As a multimillion-dollar contract ends, Austin votes (again) to keep shelter for homeless open "The Marshalling Yard, a Southeast Austin emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness, will be allowed to stay open indefinitely. On Thursday, the Austin City Council approved extending [a multimillion-dollar contract that expired this summer], although it's not yet clear where the money will come from. It is the second extension in five months.” (Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT 90.5)
Project Connect: Austin's 9.8-mile light rail system advances with $193M budget approval "Plans for the long-promised Austin light rail project is rolling forward with recent funding allocated primarily towards design work needed to break ground by 2027—a target date announced by transit officials earlier this year.” (Haley McLeod, Community Impact)
Booming Williamson County to get another big development "Hundreds of acres between Hutto and Taylor are newly primed for development. The Williamson County Commissioners Court has approved a development agreement for the 343-acre North Fork MUD, located between Hutto and Taylor.” (Cody Baird, Austin Business Journal)
City taps Rally Austin for funds to buy historic cultural spaces "Thursday’s City Council meeting saw passage on consent of a resolution that directs staff to work with the economic development group and other relevant entities to develop a plan for using money allocated for the Historic Preservation Acquisition Fund, which has gone mostly unused since it was created in 2018.” (Chad Swiatecki, Austin Monitor)
Prime downtown space left vacant by Estelle's already has a taker “A private-events company will use the swanky space that used to be a bar but there are still business opportunities to get a piece of the real estate and its assets.” (Sahar Chmais, Austin Business Journal)
Austin-based printing company building world's first 3D-printed hotel "In the desert on the outskirts of Marfa, El Cosmico is building 43 new hotel units and 18 residentials homes — using a 3D printer.” (Alexis Simmerman
Marley Malenfant, USA Today/Austin American Statesman)