The Nines Men’s Grooming, a salon offering men’s spa services, relocated from West Ben White Boulevard to a new spot on Crestmont Drive, co-founder CJ Schimmels said.

The salon officially opened its new location on Dec. 30,  according to its website. Through the move, The Nines Men’s Grooming remains committed to honoring classic grooming traditions, according to Schimmels.

What they offer: Grooming services at The Nines range from a signature hair cutting service to a luxury beard trim, head shave or gray blending. Other services include small-area waxing and upper-body hair trimming.

The background: The salon opened in 2015, founded by sisters Schimmels and Kat Lund, who hoped to create an elevated grooming experience for men. 

• 5006 Crestmont Drive, Austin  

City Council took the first step toward broadening the types of multiunit housing that can be built in Austin neighborhoods and allowing more mixed-use development citywide.

The details: New zoning categories advanced March 26 included one to support more multiunit “missing middle” housing at scales in between single-family homes and bigger apartment complexes. Another is aimed at transit- and pedestrian-oriented developments blending residential and commercial space, from smaller corner stores to larger mixed-use buildings.

Specific details for the two concepts forwarded in a resolution from council member Paige Ellis are still to be determined. Her approved resolution builds on a January study by city planners that evaluated Austin’s current stock of missing middle and mixed-use development and laid out policy recommendations to expand those options.

Next steps: This spring’s vote is just the first step toward creating the zoning categories and eventually seeing development take place under the policies. The city will spend the next year drafting the zoning districts.

Months after a historic flood hit Central Texas, Travis County has been awarded a $1 million state grant to install flood warning sirens.

The Travis County Commissioners Court approved an award agreement for at least $1 million in funding from the Texas Water Development Board at a March 24 meeting. The grant is a part of the state’s $50 million effort to fund the installation of flood warning siren systems in counties impacted by the July 4-5 flooding.

The details: The $1 million grant is expected to cover the installation of outdoor warning siren systems, including flood gauges, in Travis County. The sirens must be located in areas that the TWDB has identified as being prone to flash flooding.

The backstory: Central Texas was impacted by catastrophic flooding on the weekend of July 4, resulting in more than 130 fatalities. 

Senate Bill 3 requires cities or counties impacted by the July 4-5 floods to install and operate outdoor warning sirens. Under Senate Bill 5, the state will award $50 million across 30 counties.