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Round Rock Edition VOLUME 19, ISSUE 3 NOV. 3DEC. 5, 2023
City plans $1.9B in road projects
Trac backs up on Red Bud Lane, where the city of Round Rock has plans to widen the road.
GRANT CRAWFORDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Other roadways have been identied for widening, with many two- or four-lane roads someday having up to six lanes carrying trac in high-volume areas. Funding for these projects could include state and federal grants, sales tax revenue and roadway impact fees, although the $1.9 billion needed to fully fund the plan has not been identied.
“It takes me 20 minutes to get two and a half miles to HEB on Louis Henna,” Carlile said. To address the growth and ongoing trac issues, the city of Round Rock has released a ve-year update to its Transportation Master Plan that shows what it will take to build out its road network. The plan identies several priority projects the city will tackle in the coming years, such as provid- ing alternative routes to I-35.
BY HALEY MCLEOD & BROOKE SJOBERG
Fifty-year Round Rock resident Alicia Carlile has watched the greater Round Rock area grow from a small town to a large city expected to grow to 250,000 by 2040, per projections from the city’s plan- ning and development services department. As the area has grown, Carlile said she believes issues with trac have as well.
CONTINUED ON 30
Also in this issue
Impacts: Velvet Taco now open in Round Rock (Page 6)
Government: Round Rock raises trash pickup fees (Page 12)
Development: Tiny home community opens (Page 22)
Community: Area nonprots oer volunteer opportunities (Page 24)
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Impacts
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Round Rock
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4 Velvet Taco The brand’s Round Rock menu includes its unique chef-driven tacos and signature margaritas. The location also features a mural inspired by the history of Round Rock and the outlaw Sam Bass, commissioned by Eyeful Art out of Houston. • Opened Oct. 23 • 2131 N. I-35, Round Rock • www.velvettaco.com
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LIBERTY AVE.
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JOE BARBEE DR.
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MOPAC
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Round Rock
• Opened Sept. 27 • 312 E. Milam Ave., Round Rock • www.rewaxation.com
email marketing, digital media, direct mail and SMS messaging to small and mid-sized businesses. • Opened Aug. 8 • www.fayremarketing.com
Now open
3 Waffle House The regional diner is known for its 24-hour a day service of waffles and burgers and has three other locations in the Austin area. • Opened in October • 2651 S. A.W. Grimes Blvd., Round Rock • www.wafflehouse.com Fayre Marketing The new business consulting practice in Round Rock offers a variety of marketing strategy services including
1 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Georgia-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers smoothies, flatbreads, wraps, sandwiches and breakfast items. • Opened Oct. 6 • 2980 Joe DiMaggio Blvd., Ste. 100, Round Rock • www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com 2 ReWaxation The Austin-based spa chain offers spray-tanning and body waxing with sugar or hard wax.
Coming soon
5 7 Brew Coffee The Texas-based coffee chain 7 Brew Coffee offers a variety of hot and cold coffee beverages, smoothies, shakes, and infused sparkling water. • Opening in 2024 • 2130 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock • www.7brew.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY GRANT CRAWFORD, KAMERYN GRIESSER & BROOKE SJOBERG
Now open
Now open
6 Scenthound The wellness-based dog care and grooming facility offers services such as bathing, ear cleaning, nail trimming and dental care. The Round Rock franchise location is owned by Cynthia and Pat Hyland. It will be their third Scenthound location, and they said they have plans to open a total of five or six locations throughout Central Texas. • Opened Oct. 30 • 110 N. I-35, Ste. 325, Round Rock • www.scenthound.com 7 JuiceLand JuiceLand offers smoothies and juices made with fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins. • Opening in 2024 • 2141 N. I-35, Round Rock • www.juiceland.com 8 Nothing Bundt Cakes The company makes bundt cakes for special occasions in a variety of sizes and flavors. The company has over 500 locations nationwide. • Opening late December • 3021 S. I-35 frontage road, Ste. 130, Round Rock • www.nothingbundtcakes.com
9 Backporch Social The owners of Rockey’s Piano Bar, Johnny Ontiveros, Mingo Hernandez and David Solis, opened the restaurant and bar. The business offers churros, corndogs, hot dogs and chicken strips. Yard games and a large outdoor television is also available for
customers to watch sporting events. • Opened Oct. 19 • 309 W. Liberty Ave., Round Rock • www.backporchsocial.com
10 Swallow Wines Owners Matt and Gabe Ellis said the venue will provide a cozy environment to experience and learn about wine. • Opening late October • 407 Round Rock Ave., Round Rock • www.swallow-wines.com
• Relocated Oct. 2 • 17016 Joe Barbee Drive, Round Rock • www.texastopteam.com
12 April Interiors Owned by April Aduddell, the comprehensive firm offers services ranging from remodels to new construction and home redesigns. Aduddell said she relocated her business to be closer to her client base and to where her employees live. • Opened Sept. 15 • 506 N. Sheppard St., Round Rock • www.aprilinteriors.com
Relocations
11 Texas Top Team Martial Arts School Texas Top Team Martial Arts School relocated within Round Rock. The school, led by Coach Marcos Oliveira offers lessons in Brazilian jiujitsu, judo, wrestling and striking.
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Impacts
Pflugerville
A.W. GRIMES BLVD.
RED BUD LN.
Now open
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1 The Hairspot A new salon in Pflugerville offers haircuts, nail services and waxing. Owner Sasha Ramos said the salon specializes in natural hair and color. • Opened Aug. 23 • 1601 E. Pflugerville Parkway., Bldg. 2, Ste. 2201, Pflugerville • www.vagaro.com/thehairspot1 2 QuikTrip A new QuikTrip location opened in Pflugerville in early October. The Tulsa-based convenience store chain offers a variety of grab-and-go food, beverages and gas. The store also offers made-to-order food options. • Opened early October • 1727 Grand Avenue Parkway., Pflugerville • www.quiktrip.com
GREENLAWN BLVD.
Pflugerville
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Coming soon
3 Old Gregg A new brewpub and business park is under development
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY GRANT CRAWFORD & KAMERYN GRIESSER
in Pflugerville. The brewpub, called Old Gregg, is a concept by the owners of downtown Austin’s West Fifth Street bar Mean Eyed Cat that opened in 2004. • Opening in spring 2024 • 1900 E. Howard Lane, Pflugerville 4 Mama-Bro’s The casual Indian restaurant is planning to open in Pflugerville. The business will offer a variety of South Indian specialties, such as dosas, idlis and biryanis. The menu will also include Hyderabadi haleem, a slow-cooked stew that includes meat, lentils and grains. Mama-Bro’s will also include a bar, bakery and drive-thru option. • Opening April 2024 • 801 Wells Branch Parkway, Pflugerville • www.mamabros.com
In the news
In the news
6 Circle of Hope Community Center The Circle of Hope Community Center is celebrating its five-year anniversary. The organization first opened its pantry doors in 2018 and now serves over 2,000 Central Texas households each month. In partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank and local grocers, the drive-thru pantry donates food, household items and pet supplies to families in need. • 2900 W Pecan St., Pflugerville • circleofhopecc.org
7 Firefly Community School The school celebrated five years of offering preschool education to Pflugerville on Oct. 15. Founded by Teah Brannam, Alissa Born and Maggie Born in 2018, the school aims to provide social and emotional learning opportunities for children 18 months to 5 years old.
In the news
5 SM Boutique SM Boutique is preparing to close its Pflugerville storefront. The home and garden decor shop, which specializes in Mexican imports, is transitioning its business to be 100% online. • Storefront closing Nov. 18 • 1315 Grand Avenue Parkway., Ste. 101, Pflugerville • www.thesmboutique.com
• 15913 Windermere Drive, Pflugerville • www.fireflycommunityschool.com
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Impacts
Hutto
Now open
1 Irrigation Station The business offers outdoor lighting, drainage, turf supplies, soil management tools and more. The company has locations throughout Texas, including in Austin, Houston, Katy and Dallas. • Opened Sept. 14 2 Bonura Studios Sculptor Elizabeth Bonura opened Bonura Studios in Hutto, offering a gallery space for local artists and to teach classes in drawing, painting and sculpting. The classes are open to all ages and skill levels. Bonura has over 20 years of experience as an artist and serves on the Hutto Arts and Entertainment Commission. • Opened Oct. 19 • 208 Benelli Drive, Hutto • www.irrigationstation.com
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*Limited-time discounts valid only for prearranged funeral contracts and select cemetery property. Offer valid March 17 - April 10, 2022. Discounts apply to new pre-need purchases only. Terms and conditions apply. See an associate for details. | **0% interest-free financing for 60 months valid only with 10% down payment. Example credit transaction for burial package: A total purchase price of $6,900 financed with a 10% down payment and 0% APR would require 60 monthly payments of $103.50. Offer applies
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BY GRANT CRAWFORD, KAMERYN GRIESSER & HALEY MCLEOD
Now open
Coming soon
Coming soon
3 Hippo Social Club Just outside the heart of Hutto, a 36-acre green area has been transformed into Hippo Social Club, the community’s newest wellness center. Membership with the club includes access to nature trails, an outdoor gym, sauna, cold plunge and shared workspace area, along with private parties and events. • Opened Oct. 27
4 Jack Allen’s Kitchen The restaurant is expected to open in Hutto’s Co-Op District. The restaurant, known for its menu of Southern comfort food, will span around 7,500 square feet, including indoor and outdoor dining areas. • Opening summer 2024 • 420 Hwy. 79, Hutto • www.jackallenskitchen.com
5 El Pollo Rico The business received a special-use permit to bring a new location to Hutto. The restaurant features a menu of authentic Mexican food, such as flautas, quesadillas, burritos, tacos and more. The company also has locations throughout Austin, Round Rock and Cedar Park. • Opening January 2025 • 901 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto • www.pollosricos.com
• 3250 Limmer Loop, Hutto • www.hipposocialclub.com
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Government
Wilco Expo Center uses Jail to Jobs nonprot Williamson County Commissioners Court approved a contract on Oct. 17 with a nonprot organization, Jail to Jobs, to provide workers at the Williamson County
Council approves increase in trash collection fees Round Rock City Council approved a petition Oct. 26 from Central Texas Refuse, allowing for a 5% increase in fees for residential trash and
recycling services. What’s happening
Expo Center. The overview
According to the petition, the rate adjustment was prompted by Central Texas Refuse’s need to oset the eects of ination on operational costs. The existing contract between the city and CTR limits annual rate increases to 5%. What residents should know Round Rock residents can anticipate an increase in the base rate for services, from $22.14 to $23.08 per month. The rate also includes a $3.10 administrative fee for services provided by the city, such as weekly garbage collections, operating the Round Rock Recycling Center and
The court approved a contract with Jail to Jobs to supply the county with one super- visor and up to three personnel to work as needed at the expo center until September 2024. Services provided by the participants include building livestock panels, bleacher maintenance and trash collection. Fees to the nonprot will be paid based on a rate of $18 per hour for the supervisor position and $13 per hour for the personnel. The total fees will not exceed $48,000.
City Council approved a 5% increase in trash pickup fees.
COURTESY CITY OF ROUND ROCK
oering hazardous waste collection services. Additionally, CTR’s proposal includes a 5% increase to downtown commercial district and commercial services rates. Both the residential and commercial rate adjustments went into eect following council’s approval. Residents can expect to see the changes reected beginning with their December bills.
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Council approves zoning change for tattoo shops Round Rock City Council approved city zoning changes at its meeting Oct. 26, making way for more tattoo shops in the Round Rock area. What’s happening? In an eort to address requests from the public, city sta proposed an amendment to current codes of zoning, allowing for less restrictive zoning options for tattoo shops in Round Rock. “In eect what our code’s been doing is almost outlawing—not on purpose, but in practice—tattoo shops,” said Brad Wiseman, Round Rock director of planning and development. “Twenty years ago or so, tattoo shops were viewed much dierently, culturally than they are now.” The details According to ocials, the amendment is in line with the 2023 comprehensive plan to become the
Ocials approve capital project dollars Williamson County Commissioners Court approved on Oct. 10 a list of capital improve- ment projects to fund. The breakdown Commissioners selected $16.2 million in capital improvements to kick o in scal year 2023-24. Ocials identied a number of street and county facility projects: • Tracy Chambers Lane extension: $5.2M • Backup 911 center: $4.5M • New radio tower for public safety: $3M • Carlson Cove Tower maintenance for emergency communications: $1.5M • Williamson County Fleet Services build- ing expansion: $1.5M • Taylor Tax Oce remodel: $457,425
Good Times Tattoo shop is located in downtown Round Rock.
HALEY MCLEODCOMMUNITY IMPACT
“city of choice” for entrepreneurs and develop- ment professionals. Tattoo shops were previously only permitted in the downtown area or in what city ocials consider the most intensive commercial zoning district. Properties zoned as such are typically developed as shopping centers and large retail chains, associated with higher rent costs and leaving tattoo shops with few options.
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Education
BY BROOKE SJOBERG
Volunteer policy chosen for chaplains Round Rock ISD officials will allow chap- lains to volunteer at schools, but not counsel students. What happened Officials chose to allow chaplains to volun- teer in the district during a Sept. 21 meeting, adding language barring them from perform- ing counseling duties or filling roles related to mental health, under Senate Bill 763. This was in response to a state requirement for school boards to vote on a new policy, even if a similar policy is already in place. What are the options? School districts were asked to choose whether to hire chaplains to perform duties of a counselor, accept chaplains as volunteers or reject any use of chaplains.
Stony Point High School cafeteria expansion moves forward Round Rock ISD officials set in motion a 286- seat expansion to the cafeteria of Stony Point High School on Sept. 21, bringing the 2018 bond project one step closer to addressing the school’s need for more lunch room capacity. In a nutshell District officials moved forward with the use of $2.75 million in bond funds to expand the existing cafeteria to accommodate a growing student population. The expansion will include the partial enclosing of an existing courtyard. It will bring the capacity in line with what is similarly available at other high schools within RRISD, district documents show.
“This is a good faith effort by the district. These [projects] were scoped
poorly in the 2018 bond and this is the district’s attempt to correct that.”
ALICIA MARKUM, PLACE 4 TRUSTEE
What parents should know While the project to expand the cafeteria initially called for only 100 more seats and had a price tag of around $707,000, district staff told trustees the project was incorrectly scoped and growth among the student population required additional seating and came with higher costs. The approval for use of funds allows the district to begin the design process, Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said. District documents show the design and permitting process is expected to last for nine months, with construction expected to last nine months as well, barring any delays.
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Education
BY BROOKE SJOBERG
District works to staff schools with officers Round Rock ISD will use alternative means to meet new safety requirements as it works to staff each of its 55 campuses with armed officers amid a
Superintendent to stay on through 2026 Round Rock ISD officials elected to extend Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez’s employment contract through 2026. What happened The district’s board of trustees voted to extend Azaiez’s contract through June 2026 at a Sept. 27 meeting. It is the second time the board has extended the superinten- dent’s contract, as it did so in 2022. He was first hired in 2021 with a three-year contract set to end in 2024. “Dr. Azaiez is focused on improving outcomes and expanding opportunities for Round Rock ISD students and also on supporting our teachers so we continue to attract and retain the world-class educators that make us a destination district,” board President Amber Landrum said.
24 The number of officers currently staffing the Round Rock ISD Police Department. 44 The number of officers needed to have one officer at each campus. $6.6M The approximate cost to expand to a total of 68 officers. 2026 The year Chief Weiner anticipates being able to fully staff the district’s police department. Expanding the department HB 3 allows districts to pursue alternative measures until they meet staffing requirements.
staffing shortage. What’s happening
RRISD Police Department Chief Dennis Weiner and district Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez pro- vided updates to the board of trustees Sept. 21 on their plans to address new safety requirements under House Bill 3. The law went into effect Sept. 1, and mandates all Texas public and charter schools to staff campuses with armed security officers or find another way of satisfying the requirement. Some context Weiner said the district has had difficulties staff- ing positions. To immediately comply with the
SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
law, the district has put out a request for security services to cover elementary campuses. RRISD Chief Financial Officer Dennis Coving- ton said the first year of the program is funded between a public safety grant and the $15,000 per-campus allocation from the state included in the law. For the following school years, the plan will come down to budget decisions.
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Avery Ranch (PS–G8) (512) 341-8000 15101 Avery Ranch Boulevard, Austin Round Rock (PS–G1) (512) 255-8844 1521 Joyce Lane, Round Rock Spicewood Springs (PS–K) (512) 258-1299 13015 Pond Springs Road, Austin
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© 2023, Challenger Schools Challenger School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Education
BY CHLOE YOUNG
The Austin Community College District has 11 campuses in the Austin area.
COURTESY AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COURTESY AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Get to know Russell Lowery-Hart, ACC’s new chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart began as the new chancellor for the Austin Community College District on Oct. 1 after serving as the president of Amarillo College since 2014. His hiring follows the retirement of former ACC Chancellor Richard Rhodes this year. What inspired you to work in higher education? I think I grew up in a family that was challenging, and some would say dysfunctional, and education was always my safe place. Teachers were always the places of encouragement and support. So I’ve always been drawn to education because of its own impact to me, and I’ve enjoyed the space of education for that reason. What led you to pursue this position at Austin Community College? I’ve always been impressed by and encouraged by the innovation that happens in Austin and that it’s a place that embraces a willingness to try new things. When I heard that Richard Rhodes was retiring, someone that I’ve admired and been friends with for a long time, it’s the only place that I thought had the resources and the talent and the board leadership to be a place of transforma- tion. ... I feel like ACC can be a place that can not
just transform our region, but transform higher education across the country, and I wanted to be a part of it. How would you describe your approach to leadership? My leadership is based on care and love—that we are committed to loving our students to success, and that means we have to listen to them, know them, respond to them and engage them in helping us redesign ourselves for their needs. What are some of your priorities for the ACC District? My rst 100 days are built for us to intentionally listen and understand the student experience and the employee experience. Once we have an understanding of how our students receive us and how we as employees engage our students, at the end of that 100 days, I hope that we can identify a clear, big, audacious goal around completion rates or graduation rates; that we will have a clear theory of change that organizes the entire district around how we get to that goal; and that we have deployed data to predict when and how our students need us. Are there any programs you’d like to start or expand? I think what I worry about is that the way our society is changing at such a dramatic rate around issues of AI and automation and robotics and bio- science that we don’t have programmatic responses to those things yet. We have to prepare ourselves and prepare our existing programs to respond to
how these things start impacting the way we live and the way we work. ACC has not raised tuition in 10 years and kept its tax rate low. Is this something you plan to continue? Completely. I think what makes ACC so powerful and an important partner in the region is that we don’t overtax our students or our taxpayers. We’re keeping it aordable while having the most innovative, exciting and important technologies. Our students can come into our spaces and access points of learning that they might not ever see in even some of our country’s nest universities as freshmen and sophomores in college, and for us to be able to do that, by keeping taxes and tuition low, says a lot about our scal responsibility. What advice would you give to yourself in college? It would be to trust myself. I just remember questioning myself and the level of insecurity I had about who I was, and if I was on the right path. I would have just told myself to walk in trust and to not be in a hurry to grow up. The process is always more interesting and important to our personal development than the end result.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.
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ROUND ROCK EDITION
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Navigating the tolling landscape can be complicated. We’re the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and we’re here to help you understand important pieces of the tolling puzzle, like what we do and how your toll bill works.
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•Online at www.PayMobilityBill.com •By phone by calling (512) 410-0562 •By mail •In person at one of our convenient locations including the newly opened Ridgepoint location, or at one of several participating stores like HEB or Walmart* •Scanning the QR code on your bill Don’t have an electronic tag? We offer several convenient ways to pay.
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To learn more fast facts about paying your Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority toll bill, visit us at MobilityAuthority.com/tolling101.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Transportation
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
TxDOT nishes project to improve ramps on I35, ease trac congestion The Texas Department of Transportation completed a project in early October to add a new entrance and exit lane to I-35 in Round Rock, meant to ease trac congestion near RM 620. The overview The extended entrance and exit lanes were completed to eliminate merging conicts on the southbound lanes of I-35, between U.S. 79 and SH 45. Among the improvements, TxDOT also shifted the median barrier, restriped the southbound mainlanes, installed new lighting and brought in wrong-way detection systems along the corridor. What else? “If you’ve driven on this section of I-35, you know it backs up at all hours of the day,” Austin
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Chisholm Trail Road closure extended After closing a portion of Chisholm Trail Road to work on the Heritage Trail West project, the city of Round Rock announced the closure will be extended to Dec. 15. What happened The city closed Chisholm Trail Road, from south of Sunset Drive to north of RM 620, on July 17. The closure was set to last 90 days. However, the city extended it due to “utility conicts,” according to a news release.
Entrance ramps on I35 were recently improved.
COURTESY TXDOT
District Engineer Tucker Ferguson said in a news release. “This project addresses merging conicts, while mitigating congestion and improving safety and mobility along this portion of the highway in Williamson County.” The $8.4 million project, which was funded by TxDOT and Texas Clear Lanes, is part of the state’s Mobility35 Program initiative to improve trac along I-35, the limits for which range from the Williamson and Bell county line to the Hays and Comal county line.
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ROUND ROCK EDITION
Development
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & JANE TURCHI
Tiny home community opens in Round Rock Ocials from Austin-based Amplify Credit Union announced Sept. 28 the completion of a tiny home community it funded in Round Rock called Mustard Seed Village. The big picture Mustard Seed Village was founded by Joseph Claypool, a lieutenant with the Round Rock Police Department, and his wife, Stephanie, a local teacher. The community, at 20 Tate Lane, Round Rock, features a total of 28 two-bedroom, one-bath homes where rent is capped at $1,375 a month. A variety of residents—single parents, rst responders, teachers, service industry workers, blue-collar workers and even students—make up the community, in-line with the Claypools’ goal of providing aordable housing to those who could benet the most. “Growing up, my mom always told us that if you
Pipeline to bring jet fuel to Austin airport Flint Hill Resources announced plans Oct. 17 to build a fuel pipeline from the Bastrop terminal to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The overview The 20-mile Bastrop-Austin Texas Pipeline will address reliability issues due to increased demand and trac congestion. According to Andy Saenz, Flint Hills Resources public aairs regional manager, pipelines are a safer and more reliable method of delivering fuel. ABIA is the largest airport in the U.S. to rely on fuel delivered by trucks, according to an Oct. 17 news release. Each day, tanker trucks make over 100 round trips to supply the airport’s demand—a 40-mile route. No date for construction, which is expected to take six months, has been set.
The community is made up of 28,822-square-foot homes, housing around 40 residents.
BRITTANY ANDERSONCOMMUNITY IMPACT
have the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains,” Claypool said. “[Stephanie and I] had a dream and a vision to give back to the commu- nity that gave to us.” The project ocially broke ground in January 2023 and was completed six months later. All of the homes were leased by June 15, only two weeks after construction wrapped. Along with having a shared laundry space, outdoor re pit and dog park, a girls group home is located in the center of the community.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Health care
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
Ascension Seton Williamson to add 160 rooms, 400 sta cardiac rehab and pediatric rehab. Ascension Seton representatives said a construction timeline for the project could not be shared. However, the nonprot health system is planning
Ascension Seton Williamson in Round Rock announced Oct. 17 that the hospital will undergo a $230 million expansion that will add more patient and operating rooms, hundreds of new jobs and more. The specics According to a news release from the hospital, the expansion will include: • A 216,000-square-foot, six-story tower • 160 patient rooms • Two operating rooms • A 12-bed observation unit • Space for emergency, imaging, cardiac catheterization and surgery departments • 400 additional sta positions Next steps The project will also include a 34,000-square- foot expansion for outpatient wound care,
to launch a fundraising initiative this fall to support the expansion of services at Ascension Seton Williamson. What else? The hospital services much of Williamson County and saw nearly 64,000 patient visits in scal year 2022, 34% of which were uninsured or underin- sured patients, according to Ascension Seton. The latest eort to expand the hospital’s services comes on the heels of a new Surgical Intensive Care Unit it opened in August. At a cost of around $20 million, the 16-bed center opened to provide care for those who have been in a traumatic accident or have had a complex surgical procedure.
Ascension Seton Williamson is planning for a $230 million expansion of its hospital.
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ROUND ROCK EDITION
Community
BY HALEY MCLEOD & BROOKE SJOBERG
Volunteer Guide Local nonprofit groups offer a number of ways to volunteer throughout the year in Round Rock,
The Sandbox at Madeline’s Place The organization works to provide a space to empower teenagers during adolescence, offering recreational activities, mentorships, relationship-building opportunities and community engagement. • Sample activities: Volunteers assist in fundraising opportunities, recreational activities and tutoring, among other services. • Donations accepted: Monetary donations • 10700 FM 1660, Hutto • 512-642-6342 • www.thesandboxatmadelinesplace.org Texas Baptist Children’s Home The home offers temporary housing and resources for unaccompanied children and single-parent families as they work toward independent living. • Sample activities: Volunteers donate time through actions such as coordinating a food drive or painting walls in a cottage. • Donations accepted: Monetary, food, clothing donations • 1101 N. Mays St., Round Rock
and communities. • Donations accepted: Food, clothing • 200 Alliance Blvd., Hutto • 512-846-2360 • www.ymcagwc.org/locations/hutto
2023
Uplift local youth
Hutto Food Pantry Partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank, the Hutto Food Pantry distributes food to those in need. • Sample activities: Volunteers will distribute food pantry boxes on alternating Saturdays, with limited opportunities to box distributions during the week. • Donations accepted: Monetary donations • 204 E. Live Oak St., Hutto • 512-688-0162 • www.huttoresourcecenter.org Pflugerville Education Foundation Independent from Pflugerville ISD, the foundation provides funding to help meet the needs of the school district’s academic plans and programs. • Sample activities: Volunteers can sign up to help with the foundation’s annual gala. • Donations accepted: Monetary donations • P.O. Box 773, Pflugerville • 512-594-0375 • www.thepfoundation.org
• Sample activities: Volunteers can help provided meals and maintenance as well as assist with events. • Donations accepted: Monetary, food, clothing donations • 1301 N. Mays St., Round Rock
assist with the organization’s programs. • Donations accepted: Monetary donations • 1011 Gattis School Road, Ste. 110, Round Rock • 512-255-1212 • www.hopealliancetx.org The Hutto Education Foundation Independent from Hutto ISD, the foundation provides funding, scholarships and resources to the district. • Sample activities: Volunteers assist at HEF events throughout the year, including its annual gala. • Donations accepted: Monetary donations
Pflugerville and Hutto. Opportunities in this guide range from providing support to youth to serving seniors in need. This list is noncomprehensive.
• 512-246-4244 • www.cahm.org
Uplift local youth
Footprints Children’s Grief Ministries The program assists children ages 6-18 and their families who are experiencing loss. • Sample activities: Volunteers may assist with program activities and workshops • Donations accepted: Monetary donations • 402A W. Palm Valley Blvd., Ste. 335, Round Rock • 512-705-5194 • www.fpcgm.org Hope Alliance The nonprofit provides a range of services and counseling for victims of family and sexual violence. • Sample activities: Volunteers answer crisis calls and
Backpack Friends The nonprofit provides food for children on free and reduced meal programs. • Sample activities: Volunteers help prepare food bags and deliver food to their respective locations. • Donations accepted: Monetary donations • 3217 Hawks Swoop Trail, Pflugerville • 512-965-3052 • www.backpackfriends.com Children at Heart Ministries The organization provides support and resources for ministries that care for children and families in crisis.
Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation Separate from Round Rock ISD, the Round Rock ISD Partners in Education foundation provides funds for on-campus academic programs. • Sample activities: Volunteers may help with grant and scholarship evaluations, sort school supplies, and prepare campus support projects. • Donations accepted: Monetary, in-kind donations • 595 Round Rock West Drive, Round Rock • 512-464-5600 • www.rrisdeducationfoundation.org
• 200 College St., Hutto • 512-759-3771, ext. 5197 • www.hipponation.org
Hutto Family YMCA The organization offers a fitness center, child watch center and children’s gym, an indoor aquatics center, and a full-size gymnasium for basketball and volleyball. • Sample activities: Volunteers provide activities and programs garnered toward building stronger families
• 512-255-3682 • www.tbch.org
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ROUND ROCK 201 University Oaks Blvd (512) 341-9066
GEORGETOWN 1013 W University Ave (512) 868-6696
CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681
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