Officials are preparing to allow a wider range of mixed-use development and encourage more varied housing types across Austin.

The breakdown: Single- and multifamily housing in Austin has traditionally been separated from retail, office and other commercial uses. And for years, either single-family homes or large apartment complexes have made up the majority of new residential construction in the city.

City planners and some officials point to missing middle housing types, defined in the three-to-16-unit range, as options that add choices for residents beyond buying a costlier home or living in a large rental complex. City Council is now moving to create new zoning categories that'd support different kinds of missing middle construction in neighborhoods, and various larger mixed-use projects with commercial space.

That initiative is moving ahead as city officials also consider various ways to bring smaller-scale businesses into neighborhoods.

Check out some ongoing and completed transportation projects in the Central Austin area.

Wishbone Bridge and Unity Underpass

Project: The new pedestrian and bicycle bridge runs over Lady Bird Lake, connecting the Ann and Roy Butler Trail at Mt. Holly Peninsula, Canterbury Park and Longhorn Shores. The new underpass links Longhorn Shores to Krieg Fields and the Roy G. Guerrero Trail, featuring a 5,000-square-foot mosaic mural.

Update: Bridge and underpass opened Feb. 7

Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative

Project: The project will redesign Congress Avenue to expand sidewalks, add pedestrian amenity zones, upgrade bikeway barriers and add turn lanes for vehicle traffic. Construction began along the south side of Congress Avenue at the Cesar Chavez intersection and will proceed north until reaching Seventh Street, with each block taking three months to complete.

Update: Construction began Jan. 30. Short-term detours and lane closures are in place.

Preservation Austin held a grand opening ceremony on March 10 to commemorate a new headquarters at the corner of Red River Street and 38th ½ Street, “offering a true home for preservation in the community,” a news release from the Austin-based historic nonprofit states.

The celebration: Members, donors and elected officials visited the historic landmark to celebrate Preservation Austin’s newly-declared headquarters. Among the attendees were U.S. congressman Lloyd Doggett and Austin city council member Zo Qadri, who spoke at the event. 

Dig deeper: Preservation Austin has been rehabilitating the 1947 Streamline Moderne home for years now, according to the news release. Preservation Austin became involved with the property in 2014 in an attempt to save it from demolition. 

• 3805 Red River St., Austin

From a mixed-use project to a Target and more, here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Bell District Block B in Cedar Park: Boston-based General Investment and Development is building a 194-unit mixed-use project that will feature an outdoor pool courtyard.

2. Pathways at Santa Rita Courts East in Austin: The Housing Authority of the city of Austin will construct a four-story, multi-family building that totals 77 units and renovate 11 historic single-story buildings into 27 units.

3. Target in Dripping Springs: The Village at Dripping Springs will feature the area's first Target, totaling about 147,000 square feet.

4. Cigna Healthcare in Austin: The insurance provider will add a 40,100-square-foot office to its portfolio.

5. San Marcos Self Storage in San Marcos: Seven one-story self-storage buildings, totaling approximately 83,085 square feet, will be added.

• Open fires, such as brush burning and bonfires
• Outdoor burning of trash, leaves or debris
• Campfires and fire pits in nondesignated areas