City urges high-risk people to avoid gatherings as Austin moves to Stage 5 COVID precautions "Austin and Travis County are back at the highest stage of Austin Public Health’s COVID-19 community risk guidance as the omicron variant of the coronavirus has caused a surge of new infections and hospitalizations.... City and county officials announced the move to Stage 5 at a press conference Thursday, saying they’re concerned that increasing infection rates could cause schools, businesses and other services to close because too many people are out sick or in quarantine." (Andy Jechow, Jerry Quijano, KUT)

Semiconductor giant Micron scouts Central Texas for major factory, sources say "One of the world's largest semiconductor companies is considering an investment in Central Texas as it moves forward with a $150 billion plan to expand its chipmaking capabilities, according to multiple sources. Boise, Idaho-based Micron Technology Inc., a maker of memory chips and computer data storage with facilities around the world, has been scouting the region for several months and is considering Caldwell and Williamson counties for its next fabrication plant, sources said." (Kathryn Hardison and Justin Sayers, Austin Business Journal)

Austin area among top U.S. markets for home sales in master-planned communities "The Austin area — particularly the Capital City’s surrounding suburbs — is mastering the art of the master-planned community. A report released January 4 by RCLCO Real Estate Advisors shows the Austin metro area was home to two of the 50 top-selling master-planned communities last year." (John Egan, CultureMap Austin)

Makeover planned for Violet Crown trailhead at Zilker Park "Significant improvements are coming soon to the beginning of the Violet Crown Trail at Zilker Park, including an overlook and an entrance worthy of what may someday be Austin’s longest urban trail. The new overlook, shaded by a heritage pecan tree, will offer views of Barton Creek and include seating and educational signs. Several hundred feet of trail will also be reconstructed at 12 feet wide, slightly wider than the existing trail, and will meander through a meadow instead of taking a straight route. Other improvements include a shaded pavilion, a landscaped gathering area, a rain garden near Andrew Zilker Road, and an arch to mark the trailhead." (Jonathan Lee, Austin Monitor)

Austin opens affordable housing funding program for nonprofits, seeks volunteers to review city spending "New opportunities for affordable housing development and oversight in Austin have opened for both nonprofits and city residents. City funding for nonprofits interested in buying land and building new affordable projects is now available through Austin's Community Acquisition Program. Funding is reserved for nonprofits that have a history in affordable housing development, leasing and sales in the city, and will be provided through both forgivable and non-forgivable loans at 0% interest." (Ben Thompson, Community Impact)

COVID forces Sixth Street developer to rethink plan for old Austin school district headquarters "When the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, the redevelopment of the former Austin Independent School District headquarters was forced to pivot. Design plans for the site at 1111 West Sixth St. changed, but the 2.7-acre location is now complete with mixed-use office and retail space. A new four-story, 70,000-square-foot building now houses Austin-based law firm McGinnis Lochridge." (Lori Hawkins, Austin American-Statesman)