The San Marcos CISD Board of Trustees is considering a partnership with Upward Communities to potentially develop an affordable housing community designed for district staff.

Jason Roberts, Upward Communities founder and CEO, presented the results of a survey given to SMCISD staff members to the board on Oct. 19. The survey provides insight into district staff’s interest in an affordable housing community.

The overview: Over half of the staff members employed at SMCISD responded to the survey: 689 employees, or 55%. Of the 295 employees who currently rent, 275 said yes or maybe to wanting district-supported housing.

Teachers made up 359, or 52.1%, of the total survey responses. Central office, operations and 12 campuses were represented, with respondents to the survey across 18 unique job titles, according to Upward Communities.

The details: The SMCISD Board of Trustees voted to table any decision-making on whether the district would move forward with the Upward Communities affordable housing community project on Oct. 19.

The structure that previously served as a Hooters on I-35 in San Marcos will soon be turned into a combined dining spot, bringing together two well-known restaurant brands.

The gist: A dual-branded IHOP and Applebee’s restaurant will take over the restaurant space located at 310 S. I-35 frontage road, San Marcos, according to the filing.

Renovations to the 6,012-square-foot structure are expected to begin Nov. 2 and be completed Jan. 11, 2027.

The Hooters officially closed on June 4, 2025, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

The details: Dine Brands brought the two restaurants together and will offer both unique dining experiences under the same roof, according to the business's website. Customers will have the ability to order items from either menu.

• Opening TBD

• 310 S. I-35 frontage road, San Marcos

An advanced manufacturing facility in Austin, an elementary school in Leander and a LongHorn Steakhouse in Hutto are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Project Toaster ($100 million): This project involves civil site development and construction of a core-and-shell building for Project Toaster, an advanced manufacturing facility.

2. Project Phantom ($60 million): This project involves the construction of a 285,000-square-foot warehouse with associated site improvements and parking.

3. Elementary School No. 31 ($56 million): Leander ISD plans to open its new elementary school in August 2028.

4. LongHorn Steakhouse ($3.8 million): A new LongHorn Steakhouse location is coming to Hutto, with construction set to wrap up in August.

5. CARTS Bastrop Park & Ride Expansion ($1.5 million): This project involves a parking lot expansion, EV charging stations, a bike-share pod, landscaping and miscellaneous site improvements for the existing bus station.

Texas environmental regulators have continued processing certain data center permits in the month since Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a permitting pause, according to a new report from FracTracker, an oil and gas watchdog group.

The details: Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality last month to "halt all permits sought by data centers" while the Electric Reliability Council of Texas audits proposed projects.

Yet as of Oct. 16, the TCEQ had moved at least 35 data center-related applications forward, per an analysis of TCEQ records.

Zooming in: The agency has issued public notices for three data center projects since Abbott ordered the pause Sept. 21. It also approved stormwater coverage, certified air emissions limits or assigned engineers to other projects.

"No permits have been approved," Andrew Mahaleris, the governor's press secretary, said Oct. 20. "In line with the governor’s directive, TCEQ has not taken and will not take any proactive actions related to the approval of data center permits."

"These actions do not signal an agency trying to pause," FracTracker said in the report.