Two new high-rises in Riverside are moving closer to development after recent city zoning approvals.

The details: Like Austin overall, the Riverside neighborhood has experienced a rising population and new development over the past decade-plus. The city previously established a master plan and regulating plan for the East Riverside Corridor to guide local improvements as more residents, businesses, transit investments and other facilities came to the area.

The current regulating plan includes building standards and height limits, allowed property uses and other details informed by residents' desires for the area. In July, City Council voted to remove two properties from the East Riverside Corridor plan for the development of the area's largest high-rise projects to date. Both will include hundreds of residences and reach 180 feet high.

Franklin Barbecue is preparing for a summer hiatus, the restaurant announced on its Instagram. The East Austin barbecue joint is set to shutter its doors for 10 days in August, starting next week. 

The East 11th Street staple will close on Aug. 10, resuming operations on Aug. 21, according to the post. 

Learn more: Franklin Barbecue’s summer break isn’t new, the social media post explains. Each year, the restaurant takes a summer break to give the staff some time off. 

On the menu: Patrons can find barbecue by the pound, including brisket, turkey, sausage, pulled pork and beef ribs. Franklin Barbecue also serves its signature means on sandwiches, accompanied by the optional addition of slaw, pickles and onions. 

• 900 E. 11th St., Austin

Austin ISD will provide free breakfast and lunch to every student at 69 campuses during the 2026-27 school year through the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision program, the district announced Aug. 7. The CEP allows schools in qualifying low-income areas to serve free meals to all enrolled students without an application.

The details: The 69 participating campuses include pre-K centers, elementary, middle and high schools, plus several alternative and child development campuses.

At non-CEP schools, meal costs still depend on a student's status, but thanks to new state funding from the Texas Legislature, students approved for reduced-price meals will now receive both breakfast and lunch at no cost.

Paid meal prices range from $1.90 to $3.65 depending on grade level and meal type.

What parents should know: Families can qualify through direct certification via state benefits programs, enrollment in foster care or homeless programs, or by submitting an application through the district website or on paper. Students with low account balances can charge a limited number of meals, and courtesy lunches remain uncapped after that.
 

Check out the latest transportation projects across the Austin metro. 

Upcoming projects

I-35 at Inner Loop Interchange

Project: The project includes the design and construction of improvements to the interchange between SE Inner Loop and I-35 in Georgetown.

Update: All work for the project has been put on hold pending TxDOT advancing the design of I-35.

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: TBD
• Funding source: Williamson County 2023 road bond

• Timeline: 2022-26 (total project)
• Cost: $677 million allocated for the entire project
• Funding source: TxDOT