230 homes sold across Georgetown's 3 area ZIP codes in July
This July, 230 homes sold across Georgetown's three area ZIP codes, according to recently released data from the Austin Board of Realtors and Unlock MLS.
Diving in deeper: While this is the same number of homes that sold in July 2024, the distribution of homes sold across each ZIP code varied.
ZIP code 78626 saw nine more homes sold year over year, while ZIP code 78628 and 78633 saw two and seven home declines, respectively.
The majority of all homes sold—137 of them across all three ZIP codes—sold for between $300,000-$499,999. However, homes sold at each of the following price points.
Downtown Georgetown gains new restaurants, plus other business updates around the square
The Georgetown square area is bustling, with two recently-opened restaurants and another on the way.
The Thirsty Longhorn The sports tavern will serve stadium-style food and have a full bar, owner Chris De Hoyos said. The new business will take over a space previously occupied by The Palomino.
Opened Aug. 22
305 E. Morrow St., Georgetown
Juniper Cocktails & Kitchen Owner Andrew Newport said menu highlights include a prime tenderloin with Robuchon potatoes and the Juniper old fashioned cocktail.
Opened July 29
200 W. Sixth St., Ste. 100, Georgetown
Sorn Thai Kitchen by Seeda The authentic Thai eatery will use spices from Thailand in its family recipe offerings. Menu items include New York steak served with basil fried rice, and squid-ink pad thai.
Georgetown to use eminent domain to complete Williams Drive intersection improvements
After attempting to purchase land rights from a Walgreens located at the corner of Williams Drive and Bootys Crossing, the city of Georgetown approved using eminent domain to improve the intersection of Williams Drive and Bootys Crossing.
The history: Walgreens is the current tenant of 3204 Williams Drive, and the owner of land needed for a project to improve the intersection.
The city made an offer to Walgreens to purchase the right-of-way, or the legal right to use a portion of the road, on March 25, 2025. Without receiving a response, the city reached out again about a month ago.
The update: Georgetown City Council approved the use of eminent domain at its meeting Aug. 12 with a 6-1 vote. District 7 council member Ben Stewart voted against.
About the project: Improvements to the intersection of Williams Drive and Bootys Crossing are a part of a larger project to enhance intersections in the city. The city is also undertaking a separate project that targets a portion of Williams Drive, improving safety and traffic operations.
Connxus joins national network coordinating health care for Central Texans across state lines
Central Texas residents may now have a more streamlined experience when receiving health care outside of the state.
Connxus, a Central Texas health care nonprofit, joined a national network of health information exchanges known as the Patient Centered Data Home in June. The platform helps Central Texas patients receive care and exchange their health information with medical providers across the country.
How it works: If a Central Texas resident requires medical attention when they are in another state, Connxus can collaborate with other health information exchanges to alert their home provider. The network can then share a patient's medical records with an out-of-state provider and ensure the patient receives follow-up care back home.
What they're saying:“We are able to better care for the Central Texas residents, because we know what is taking place in their medical history across the state lines,” Connxus CEO Eliel Oliveira said.
Amid Democratic criticism, Texas lawmakers vote to overhaul STAAR and launch new tests in 2027
Both chambers of the Texas Legislature have voted to overhaul the state’s standardized testing system, putting public school students one step closer to taking new exams in the 2027-28 school year.
The details: House Bill 8 would eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and replace it with three shorter tests, which students would take at the beginning, middle and end of each school year.
Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said HB 8 would “reduce test anxiety, provide teachers with immediate feedback and create a pathway for trust in our system again." The majority of House Democrats and a few Republicans disagreed, arguing Aug. 26 that the bill would increase the amount of time students spend on exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the Texas Education Agency.
Next steps: After state senators passed HB 8 with a 21-7 vote Aug. 27, the bill returned to the House for consideration of a Senate amendment. If House lawmakers sign off on the changes, HB 8 will be sent to the governor.
