Austin has become a leader in affordable housing construction in Texas, with 2,717 fully affordable housing units currently under construction – the most of any metro in the state and among the highest in the country, according to a new report from real estate technology company Yardi Matrix. The city is also expected to deliver 3,452 affordable units in 2025, ranking first among U.S. metro areas. The report found that despite its strong pace, Austin faces the same challenges as the rest of the country: rising construction costs, labor shortages and declining new project starts. The report notes that fully affordable housing starts in the U.S. fell by nearly 29 percent in 2024, driven by higher interest rates and escalating costs for material and insurance. Texas, which has the third-largest stock of affordable housing units nationwide (138,500), is projected to add 8,751 units by 2027, second only to California. Other major Texas cities like San Antonio and Houston are also expanding their affordable housing efforts but at a slower pace, with San Antonio projected to deliver 5,581 units by 2027.

In celebration of Black History Month, the Black History Bike Ride group will be hosting a day of cycling and film on Saturday, Feb. 22. The guided bike ride will kick off at 1 p.m. at the George Washington Carver Museum. The premiere of Momentum, a short documentary about Black History Bike Ride and free screenings of The Route to Emancipation and A Race in the Sun will follow at 6 p.m. at Antone’s Night Club. Both events are free, with RSVPs available here.

Major Taylor Cycling Club, a group that honors the legacy of Black cyclist Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor, will also be hosting cycling events throughout the month of February. More information on those can be found here.

Even though it’s too chilly for most to consider swim weather, the Aquatic Division of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department is busy. It is now hiring hundreds of lifeguards (ages 15 and older) starting at $21.63 per hour. Training is ongoing, with March 16-22 holding a number of opportunities during spring break. The city points out that “candidates from diverse origins, orientations, identities, and abilities are welcome.” For more info, visit LifeguardAustin.com. Also, Barton Springs Pool’s annual closure for maintenance is scheduled for March 1-14. And lastly, season passes are currently available to buy for the 2025 swim season, valid March 8 through Oct. 31. The passes also include parking at Zilker Park. For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/Pools.

The city has chosen the Greater Austin YMCA to run an early education center at the Dove Springs Public Health Facility, which opened in November. The new 10,000-square-foot facility, funded by a 2018 bond proposal, will provide affordable child care for working families in Southeast Austin. The YMCA Tomorrow Academy will serve children from six weeks to five years old, offering early literacy, STEM education, creative arts, and nature-based learning. The center aims to address long-standing child care shortages in the area while supporting parents’ workforce participation. The Dove Springs location is part of a larger effort to expand early education access in Austin, with the YMCA planning to serve up to 1,000 children across multiple centers by 2030. The new academy will open in March 2025. The YMCA will operate the center for an initial three-year term, with an option to renew for an additional three years. The facility is located at 5811 Palo Blanco Lane, adjacent to the Dove Springs Public Health Facility, which provides preventive health care and employment services. City officials say the combined resources will help close service gaps for historically underserved residents.

The Housing and Independent Living Task Force Austin has launched a local housing market analysis to assess the needs of adults with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities in Austin. The effort, supported by a new special project fund at the Austin Community Foundation, seeks to identify housing barriers and explore solutions across public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. The study will be facilitated by First Place, a national leader in housing analysis for neurodiverse communities. The survey is available at HAILTaskForceAustin.org and will stay open through March 14. A kickoff event will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Speakers include Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard and Integral Care CEO Jeff Richardson. With autism diagnoses rising significantly and a growing number of A/I/DD individuals living with aging caregivers, the task force aims to inform future policies and investments to expand housing options in the Austin area.

Red River Cultural District’s focus this year on telling its story and highlighting the connections between music, heritage, culture and commerce will kick off March 1 with its first District Dialogues event. The quarterly event series is designed to spark conversation, showcase creatives and bring the community together. The first edition takes place at Swan Dive (615 Red River St.), featuring rare screenings of the documentaries “Blue Flamingo” and “The Cavity,” which explore the history of some of Austin’s most storied music venues. Attendees can also check out a limited-edition Red River zine, a mini book sale from UT Press, and a taco pop-up from Pelon’s Tex-Mex. District Dialogues is made possible through new city funding awarded last fall, supporting efforts to preserve and amplify Austin’s live music culture. Tickets are available online.

Austin has a new-old office. The Office of Climate Action and Resilience is the official new name of the Office of Sustainability and “better reflects … helping Austin prepare for and respond to the challenges of climate change while ensuring a more just and sustainable future for all,” according to a press release from the city. Despite the name change, the duties of the office will stay the same. According to the press release from the office, “We remain committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving food access, and building community resilience. And most importantly, our team is the same group of passionate, dedicated professionals you’ve worked with or seen out in the community over the years.”

Central Health is hosting the first of several community conversations 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, as a chance for members of the community to share with the Central Health Board of Managers and senior leadership their thoughts on improving health care in Travis County. The gathering, which will begin with an update on the Central Health Healthcare Equity Plan, will cover topics like new clinics and patient-centered care; bridge services, respite care and upcoming programs; better care through new approaches; and open discussion with board members. It will be held at the Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Austin, TX 78752. More community conversations will be held in April and May. Food and parking will be provided, and attendees are asked to RSVP here.

All are invited to Art in the Park, hosted by Art Spark Texas and McBeth Recreation Center. The family-friendly event is billed as an “inclusive arts festival that celebrates creativity, connection, and diversity,” and it is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Fiesta Gardens Pavilion, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St., offering live performances and “a variety of hands-on art activities designed for participants of all ages and abilities, encouraging attendees to explore their imagination and create unique works of art,” a news release explains. Local organizations, artists and performers (musicians, dancers and other entertainers) are invited to host booths offering “make-and-take” crafts, interactive art activities, art demos or performances. “It is so heartening to see the community come together to celebrate the joy of creativity and the power of inclusion through the arts,” said Celia Hughes, executive director at Art Spark Texas. “Art in the Park is a reminder that art has the unique ability to connect us all, regardless of age or ability.” For information on how to host a booth or perform at Art in the Park, email info@artsparktexas.org.

The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA) is urging state lawmakers to caution against policies that could jeopardize long-term water security. In a newly released report, called “Water for Residents: Ensuring housing solutions do not worsen the water crisis in the Edwards and Trinity aquifer region,” the organization highlights how urban sprawl, regulatory rollbacks and development over sensitive recharge zones threaten both water availability and affordability. The report notes that Texas simultaneously faces a shortage of affordable housing and increasing water scarcity, exacerbated by drought, population growth and land use changes. GEAA warns against reducing environmental protections in an effort to boost housing supply, arguing that such measures could lead to higher long-term costs from flooding, insurance hikes and infrastructure strain. The group proposes legislative solutions that support higher-density housing in urban cores, stronger building codes, flood risk mitigation efforts and restrictions on development over key aquifer recharge areas, including portions of Travis County.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, for the new-and-improved playscape at Davis-White Northeast Neighborhood Park at 6705 Crystalbrook Drive. The playscape for ages 5 to 12 has been replaced, as well as the swings, and additions include a new arch swing with a saucer-style swing set, ADA benches and an interpretive marker. The project was funded by municipal bonds for essential public projects as well as Austin Parks Foundation and Spurs Give. To determine the priorities for improvements, the Parks and Recreation Department surveyed community members over time. Davis-White Northeast Neighborhood Park was renamed in 2007 after Captain Willie Ray Davis and Captain Louie White, who broke racial barriers by becoming the first African Americans appointed to leadership positions in the City of Austin Fire and Police Departments, respectively. For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/DavisWhite-Playscape.

The Downtown Austin Alliance is still accepting nominations for the 2025 Future of Downtown Awards, honoring individuals and groups that have significantly contributed to the vibrancy and community of downtown Austin. The nomination form is available online and will close at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Award winners will be recognized at the Downtown Austin Alliance’s Future of Downtown event on May 27 at ACL Live, and will also be celebrated in a video feature. The awards feature two categories: the Meredith Powell Award for Community Culture, and the Downtown Vision Award. The event will feature key insights from the annual State of Downtown report and introduce the new CEO and president, Davon Barbour, as the keynote speaker. Tickets for the event are available online.