The city of Frisco is seeking state incentives as plans advance to create a mixed-use development around Toyota Stadium, a project that will feature restaurants, a hotel and convention center.

What to know: The Frisco City Council approved a new financial agreement with the project’s hotel developer outlining up to $5 million in city hotel tax grants over 10 years and a waiver of half of the project’s development costs.

With the approval of the financial agreement, the developer can now pursue state tax incentives and receive up to $5 million in city hotel occupancy tax grants over 10 years, along with a 50% development fee waiver for the mixed-use development.

“FC Dallas and the Hunt family are terrific partners,” Frisco Mayor Mark Hill said. “This is another example of a strategic partnership that sets Frisco apart from others and will continue to enhance our city for decades to come.”

Vaaraahi - Biryanis & Beyond opened its flagship location in Frisco on Oct. 16.

What to know: The restaurant serves Indian cuisine, including Hyderabadi-style biryanis, curries, tandoori kebabs, South Indian specialties and Indo-Chinese dishes, along with desserts and drinks.

• 2550 Preston Road, Frisco

Sol’s Cup opened its flagship cafe in Frisco’s Rail District.

What to know: Founded by Soleil Nguyen, Sol’s Cup features a variety of coffee and matcha drinks, lemonade, milk tea and seasonal specialty drinks like the Avocado Bliss, along with baked goods and small bites.

• 7511 Main St., Ste 190, Frisco

The University of North Texas will open its brand-new science and technology building in the spring after breaking ground in August 2024. Officials hosted a tour of the nearly complete facility Oct 9.

The collaborative space and research facility is for UNT’s growing biomedical engineering, life sciences, chemistry, kinesiology, psychology and data science research footprints on its Denton campus, according to the university website.

Two-minute impact: The four-story, 110,000-square-foot building is located at the southwest corner of West Mulberry Street and Avenue C in Denton.

The project was funded by $103.4 million in tuition revenue bonds authorized by the 87th Texas Legislature in 2021, according to UNT’s website.

Looking ahead: The official spring opening date for the research building has not been announced yet, said Amanda Lyons, assistant director of media relations at UNT.

She added that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will occur in early 2027.

Texas environmental regulators have continued processing certain data center permits in the month since Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a permitting pause, according to a new report from FracTracker, an oil and gas watchdog group.

The details: Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality last month to "halt all permits sought by data centers" while the Electric Reliability Council of Texas audits proposed projects.

Yet as of Oct. 16, the TCEQ had moved at least 35 data center-related applications forward, per an analysis of TCEQ records.

Zooming in: The agency has issued public notices for three data center projects since Abbott ordered the pause Sept. 21. It also approved stormwater coverage, certified air emissions limits or assigned engineers to other projects.

"No permits have been approved," Andrew Mahaleris, the governor's press secretary, said Oct. 20. "In line with the governor’s directive, TCEQ has not taken and will not take any proactive actions related to the approval of data center permits."

"These actions do not signal an agency trying to pause," FracTracker said in the report.