ATX-NCA: Impact 11/4/2025

New grocery store The Halfway Market opened alongside Austin coffee shop Barley Bean in late October.

The joint market and cafe is the latest concept by Barley Bean co-founder and CEO Mohit Mehra, who is an Austin resident. The coffee company has another location off South Lamar Boulevard.

A closer look: Barley Bean is a specialty, boutique coffee house, bakery and roastery, serving coffee, tea and espresso beverages. Additionally, the cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, including pizza and paninis.

The Halfway Market sells essential groceries and convenience items, fresh food, and craft beer.

Something to note: The new business is located near The University of Texas at Austin next to Posse East and Taco Joint.

• 2805 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin

Building height limits for high-rise projects downtown are now in place as Austin responds to a new state law meant to spur housing development across Texas.

The update caps most buildings in the city core at 350 feet, unless new towers participate agree to provide public benefits like streetscape improvements and fee payments for affordable housing. The changes approved in October are expected to be temporary ahead of wider revisions to city development policies and Austin's long-range plans for the downtown area.

While moving forward with a 350-foot limit in response to SB 840 this fall, city planners report the change could hurt Austin's affordable housing efforts due to declining participation in the density bonus program. However, taller projects may not be on the horizon for now given wider economic conditions.

The city's new height cap was also questioned in public reviews ahead of council's October vote, with some community members stating the change could constrain new construction and hamper city goals.

Approximately 460,000 Texans have Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Advocates are encouraging Texas voters to approve State Proposition 14, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state to spend $3 billion to launch the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

The overview: Proposition 14 would allocate $3 billion in state dollars to fund the institute for the next 10 years. The institute would work with researchers and doctors to study the prevention and treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

All funding for the institute would come from existing state revenue, donations and potential federal grants, meaning no new state taxes or fees would be created.

What they're saying: "If Proposition 14 passes, it really will establish Texas as an incredible leader in our country," neurological researcher Joshua Shulman said.

Election Day is Nov. 4. Polling places across Texas will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., according to the secretary of state’s office.

The overview: Voters in the following counties can vote at any polling place within their county of residence through the countywide voting program: Bastrop, Bexar, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Fort Bend, Galveston, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson. Registered voters in other counties are required to visit a polling place specific to their voting precinct.

On the ballot: Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution during the Nov. 4 election. Each proposition was approved by at least two-thirds of state lawmakers this spring before being placed on the ballot.

Voters in various communities across the state may also see local propositions and races on their ballots, including a 20% tax rate increase in Austin, a congressional race in Harris County and a state Senate race in Tarrant County.

Learn more: To get to know the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.