ATX-LTW: Impact 10/23/2025

A new six-story development known as The Creek at Hurst Harbor, which features 146 condo units, restaurant and retail space, may be coming soon to Lakeway.

The details: A future land use map, or FLUM, amendment was put forward by developers of The Creek at Hurst Harbor to change the development’s designation from commercial and residential to “mixed-use.” It was approved unanimously by Lakeway City Council on Oct. 20.

A zoning change updated the development’s Marina and Single-Family Residential—Rural designation to planned unit development. The change was approved in a 6-1 vote, with council member Kelly Brynteson voting against.

Some context: The development, located at 16405 Clara Van St., was put forward by developer and Lakeway resident Rip Miller and his wife, who purchased the marina in February 2022. Miller said that the condominium development would benefit Lakeway by improving the existing property, and improving the view from Lakeway City Park.

At the Oct. 20 meeting, over 20 individuals in attendance spoke against the approval.

Eanes ISD officials are considering multiple cost-saving strategies as the district continues to project budget shortfalls amidst a growing list of expenditures outpacing its funding. 

Some context: EISD adopted its 2025-26 budget in June with a $7.1 million shortfall, which was lowered to $3.7 million in September due to additional state funding. 

EISD's revenue sources include property taxes, state aid, investments and School Health and Related Services, or SHARS, funding.

However, EISD's expenditures—which includes payroll, the district's biggest expense—are outpacing its revenues, largely due to inflation. 

The options: In order to balance the 2026-27 budget with an additional $5 million-$6 million, measures need to be taken to rebuild EISD's fund balance. Options include: 

• A voter-approval tax rate election
• Optimizing staffing formulas and structures
• Reducing or eliminate district programs and services
• Freezing salaries
• Finding other revenue-generating opportunities, such as increasing facility rental rates and admitting more transfer students

Local advocates and city leaders promoted the launch of Amplify Home, a new initiative to support Austin's thousands of homeless children and families this fall.

The details: The I Live Here I Give Here campaign marked Oct. 21 as a day of action against family homelessness with local events, volunteer opportunities and a fundraising push. Officials said renewed focus on the issue is needed given that, within Austin ISD alone, an estimated 2,500 children across more than 1,100 families are currently growing up without a home.

"It is a humanitarian crisis when we have that many children not being able to be children because they’re living unhoused," Mayor Kirk Watson said.

More information about the campaign is available online.

Nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes is marking the 10th anniversary of its landmark Community First! Village, the master-planned community for residents exiting homelessness that's now expanding in Northeast and Southeast Austin.

The Northeast Austin village includes scores of tiny homes alongside shared features like community centers, a clinic, kitchens, gardens and parks, an amphitheater and a chapel. MLF is now marking the opening of another property covering 51 acres across the street from the existing site. The expansion houses the nonprofit's new headquarters and room to grow to 600 total microhomes as funding comes in.

During the community's 10th anniversary summit event in October, MLF representatives highlighted the lower cost of housing and caring for residents there versus other public homelessness programs. They also said Community First! residents have higher life expectancies, and reduced alcohol and drug consumption.

The ongoing expansion comes as a new Community First! property is also being developed in Southeast Austin, alongside a low-income housing complex from nonprofit Foundation Communities.