Delightful Development purchased the Williamson County historic jail site Feb. 10, following approval from county commissioners.

The details: Delightful Development co-founder Craig Cavallier told county commissioners the team doesn’t have a specific plan for the site yet but expects to incorporate a restaurant and hotel in a mixed-use development. The design will include the historic jail building, Cavallier said.

The developer will work with the city of Georgetown to develop the site following the sale, County Judge Steve Snell said.

Some context: In November 2024, Williamson County began deconstructing the nonhistoric additions near the jail site at 102 W. Third St., and stripping the jail interior in order to repurpose the site and sell it.

Georgetown City Council approved a rezoning request from the county Jan. 27, allowing for the following uses:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Single-family residential
• Parking lots
• Personal services
• Banking or financial services

The city of Georgetown is closer to finalizing the sale of the majority of its water service territory following a $60 million agreement with National Utility Infrastructure on Feb. 10.

Voters will need to approve the sale in a May election before the agreement can be finalized.

The details: National Utility Infrastructure plans to buy the majority of the certificate of convenience and necessity, or CCN, which is the geographical area in which an organization is required to provide water service.

The sale includes portions of Georgetown's CCN within Salado, Florence and Liberty Hill. The cities of Killeen and Jarrell are moving forward with purchasing their water territories, respectively.

Why now: By selling the water territory outside of city limits and the ETJ, the city can reduce risk from outside development, decrease the burden on Georgetown taxpayers, and better account for growing water demand, Stewart said at an Aug. 26 meeting.

Here are 10 events to celebrate love in the Austin area, including markets, a palm reading workshop, a 5K and more. 

Love in the Hands workshop
Sister Palm will host a palm reading event at Carpenter Hotel. Attendees can learn the fundamentals of traditional hand reading and take home an informational zine and themed beverage.

• Feb. 13, 5-6 p.m.
• $60
• 400 Josephine St., Austin

• Feb. 13, 6 p.m. (market starts), 7-10 p.m. (live music)
• Free
• 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Ste. 160, Leander

• Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m. (fun run), 9 a.m. (5K)
• $10 (fun run), $30 (5K)
• 445 E. Morrow St., Georgetown

Starting Feb. 16, the northbound I-35 frontage road at Riverside Drive will be closed through 2029 to accommodate construction of a pedestrian bridge across Lady Bird Lake. The project is part of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project's Lady Bird Lake segment. 

The update: According to Texas Department of Transportation officials, a Riverside Drive bypass lane is now open and a temporary south-to-north U-turn at Woodland Avenue will be opened in order to accommodate the closure. Northbound frontage road traffic across Lady Bird Lake bridge will be reduced to one lane, and the existing pedestrian path and north sidewalk on Riverside Drive will be closed. This traffic pattern is expected to remain in place through 2029. 

Some context: The I-35 Capital Express Central Project is a $4.5 billion project slated to bring two nontolled high-occupancy vehicle lanes between Hwy. 290 and Hwy. 71, remove upper decks along I-35, sink sections of the roadway by about 25 feet and widen the corridor with more lanes. 

Texans will see candidates for 18 statewide positions on the March primary ballot, including one state railroad commissioner, the state land commissioner and the state agriculture commissioner.

The overview: Despite its name, the Railroad Commission of Texas does not govern the state’s railroads. So what do railroad commissioners and the leaders of other Texas agencies do?

Community Impact compiled information about various state agencies to help inform Texans before they head to the polls for the March primary elections.

At the polls: Early voting runs from Feb. 17-27, and primary election day is March 3.