Water use, noise and cost are among some residents’ concerns as data center plans continue to expand in Cedar Creek.

The overview: Developer EdgeConneX is nearing completion of the first of 19 buildings across three campuses along FM 535—the first of which will be filled by AI cloud company CoreWeave. About 7 miles south, Pacifico Energy is pursuing a separate 2,842-acre data center and on-site natural gas power project.

Together, the four sites span about 4,306 acres.

“We had a beautiful forest; it’s all gone,” said Cedar Creek resident and business owner Maria Bowen, whose neighborhood sits less than 2,000 feet from EdgeConneX.

Damian Ameen, who also lives in Cedar Creek, said development is unavoidable, but “there does need to be control, and it needs to be balanced.”

“What’s this land going to be used for if we don’t use it for data centers?” he asked. “It’s not going to sit vacant. Not in this area.”

Bastrop's former Comet Cleaners location got new owners and a new name in late May.

What they offer: EcoPress Cleaners provides a range of services, including:

• Alterations

• Dry cleaning, with personalized express-bag options

• Specialized cleaning for leather, fine linens and wedding dresses

• Wash-and-fold

One more thing: The business offers pickup and delivery, as well as 24-hour drop-off, drive-up and same-day services.

• Opened in late May

• 494 Agnes St., Bastrop

Check out six stories trending in the Austin area July 27-30. 

1. 8 new and coming soon businesses to west Georgetown

2. Urban Egg to open its first Austin location this fall

3. Hao Hao Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant planned for Pflugerville

4. Two Tim Hortons locations coming to Leander’s Hero Way, Ronald Reagan

5. A Little Shady announces opening date of Kyle location

6. Road work projects around CedarView development to be completed before Scheels opening

NAYA is now shaking up craft cocktails and serving small plates in downtown Austin. The Mediterranean and Asian fusion tapas lounge opened on July 9, said Matthew Pawlak, general manager.

On the menu: The food menu features sushi rolls and raw fish, as well as hummus-based dishes, salad and more. Patrons can dine on tuna tartare, yellowtail crudo, spicy salmon crispy rice or a tempura mushroom roll made with daikon radish, carrot, cucumber, eel sauce and sriracha. 

Looking for a libation? At the top of the menu there is a paragraph that incorporates each cocktail’s name. Pawlak invites guests to read the paragraph and let their intuition pick their drink by choosing whichever cocktail name jumps out at them first. 

The Silk Road drink features Another Hendricks, Kanada Yuzu Liqueur, Grapefruit Liqueur, Mediterranean Tonic and Kota Pandan Mist.

What’s next: The NAYA team is looking to expand into an outdoor space with a built-in bar, hookah and dedicated DJ space.

• 506 West Ave., Austin

This summer, Texas is launching a new process to study the viability of data centers and other large projects seeking to connect to the state’s power grid. The process’ strict requirements could deter major industrial projects from coming to the state, experts warn.

The overview: The Electric Reliability Commission of Texas’ new "batch study process" will require that large projects be evaluated in groups, rather than individually. The process was developed in response to Texas’ data center boom.

What they're saying: All projects that would use at least 75 megawatts of electricity will be required to participate in the batch process—including industrial and hydrogen production facilities. However, industrial and manufacturing projects operate differently from data centers and may not be able to meet some of the batch requirements, industry representatives said July 29.

In a state that works to attract major companies and bills itself as business-friendly, that’s a concern, lawmakers said.

"Where are y'all at on trying to differentiate those types of traditional, enterprise, big commercial, large load projects?" Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, asked.