Homelessness 'summit' crafts big goals

Austin Mayor Steve Adler and other participants who gathered in a series of meetings to address the city's homelessness issues emerged from their closed-door summit Thursday with some ambitious goals. They include providing new 2,300 new rental and 1,000 permanent housing units for people experiencing homelessness, with a funding capacity to bump that number to 4,000. Other parts of the budget—$250 million over the first three years—will go to prevention services intended to help 3,500 people to avoid homelessness or returning to it. The report suggested federal stimulus and affordable housing funds and private donations as some possible ways to help pay for the initative. (Austin American-Statesman)

Work to start soon on Texas Children's Hospital

New renderings of the Texas Children’s Hospital for children and women planned for Northwest Austin were released Tuesday. The $485 million complex, to be located at 9835 North Lake Creek Parkway, is close to Dell Children's Medical Center's second hospital in the Austin area, currently under construction about two miles away. The combination of the two projects and other commercial developments in the vicinity look like they could result in another Austin medical district. (Austin Business Journal)

Pflugerville approves application to fund new 20-acre apartment complex

Speaking of northerly developments (and housing!), the Pflugerville City Council voted this week to approve the pursuit of state tax credits for partial funding of an eight-building, 324-unit apartment complex to be located in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. Developer NRP will seek the funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and will reserve units for tenants making between 50 percent and 70 percent of the Travis County area's median household income. (Austin American-Statesman)

Central Austin housing market remains steep as area median home price reaches all-time high (Community Impact)

What's on the Ballot? (May 1 election propositions at a glance, Austin Chronicle)

Ronald Reagan Crossing to add office, retail in Leander (ABJ)

Imagining Homeless Housing at Austin’s Vacant City-Owned Home Depot (James Rambin, Towers)

Severe weather this summer could cause another Texas power crisis (Texas Tribune)