SXSW is back this week and in person for the first time in three years "Austin officials are welcoming back South by Southwest attendees this week for the first time in three years. The 2020 event was canceled days before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic." (Jimmy Maas, KUT)

Developers break ground on multifamily buildings near Mueller control tower "Ryan Cos. officially broke ground on an unnamed 345-unit multifamily project in the Mueller neighborhood March 3. The project will consist of two midrise—three- to five-story—buildings and approximately 2,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space located near the corner of Berkman Drive and McCurdy Street. The complexes will offer one- to three-bedroom apartments with 15% being available to families making less than 60% of the area median family income." (Darcy Sprague, Community Impact)

Comedy Club Linked to Joe Rogan Planned for Austin’s Ritz Theater "The historic Ritz Theater at 320 East Sixth Street will soon host a comedy club linked to recently controversial podcast host and new Austin resident Joe Rogan, according to a number of local property filings and an application to the city’s Historic Landmark Commission." (James Rambin, Towers)

Austin becomes hub for 'proptech' companies that are shaking up the real estate world "Industry analysts say Austin's deep roots in real estate, along with its tech talent and local venture capitalists who have been big backers, have created a booming sector —known as 'proptech' to industry experts — that is putting the region on the map as a leading innovation hub." (Lori Hawkins, Austin American-Statesman)

2 more towers on track to rise downtown but conversation turns to affordability concerns "Developers Stratus Properties Inc. and Intracorp Texas have each moved a step closer to building a new tower in downtown Austin. Austin-based Stratus is planning a 400-foot residential tower near the Texas State Capitol, while Intracorp Texas wants to develop a 65-story hotel and condominium tower near the Austin Convention Center." (Kathryn Hardison, Austin Business Journal

Council approves anti-displacement funding for year two of Project Connect "Forty-one million dollars is officially on its way to the affordable housing pipeline as of last Thursday, when City Council resolved to allocate funding from Project Connect’s $300 million anti-displacement budget in the next fiscal year." (Kali Bramble, Austin Monitor)

Entrepreneur gifts $1 million to UT Austin in honor of his father, Texas’ first Black architect "Houstonians Tony Chase and his wife, Dina Alsowayel, have donated $1 million to the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture in honor of his Chase’s father, John S. Chase, FAIA (master’s of architecture ’52). Notably, John Chase is the first Black graduate of UT’s school of architecture and the first Black licensed architect in the state."  (Steven Devadanam, CultureMap Austin)