A national report from Urban Land Institute has named Austin as No. 5 in a ranking of the top real estate markets, joining Nashville, Tennessee; Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; and Boise, Idaho, in the “supernova” category of desirable markets. Those cities are seen as strong magnet communities drawing people and companies more quickly than the U.S. average in terms of population and job growth. The report also named Austin the No. 1 city on the list of markets with the best homebuilding prospects. Austin has ranked seventh or higher in every iteration of the report since 2010. Among the “growing pains” Austin is starting to experience, the report highlights the effect of work-from-home policies on office space real estate, the rising cost of living and a rise in migration to San Antonio, Killeen and Denver. ULI will host an Emerging Trends in Real Estate event on Dec. 6 at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus.

Enrollment is open for the spring 2024 term at Austin Police Department’s Community Police Academy, a 14-week program that familiarizes members of the public with APD’s work with a stated goal to “increase the rapport between community members and police officers.” The class curriculum covers the work of different units within the department, and meetings will be held 5:30-9:30 p.m. once a week from Feb. 6 through May 14. Interested community members can apply here.

Today is the last day of early voting for the November election. As a reminder, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. generally, with the mega centers at Ben Hur Shrine Center, the Austin Permitting and Development Center, Millennium Youth Complex and Southpark Meadows to remain open until 10 p.m. tonight. Travis County registered voters can cast their ballots at any of the polling centers in the county. As of Nov. 1, only about 5 percent of registered voters – or 44,022 people – had cast ballots in this election, so if you’re looking for your vote to count, here’s an election that will do that. Polls will reopen on election day proper, Nov, 7, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Rainfall and improved drought conditions have eased fire concerns enough that the city’s restriction on burning in parks has been lifted. The restriction, which applied to all city parkland, is no longer in effect. However, according to a press release from the parks department, “The Department is committed to protecting the City’s parks and surrounding communities and will continue to evaluate the wildfire risk on an ongoing basis. If conditions worsen and the threat of wildfire increases, a Parks Burning Restriction will be activated.”

A recent study of real estate investors finds that Austin is seen as the second-most-attractive market in the U.S. for those looking to maximize their return on investment. Moving Feedback’s new Empty Lot Index ranks Austin second behind Tampa, Florida, as the city with the greatest potential for “remarkable” real estate growth. The survey of 3,000 prospective investors was based on the prospect of developing an empty 1-acre parcel of land anywhere in the country, with the report noting: “Austin pulses with economic energy, powered by a diverse engine of technology, healthcare, and entertainment.” Nineteen other Texas cities earned a spot on the list, with San Antonio at No. 9, Edinburg at No. 10, and Sugar Land at No. 20.

TimeDone Texas, a statewide program to organize and empower Texans living with a past record, is hosting a community empowerment event at noon, Saturday, at Givens Recreation Center on East 12th Street. Organizers will help participants advocate for more progressive public safety policies. Those in attendance can also receive information about housing options, employment assistance, legal services, and other resources to help those with a criminal history move on and improve their lives. TimeDone, part of the Alliance for Safety and Justice, notes that Texas has more than 800 statutes, administrative rules, and court rules that make it difficult for those with a record to secure employment, education, or housing.

Austin Transit Partnership has named Brad Cummings as its new senior vice president of procurement and contract management and Haley Garcia as its new senior vice president of program controls in the planning, community and federal programs department. Cummings most recently served as vice president of business services for Dallas Area Rapid Transit and was named as one of Mass Transit magazine’s 2023 40 Under 40. Garcia most recently worked as the project controls manager for Valley Metro in Phoenix. “Brad and Haley bring decades of combined professional experience and passion for the transit sector and will be valuable as we enter the next stages of implementation focused on our delivery framework and the federal funding process,” ATP Executive Director Greg Canally said in a prepared statement.

Cities and counties from throughout the Texas Hill Country recently met to identify best practices for addressing water needs throughout the fast-growing region, which includes Travis County. October’s One Water in the Texas Hill Country conference – organized by the Hill Country Alliance, the city of Boerne and Cibolo Center for Conservation – highlighted a number of sustainable water practices, including:

• creation of a low-impact development ordinance focusing on filtering stormwater and protecting stream setbacks
• raising minimum lot sizes for private wells to 10 acres
• delivering treated wastewater to areas needing irrigation
• integrating water conservation and reuse into building designs

Participants were encouraged to introduce these and other practices into their planning and development processes, which is important as the region continues to experience extreme drought.

St. David’s Foundation has granted $7.8 million to various Central Texas organizations that provide services for the homeless and boost affordable housing in Austin. The grants are part of a new initiative to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring in the region.

Three of the main recipients are:

• Austin Community Foundation, receiving $2.5 million for the creation of affordable housing
• Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), receiving $3.3 million for general operations and specific projects over two years
• Foundation Communities, receiving $2 million for infrastructure and predevelopment for new supportive housing projects

While the funds deviate from the foundation’s regular strategic priorities, they are tailored to support sustainable solutions for Austin’s homelessness predicament. In a prepared statement, the foundation emphasized the data that finds a direct correlation between housing and health. Specifically, affordable housing provisions can drastically enhance health outcomes, particularly for low-income groups, positioning housing as a foundational aspect of health.

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace begins today, and Central Health is offering Travis County residents options for help. These options include calling 211 for assistance with the application process or getting assistance through Foundation Communities and Sendero Health Plans. According to a press release from the district, 10.8 percent of Travis County residents don’t have health insurance, concentrated in neighborhoods east of Interstate 35. Central Health serves more than 150,000 residents through its Medical Access Program, MAP Basic and sliding-fee-scaled programs that provide health care to low-income residents.

“Central Health is encouraging all Travis County residents who need health insurance to take advantage of the expert help available to assist them with finding the best insurance for them at the best price. Individuals already enrolled in a Marketplace plan should also review the new plans available. Plan prices have changed, and you may be able to find a comparable or better plan at a better price,” said Central Health’s Kit Abney Spelce, vice president of operations, in a statement to the press. “No one should delay – you only have about 12 weeks to apply, and we know the holidays are busy for everyone.” You must enroll in a Marketplace plan by Dec. 15 to start coverage on Jan. 1. Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 until Jan. 15, 2024.

For the centennial edition of Texas State Parks Day, visitors will get free day-use passes at all state parks. “Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants to continue to connect everyone to our beautiful parklands and we hope that Texas State Parks Day will give someone new the opportunity to discover what makes our state parks special,” said Rodney Franklin, state parks division director, in a statement to the press. “This centennial has highlighted the work that past and current staff have accomplished in the last 100 years to make parks welcoming places for all visitors. We hope that folks take advantage of the opportunity to see these unique pieces of Texas this weekend and for the next 100 years.” Though admission will be free for the entirety of Nov. 5, normal capacity limits will apply and reservations are recommended. All other park fees will remain in effect.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area is hosting two upcoming job fairs. The Manufacturing, Mobility and Skilled Trades Showcase is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow, Nov. 2, at Workforce Solutions’ headquarters on North Interstate 35. More than two dozen companies and agencies seeking employees in manufacturing-related jobs will be in attendance. Those interested can register online. The event called Hiring Red, White & You! will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 9, also at the facility on North I-35. Priority sessions for veterans will run from 10 a.m. to noon, with attendees eligible to receive interview practice, resume review and speed mentoring sessions. More than 30 employers will be on hand for networking and potential hiring opportunities. Registration is available online.