ATX-SWA: Impact 10/30/2025

After 10 years of planning, Dripping Springs city officials broke ground on the Stephenson Building on Oct. 23.

The gist: The Stephenson Building is undergoing renovations to become a community performance center, as well as house some community offices. The building will be extended, and the parking lot will be more than doubled to accommodate the downtown area.

“It's going to give our community and visitors a place where we can localize and centralize,”  Mayor Bill Foulds said at the groundbreaking Oct. 23.

Construction will cost $4.89 million, as approved by City Council on Oct. 7, and will be completed by QA Construction in about a year.

“We are truly honored just to be a part of this project that has a lot of historical significance here to the city of Dripping Springs,” QA Construction’s Shay Traweek said Oct. 23.

The background: The Stephenson Building was built in 1939 and operated as a high school until 1949. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. 

311 Old Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs

Spero Rehab is offering outpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy in Dripping Springs.

What they offer: The team focuses on neurological rehabilitation, post-amputation prosthetic gait training and hands-on manual therapy in order to treat orthopedic and neurological conditions.

Meet the owner: Spero Rehab is owned by local Katie Bouchillon. The Dripping Springs clinic will be the seventh location in Central Texas.

The Texas Department of Transportation will begin one of Austin’s largest underground construction projects in 2026—boring 6.5 miles of 22-foot-wide tunnels beneath I-35 to reduce flooding along the corridor.

Explained: As part of the I-35 Central project, the tunnels—large enough to fit a CapMetro bus—will stretch from 45th Street to Cesar Chavez Street before turning east toward U.S. 183 near Lady Bird Lake. Work will begin with excavation of nine drop shafts up to 200 feet deep, with the first tunnel boring machine starting near Airport Boulevard in 2026.

The $748 million project, led by contractor Sak & Shea, also includes a new pump station capable of treating 130,000 gallons of stormwater per minute. TxDOT says the system will improve water quality, lower the floodplain by roughly 350 acres and ease pressure on the Waller Creek tunnel.

Looking ahead: Construction will run around the clock through 2029. Nearby residents can expect some vibration and dust, though TxDOT plans to monitor and mitigate both throughout the project.

Florida-based market Southern Steer Butcher opened its second Austin-area location in October. 

What to know: Owned by Jonathan Candee, the business sells a range of proteins and offers advice on seasoning, cooking and pairing. The butcher shop has operated a location in Lakeway since June 2024 which can be found at 2300 Lohmans Spur Road, Lakeway.

In an email exchange, Candee stated the shop is bringing back the personalized experience that came with street corner butcher shops.

“At Southern Steer Butcher, we remember those days and we’re bringing them back to today’s consumer,” Candee stated. “Here, you’re not just a ‘consumer,’ you’re our guest–no, more than that–you’re family. You’re our neighbors, and we’re a part of the neighborhood.”

Customers can find beef, chicken, pork, sides and appetizers. The business also operates a dry ager in which customers can enroll as a member in the Dry Aging Program to reserve a space in the dry ager with a custom name plate.

8701 W. Hwy. 71, Ste. 100, Austin

The overview: As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, has relaunched as the InCIder.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

Event details: As part of the relaunch, Community Impact will host its first-ever InCIder Hour, a new event aimed at celebrating and engaging the company’s supporters.

The event, open to InCIders only, will take place Nov. 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Community Impact Headquarters, 16225 Impact Way, Pflugerville.

Guests will have the opportunity to network with fellow InCIders, meet Community Impact staff and attend a featured conversation with legislative reporter Hannah Norton, moderated by Garrett.

“Our first event needed to start where all the hard work is put together,” Garrett said. “People are blown away when they see our operation. To be able to sit and chat with the best legislative reporter in Texas, Hannah Norton, makes it an event our InCIder friends deserve and hopefully will enjoy.”