Austin planners have detailed a new citywide strategy to allow taller buildings in various places, in exchange for affordable housing. The proposal responds to direction from City Council last year to revise a similar program, and the impacts of a new state law.

The details: After over a year of sometimes-controversial rezonings and new construction under Austin's "DB90" building program, city planners have proposed a replacement this spring. The citywide density bonus, or DBC, would allow different building heights in different places.

DB90 allowed a blanket 90-foot total of building height for projects that committed to either include some affordable housing, or pay the city fees. Under DBC, additional building height ranging from 0-60 feet beyond current allowances could be tacked on in exchange for affordable housing. City planners said the program's multiple tiers responds to different neighborhood contexts around Austin and a changing housing market.

A Middle Eastern restaurant from the team behind Suerte, Este and Bar Toti is headed to East Austin. The space will be located between the Cherrywood and Rogers-Washington-Holy-Cross neighborhoods.

What’s in a name: Karaz—named after the Arabic word for cherry—will be led by Executive Chef Alejandra Kuri, who currently serves as the Chef de Cuisine at Este. The idea for the new concept started during a meal Kuri prepared for the Este team that featured dishes influenced by her Lebanese heritage, which later were featured in pop-ups at Bar Toti, according to a news release.

On the menu: The menu will include pita from a wood-fired oven, hummus, seasonal spreads and charcoal-grilled kebabs. The menu will rotate seasonally.

Going forward: More details, including design, opening timeline and full menu offerings, will be shared as the project develops, according to the release.

• 2627 Manor Road, Austin

Check out six upcoming or ongoing transportation projects across the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects
183A Toll at Scottsdale Drive dedicated U-turn
Project: This project will shift through-lanes west and construct a new right-turn lane at Scottsdale Drive.
Update: Plans that include the first 30% of the design process are being reviewed.

• Timeline: expected completion winter 2027

• Cost: $1.3 million

• Funding source: 2022 transportation bond

Ongoing projects
Austin to shutter South Terminal as airport expansion continues; future Concourse M designs revealed
The South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officially shut down March 31 after less than a decade in operation.

The auxiliary terminal will be demolished to make way for new midfield taxiways as part of the multiyear Journey with AUS campus expansion. That includes the addition of the 26-gate Concourse B with a new connecting tunnel to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal, and the development of a temporary six-gate southern terminal called Concourse M.

Dell Children’s Medical Center in Central Austin has become the first pediatric hospital to provide bone marrow transplants, also known as stem cell transplants, in Central Texas.

The impact: The procedure increases the cure rate for pediatric cancer patients, Dell Children’s doctors told Community Impact. The new stem cell transplant program means Austin-area families no longer have to leave Central Texas to receive lifesaving cancer care, said Dr. Amir Mian, the program’s medical director and division chief for pediatric oncology and hematology.

“Previously, everybody had to travel out of town, and what it meant was leaving home for more than a month, sometimes even longer,” Mian said. “Now they don’t have to ... nobody has to leave town just to get lifesaving treatment.”

How it works: The transplant involves removing a patient's bone marrow and replacing older stem cells by administering new stem cells to pediatric cancer patients through an IV, Mian said. The stem cells travel to the patient’s bone marrow and begin producing healthy blood cells that may restore their immune system.

Dear Community Impact readers,

We’re excited to share something new with you!

Starting this month, we are bringing back Central Austin, a paper that combines our current North Central and South Central editions, and launching a brand new edition: East Austin. This is driven from feedback from you and will allow us to bring you news that’s even closer to your backyard!

For now, you will see both newsletters in your inbox. Keep reading both or pick your favorite!

As always, thank you for reading and making us your favorite local news and information source! We’re looking forward to this launch and are excited to hear your thoughts.

• Elle & Krista