The Pease Park Conservancy is expanding its operations and maintenance responsibilities to cover the entire 84-acre Pease District Park, Austin's oldest public green space.

What happened: Following a unanimous recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board, the Austin City Council approved the updated agreement Nov. 5.

Under the new phase plan, the conservancy takes over lead responsibilities from the city parks department, including:

• Facilities maintenance

• Programming, concessions and volunteering coordination

• Trash and other waste collection

• Graffiti abatement

• Expanded public engagement related to the park

The nonprofit will also lead proposed park improvements, starting with a comprehensive signage plan running into 2027.

The agreement is expected to save the city money and offset staff workload, and includes no city dollars for upcoming expenses that'll be covered through private funding.

Dia’s Market, a specialty grocery store and deli on Justin Lane, will close at the end of November, according to an Instagram post from the business.

What’s happening: Owner David Hopper wrote in the post that customer traffic continues to slow and the commercial and residential development he expected around the store never came.

“Renewing our lease unfortunately just doesn’t make economic sense,” Hopper wrote.

The backstory: Hopper and his wife, Amanda, moved to Austin in 2007 and signed a lease at 812 Justin Lane in 2014, according to the post. Hopper led the build-out of the space. The name was his mother’s idea, Hopper wrote. It nods to the couple’s three children, Dylan, Isobel and Alexander, and to “día,” the Spanish word for “day,” because the market would be open all day, every day.

Kalimotxo, a Spanish tapas bar on East Sixth Street, will close Nov. 9, when Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group stops managing the restaurant inside the Arrive Austin hotel, according to a statement from the group shared by a spokesperson.

What’s happening: Emmer & Rye will also stop managing Lefty’s Day and Night, the hotel’s other restaurant, on Nov. 9. Lefty’s will stay open with its regular hours and programming, according to the statement.

Arrive Austin will open a hotel lobby bar in the Kalimotxo space starting Nov. 9, according to the statement.

The backstory: Kalimotxo reopened inside Arrive Austin in October 2024, as previously reported by Community Impact. The 113-seat restaurant served Basque-style pintxos inspired by the bars of San Sebastián, along with larger plates such as the Kali Burger and Texas wagyu sirloin, Rand Egbert, Emmer & Rye partner and creative director, told Community Impact in July.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Ongoing projects

Kohlers Crossing water line project

Project: Crews will install a 24-inch water transmission line in Kyle from the FM 1626 tanks on the north side of the bridge over the train tracks to the water well at the corner of Benner Road and Kohlers Crossing.

Update: The right lane of westbound traffic on Kohlers Crossing between FM 1626 and Benner Road was closed on Sept. 21. The lane closure is expected to last through December.

• Timeline: August 2026-April 2027

• Cost: $6.4 million-$7 million

• Funding source: 2025 Certificates of Obligation Bonds

Completed projects

Wyoming Springs Drive extension

Project: The project includes construction of a four-lane divided roadway in Round Rock with shared-use paths, extending over Brushy Creek from Creek Bend Boulevard to Old Settlers Boulevard.

Update: The roadway opened to traffic Oct. 22.

• Timeline: November 2024-October 2026

• Cost: $29.7 million

• Funding sources: city of Round Rock, Williamson County

Democrats saw decisive wins up and down the ballot in Texas and across the nation in the Nov. 3 election, flipping the Lone Star State to Democratic control for the first time in a generation.

The big picture: Texas has had a Republican governor, state Senate and state House since 2003. Next year, the state will be led by a Democratic governor, with a Democratic lieutenant governor presiding over the Senate and House lawmakers likely electing a Democrat to lead the chamber—however, the senators themselves will remain majority-Republican.

More details: How much power Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin will have over the Texas Senate is largely up to senators, who will approve the chamber's new rules when the legislature convenes in January.

Sam Hooper, a legislative attorney and consultant, said he was "hopeful" that the election results would lead to "a more collegial Senate" and cooperation among lawmakers of both political parties.

The majority-Republican Senate and majority-Democrat House will have to find a balance, as bills cannot become law without approval from both chambers.