with flexible uses and schedules. Both fill a regional need for flexible space, Robinson said, to support local startups in scaling their businesses. The Round Rock location was the first in the Aus- tin area to open in June 2021. Since then, the Lin- tons expanded the facility by adding 3,000 square feet of private office space. They also opened a second location in Georgetown in January. Office Evolution provides conference rooms and coworking spaces for rent by the hour or longer. Similarly, the recently approved WorkHub will pro- vide a co-warehousing opportunity in Pflugerville. Joel Desmond, land acquisition analyst at WorkHub, presented the concept design for the facility at a June Pflugerville City Council meeting, where a rezoning request was approved. “We just don’t build four walls and a roof; we build an innovative space for businesses that [are] growing and we give them the tools to grow,” Desmond said. WorkHub has monthly meetings with tenants, whom Desmond calls members, and helps with

Rental rates Office Evolution and WorkHub both offer dedicated space at prices below what a business owner might pay to rent an office space.

Round Rock

E. MCNEIL RD.

$40 per hour is the rate to rent a meeting room at Office Evolution

Office Evolution Georgetown 501 S. Austin Ave., Ste. 1220, Georgetown

$599 per month is the starting point for dedicated office spaces at Office Evolution

Georgetown

$990 per month is the rate for a 1,500-square-foot space at WorkHub

Michael Postar's Affordable Storage 3333 CR 119, Hutto

SOURCE: OFFICE EVOLUTION, WORKHUB/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Hutto

marketing and obtaining investors. Jerry Jones, executive director of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation, said the facility will allow small business owners to “come out of their garage or off their kitchen table.” The facility will allow tenants to share resources that could otherwise be a cost burden. “I cannot stress to you how important it is that a company wouldn’t have to buy or lease a forklift for their product,” Jones said.

130 TOLL

ED SCHMIDT BLVD.

WorkHub 19241 Wilke Lane, Pflugerville

Pflugerville

N. HEATHERWILDE BLVD.

130 TOLL

45 TOLL

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

More details

own to having an entire cohort that’s receiving guidance, mentoring and introductions that will help take them to the next level,” Robinson said. In Pflugerville, Jones said the PCDC is working on developing an entrepreneurship program to nurture small businesses in the area.

investors. The application deadline is Oct. 19. Participation in this program is intended to set up a pathway for Central Texas startups to engage in equity-based accelerator programs and invest- ment opportunities, Robinson said. “It’s really meant to equip a startup founder with the tools, from just figuring this out on their

In mid-September, the Round Rock Chamber announced its first partnership to accelerate the development of local startups. Called gBETA, the free seven-week, no-equity accelerator will offer one-on-one coaching and tailored programming to participants, as well as a network of potential mentors, customers and

How it works gBETA, a free seven-week program, provides Round Rock-area startups with guidance to scale their business.

Alumni support, conferences and continued pitching opportunities

Curated one-on-one pitch meetings with potential investors, showcase event

Team meetings with gBETA program manager; lunch and learns focused on marketing, financing, pitching and other topics; speed dating sessions with potential mentors

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Post- program

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK CHAMBER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking ahead

More immediate is the start of the first generation of the gBETA accelerator, Robinson said. The first cohort of the accelerator will begin the program Oct. 30. “Once they graduate, they’re part of the ‘gener8or’ network,” Robinson said. “They’ll have access to resources globally as they continue their journey.”

of its development, expected to be complete in October, he said. This expansion includes a second strip of retail spaces, which are already leased, as well as more boat and recreational vehicle storage. A third and fourth phase are already in the works, he said, with available space for a fifth so the project can grow with the city. “As there is a need—and people need it—we can add on,” Postar said.

Projects to bring affordable options to small- business owners throughout the region are underway at varying stages of completion. The flexible-use space planned by WorkHub is set to be located near Wilke Lane and Huntingtower Castle Boulevard in Pflugerville and is expected to open in 2026, according to the company. In Hutto, Postar’s Affordable Storage facility is in the process of completing the second phase

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