The city of San Marcos is preparing to further restore the Dunbar neighborhood and celebrate the community’s history. Phase 2 of the historic Dunbar School Home Economics Building’s restoration has been completed.

The overview: The building’s rededication ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. May 12 at 801 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, San Marcos. Community members may park at the Dunbar Recreation Center. The Home Economics Building is the last remaining building from the former Dunbar School campus, according to a San Marcos news release.

The building stands as a reminder of the area’s history and the community members who shaped the Dunbar neighborhood. Its preservation ensures the building will withstand the test of time.

The project’s second phase began in September and consisted of replacing the existing metal roof and the missing or severely deteriorated wood siding, according to the news release. 

Looking back: The building was relocated around 1930 to serve San Marcos’ African American community and later joined the Dunbar School.

The City Councils of San Marcos, Buda and Kyle have held major votes recently, further shaping the cities' futures. From increasing data center restrictions to updating master plans, check out three recent government stories across Hays County.

1. San Marcos council advances increased data center restrictions

The San Marcos City Council is in the process of updating its Land Development Code and Design Manual, in part to address new types of development. The council voted to increase restrictions on the development of data centers at an April 21 meeting.

2. Buda updates transportation master plan

The city of Buda’s Transportation Mobility Master Plan, or TMMP, details active transportation projects throughout the community and guides the development of future projects. The City Council approved an update to the plan on April 7.

3. Kyle allows permits company’s Foreign Trade Zone application

An advanced materials manufacturer serving the semiconductor industry in Kyle could see significant annual tariff savings after a City Council vote April 7.

Check out the latest Austin metro transportation updates. 

Ongoing projects
Oak Hill Parkway
Project: The Texas Department of Transportation is currently reconstructing 7 miles of Hwy. 290 in Oak Hill, transforming the existing four-lane, undivided roadway to a six-lane divided highway with new frontage roads and 14 miles of shared-use paths.
Update: As early as mid-May, the Hwy. 290 and SH 71 flyovers will open. The Convict Hill cross-street bridge opened in April.

• Timeline: 2022-26

• Cost: $677 million

• Funding source: TxDOT

Completed projects
Gattis School Road Segment 3
Project: The city of Round Rock is expanding Gattis School Road—from A.W. Grimes Boulevard to Double Creek Drive—into a six-lane divided roadway, and adding pedestrian improvements, bicycle enhancements and right- and left-turn bays with new traffic signals to A.W. Grimes and Double Creek.
Update: Construction on segment 3 of the road was completed in May. Construction on segment 6 is still ongoing and expected to be complete by late 2027.

• Timeline: 2024-27

• Cost: $26 million (segment 3)

• Funding source: type B sales tax revenue (segment 3)

On May 26, Democratic voters will choose their nominee for Texas lieutenant governor in a runoff election between state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, and union leader Marcos Vélez.

The big picture: The Democratic race for lieutenant governor is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Goodwin and Vélez were the two highest-performing candidates in the three-person primary race, with Goodwin collecting 48% of the vote and Vélez receiving 31%. The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face incumbent Dan Patrick and potential third-party candidates in the November midterm election.

Some context: The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22, and runoff election day is May 26.