Well. What a week it's been. Please forgive the absence of last week's roundup. If you suffered through Freezepocalypse in Austin—or even heard about it—surely you'll understand the lapse. Here are some things unrelated to the grid meltdown that transpired during Texas Freeze week.
Cold town, hot take
On Thursday, the Austin Business Journal published a piece of analysis on the possible effects that the power outages following this month's record-breaking winter storms will have on local commercial real estate. Reporter Kathryn Hardison spoke with a number local government and business experts, most of whom saw little short-term effect (such as an already slated major project backing out). As far as long-term projections go, most think that businesses will continue to eye the city and the state for relocation or expansion, citing the still-low corporate taxes and paucity of regulation—with the caveat that Texas must address its now-infamous power-grid problems.
A bad week for bats
The extended freeze had a devastating effect on Austin's bat population, which has become a reliable tourist draw as well as a part of the city's identity. According to Friday story in the Austin American-Statesman, Austin Bat Refuge spent the week rescuing hundreds of the creatures, many of which were trapped in ice or otherwise exposed to frigid temperatures. Luckily, many of the Mexican free-tailed bats that occupy the undersides of our bridges had not yet migrated back to the city, but around 100,000 live here full-time. While the bat refuge organization has rescued and revived many of the freezing animals (as well as euthanizing those that were suffering), its operators said that the area could "easily" have lost around 300,000 bats.
More housing for East Austin
The city's Planning Commission last week approved rezoning of a vacant tract in the MLK-183 neighborhood to allow for the building of more housing in the area. According to a report in the Austin Monitor, commissoners approved a recommendation to change the zoning at 4908 Lott Avenue from its current Family Residence designation to the Townhouse and Condominium residential category, allowing more density on the land. If approved by the City Council, the change will allow the planned development of 65 townhouses, including five income-restricted units, on the tract.
Award-winning commercial design, 2021
Austin Monthly published its 2021 list of Austin Home & Design Winners Wednesday. Its commercial design winners were a West 49th Street office building designed by Mark Odom Studio; the grounds of Commodore Perrry Estate by Ten Eyck Landscape Architects; the lobby of the Indeed office building, designed by Specht Architects; the redesign of an office building on Shoal Creek by Dick Clark and Associates Architecture and Interiors; Sazan Ramen restaurant, designed by Matthew Tsang; and McKinney York for retail design interior design at Optique eyeglass store's the Domain Northside location.
