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City Council OK's $4.38M property purchase for new Austin homeless services center off I-35

A property off I-35 is expected to serve as a new city homeless navigation center after council members approved the site's acquisition, despite objections of some South Austin residents.

The details: The Sunrise center has drawn criticism given its location near an elementary school and park, and due to frequent public safety and nuisance complaints around the property. Attorney General Ken Paxton also sued to shut the facility down last year; legal proceedings are ongoing this fall with a hearing next scheduled for Nov. 6.

For months, Austin officials have been planning for a relocated navigation center under greater city oversight. The Homeless Strategy Office, now called Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations, announced a property at 2401 S. I-35, Austin as a potential option for the new facility in early September.

City Council voted in favor of the $4.38 million property purchase Oct. 9. The new navigation facility could open as soon as next spring.

 
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Family Care Center to bring mental health services to South Austin

National health business Family Care Center is launching a center in South Austin in early 2026.

What to know: The center offers outpatient mental health services which include therapy, psychiatric services, transcranial magnetic stimulation, mental health intensive outpatient programs and educational testing.

Interested individuals can be seen for a range of conditions from depression and personality disorders to anger management and grief and loss.

Some context: The mental health company operates 40 locations across Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee and Texas. Its Texas locations are currently in Cedar Park, Austin, Georgetown, Pflugerville and Round Rock.

  • 8701 Menchaca Road, Ste. 102, Austin
 
In Your Community
$4.89M construction contract approved for Stephenson Building renovations

The historic Stephenson Building off Old Fitzhugh Road will soon undergo renovations and improvements.

The gist: Dripping Springs City Council approved a construction contract at an Oct. 7 meeting. The renovated building will be used for community meetings, performances and will contain some civic offices.

According to the city’s website, the work will include:

  • Removal of hazardous materials
  • Roof replacement
  • Window restoration/replacement
  • Ceiling and wood floor restoration
  • Installation of acoustical ceiling
  • Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility
  • A new parking lot

The larger lot will have more parking capacity for the downtown area, as well as the space to host community events and markets.

By the numbers: The net contract of $4,447,200 was awarded to QA Construction. With the addition of a 10% contingency, the total contract was approved for $4.89 million.

Funding sources include:
  • 2025 debt issuance funds: $4,695,163
  • Landscape funds: $200,000
  • Total = $4,895,163
 
Can't-Miss Coverage
Base Power launches first Texas factory with $1B funding

Battery-powered home energy service Base Power has acquired funds to expand its operations with a Texas factory in the heart of Austin.

What to know: The company has raised $1 billion alongside 20 investors which will help build its first Texas factory in the space previously occupied by the Austin-American Statesman printing press in downtown Austin.

"Base Power is an Austin-born company, and we're excited about deepening our investment in the city with the goal of bringing affordable, reliable power to Texans," Co-founder and CEO Zach Dell said.

The energy storage and power electronics factory will help meet the company’s current and future demands with its plans to expand services nationwide.

“We’re building domestic manufacturing capacity for fixing the grid,” COO and co-founder Justin Lopas said. “The only way to add capacity to the grid is physically deploying hardware, and we need to make that here in the U.S., ourselves.

  • 305 S. Congress Ave., Austin
 

FOODIE FRIDAY
Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Austin area.

Himalayan Flavor, a new restaurant serving Nepalese and Indian dishes in Pflugerville, recently opened.


The restaurant’s entrees include butter chicken, tikka masala, curry, biryani, chow mein, fried rice, chicken and tandoori and more. For appetizers, customers will find chicken lollipops, vegetable pakora, chili wings and pani puri. The eatery also serves naan, rice pudding, mango ice cream and rasmalai.


Read now.

 

🎉 Emmer & Rye celebrates one decade of cuisine on Rainey Street
(Read more)

🥪 Bastrop to welcome first Firehouse Subs
(Read more)

🍨 Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt now offering sweet treats in Kyle
(Read more)

🌮 Blue Agave Tex Mex restaurant and bar coming to far Northwest Austin this month
(Read more)

 

The duo behind Veracruz All Natural and Veracruz Fonda & Bar has launched its first mezcalería, La Mezca. Located next to Veracruz Fonda & Bar in Mueller, the business honors small-batch agave spirits and the generations of mezcaleros who create them.


Diners will be able to try more than 20 artisanal mezcals and ancestral agave spirits from family producers in Oaxaca, Guerrero, Durango and San Luis Potosí.


“It’s a celebration of the people, places and time-honored methods that make mezcal what it is,” Reyna Vasquez said. “From small-batch mezcals to rare agave distillates, we want every guest to leave with a deeper appreciation for the culture, complexity and beauty of agave.”


Read now.

Your local team

Elle Bent
Editor

Judy LeBas
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

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