Land is scarce within the Eanes ISD, but The Overlook at Westlake has launched a new development in Lost Creek that will offer residents single-family homes ranging from 3,300 to 5,000 square feet.

The details: MileStone Community Builders is currently building the model home at 1300 Lost Creek Blvd., and homeowners could start moving in by late 2026, according to sales executive Lily Otis. There are 48 home sites and eight have already been sold within the former Marshall Ranch parcel. Lot sizes range from 0.25 to 0.75 acres.

MileStone has adopted an all-inclusive pricing model, and all homes can include a pool or enhanced landscaping. Prices range from $2.85 million to $5 million.

“It’s going to be a high-end, luxury type of product,” Otis said.

The builders have already completed their road bases and expect to pave neighborhood streets in January. The gated community is located in the city of Austin and will utilize city services. 

Based in the West Austin area, Memory Caregiver Academy of Austin has spent four years training local high school students how to care for people with dementia. With an average of 30 students a year, the nonprofit has offered services across various campuses in the Austin area and nearby cities.

The impact: Throughout the training, students are shown videos created by Wilder and her team. The videos express tips on how to be empathetic and patient with people experiencing memory loss including simplifying daily routines. After students watch the two video series, an instructor visits the class to work with the students before the class begins taking trips to nearby memory care facilities.

Get involved: The nonprofit also operates a mentoring program where individuals with experience caring for people with memory loss can guide students through resume building, figure out additional training and more.

Community members can also find volunteer opportunities at the organization’s events. Volunteer activities may include setting up, handing out supplies, cleaning and more.

Here are the top Community Impact stories in the Austin area from Dec. 22-25.

1. Tunnels complete for Lake Travis deep-water intake project

2. Check out these 9 Austin-area restaurants open on Christmas Day

3. Check out these new and coming soon Georgetown-area businesses

4. Billboard on Bee Caves Road set for January court case

5. Cinemark Stone Hill Town Center upgrade coming soon

6. Austin sees 46% drop in pedestrian crashes after left-turn safety pilot

City leaders have detailed how more than $5 million of Austin's social service contract funding will be reallocated to support the city's fiscal year 2025-26 budget. The service shifts and cuts follow the failure of Proposition Q's tax hike and passage of a trimmed city spending plan this fall.

The details: Finance staff reported during this fall's budget revisions that many city social service initiatives would face reductions. Nearly a month later, those changes were detailed in a memo from City Manager T.C. Broadnax shared with council members Dec. 17.

A total of $5.28 million of Austin's more than $74 million allocation for social services will be reduced or reallocated, mostly covering public health and homelessness response. Nearly $17 million across social service contracts is projected to be cut next year.

The city will continue to look into social service contracting this year, including possible program mergers and updated performance measures, as part of a wider citywide efficiency process launched this fall.