ATX-BAS: Impact 9/23/2025

Bastrop City Council is set to vote on a resolution that would establish a “South End District.”

The details: The area, which would be bounded by Chestnut Street, Water Street, Hwy. 95 and Gutierrez Street, aims to honor local Black heritage, according to city officials. 

“Historically, the South End was a place of community, as most Black churches were situated in this area,” City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino said in a staff report. 

She listed several initiatives the city and a collective of volunteers plan to accomplish following the creation of a South End District, including: 

• Working with the Texas Department of Transportation to create murals at the underpasses of College Street and Water Street 
• Adding monument signs and street signs that distinguish the entrance into the district 
• Commissioning iconic art pieces in the newly created park space on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
• Assisting elderly residents with the repair and upkeep of their homes
• Providing support for the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry

Shipley Do-Nuts opened its first Bastrop location Sept. 23, according to a company representative.

How we got here: Owner Sam Chen previously told Community Impact that he spent five years searching in Bastrop before he found the right location 

The 1,660-square-foot shop along Hwy. 71 near Walmart, he emphasized, is prime real estate for doughnut enthusiasts.

Notable quote: “I used to live in the area, and I love the area, which is why we’ve been trying to open a store over here,” Chen said. “It’s a completely different environment than Austin.”

Demolition of the former Austin Convention Center is nearly complete, project leaders told Community Impact on Sept. 12.

The overview: The center closed in April and construction crews began demolishing the 365,000-square-foot building in May. They are scheduled to finish tearing down the existing building in late October and construct a 620,000-square-foot convention center in its place, which is expected to open in early 2029.

After crews finish tearing down the existing center in late October, they will begin excavating the site, digging 55 feet into the ground before placing foundations for the new building early next year.

The outlook: The new convention center is designed to bring larger events to Austin while increasing walkability downtown and making the center more welcoming for residents, ACC Acting Deputy Director Katy Zamesnik told reporters.

“This is the beginning of delivering on a promise that we've made to the community. … We want this to be a building that locals love just as much as our visitors do,” Zamesnik said Sept. 12.

Texas voters will decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution during the Nov. 4 election.

The overview: The propositions, which were adopted by state lawmakers earlier this year, include measures aimed at reducing property taxes, funding water supply projects and creating a state dementia research institute.

“This is an opportunity to make your voice heard about the governing document of our state,” Secretary of State Jane Nelson said in a June 25 statement.

More details: Texans have until Oct. 6 to register to vote in the upcoming election. Early in-person voting runs from Oct. 20-31, and Election Day is Nov. 4.

The secretary of state’s office randomly selected the ballot order for the 17 state propositions. Keep reading to learn about the proposed constitutional amendments and how they would change Texas law.