Owner of the plant-based restaurant, Sue Davis, is gearing up to open a permanent Counter Culture restaurant in Austin this summer, she said.

Learn more: Counter Culture had a previous food trailer, which opened in 2009, and later a brick and mortar, before Davis closed the location to build a purposeful space, according to its website. 

Dig deeper: The restaurant’s crew is currently renovating an older building in Windsor Park with help from Havens Construction and Weiss Architecture, Davis said. 

“We are transforming it into a mid-century-inspired vegan diner,” Davis explained.

Final takeaways: According to a Kickstarter page, construction costs have piled up and Counter Culture is now turning to the community to help open its doors sooner. So far, 270 backers have raised over $35,000 of the $45,000 goal. 

• 5812 Berkman Drive, Austin

A potential fall bond election could ask voters to approve hundreds of millions of dollars of new debt, and Austin officials and community members are pursuing different approaches to shape the final package.

The details: City Council called for the development of a new comprehensive bond package funding various city needs in 2024. Since then, a resident-led task force and city staff have been reviewing what projects could be funded. With a changing civic financial outlook, council members also revised the policies that guide how and when bond elections should be called earlier this year.

After staff produced a $700 million bond projects recommendation in January, the bond task force released its own draft totaling $750 million this month and will finalize its proposal in May. At the same time, some council members called for a much smaller package this year—$400 million or less—to potentially be complemented by another bond in 2028 for priorities that wouldn't be covered this year.

A 2026 bond will be finalized later this summer.

Check out the latest transportation updates around the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects

Austin Transit Partnership approves Light Rail maintenance building construction, land acquisition contracts: On April 15, the agency approved a contract in an amount not to exceed $25 million for the construction of an operations and maintenance facility as part of Phase 1 of the project. The facility will serve as the light rail's home base for the trains to be cleaned, serviced and maintained. The agency also approved a resolution not to exceed $230 million to acquire up to 18 parcels of property to use as part of Phase 1.

Ongoing projects

Greenlawn Boulevard widening
Project: The city of Round Rock is reconstructing Greenlawn Boulevard from an existing four-lane divided roadway to a six-lane divided urban roadway with pedestrian and lighting improvements.
Update: Per city officials, the traffic pattern was adjusted in March, reducing a portion of Greenlawn Boulevard to one lane in each direction.

• Timeline: completion is expected by April 2027

• Cost: $13.95 million

• Funding source: type B sales tax revenue

Paramount Theatre will temporarily close beginning mid-June for its first major renovation in over half a century, according to a news release.

Dig deeper: The restoration is expected to take 8-9 months and is supported by the Shine On capital campaign.

Keep in mind: The theatre hosts the annual Summer Classic Film Series, showing an array of movies and double features throughout the season. 

In 2026, the series will start at Paramount Theatre on May 22 and relocate to other Austin venues after the temporary closure starts. 

• 713 N. Congress Ave., Austin