Houston officials approved the city's move to sell two of its major properties downtown.

The big picture: At its Oct. 7 meeting, Houston City Council passed an ordinance allowing the city to work with commercial real estate company Cushman & Wakefield to sell 611 Walker St. and 1200 Travis St., which house the Houston Public Works Department and the Houston Police Department, respectively.

The decision came after years of concerns about the deteriorating facilities. Houston Public Works director Randy Macchi has spoken in previous meetings about the conditions of 611 Walker and 1200 Travis, noting that both buildings, built in 1966, have weak generators and outdated electrical systems.

In July 2025, Macchi said that the HPW building has an 18% remaining service life and the HPD building is at 15% if the city does not make improvements.

Looking ahead: Macchi added that developers have already expressed interest in 611 Walker because of its desirable location, access to the freeway and skyline view.

The city has not yet listed a sale price for either location.

XSpace Group, a Texas-based real estate and development company, celebrated the beginning of wall construction on Sept. 29 for XSpace Houston, a new commercial condominium development off Old Katy Road.

What is it: The 4-story, 120,000-square-foot flexible space development will offer customizable spaces for purchase or lease, ranging from private offices to luxury vehicle storage. Amenities are expected to include a drive-up car elevator and a commercial rooftop lounge.

Latest update: The project broke ground earlier this year, and it is currently slated for completion in the first quarter of 2027.

Byron Smith, founder of XSpace Group, noted that the Houston project is already nearing 50% sold out.

Some details: Designed by architect Francisco Gonzalez-Pulido of FGP Atelier, the construction is being led by KDW, a Texas-based general contractor that also completed XSpace Austin.

• 7022 Old Katy Road, Houston

Houston will host several events during October and November, featuring art, music, technology and wine. The schedule of events includes:

• Twilight Zone: Hidden Wonders of the Ocean, an immersive exhibition running Sept. 18-Nov. 29 at Artechouse Houston.

• Bayou City Art Festival from Oct. 10-Oct. 11 at Memorial Park, showcasing artwork from 19 disciplines.

• Art After Dark on Oct. 24 at Silver Street Studios, an inaugural after-hours experience headlined by Houston rapper Mike Jones.

• Riedel Wine Glass Experience on Oct. 14 that includes an educational glass experience and tastings.

This list is non-comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

The Texas Renaissance Festival will return to Todd Mission for its 52nd season in 2026, running from Oct. 10 through Nov. 29.

Read all about it: Spanning 70 acres, the nation's largest Renaissance-themed event features 21 stages, more than 400 artisanal shops and over 200 acres of camping facilities.

The festival will showcase eight themed weekends from Oktoberfest on Oct. 10-11 to Celtic Christmas on Nov. 27-29. Additional themes include Pirate Adventure, Barbarian Invasion and All Hallows Eve.

What's new: This year the festival will bring back fan-favorite attractions alongside new acts, including Paladin, the Errant Fool; Sons of Olympus; and Lester Jesterson.

Tickets range from $16 to $40. Admission is free for kids 5 and under on Saturdays, and kids 13 and under get in free on Sundays.

Ahead of Texas' 2027 legislative session, the state comptroller's office has asked lawmakers to double funding for its $1 billion education savings account program.

The overview: The program gives participating families taxpayer dollars for private education and homeschooling, and officials said at least $2 billion are needed to maintain current participation in the program.

Meanwhile, some Texas families are raising concerns about their local school districts losing money as students leave public schools to participate in the program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

What they're saying: "149 students have accepted vouchers that were otherwise enrolled in Pflugerville ISD, [resulting in] an estimated loss of $1.2 million in attendance funding," said Stacy Harrell, a PfISD parent. "That lost funding will add to budget cuts that are already affecting Pflugerville ISD families. Four elementary schools [are closing], with the possibility of more."