Austin's Population Grew By 22% In The Last Decade "Austin grew by nearly 22% over the last decade, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Overall, the population of the five-county area jumped by a third to more than 2.2 million people." (Andrew Weber, KUT)
Hundreds of new homes headed to Taylor with Castlewood community "The new Castlewood community in Taylor is moving forward, as the city OKs plans for hundreds of residential lots. The Taylor Planning and Zoning Commission approved Aug. 10 a final plat for up to 131 residential lots in Castlewood. These lots will be on a 41-acre plot across from Taylor High School. This approval means the builder, Florida-based Dream Finders Homes, will soon be able to start construction." (Michelle Pitcher, Austin Business Journal)
Austin council OKs purchase of Candlewood Suites in Williamson County for homeless housing "A southern Williamson County Candlewood Suites hotel is one step closer to conversion as a supportive homeless housing facility through the city of Austin, following months of pushback from Williamson County elected officials, residents and business owners. Austin City Council on Aug. 11 voted 7-4 for the $9.55 million purchase the Candlewood Suites at 10811 Pecan Park Blvd., Bldg. 2, Austin, to provide 'services, shelter, or housing' units per the approved city resolution. Council members Mackenzie Kelly, Alison Alter, Ann Kitchen and Leslie Pool voted against buying the 83-room hotel. Building renovations are expected to run the city an additional $1.66 million." (Ben Thompson, Community Impact)
Natiivo Austin’s ‘Home Sharing’ Concept is 99 Percent Sold in the Rainey District "An unorthodox ownership model and the economic stresses of a pandemic couldn’t keep Natiivo Austin down, though its unique 'home sharing' concept remains the only ground-up development of its kind in the region. As of today, the 33-floor tower’s developers at Pearlstone Partners and Newgard Development Group along with the sales team at Prospect Real Estate confirm its 249 units are over '99 percent sold,' meaning this community now rising at 48 East Avenue on the edge of the Rainey Street District has, according to its developers, one unit left for sale." (James Rambin, Towers)
New street impact fee will make development more predictable, ATD says "The Austin Transportation Department updated members of the City Council Mobility Committee last week on the city’s new street impact fee, which developers will pay to offset impacts from increased car trips to and from new buildings. Council adopted the fee last December, but it doesn’t go into effect until next June because of an 18-month grace period. The SIF replaces the existing mitigation fee that is part of the city’s transportation review for new developments." (Jonathan Lee, Austin Monitor)
Austin, Travis County issue orders requiring masks on city, county and public school property "Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown issued orders Aug. 11 requiring masks to be worn on city and county premises, as well as on public school premises. The orders take effect at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 12, and apply as long as the area is under Stage 3, 4 or 5 community risk-based guidelines. The new mask mandates defy Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order prohibiting mask mandates by local governments, signed in May, and follow Austin ISD's decision to require masks on campuses beginning Aug. 12." (Olivia Aldridge, Community Impact)
Out-of-town buyers throw more cash at Austin homes than locals, says Redfin "In another sign of how blazing hot the Austin area’s housing market has been, out-of-towners moving here recently spent $22,500 more on a home than locals did. A data analysis by residential real estate brokerage Redfin found that the typical home purchased in the Austin area by out-of-towners from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, sold for $470,000. By comparison, the same figure for local buyers stood at $447,500." (John Egan, CultureMap)
