Council moves to create new affordable housing financing zones in Austin neighborhoods
City Council is seeking to create new affordable housing financing zones in Austin neighborhoods using a state tool that's recently supported nearly 400 income-restricted units across three East Austin developments.
Under state law, cities can establish Homestead Preservation Districts, or HPDs, in targeted areas home to higher shares of low-income residents. Local funding tools under HPDs allow a portion of the district's city property taxes to be reserved for affordable housing purposes, like new development or land banking.
District 3 council member José Velásquez has drafted a pair of resolutions seeking to double the tax collections within East Austin's current HPD, and to establish new HPDs in North Central and Southeast Austin. Another district for the student-heavy West Campus area could also be included in the update.
Haunted maze to take over Sign Bar in East Austin this fall
Get ready for chills, thrills and killer cocktails—Sign Bar’s immersive haunted maze, Fear Fair, opens Sept. 19.
The details: Created by immersive experience group ALT, the carnival-style attraction promises creepy clowns, eerie games and plenty of jump scares. ALT, known for its folklore-fueled productions, said the maze will blur the line “between fear, folklore and fun.”
Guests must at least 21 years old to attend during regular hours, but families can join in on the fun during kid-friendly matinees starting Oct. 4. These daylight sessions run on Saturdays and Sundays with lights on and no roaming actors.
Before or after the maze, visitors can try Sign Bar’s special Halloween cocktail lineup with spooky creations like the Blue Lagoon of Doom, The Sanderson Sip and Leatherface’s Last Call. Food will also be available next door at Lao’d Bar.
Fear Fair runs Sept. 18-Nov. 2 at Sign Bar in East Austin, home to more than 75 salvaged signs from local businesses. Tickets start at $6.50 and are available online.
Alpha School showcases expedited student learning through artificial intelligence alongside state, federal leaders
Austin-based private school Alpha School is aiming to expedite learning for more students using artificial intelligence at new academies opening across the country.
What happened: On Sept. 9, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Alpha School in Austin alongside Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath. Alpha School co-founder MacKenzie Price highlighted how the school is using AI to personalize and improve students’ education.
What they're saying:“It's the most exciting thing I've seen in education in a long time,” McMahon said about Alpha School. “I'm incredibly enthusiastic about this.”
How it works: Students complete their academic learning in two hours each day using an AI platform known as 2 Hour Learning. Price said the Alpha School model enables students to learn twice as fast as they would in a traditional school setting.
The update: Alpha School opened several new academies across the United States this school year, including a K-3 school in Plano and K-8 school in Fort Worth. The company is planning to open an academy in Houston this winter.
