The next Royal Blue Grocery corner store is moving closer to its planned opening in Mueller.

What's happening: The Austin-based urban market franchise owned by Craig Staley and George Scariano will open its newest location in the city early next year. The shop was planned due to high local demand, Staley said, and will be specifically tailored to Mueller neighborhood.

The location: The grocery store will cover 2,158 square feet, according to a new project filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and designed by Chioco Design with general contractor Havens Construction—the same local team behind all Royal Blue stores in Austin. Staley also noted his partnership with AMLI stretches back two decades; it's the original landlord of his location at Third and Lavaca streets.

Vacant Southeast Austin land acquired by the city decades ago for a road widening project will be repurposed for new affordable housing.

The details: The 0.09-acre property at 306 Saxon Lane in Montopolis has sat unused for years. The city originally bought the lot in 1980 for transportation purposes, but much of the land was never fully utilized after the adjacent Torres Street expansion was completed.

The Saxon Lane site is located in an existing neighborhood, and the city recently identified it as an affordable housing opportunity due to changes to Austin's zoning rules and land development code.

What they're saying: Council member José Velásquez, who represents District 3 including the Montopolis property, said changes like the Home Ownership for Middle-income Empowerment, or HOME, initiative helped make residential development there possible.

Going forward: A construction timeline and the amount of new housing coming to Saxon Lane are still to be determined. The city will advance a development process in the coming months.

Check out the latest upcoming, ongoing or completed transportation projects around the Austin metro.

Ongoing projects
Oak Knoll Flood Risk Reduction
Project: The project will improve the storm drain system in part of the Oak Knoll neighborhood to reduce the risk of flooding. 
Update: According to Austin Capital Delivery Services, crews will next install storm drains along Woodcrest Drive and Columbia Oaks Court, during which time a 24-hour flagger station on Columbia Oaks Drive and J. Gregg Cove will be set up to control traffic.

• Timeline: 2025-27

• Cost: $9 million

• Funding source: city of Austin 2018 bond

Completed projects 
CARTS boosts metro-bound Bastrop County routes to cut traffic, emissions
Bastrop County commuters gained new transit options March 2 with the launch of two regional bus routes culminating in downtown Austin: one connecting Bastrop and Smithville, and the other connecting Georgetown and Round Rock. Riders can park at CARTS Park & Ride locations and take coach buses into Austin, offering an alternative to driving and downtown parking.

The Center for Child Protection opened its third facility in Northeast Austin in early April.

The St. Johns Therapy Center will provide free counseling and treatment in English and Spanish to children in Travis County.

What happened: Officials with the center, city of Austin and partner agencies gathered to celebrate the center’s opening at an April 8 ribbon-cutting ceremony, wearing blue to commemorate Child Abuse Awareness Month.

What they're saying: “We as a community are standing together to let every child in Travis County know they are seen, they are heard and most importantly, that we will keep them safe,” Austin Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela said.

What you need to know : The Center for Child Protection is the area’s only nonprofit involved in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children, said Michael Torres, CEO of the Center for Child Protection. Last year, the organization saw 856 children in Travis County who were undergoing interviews as victims of sexual or physical abuse or witnesses to violent crime, he said.