The Greater Austin YMCA and St. Edward’s University have teamed up to apply for a $20 million Community Change Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. If awarded, the grant will fund the construction of a climate resilience hub at the East Communities YMCA, located at 5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd., as well as community outreach and education programs. St. Edward’s will lead the project’s community engagement efforts, contributing expertise in programming and research. The proposed 30,000-square-foot facility will include spaces for emergency shelter, education and community events, with energy-efficient infrastructure powered by a microgrid system. The initiative, supported by local leaders such as U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and Austin City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, aligns with the city’s broader goals to create a network of resilience hubs in the Eastern Crescent. In the first three months of the grant cycle, the YMCA and St. Edward’s will conduct feasibility studies, energy audits and community engagement to develop a Community Resiliency Action Plan. The partnership will launch sustainability education and social programs focused on energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation and biodiversity, alongside initiatives for disaster preparedness, health, education and social equity.

The Austin office market remains soft and highly priced, with vacancy rates increasing 6.6 percentage points to 27.8 percent, which is the highest jump among major U.S. office markets, according to a recent study from Commercial Edge. Office construction in the city has slowed, with only 3.4 million square feet currently underway – equal to 3.6 percent of total stock – and Austin has maintained its position as a leader in office sale prices. Local office properties are trading at an average of $379 per square foot, the highest among top U.S. markets, surpassing Los Angeles. While office vacancy is a persistent problem downtown and elsewhere in the city, housing and development experts don’t see the available space as ready for conversion to badly needed housing supply. Nationally, vacancy rates have risen to 19.5 percent with 68.5 million square feet of office space under construction. Though Austin has slowed its office development, Miami has overtaken Austin in development activity, with 3.9 percent of its office stock under construction. Despite the local slowdown, Austin’s office prices remain a standout, signaling continued investor interest in the market despite broader sector challenges.

In response to public feedback, the city has revised its safety project at Cameron and Dessau roads. Though about 80 percent of the 1,000 online survey respondents indicated support for the project, the feedback also led city staff to making a few changes. According to a report from the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department, the proposed design will now include:

• Adding a third southbound vehicle lane in advance of the Shropshire Lane/Braker Lane (north intersection) intersection to the Braker Lane (south intersection) to better address vehicle capacity needs
• Adding a northbound dual left turn at Braker Lane
• Adding dedicated left-turn pockets at existing median breaks at the driveways to the Lucent and Parmer Place apartments as well as at Daleside Lane
• Continued evaluation of access control and U-turn refinements for safer motor vehicle movements, and placement of relocated and enhanced bus stops

Construction on the 6.5-mile corridor is expected to begin in spring 2025. More information on the project updates can be found here. As part of the city’s Vision Zero project, the improvements are intended to bring much-needed safety improvements to the road, which sees an average of two people killed and 95 people injured each year in traffic crashes.

The West Travis County Public Utility Agency has delayed a decision on a request from Mirasol Capital, developers of the proposed 1,400-acre Mirasol Springs project near the Pedernales River, to build a pipeline sourcing water from Lake Travis, Community Impact reports. The developers are seeking approval for a 4-inch pipeline to provide water exclusively to Mirasol Springs, bypassing the contested Pedernales River supply. Environmental groups, including Save Our Springs and Save the Pedernales, voiced concerns about the potential environmental impact, with wastewater treatment plans and possible overdevelopment in the region being top issues. While developers argue that sourcing water from Lake Travis addresses concerns over the Pedernales, opponents contend that more sustainable water solutions, such as rainwater collection, should be considered. The WTCPUA postponed its decision until Nov. 18, giving board members time to review the proposal in greater detail.

The Capital Delivery Services Department is hosting its second “Building Austin” event on Nov. 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Dove Springs Public Health Facility on Palo Blanco Lane. The series aims to keep the community informed about key infrastructure projects shaping the city’s future. The upcoming session will focus on transportation and flood risk reduction projects in Southeast Austin, including updates on the Brassiewood flood reduction, Slaughter Lane and William Cannon corridor improvements, and the Williamson Creek wastewater interceptor. The hybrid event will feature presentations and an open house format, and attendees will get a chance to meet with project teams. Registration is available online.

Chess in the Park is back at the 2024 Chris Riley Memorial Wooldridge Square Tournament. The event, which will feature a K-12 student section and an open section for all ages, will take place on Nov. 3. The tournament has been officially renamed after former City Council Member Chris Riley, who passed in July and was a dedicated supporter of community chess, volunteering to organize matches most Saturdays at Wooldridge Square Park from 2003 to 2023 and co-founding the project. This year’s tournament will take place at the park  from noon until 5 p.m., with registration required. That registration is now open and can be found here.

Early voting started on Monday, with long lines at many locations and just over 6 percent of registered voters in Travis County (or 46,646 people) showing up to cast ballots. From the Travis County Clerk’s website, it appeared that the polling place at the University of Texas still had a lot of eager voters standing in line at 8 p.m. For a list of early voting locations, see here. Early voting will continue through Friday, November 1, for the November 5 election. Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado hopes every eligible voter will turn out early. She sent the following message to voters: “Vote early, vote easy. Voting early not only helps you avoid long lines on Election Day, but it also ensures that nothing unexpected – like traffic or an emergency – keeps you from casting your ballot. Make your plan to vote early, and encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same. If you plan to vote on Election Day, also plan to be in a line. Every vote matters, and together, we can shape the future of our community and country.”

This Saturday, Oct. 26, Travis County and the Drug Enforcement Administration will collect unwanted prescription drugs from the public as part of National Take Back Day. The day helps people safely dispose of expired, unused or unneeded medications in an effort to help make communities safer. According to a press release from the county, “the misuse and improper disposal of expired and unwanted drugs is a growing problem nationwide and also threatens local water supplies.” On Saturday, residents can drop off medications (barring syringes) anonymously and at no cost at any of the five Travis County Constable Precincts between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Family and friends gathered at the Old Bakery and Emporium Friday to dedicate the plaza to Pat Crow.

Family and friends of the late Pat Crow, including many of the public officials she helped to elect, gathered Friday at the Old Bakery and Emporium to dedicate the plaza to her. Crow, who died in 2017, was a political activist before she became an operative in 34 political campaigns. She was victorious in 30 of those, including the passage of the Save Our Springs Ordinance in 1992.

Crow also pulled her sister, Barbara Rush, into politics by giving her a job in Brigid Shea’s City Council campaign in 1993. Rush now serves as aide to Shea. Crow worked with political consultant David Butts – currently consulting for the campaign of Mayor Kirk Watson – for 25 years.

Barbara Rush and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett share memories of Crow.

Among those attending to cheer the naming of the plaza were U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, state Rep. Sheryl Cole, Travis County commissioners Brigid Shea and Jeff Travillion, and a number of judges, including 455th District Judge Laurie Eiserloh, County Court at Law No. 7 Judge Elisabeth Earle, retired District Judge Lora Livingston and Probate Court No. 2 Judge Nicholas Chu.

Bill Bunch of Save Our Springs Alliance was on hand, as were former Council members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo, currently a candidate for mayor.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department owns the bakery and the plaza. Rush said attorney Rick Cofer, former vice chair of the Parks and Recreation Board, was instrumental in organizing the effort to dedicate the plaza to Crow.

If you’re contemplating launching a small business, or transitioning your existing online business to brick-and-mortar, the city is here to help. BizAid Business Orientation, a program of Austin’s Economic Development Department, is “an introductory class designed to equip aspiring business owners with the knowledge and resources to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey seamlessly.” The class will help you to “navigate the intricate landscape of city, state and federal regulations and gain invaluable insights” into the city’s development process. Sounds like a no-brainer to us. Register on Eventbrite. 5202 E. Ben White Blvd., Suite 300, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 9-10:30 a.m.

We’re expecting another big weekend in Austin, with SEC football fans coming to see the Georgia Bulldogs vs. the Texas Longhorns on Saturday and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Sting and Eminem entertaining visitors Friday through Sunday. Workers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, known as AUS, are expecting another record-breaking crowd. (Airport spokesperson Lesly Ramirez told the Austin Monitor that last Monday was a very busy day: “We had 37,572 people screened through TSA. It is now the 10th busiest day on record for the airport.”)

This Monday, AUS could break the record for “the busiest day ever with approximately 44,000 departing passengers.” Here’s what to expect if you need to fly: Passengers using general TSA screening should arrive at the terminal at least 2.5 hours before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours before departure for international flights. Highways around the airport could be extra busy, so plan accordingly. If you plan to park at the airport, visit ABIAParking.com and reserve a parking space in the Blue Garage, Red Garage or Economy lots. You can also check the site for real-time availability before arriving at the airport. There are also a number of commercial parking lots close to the airport that you can use.

Why not skip the crowds and long lines on Election Day (Nov. 5), and vote at your convenience? Early voting in Texas begins Monday and ends Friday, Nov. 1. There are dozens of early voting locations across Travis County: Here’s a list that includes addresses and hours of operation. You may vote wherever you see the “Vote Here/Aqui” sign displayed. Want to know what your ballot will contain before you skip merrily off to vote? Just enter your name and birthdate in the nifty voter lookup, and you’ll get to see your very own personalized sample ballot.