Austin apartments boomed and rents went down. Now, some builders are dismantling the cranes. "[T]wo years into a flurry of construction, building costs have ballooned. Interest rates have more than doubled. And while thousands of new apartments have brought rent prices down and provided some financial relief ... developers can no longer make the same kind of cash. So they’re tapping the brakes on new buildings." (Audrey McGlinchy, KUT 90.5)
Greg Abbott Discusses Building Border Wall Around 'Liberal' Austin "Texas Governor Greg Abbott jokingly suggested a border wall could be constructed around Austin because of its 'values' at a campaign event on Wednesday." (James Bickerton, Newsweek)
Firefly's growth primes sleepy Central Texas town for new business "What started with one rocket testing stand in rural Central Texas has grown into a commercial space payload company that plans four rocket launches this year, six to eight next year and a dozen in 2026." (Brent Wistrom, Austin Business Journal)
Austin lays out long-awaited South Central Waterfront development rules; residents fight district taxing plan "As a long-awaited blueprint for development and public improvements in the South Central Waterfront moves closer to completion, the city is also facing down a lawsuit contesting a financing plan that would use local tax dollars to support infrastructure upgrades around the district area." (Ben Thompson, Community Impact)
Debate intensifies over code changes to Butler Hike and Bike trail "Austin’s Parks and Recreation Board drew a crowd this past Monday, gathering to debate a number of code amendments targeting the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake. Staff says the updates will help to streamline projects like stormwater upgrades, trailhead connections and safety lighting currently hampered by bloated and inefficient code restrictions." (Kali Bramble, Austin Monitor)
