southwest austin edition volume 4, issue 10 | jan. …...2-volvo-lease o er with approved credit...

City plan aims to thwart sprawl over 30 years

Builders regroup while rentals thriveExperts predict modest housing growth in 2012

Builders construct a home in Morningside, a housing development in Southwest Austin.

By Joe Olivieri Local real estate professionals don’t expect

2012 to be a boom year for Southwest Austin, but they do foresee slow and steady growth with encouraging signs on the horizon.

They predict that a still-high demand for apartments will push up rents, which will in turn bring more renters into the housing market. A low inventory of new houses plus the building restrictions in Southwest Austin will cause local homes to retain their value.

Meanwhile, area homebuilders are feel-ing more confident and some are beginning long-term developments near the city lim-its, where there is more space than closer to downtown and fewer environmental issues.

“As long as people are working and there’s household formation, and it’s in an area that’s growing, everybody has to live somewhere,” said Scott Eckley, Pulte Homes vice president of sales in Austin. “Demand is either going to go to the rental business or a home purchase. Right now, in a lot of ways, buying makes more sense.”

Renting versus buyingRobert Grunnah, broker and owner of

Castle Hill Investments, said the housing market is slow right now because it is dif-ficult for buyers to get financing to take advantage of historically low 30-year fixed mortgage rates.

“The rates are so low that in many cases,

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See Imagine | 24

See Builders | 22

By Kevin StichThis spring, the Austin City

Council is expected to vote on the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, the city’s planning overview aimed at leading development and managing urban sprawl, or low density land use.

The plan attempts to reconcile the last 60 years of undisciplined growth and cites among its con-sequences social segregation and isolation, public health, air and water quality, loss of natural open

space and agricultural lands and climate change.

“Austin’s goals and philoso-phies are different from the rest of Texas,” said Garner Stoll, Plan-ning and Development Review assistant director. “The citizens of Austin have very strong views and values, and the [state] values are a bit different. In planning, Texas values are to protect private prop-erty—nothing wrong with that. Austin values are equity, social consciousness and diversity.”

The plan addresses Southwest Austin issues such as growth and transportation.

Imagine Austin charts and anticipates the growth of mixed-use corridors—areas with space for housing, retail and recreation. It includes expanded public trans-portation and bicycle-friendly measures to improve area traffic congestion.

The plan also takes natural resources, such as the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, into

consideration regarding growth.The council is expected to

vote on the final plan in March or April after it undergoes final revisions from the task force and a review from the planning commission. If passed, the ini-tiative will supersede the out-dated 1979 Austin Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan that has inadequately served a 57 percent population increase since it was adopted—a number projected

it is less expensive to own than rent,” he said. “So why would anybody rent? Because they can’t qualify. In 2006, anyone and their mother could get a loan. Now, very few can. That results in a stagnant market.”

Last fall was a busy time for leases, said

Barbara Quarles, broker associate with Pioneer Real Estate Services, located in South Austin.

“People are still moving into Austin,” the Village of San Leanna alderwoman said. “Building may have slowed down in the last

Local Updates

Theater opens in March Alamo Drafthouse announced that its new theater on Slaughter Lane will open March 22 and include a cocktail bar called The 400 Rabbits. | 11

Business incubator folds Community Renaissance Market’s CEO said the market closed because of a lease issue with Albertsons. | 9

Church talks Dream City PromiseLand West Bible Church gave new details about the religious facility it plans to build during a recent Oak Hill neighborhood meeting. | 9

Brewers claim court win Jester King Craft Brewery sued the state to remove beer/ale definitions and to advertise sales locations. | 13

Full English finds nicheThe British cafe fosters a community of foodies, farmers market fans and South Austin locals. | 15

Updates on 2011 and a look ahead to 2012

SouthweSt AuStin edition Volume 4, Issue 10 | Jan. 31–Feb. 28, 2012 www.impactnews.com Impact Deals begins on Page 31

2 | THE JANUARY ISSUE | Community Impact Newspaper • Southwest Austin Edition

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impactnews.com • January 2012 | THE JANUARY ISSUE | 3

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Find online-exclusive content at impactnews.com/swa

Contents

4 Impacts

7 Calendar

8 City/County Notes Elections

9 Community Updates Neighbors question Dream City; CEO hopes to relaunch incubator

11 Impacts Update Alamo Drafthouse; Barley Swine; The Donut Hole; Paloma’s Nest; Sunset Valley Artisan Market

12 City and County Updates Sunset Valley; City of Austin

13 Business Updates Jester King Craft Brewery; Grey Rock Golf Club

15 Dining Updates Full English; Chief’s BBQ and Grill; Madam Mam’s; Galaxy Cafe

17 Transportation Update

20 Education Focus Austin ISD approves IDEA contract; superintendent ‘confident’ in plan

25 Coffee with Impact Clarke Heidrick

26 Business Lions & Tigers & Toys

28 Dining Wholy Bagel

30 Real Estate

Local Updates

No kid can grow up in Texas without access to a fort. Ours used to be on some undeveloped land around the corner from our house. It was an old aban-doned deer blind that was

well worn, as any fort should be. My bud-dies and I used to ride our bikes, trespass a little bit and then hang out there for hours.

We learned a great deal about life at that old hangout, probably some things at too early of an age. I will never forget the day we showed up to see a bulldozer in the ini-tial phases of clearing the old ranch—and our fort—to make way for a new housing development. Soon, “Casa Verde,” as we called it, was gone.

As I drive around Southwest Austin, I cannot help but notice the vast amount of land being cleared to make way for similar development. In fact, my neigh-borhood alone has something under

development on both sides of it. When you see land being cleared, it is

natural to want to know what is going on and how will it affect your land value, quality of life and commute. There is a mixture of fear and anticipation that only those living nearby can understand.

We at Community Impact Newspaper hope to shed some light on all of this new development. Check out Joe Oliv-ieri’s story on Page One on current and future real estate market. I hope you enjoy discovering what these plots of land are slated to become as much as we did.

As our area of town continues to develop, this theme of development is here to stay. If you’re curious about development in your area, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Travis BakerGeneral Manager

[email protected]

Reader FeedbackWhat would you like to see more of in Southwest Austin in 2012?

Mass Transit Options

41.67%Businesses

20.83%Wider Roads

20.83%Green Space/Recreation

12.5%Other

4.17%Results from an unscientific Web survey, collected 1/4/12–1/20/12

821 Grand Avenue Parkway, Ste. 411Pflugerville, TX 78660 • 512-989-6808www.impactnews.com

Publisher / Chief Executive OfficerJohn P. Garrett, [email protected]

Associate PublisherClaire Love, [email protected]

Southwest Austin

General Manager | Travis BakerMarket Editor | Joe OlivieriReporter | Kevin StichAccount Executive | Alison AdamsSales Associate | Jennifer WinkerLead Designer | Ethan HillStaff Writers | Sara Behunek, Samantha Bryant, Gene Davis, Amy Deis, Mitzie Stelte Intern | Eric Nagurney

Editorial management

Executive Editor | Cathy KincaidManaging Editor | Shannon CollettiCopy Editor | Andy ComerCreative Director | Derek SullivanAd Production Manager | Tiffany Knight

Administrative management

Chief Operating Officer | Jennifer GarrettChief Financial Officer | Darren LesmeisterBusiness Director | Misty PrattCirculation & Operations Manager | David Ludwick

About us

John and Jennifer Garrett began Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 in Pflugerville, Texas, with a mission to provide intelligent, unbiased news coverage with a hyperlocal focus. Now, with 12 markets in the Austin, Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth metro areas, the paper is distributed to more than 750,000 homes and businesses.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions to our other editions are available for $3 per issue. Visit impactnews.com/subscription.

Contact us

Press releases | [email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected]

©2012 JGMedia, Inc., All Rights Reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher.

M • E • D • I • AI N C O R P O R A T E D

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November employment trends

Central Texas unemployment—6.6%Down from 7.1% in October

State unemployment—8.1%*, **Down from 8.4% in October

National unemployment—8.6%*, **Down from 9.0% in October

In the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area, the trade, transportation and utilities sector added 4,300 jobs; the government sector added 3,100 jobs; and the professional and business services sector lost 3,900 jobs.**

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas Workforce Commission

*Seasonally adjusted numbers **Preliminary data

On Page 11, Aan Coleman is the owner of Coleman and Associates, not LJA Engineering.

Correction – Volume 4, Issue 9

Mailing scheduleOur mailing schedule varies slightly through the month of March. You can expect your copy of Community Impact Newspaper on the following dates: Wednesday, Feb. 29 and Friday, March 30.


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8 Kerbey Lane Cafe opened its 3005 S. Lamar Blvd. location Jan. 26. The cafe closed its 2700 S. Lamar Blvd. location, where it had been for 25 years, on Jan. 22. 445-4451, www.kerbeylanecafe.com

9 Laila Prasla, Mumtaz Prasla and Naseem Meknojia opened Pakwan Indian Restaurant and Bar on Nov. 16 at 3601 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. 450. 366-5204, www.pakwanaustin.com

Coming Soon

10 Circle C Academy, an after-school tutoring and education center, plans to open in February at 11720 FM 1826. The center will offer homework assistance, enrichment programs and small classroom sizes. 820-3617

11 Ranch House Apartments, a 272-unit luxury apartment community on Slaughter Lane, is being constructed by North American Properties. Available floor plans of one- to two-bedroom apartments range from 698 to 1,245 square feet. 292-4200, www.ranchhouseapartments.com

12 Ashton Woods Homes plans to begin construction of Ridgeview, a subdivision of 165 single-family homes on 93 acres, east of South View Road near West Hwy. 290. Workers cleared land and did site work there in December and January. www.ashtonwoods.com

13 The Whole Foods being constructed at the Shops at Arbor Trails will open this summer, according to company officials. The grocery store will open in the former Haverty’s Furniture at 4301 W. William Cannon Drive, Bldg. B1. www.wholefoods.com

14 Zpizza plans to open at Parkside Village at 5701 Slaughter Lane, Ste. A160 by the end of February. www.zpizza.com

Relocation

15 One Chapel has moved to 5508 W. Hwy. 290. The congregation had been

Now Open

1 Austin Sports Academy opened Dec. 17 at 1606 W. Stassney Lane, Ste. 7. The academy hosts youth sports training camps and after-school sessions. 383-9600, www.austinsportsacademy.com

2 Nick and Jessica Goulding opened Cafe Malta at 3421 W. William Cannon Drive on Dec. 19. The restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine–inspired dishes, seasonal lunch and dinner menus, and in-house breads and pastas. 853-9584, www.cafemaltaaustin.com

3 The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf opened at 5701 Slaughter Lane, Bldg. A, on Jan. 19. The Parkside Village location is the company’s seventh in Austin. 394-9010, www.coffeebean.com

4 The Donut Hole opened in early December at 6863 W. Hwy. 290. The donut and kolache store was scheduled to open in August, but the opening was delayed due to construction issues, owner Rick Landry said. 394-0090, www.donutholeaustin.com

5 El Tacorrido opened a location at 2316 S. First St. in November. The restaurant serves tacos, drinks and desserts. It is the

company’s third location. 912-1939, www.eltacorrido.com

6 Icon Family Dentistry opened in the Austin Diagnostic Clinic, 1807 W. Slaughter Lane, Ste. 650, in November. The practice offers general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry among its services. 282-4266, www.iconfamilydentistry.com

7 The Hollows at Slaughter Creek opened Jan. 28 on West Slaughter Lane. Homebuilder Pulte Homes announced that the 211 single-family homes will range from 1,273 to 1,980 square feet. www.pulte.com

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meeting at AMC Theater at Barton Creek Square. 777-1663, www.onechapel.com

16 Steampunk and Neo-Victorian outfitter The Mysterium temporarily relocated from Community Renaissance Market, 6800 West Gate Blvd., to Things Celtic, 1806 W. 35th St. It is expected to reopen Feb. 1. 436-4676, www.the-mysterium-neovictorian.com

17 Three Eight Tattoo moved from 5328 Manchaca Road to 7811 S. First St. in October. The artists book appointments and welcome walk-in business. 383-0904, www.threeeighttattoo.com

Anniversary

18 Accent Trophies and Awards celebrated its 17th anniversary Jan. 1. The family-owned business, located at 1901 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. 129, provides trophies, plaques, glass and acrylics for all events and occasions. 440-7322, www.accenttrophies.com

Expansions

19 Calvary South Austin is renovating its 5700 Manchaca Road, Ste. 260 location. The church is an affiliate of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, a nondenominational evangelical church. 576-5433, www.calvarysouthaustin.com

Compiled by Joe Olivieri and Kevin Stich

Three Eight Tattoo will continue to provide body art at its new location on South First Street.

The newly relocated Kerbey Lane Cafe opened at 3005 S. Lamar Blvd.

Strange Brew, Austin Coffee recently finished add more seating to its storefront and alcoholic bever-ages to its menu.

news or questions about Southwest Austin? e-mail [email protected].

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20 Strange Brew, Austin Coffee expanded its 5326 Manchaca Road location to include more seating. The 24-hour coffee shop began selling alcohol in late December. 828-7636, www.strangebrewaustin.com

21 Woodlawn Baptist Church has almost completed construction and renovations to its 4600 Manchaca Road worship center. 442-7858, www.woodlawnbc.org

Closings

22 BBVA Compass closed its 5532 Manchaca Road bank branch. John Childers, of real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalles, said that by acquiring Laredo National Bank, BBVA Compass ended up with two bank locations across the street from each other. BBVA Compass kept its larger location at 1912 W. Stassney Lane. www.bbvacompass.com

23 Community Renaissance Market closed its 6800 West Gate Blvd. location on Dec. 31. CEO Ruth Glendinning said the business incubator closed due to a lease issue. www.communityrenaissancemarket.com

24 KFC closed its 6818 West Gate Blvd. location. www.kfc.com


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impactnews.com • January 2012 | THE JANUARY ISSUE | 7C

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Find more or submit Southwest Austin events at www.impactnews.com/swa-calendar.

For a full list of Central Texas events visit www.impactnews.com.

To have Southwest Austin events included in the print edition, they must be submitted online by the second Friday of the month.

Feb. 16–26By Kevin Stich

Mary Moody northen theatre, the award-winning producing arm of the St. edward’s university professional theatre training program, performs “the Crucible” by Arthur Miller as part of its 39th anniversary season.

“‘the Crucible’ is enormous in scope as well as reputation,” director Michelle Polgar said. “i love the complexity of the work and am having a great time with this amazing cast as we unearth these characters and explore the charged environment of 1692 Salem, Mass.”

A story about morality, hysteria and accusations of witchcraft that have the 17th century village of Salem, Mass., steeped in turmoil and conspiracy, Polgar said that the work parallels contemporary society, which is why the story still resonates with the audience.

“it is particularly exciting to present this play in an arena theater, where the audience can see not only the play before them but also all the others watching,” she said. “we as the audience become complicit in the story because, like the townspeople, we are powerless to stop the rising tide.”

Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. • $18 advance, $20 at the door • Mary Moody northen theatre, St. edward’s university, 3001 S. Congress Ave. • 448-8484 • http://think.stedwards.edu/theatre/

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David M. Long plays John Proctor and Sophia Franzella plays Abigail Williams in ‘The Crucible.’

‘The Crucible’24–25 Texas Juggling Society: Austin Jugglefest XIXthe Austin Jugglefest is three days of circus art, juggling and unicycling. the event features 20 hours of workshops, games, door prizes, trick trading, vendors, and a silent auction as well as a “Friday night open Stage” event that allows anyone who has a trick they want to show off to perform. Friday 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $10, free for ut students • texas School for the deaf, 1102 S. Congress Ave. www.juggling.place.org

25–26 Native Plant Spring Symposium 2012native Plant Society of texas presents the 11th Annual Spring Symposium, which will focus on a critical concern for everyone: water conservation and landscape use. high temperature and low precipitation records are being made across the state, surface reservoirs and aquifer levels are reaching critically low levels, and with a return and forecasted strengthening of the La niña climate phenomenon, the texas drought is expected to persist through at least summer 2012. Citizens can learn how to prepare for water shortages now and in the future. • Sat. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–noon • $60–$75 registration fee, $10 sessions • Mcdermott Learning Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. 232-0100 • www.wildflower.org

Worth the drive26 The Red Violinthe Red Violin was crafted in italy over three centuries ago and had been missing for more than 200 years. it was the inspiration for an Academy Award–winning film and will appear for the first time in Georgetown in “Musical Mastery.” the show will feature elizabeth Pitcairn performing on the historic instrument with pianist toby Blumenthal, violist Bruce williams and cellist hai Zheng-olefsky. • Sun. 10:30 a.m.,12:45 p.m., 4 p.m. • Students $5, adults $25 • Georgetown high School, 2111 n. Austin Ave. Georgetown • 264-5368, 864-9591, 639-0433 • www.roundrocksymphony.org

OngoingStory Time & Art at the Art GarageStory times are geared to the 31/2 to 6-year-old, but some projects could easily translate into a mommy and me project for those a little younger. Story times always include at least one story and a related art project but often include surprises such as songs, poems, and coloring pages. • Check website for times • $10 • 11190 Circle drive 852-9900 • www.theartgarageaustin.com

February

14 ‘The Souls of Our Feet—A Celebration of American Tap Dance’tapestry dance Company presents “the Souls of our Feet,” a fast-paced collection of footwork restages and tributes to the best of rhythm tap masterpieces from Fred Astaire and eleanor Powell to the nicholas Brothers, as well as contemporary works. the show is led by the live jazz music of the Souls of our Feet trio, vocalist datri Bean and tap dancer Arthur duncan (“the Lawrence welk Show”). the show also features international solo artist Acia Gray. • 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $5 student, $15 adult • evans Auditorium, 601 university drive, San Marcos • 245-3501 www.tapestry.org

19 Paramount Break-a-Leg 5KParamount Break-a-Leg 5K and the LiVeStRonG Austin Marathon and half Marathon announced that the 5th Annual Paramount 5K takes place Feb. 19 in conjunction with the LiVeStRonG Austin Marathon and half Marathon. the 5K will support the Paramount and State theaters. each preregistered 5K participant will get nike dri-Fit t-shirt plus other items. Both marathons will take place in downtown Austin, starting at 16th Street and Congress Avenue and ending near the entrance of the Paramount theatre on Congress Avenue. 7:30 a.m. • $37 • 16th Street and Congress Avenue • 877-836-RACe (7223) www.youraustinmarathon.com/5k

24 2012 EFCA TX-OK District Conference ‘ReThinking Church Health’Featuring presenters dr. Larry osborne, dr. Bill hamel, Chris holck, dante upshaw and dave Rofkahr, among others, the conference features a variety of topics ranging from leadership to financial advice to social networking. the conference is open to all and includes presentations centered on improving Christian ministries. • noon–1:30 p.m. $15–$139 • First evangelical Free Church, 4220 Monterey oaks Blvd. • 956-206-5189 www.efcatxok.org

Online Calendar

TEXAS CYCLEWERKS

Presents:

Liv/GIANT Ladies’ Night & Bike DemoWednesday, February 8th 2012*

6:00pm-8:00pm Bike Fit, Form, and Function ClinicThis presentation covers the basics of proper bike fi t, ideal riding posture, and which bikes are best for various riding styles and goals. Refreshments, shopping discounts, and more!Location: Texas Cycle Werks 5300 S. MoPac Suite 501 Austin, TX 78749

Saturday, February 11th 2012*

12:00pm-4:00pm Women’s Bike DemoCome and take a spin with us. Demo Fleet features our 2012 women’s road bikes and mountain bikes.Location: Veloway 4900 La Crosse Ave Austin, TX 78739 *This event is Free!


Austin City CouncilAustin City hall, 301 w. Second St.974-2497, www.ci.austin.tx.us/council Feb. 2 and 9, 10 a.m.

Travis County Commissioners Court314 11th St., Austin 854-9425, www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court Meetings are every tuesday at 9 a.m.

Sunset Valley City Council Sunset Valley City hall, 3205 Jones Road, 892-1383, www.sunsetvalley.orgFeb. 7 and 21, 6 p.m.

CitY And CountY

County hires consultants to study courthouse options

Travis County hired consultants to study a possible public-private partner-ship to build a planned civil and family courthouse.

At its Jan. 3 meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 to contract with Ernst & Young LLP for consulting services at a cost of $425,000. Commissioners Karen Huber and Margaret Gomez opposed.

Ernst & Young will act as the county’s advisory team for analyzing what is feasible when building the new court-house, measuring more than 500,000 square feet in size, to be located at 308 Guadalupe St.

According to the Jan. 3 meeting’s backup documents, the firm will analyze 21 request-for-information responses the county received in June and develop concepts and objectives for a public-private partnership, also called a P3.

The documents state that a commit-tee of county officials chose Ernst & Young after evaluating 10 firms that responded to a request for services. Tra-vis County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 to contract with Hawkins, Delafield & Wood LLP for legal services.

Austin Travis County

Meetings

St. Elmo Service Center among new solar panel sites

The City of Austin has authorized a contract for the installation of solar panels at seven city facilities.

The initiative is estimated to cut energy costs by $14,150 a year, which according to the city is equal to planting 3,044 trees.

The facilities include three libraries, two recreation centers, an administra-tive building at the Health and Human Services Department’s main campus and Austin Energy’s St. Elmo Service Center.

Nonprofit kicks off 2012 Community Tax Centers

Foundation Communities introduced two new services at its Community Tax Centers, including the 2600 W. Stassney Lane location.

One new service includes assisting Bas-trop fire victims file disaster loss deduc-tions at the Bastrop Tax Center. The second is a partnership with the City of Austin to increase savings bond purchases.

The Community Tax Center program offers free tax preparation services for families and individuals earning up to $50,000 per year.

Theater improves backstageImprovements will be made to the

Zilker Hillside Theatre in Zilker Park, including the expansion of the stage to provide additional backstage space for storage and stage designs. This will allow room for the future addition of restrooms and indoor storage.

The Austin City Council approved the agreement between the Parks and Recre-ation Department and Zilker Theatre Pro-ductions for the roughly $275,000 project.

The city will contribute $175,000 toward the improvements, while Zilker Theatre Productions will design, engineer and con-struct an expansion to the Zilker Hillside.

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The Zilker Hillside Theater is scheduled to receive some upgrades in the near future.

Travis County plans to build a new civil and family courthouse to replace the current one.

Compiled by Joe Olivieri and Mitzie Stelte

2012 ELECTION COVERAGE

The following locally elected positions are up for election in May. Elected officials currently holding the seats are listed.

The first day for candidates to file is Feb. 4 (a Saturday, so some areas may not take filings until Monday, Feb. 6). The last day to file is March 5. The last day to register to vote is April 12 and in-person early voting runs from April 30 through May 8.

May 12 elections

Austin City Council

U.S. SenatorKay Bailey Hutchinson (R)

U.S. Congressional RepresentativeLamar Smith (R)Lloyd Doggett (D)

Texas Supreme CourtPlace 2 Don R. Willett (R)Place 4 David Medina (R)Place 6 Nathan Hecht (R)

Texas Court of Criminal AppealsPresiding Judge Sharon Keller (R)Place 7 Barbara Hervey (R)Place 8 Charles Holcomb (R)

Texas Railroad CommissionElizabeth A. Jones (R)

Texas RepresentativesPlace 46 Dawnna Dukes (D)Place 47 Paul Workman (R)

Place 48 Donna Howard (D)Place 49 Elliott Naishtat (D)Place 50 Mark Strama (D)Place 51 Eddie Rodriguez (D)

Third Court of AppealsPlace 2 Jeff Rose (R)Place 3 Diane Henson (D)Place 5 David Puryear (R)Place 6 Bob Pemberton (R)

District courts345th Stephen Yelonsky (D)353rd Tim Sulak (D)390th Julie Kocurek (D)419th Orlinda Naranjo (D)427th Jim Coronado (D)

District AttorneyRosemary Lehmberg (D)

County Courts at LawNo. 8 Carlos H. Barrera (D)

Commissioners CourtPct. 1 Ron Davis (D)Pct. 3 Karen Huber( D)

County AttorneyDavid A. Escamilla (D)

SheriffGreg Hamilton (D)

Tax Assessor-CollectorNelda Wells Spears (D)

County ConstablesPct. 1 Danny Thomas (D)Pct. 2 Adan Ballesteros (D)Pct. 3 Richard McCain (D)Pct. 4 Maria Canchola (D)Pct. 5 Bruce Elfant (D)

Source: travis County

Nov. 6 elections

Mayor Lee Leffingwell

Place 2 Mike Martinez

Place 5 Bill Spelman

Place 6 Sheryl Cole

The following elected positions are up for election in November and, in some cases, candidates may face primary challenges on April 3 (date subject to change). Incumbents are listed.


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PromiseLand West Bible Church Pastor Michael Heflin takes a question about Dream City.

The market hosted businesses and events.

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Comment at impactnews.com


PromiseLand West official touts traffic, sound studies at January Oak Hill meeting

Neighbors question Dream City

CEO hopes to relaunch business incubator in 2012

By Joe OlivieriPromiseLand West Bible Church

Executive Pastor Michael Heflin offered new details about the Dream City project and attempted to answer neighbors’ questions at the Jan. 11 Oak Hill Association of Neighborhoods meeting.

“This gives us an opportunity to be able to look at each other face-to-face,” he said. “You can hear first-hand from the church what we’re doing, what we’re building and what’s in our hearts.”

The at-times contentious two-hour meeting was the church’s first forum since the City of Austin approved the site plan application Oct. 12.

PromiseLand West is a nondenomi-national Christian church of roughly 1,200 attendants that meets at Westlake High School’s performing arts center.

Dream City is an 11-acre facility zoned for religious assembly land use

By Joe OlivieriCommunity Renaissance Market, an

incubator for small businesses, closed its 6800 West Gate Blvd. location on Dec. 31.

Market CEO and Cultural Strategist Ruth Glendinning said the close was due to a lease issue with Albertsons, the master lease holder. Albertsons did not immediately respond for comment.

Glendinning plans to work on refin-ing the vision of the small business

on 68 acres off of Hwy. 71.Plans call for a multipurpose

building with sanctuary, educational features and offices.

Heflin said the church does not yet have the funds for a planned chapel.

Plans also call for an outdoor amphi-theater with 750 fixed seats and 250 portable seats.

The church’s restrictive covenant allows for an “approximately 3,500-seat outdoor amphitheater.”

Heflin said the proposed lawn seat-ing would be smaller than expected and may only hold about 500 people.

“KISS will not be playing there any time soon,” he joked.

Nearby neighborhood associations don’t mind the new church being built but strongly oppose the amphitheater.

Heflin said workers were extending a city water main across the street to reach the site and hanging steel onto the multipurpose building.

Attorney Steve Metcalfe, of Metcalfe, Wolff, Stuart and Williams LLP, said the church conducted traffic analyses at the site and nearby intersections.

Metcalfe said that the Texas Depart-ment of Transportation plans to add a

center turn lane and right-turn decel-eration lane to Hwy. 71 in the first half of 2013. The church plans to examine park-and-rides and law enforcement directing traffic during events.

Heflin said the church did four sound studies around the site and moved the amphitheater based on the study. It will include noise-dampening features and noise monitors at the property lines.

Two residents had asked why the church did not build an indoor concert

hall instead. Heflin answered that the church had decided that it could reach people who would never attend a church by creating the facility.

The audience frequently applauded after comments questioning the amphitheater. Neighbors pressed Hef-lin to put his assurances in writing.

OHAN President Sandra Baldridge said she was glad the community and church were finally able to meet.

incubator and hopes the market will re-emerge in another form in 2012.

“[The market] served as a great pilot project for CRM 2.0,” she said.

For the immediate future, she plans to form a consulting group dedicated to repurposing former big-box store locations to meet community needs.

Community Renaissance Market branded itself as a SLOW-Tech Incu-bator—with SLOW standing for Sus-tainable, Local, Organic Work—and

set out to be a community hub and place for entrepreneurs to grow bud-ding businesses.

The former Marketplace West Gate housed all types of tenants from art galleries and food vendors to specialty shops and The Harmony School for the Arts. The site hosted special events, such as the Makers and Bakers Holiday Bazaar: A Steampunk Christmas.

special section


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2/29/12

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In a previous issue, we told you that they were now open, coming soon, or relocating. Where are they now and what’s new?

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The Donut Hole boasts a wide variety of classic and unusual donut flavors, as well as kolaches.

Paloma’s Nest makes handmade home decor.

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Southwest Austin residents had to wait an extra five months before they could enjoy The Donut Hole’s treats.

Co-owner Rick Landry said the bakery, scheduled to open Aug. 1, was delayed due to a permitting issue. He said he had to start the permitting process over with a new contractor. The Donut Hole opened in early December.

“Everybody that comes in asks, ‘What the heck has been taking so long?’” he said. “We’re happy there. There’s been a great response.”

It is the bakery’s third location. Landry opened in Lakeway five-and-a-half years ago. He partnered with Deborah Roberts to open a second location in Steiner Ranch in 2010.

Landry said kolaches make up more than half of the bakery’s business. He touted the donut selection, with flavors such as the Smurf, Butterfinger Crunch and Deb’s Dark Delight.

Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane has an opening date: March 22.

The dine-in theater chain announced that the location at 5701 Slaughter Lane will have eight state-of-the-art screens.

It will also feature a stand-alone cocktail bar called The 400 Rabbits, which refers to an Aztec legend.

“Inspired by Latin American street food, Executive Chef John Bullington has created a selection of snacks that pair perfectly with [Alamo beverage director Bill Norris’] tequila-centric bar offerings,” according to a statement.

The new theater will also have sev-eral environmentally friendly features.

The Artisan Market’s vendors have continued to offer handmade crafts to visitors since it was added to the Sus-tainable Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market in April 2011. The artisan market set up shop next to the farmers market.

Stones Throw Studio owner Kyle Gross—whose business makes hand-crafted jewelry out of his home—said that the market is a great place to net-work and support local craftsman.

“I like the farmer’s market because of the repeat business and future custom-ers,” Gross said. “I like supporting anything local, and it’s something I want to continue to support.”

The market operates year-round and is open every Saturday from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Other items available at the mar-ket include pottery, soaps and candles.

Paloma’s Nest features handcrafted heirlooms, home decor and furnish-ings made by owners and designers Caroline and Jose Vasquez.

The couple’s designs have appeared on “Good Morning America” as well as in The New York Times and Bet-ter Homes and Gardens. The business started in 2007 and is primarily an online retailer.

“We’re really proud of every piece that we make—pieces that look fresh and modern but that have the timeless-ness and that people are going to want to pass on,” Caroline Vasquez said.

Paloma’s Nest is well known for its conception of the “Ring Bearer Bowl,” a ceramic dish to replace the ring pillow in a wedding ceremony.

Bryce Gilmore closed his food trailer, Odd Duck Farm to Trailer, on Dec. 10 after two years of operation. The trailer was located at 1219 S. Lamar Blvd. Gilmore said he will wait until the spring to decide Odd Duck’s fate. Gilmore also runs a restaurant, Barley Swine, at 2024 S. Lamar Blvd.

Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane5701 Slaughter Lanewww.drafthouse.com

Sunset Valley Artisan Market3200 Jones Road, Sunset Valley236-0074www.sunsetvalleyartisanmarket.org

Paloma’s Nest4402 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 102800-396-0654 • www.palomasnest.com

Barley Swine2024 S. Lamar Blvd. 394-8150 • www.barleyswine.com

The Donut Hole

Odd Duck Farm to Trailer Paloma’s Nest

Alamo Drafthouse Sunset Valley Artisan Market

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Shoppers browse the market stands.

The Donut Hole6863 W. Hwy. 290394-0090 • www.thedonuthole.com

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Travis County Commissioners Court

Austin City Council

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The Sunset Valley City Council (from left) is: Councilman Forrest Arnold, Councilwoman Nancy Por-ter, Mayor Pro Tem Rose Cardona, Mayor Barbara Wilson, Councilman Bruce Smith, Councilwoman Rudi Rosengarten

The 2011–12 Travis County Commissioners Court (from left) is: Commissioner Margaret Gomez, Commissioner Karen Huber, Judge Samuel T. Biscoe, Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt and Commissioner Ron Davis.

The 2011–12 Austin City Council (from left) is: Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, Councilman Bill Spelman, Councilwoman Laura Morrison, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Councilwoman Kathie Tovo and Councilmen Chris Riley and Mike Martinez.

Meetingsthe council meets twice a month on tuesday nights.

Sunset Valley City hall3205 Jones Road • 892-1383www.sunsetvalley.org

Meetings314 11th St., Austin854-9425www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_courtMeets every tuesday at 9 a.m.

Meetingsthe council meets some thursdays at 10 a.m.

301 w. Second St. 947-2497www.austintexas.gov

Top issues for 2012

• Water planning projectAs water prices begin to rise, the council must decide whether to repair and update its water system. it must also weigh how it subsidizes utility rates for residents.

• Pillow Road improvementsthe city plans to begin street, drainage and utility work in March and end in november. the project is the largest in the city’s roadwork budget.

• Transportation Plan Phase 2 Phase 2 will involve creating cost estimates for the projects identified in Phase 1.

• Land Development Codethe Land development Code deals with standards and permits for zoning, construction and tree regulations, among others. Several sections need updating in 2012, including flood loss, water and wastewater, and signs.

Top issues for 2012

• Facilities Master Plan the court will move county departments to 700 Lavaca St. and investigate part-nering with a private company to build a new civil and family courthouse.

• Water managementCommissioner Karen huber said water issues will be important in 2012. the county will draft new subdivision rules that aim to protect the trinity Aquifer.

• Executive-level succession Judge Samuel t. Biscoe said several long-serving officials have either retired recently or plan to retire soon. he said the county must hone staff training.

• Budgeting and population growth the court must determine how to deliver county services as the state shifts costs to the local level. Commissioner Marga-ret Gomez said justice system expenses were on her radar.

Top issues for 2012

• Geographic representationCity Council may ask voters to approve an amendment to the city charter that would establish geographic representa-tion for the City Council seats.

• Approval of Imagine Austinin early to mid-2012, City Council will be asked to approve the imagine Austin comprehensive plan that outlines future development and redevelopment.

• Bond electionCity Council may ask voters to approve a $385 million to $725 million bond pack-age in the november election to fund capital improvements. taxes may go up in fiscal years 2014–16.

• Plastic bag banCity Council may ban plastic bags begin-ning in 2012 with a yearlong “education period,” followed by a three-year phase-in, at which time bags would cost 25 cents, and a complete ban in 2016.

Big decisions made in 2011

• Approval of Master Plan updatethe document is a set of guidelines for future growth and has updates to the 1995 plan. A future land-use map is included to influence future zoning.

• Transportation Plan Phase 1Phase 1 involved collecting traffic data to create a computer model to study future road projects. Areas of concern in-cluded intersections on Brodie Lane and westgate Lane. the goal is to update the city’s 1997 transportation plan.

• Recreational venue playscape the city built a 6,000-square-foot playscape on a 1-acre lot behind doc’s Backyard at a cost of $100,000.

• Wildfire preparedness Sunset Valley distributed fire safety information to every household. City first responders stayed on high alert and encouraged residents to sign up for an emergency notification system.


• Drought and wildfire response the court directed staff to work with wildfire victims to clear debris and assist with permits and giving out information for federal relief. it enacted burn bans for several months and declared a local disaster to ban fireworks around the Fourth of July.

• Redistricting the law required the court to redraw its precinct boundaries to reflect new census data. the court considered fac-tors such as projected growth, race and population statistics.

• Historic property tax exemptions the court decided to extend property tax exemptions for historic property owners for another year.

• Bond referendum the court formed the Citizens Bond Ad-visory Committee and received updates. it later separated out capital projects.


• 2012 general election dateCity Council chose to retain its charter-mandated May 2012 general election date instead of switching the date to november to capture cost efficiencies.

• Sanders settlementCity Council approved a $750,000 settlement with the family of nathaniel Sanders ii. Sanders was fatally shot by an Austin police officer in 2009.

• Not mothballing WTP4Austin City Council decided that the cost was too high to delay the 2014 comple-tion of water treatment Plant 4.

• F1 race endorsementCity Council endorsed a contract between Formula 1 event organizers to bring the united States Grand Prix to Austin beginning in 2012 and allowed F1 race officials to receive $250 million during the course of 10 years from the states’ Major events trust Fund.

TV coverageMeetings are broadcast live through the city’s website.

TV coverageMeetings are televised on tCtV Channel 17 beginning at 9 a.m.

TV coverageMeetings are televised live on cable channel 6 and webcast live at www.austintexas.gov/department/channel-6

Terms and compensationthe mayor and City Council are volunteers who serve two-year terms.

Terms and compensationthe travis County judge and commissioners serve four-year terms. the judge earns $111,038 annually, and the commissioners earn $92,362.

Terms and compensationthe mayor and council serve a staggered three-year term with six-year term limits. Compensation ranges from $62,795.20–$64,043.20 for most council members to $75,420.80 for the mayor.


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By Joe Olivieri

Grey Rock Golf ClubStaff protected greens, limited cart use in drought

Jester King Craft BreweryBrewers’ lawsuit to change how beer is defined, advertised in Texas

Grey Rock’s courses show some damage but generally weathered the drought successfully, according to staff.

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G rey Rock Golf Club survived the 2011 drought by concentrating resources on its most valuable

asset—its greens.“Watering was the biggest thing

that impacted us,” Marketing Director Denise Fisher said. “There were restric-tions on what water was available. We had gone to hand watering versus the automatic system. It’s more efficient.”

Fisher quoted Course Superinten-dent Mack Williams as saying that when the drought worsened, the course stopped watering fairways and roughs in favor of the putting areas, which can cost $30,000 to replace.

The course also banned cart usage on the fairways to limit wear and tear.

“We did lose some [fairway] grass,

Since opening its Fitzhugh Road facility last January, Jester King Craft Brewery won part of a lawsuit against the Texas Alcohol Bever-

age Commission and changed its brewing recipes.In May 2011, Jester King joined Authentic Bev-

erage Company’s August 2010 lawsuit challenging the state on how beer is classified and advertised and where it can be sold, among other points.

Texas law had defined beer as 0.5 percent to 4 percent alcohol by volume and ale or malt liquor as any percent alcohol by volume greater than that.

In December 2011, a U.S. District Court judge ruled in Jester King’s favor to end that distinction.

The judge also ruled that Texas breweries could advertise where their beers were sold—a boon to smaller companies.

Ron Extract, a partner in the brewery, said Jester King was pleased with the ruling.

“We are pleased with having an effect on the law and helping to remove some of the restraints on craft breweries in Texas,” he said.

The judge rejected the brewers’ claims to allow beer sales at the place of production and to ease licensing costs on importers.

Extract called the costs protectionist and unrea-sonable and said they kept Texas consumers from enjoying beers from smaller foreign companies.

Jester King also switched from using an English yeast to a farmhouse yeast, which Extract said cre-ates a more unique signature taste.

“With every batch, we think about how to make it better and make minor adjustments with each,” he said.

Jester King’s offerings include Le Petit Prince, Noble King Hoppy Farmhouse Ale and Mad Meg Provisional Farmhouse Ale.

but that stuff will come back,” she said. “It may not come back as quickly. We may need to put down more fertilizer to get it back to where it was.”

She said the drought did not affect game play.

“Conditions may not be as good, but people are still playing,” she said. “If the fairways are brown, that’s not as much of a consideration.”

Fisher said the key to surviving the drought was having a consistent, year-round course maintenance plan.

“You aerify [the soil] at certain times of the year,” she said. “It allows you to weather a drought better because you’re taking care of what’s underneath the grass.”

Grey Rock Golf Club7401 SH 45 288-4297 • www.greyrockgolfclub.com

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Co-founder Jeff Stuffings said Jester King’s beers are aged in oak.

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Jester King Craft Brewery 13005 Fitzhugh Road537-5100 www.jesterkingbrewery.com


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By Joe Olivieri By Kevin Stich

By Joe Olivieri By Kevin Stich

Full EnglishBritish cafe finds niche as foodie destination, local hangout

Galaxy CafeEatery supports farmers

Madam Mam’sNew name, same food

Chief’s BBQ & GrillRestaurateurs seek the perfect spot for their third location

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Co-owner Shadrach Smith serves up break-fasts and high teas at Full English. Galaxy Cafe has three locations city-wide.

Colorful umbrellas still adorn the ceiling. Chief’s BBQ & Grille has been serving up their signature brisket since 2002.

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After 14 months, customers are getting a better idea of what to expect from British cafe Full English, co-owner Shadrach Smith said.

The cafe, founded by Shadrach Smith and Alice Bachini-Smith, uses fresh ingredients from farmers mar-kets to interpret British fare.

Shadrach Smith said the cafe has become a destination eatery on week-ends and a local hangout on weekdays. A backyard garden will open soon.

The BYOB cafe now sells its popular back bacon, homemade Chai tea and carry-out frozen meals. It sells more products at other stores such as Rose-dale Market on 45th Street.

Full English also offers T-shirts, bath balms and crafters’ knitting.

“You’d be surprised—we sell 10 to 20 [craft] items a week,” he said.

Galaxy Cafe—which opened its first location in January 2004 on Brodie Lane and is managed by Intergalactic Productions—is introducing Farmers Market Dinner Specials on its menu, spotlighting farmers and supporting the local economy.

The Austin franchise, which also has locations at The Triangle and on West Lynn Street, will also be trying out “virtual frequent diner” cards on social media websites such as four-square in an attempt to “show some love” to its regulars.

“Our mission statement is plain and simple: To provide customers with friendly service and high-quality food in a clean and comfortable environ-ment,” Director of Operations Amber Santa Cruz said.

The West Gate Boulevard location of Madam Mam’s Noodle and More is now called Sap’s Fine Thai Cuisine.

The name change follows the sepa-ration of the husband-and-wife team behind the three-restaurant chain, Sap’s General Manager Fred Ancira.

“The name’s different. Same owner. Same food,” he said.

Sap Apisaksiri now runs the West Gate Boulevard location, while Chat-fuang Apisaksiri has the Guadalupe Street and Anderson Lane locations under the old Madam Mam’s name.

Madam Mam takes its name from a nickname Chatfuang Apisaksiri’s friends gave her.

The West Gate branch opened in 2006. The chain’s first restaurant opened in 2001.

Chief’s BBQ & Grill may soon open its third location. Run by co-owners Jeff Turner and Kelly Gartzke, the two are currently scouting locations for another store.

“It depends on a few factors, but a decent location would be No. 1,” Turner said. “We haven’t locked any-thing down yet, but it’s in our future.”

The duo started the business in 2002 after Gartzke convinced Turner to move from Fort Worth and start a res-taurant. They currently run and man-age two stores on South First Street and West William Cannon Drive.

Turner said the Homer sandwich remains their most popular menu item, featuring chopped brisket and sausage. The restaurant also provides pickup and delivery options.

Full English2000 Southern Oaks Drive240-2748 • www.fullenglishfood.com

Galaxy Cafe9911 Brodie Lane, Ste. 750233-6000 • www.galaxycafeaustin.com

Sap’s Fine Thai Cuisine4514 West Gate Blvd.899-8525 • www.madammam.com

Chief’s BBQ & Grill7811 S. First St., Ste. 104444-2333 • www.chiefsbbq.com


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impactnews.com • January 2012 | THE JANUARY ISSUE | 17T

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By Amy Deis

Capital Metro receives funding for rapid-bus linesFeds to green-light project in early 2012, officials say

Capital Metro will construct shelters at nearly all stops along the MetroRapid lines. The shelters will feature an LED sign indicating the arrival of the next two buses plus a system map.

Capital Metropolitan Transporta-tion Authority anticipates the Federal Transit Authority to

green-light in February or March the implementation of a two-route, $47.6 million rapid-bus system with the goal of starting service in 2014.

“This is going to be our premium service. We want it to run the most frequently out of anything we oper-ate, and we want it to run the longest of anything we operate,” said Todd Hemingson, vice president of stra-tegic planning and development for Capital Metro.

The rapid-bus system will replace the transit authority’s limited-stop Route 101, which runs along North Lamar Boulevard and South Congress Avenue from the Tech Ridge park-and-ride to the Southpark Meadows retail center.

Another route will run from the North Austin Medical Center south on Burnet Road to the Westgate Tran-sit Center on South Lamar Boulevard.

Between the two lines, there are 77 stops.

“One of the unique things about these two lines is they form kind of an ‘X’ shape, and in the center they share a common path from Lady Bird Lake to UT,” Hemingson said. “Where we have really high ridership and demand for transit, they both will be operat-ing. So instead of running every 10 minutes, they will be running every five minutes.”

Capital Metro plans to run the buses daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. with fewer service hours on weekends.

The idea for a rapid-bus system stems from a 2004 comprehensive transpor-tation plan, which identified 10 possible routes for rapid-bus systems. Capital Metro elected to move forward on its highest ridership route, the North Lamar/South Congress route, and the Burnet Road/South Lamar route because of its close proximity to the first route.

“We had initially thought we could

do these pretty quickly, but as it is not uncommon, there were budget chal-lenges, and that budget shortfall was what really lead us to put in for the grant,” Hemingson said.

In February 2009, the FTA notified Capital Metro that it would receive an 80/20 local matching grant in which the FTA would pay for $38.1 mil-lion and Capital Metro would fund the remaining $9.5 million from its operating budget.

The majority of the project cost—$25.4 million of $47.6 million—will fund the purchase of 40 new buses. The North Lamar/South Congress route will use 60-foot accordion-style

buses, and the Burnet Road route will use 40-foot buses. The 60-foot bus holds 111 people with 56 seats, and the 40-foot bus has a 78-person capacity with 35 seats.

Capital Metro will also construct new shelters at every stop, with the exception of the park-and-ride locations, at a total cost of $9.6 million, according to the transit authority. Each shelter will have a bench, system map, standard route sign and a real-time digital display to show riders the anticipated arrival times of the next two buses.

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Map not to scale

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Capital Metro was awarded a Federal transit Authority grant for $38.1 million of a $47.6 million project for a two-route rapid bus system. the first route will replace the limited Route 101 that runs along north Lamar Boulevard from the tech Ridge Park and Ride to South Congress Avenue and the Southpark Meadows retail center. the second route will run along Burnet Road to South Lamar Boulevard.

the faster routes will use new buses, some of them 60 feet in length to accommodate up to 111 people, including wheelchair slots and bicycles. the buses will run every 10 minutes seven days a week and make 77 stops between the two routes. near downtown, the routes cross one another, allowing for access to both. design on the first route is complete, but Capital Metro is waiting to receive permission to proceed with design on the second route.

Austin’s urban rail initiative

By Eric Nagurney

the City of Austin’s urban Rail initiative would feature streetcars that travel on rails built into the city’s streets. urban Rail would also connect to the current Metro Rail route and the planned Lone Star Rail network that will extend through Georgetown and San Antonio. once complete, the system would run from Mueller development east of i-35, through the university of texas, downtown, and into the Austin-Bergstrom international Airport. each car is expected to hold approximately 165 people. By the projected completion of the network’s final phase in 2035, the city estimates an average of 27,600 daily riders.

Timeline: City Council is considering a november bond election for residents to approve the funding plan. if approved, the city projects construction to begin in 2014 or 2015 and operations to begin between 2017 and 2019.

Cost: $1.3 billion with $250 million to $700 million in initial investment

Funding: A combination of funds from local sources, such as bonds, value capture tools and partnerships. Further funding is being sought through the Federal transit Administration new Starts Program.

Map not to scale

Timeline: Capital Metro anticipates receiving the green light to start implementing the project in February or March. once approved, Capital Metro will complete design on the second route and begin construction on the shelters, purchase the buses and have First transit start training bus operators.

Cost: $47.6 million, including $25.4 million for 40 new buses and construction of shelters at the 77 stops

Funding source: the FtA awarded Capital Metro a $38.1 million grant. Capital Metro only pays 20 percent, or $9.5 million, which is coming out of the operating budget.

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Proposed toll roads

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By Sara Behunek

with a number of toll roads slated for completion in 2012, this year will represent the most miles added to the system since its debut in the region in 2007.

Hwy. 290• Phase 1 of 3 of the Manor expressway

opens in 2012. the first phase includes four direct connectors between uS 183 and hwy. 290 e and a toll road from that intersection to Chimney hill Road. Phase 2 extends the toll road to Giles Road and the third phase to Parmer Lane. the expressway will have six toll lanes and a three-lane nontolled frontage road in each direction.

Timeline: Phased opening 2012–14 Cost: Phase 1 is $73.4 million; total cost is $426 million

Toll 183A • A 5-mile extension of toll 183 from

north of RM 1431 to north of RM 2243 will be complete in 2012, making toll 183 11 miles long.

Timeline: Spring 2012 Cost: $105 million

Toll 130• Segments 5 and 6 of toll 130 will

be complete in 2012 and will extend the highway 41 miles from the intersections of uS 183, toll 45 Se and toll 130 to i-10 just north of Lockhart. now, toll 130 is 37 miles long and stretches from Georgetown to the intersection of those three highways.

Timeline: Fall 2012 Cost: $1.35 billion

By Samantha Bryant

More travelers are using Austin-Bergstrom international Airport as their gateway to the skies. Airport spokesman Jim halbrook said the airport anticipates reports to show an increase of passengers in 2011 over 2010. while smaller, nearby airports did not all experience an increase in air traffic in 2011, they are making improvements and planning for future growth.

Taylor Municipal Airport• the City of taylor is going through

the approval process to extend the airport runway from 4,000 to 5,000 feet. Although the extension is years away, Bob van til, director of planning and development, said the longer runway will allow the airport to accommodate larger business jets compared with the single- and double-engine aircraft that use the airport now.

Austin Executive Airport• Austin executive Airport, formerly

known as Bird’s nest Airport, opened in June and is planning to begin construction on a new hangar in January, executive director Andrew Perry said.

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Austin-Bergstrom International Airport• on dec. 15, Austin City Council

approved using the design/build method to construct a fourth passenger screening checkpoint at the airport.

• A report released dec. 5 revealed the total passenger traffic for January through october 2011 was up 6 percent compared to the same time period in 2010, marking 22 consecutive months of passenger growth.

• the free cell phone waiting area for passenger pickup opened nov. 1.

• A new holiday overflow parking area near the cargo facilities was finished in late november and has 764 additional spaces off of Spirit of texas drive.

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Georgetown Municipal Airport• Airport Manager Sarah hinton said

additional events are scheduled at the airport in 2012. the easter egg drop will occur March 31, a movie night is tentatively planned for Father’s day and the third annual Georgetown Airfest is scheduled for nov. 3.

• within the next six months, the airport will resurface and reseal some of the taxiways and lanes and add blue solar lights to make it easier for pilots to navigate.

MoPac Improvement Project• the recommendation moving forward

to Federal highway Administration for approval is to build one express lane in each direction between Parmer Lane and Cesar Chavez Street that would be free for transit vehicles. drivers on the express lane would pay a toll.

Timeline: environmental review complete in late summer/early fall 2012 Cost: not yet known

SH 45 SW• A four-lane limited access tollway is

planned on a new alignment connecting MoPac to FM 1626. the texas department of transportation is leading the two-to five-year-long environmental review process, which is in the early stages.

Timeline: not yet known Cost: not yet known

The Y at Oak Hill• Preliminary work on short-term

improvements to hwy. 290 at the intersection of hwy. 71, known as the Y at oak hill, are underway and do not involve the construction of toll roads. the long-term plans call for a controlled-access six- to eight-lane tolled highway with two- to three-lane untolled frontage roads. the two-to five-year-long environmental review process is underway.

Timeline: not yet known Cost: not yet known

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eduCAtion FoCuS


By Kevin StichIn the face of internal dissent and pub-

lic opposition, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees approved a contractual partnership with IDEA Public Schools to establish an in-district charter program by a 6–3 vote.

The specially called meeting started just after 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19, and saw the decision made just before 1 a.m. after a midnight extension that sent the meeting into the early morning—similar to the Dec. 12 meeting, which also required a midnight extension. The board called for the special meeting at the Dec. 12 regular meeting after deciding it did not have the necessary information to take action on the contract.

Despite efforts to keep discussions civil, the crowd showed disapproval several times throughout the meeting, and a man was removed by AISD security. Many in attendance appeared downcast—and others infuriated—following the decisions the night ended with the crowd roaring in protest, “Down with Carstarphen!” “We’ll vote you out!” and “Boycott IDEA!”

Assuming contract negotiations go as expected, IDEA will install a college-prep charter program at Allan Elementary School and will be part of the Eastside Memorial Vertical Team—composed of Eastside Memorial High School and its feeder schools—in the 2012–13 school year. AISD is partnering with IDEA in the hopes that it can raise high school graduation rates, increase standard-ized test scores, retain students that would oth-erwise depart to out-of-district charters and improve Texas Education Agency accountability ratings.

Trustees Robert Schneider, Annette LoVoi and Tamala Barksdale held the three dissenting votes regarding the contract, stating that language issues and amendments needed to be resolved in

Austin ISD passes IDEA contractorder to preserve district interests.

Early in the meeting, LoVoi made a motion for the board not to move for-ward with the IDEA charter proposal. The motion was defeated 6–3—a result that seemed to be a indication of the lines drawn between board members. LoVoi continued to vocalize her opinions several times throughout the meeting, to which President Mark Williams replied, “You’re not in charge, as much as you’d like to be.”

Schneider tweeted during the meeting from his personal account, “Anyone think this isn’t a done deal???” suggesting the end result was all but decided already.

During the meeting, he said that it was “the most poisonous and divisive issue” he had ever seen in his tenure on the board.

The board has been under intense scru-tiny lately as community members, as well as former Austin mayors and former AISD trustees Gus Garcia and Carole Keaton Strayhorn, voiced their opinions that the governing body did not properly vet IDEA before considering an agreement with the nonprofit institution.

“One of the things that I wanted to do was to come and recommend to you to take your time to look at this issue,” Garcia said during citizens communication at the Monday meeting. “It points to a condition that exists in Austin and in our commu-nity, where the parents are very concerned. They do not feel that the process was

transparent, they do not feel that they were heard and they don’t feel that their students will get the education that they deserve.”

However, just moments before, board president Mark Williams opened the citizens communication by acknowledging the community’s input.

“Whether it has been emails, whether it has been phone calls, whether it has been in person, whether it has been in some cases texts, I’ve seen the media coverage,

and I think my fellow board members have too, so I think a lot of voices have been heard,” he said.

Strayhorn urged the board to get off the dais and into the community, to trust parental judgment and to advocate a democratic culture.

“For government to work well it requires one key element: elected officials trust in all the people they represent,” she said. “We’ll fight for accountable, responsible and transparent government—decisions

made in the sunshine and accessible to all.”IDEA will start as K–2 and sixth-grade

classes at Allan Elementary School in 2012–13, and parents of Allan students will be given the choice for their child to opt out.

The program will grow to K–12 by 2018–19, serving 125 children between K-5 and 225 from grades 5–12.

Some students, parents and residents raised homemade signs to show their dissatisfaction with a pro-posed partnership between Austin Independent School District and IDEA Public Schools.

Pho

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“For government to work well it requires one key element: elected officials trust in all the people they represent.”

—Carole Keaton Strayhorn

Trustee Annette LoVoi was one of three trustees to vote against AISD’s contract with IDEA.

Contract highlights

• For the 2012–13 school year, IDEA shall be paid by AISD $5,001 per student average daily attendance plus weights such as compensatory education and special education.

• AISD shall provide to IDEA a license to use and occupy designated space at Allan Elementary School beginning with the 2012–13 school year, and Eastside Memorial High School, beginning with the 2013–14 school year.

• The facilities shall be maintained and operated by AISD in accordance with district policy and regulations.

• AISD requires IDEA maintain standards as required by the State Board of Education rules and Texas Education Agency (TEA) regulations for charter schools.

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By Kevin StichAustin Independent School District

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen is seated, busily typing away on her Blackberry, only vaguely aware that she has a guest.

It’s Dec. 21, and she’s not quite two days removed from seeing six of the nine Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees vote in favor of partner-ing with IDEA Public Schools to establish the district’s second and more contentious in-district charter school: a historical day in the AISD narrative, and an event that may come to define the zeitgeist of the new decade for Austin education.

IDEA has become synonymous with controversy in the district over the last few months, especially with parents and students that have a vested interest in the Eastside Memorial High School Vertical Team.

Carstarphen and the AISD board of trustees faced strong protest, even from within school ranks, prior to approving the IDEA contract, but the superin-tendent conveyed a reverence for such activism.

“Organized people: that’s a great, powerful tool to galvanize energy,” Carstarphen says. “I’m encouraged when I see things like that. I want to go pick up my own sign and be part of it, because to me it’s the way that things are supposed to be: that you stand for something … even if I disagree with you. Thank goodness you’re standing for what you believe in.”

The Dec. 12 meeting could be summed up as a tempestuous cut and thrust between trustees and the crowd. Carstar-phen, who remained hushed through the multiple exchanges between the parties involved (and not without a great deal of struggle), offered her thoughts.

“We’re held to ‘the standard,’ and I would even argue a higher standard

Superintendent: I have ‘absolute confidence’ in charter school planthat’s scrutinized a lot and puts people under a lot of pressure,” she says. “I have to control my desire to lobby for my position. What I’m constantly thinking at the table is, ‘How can I restrain myself to give them their time to talk?’ I work on a lot of restraint.”

She added that the back-and-forth is necessary—even healthy—and concedes that the meetings weren’t always pretty.

“Perception is reality, and that’s part of what you have to manage. I think the public—when people see that—maybe from your own personal experience, if you’ve only worked in the private sector, you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness, what is going on there?’” she says. “If we’re not wrapping things up by 11 p.m., from 10:30 p.m.–11 p.m., it starts getting kind of dicey. Once you pass 11 p.m., it’s any-one’s guess what’s going to happen.”

The meeting concluded at 1 a.m. with-out seeing a vote on the IDEA in-district charter contract, and as it would be easy to assume that supporters of IDEA walked away from that meeting disheart-ened, Carstarphen discloses that she considered Dec. 12 a success.

“I was so excited,” she says. “Everyone was focused on that one Annual Aca-

demic and Facilities Recommendation. There were six! I was elated … One in-district charter got passed (Respon-

sive Education Solutions). I don’t know if anyone else knew that. And the contract, with no discussion—it was fine!”

Carstarphen seems to reflect on that thought, pointing out that there are similarities between the IDEA and RES contracts.

Equally unforeseen was that after months of debate and discontentment over north central overcrowding solu-tions, it too passed without much resis-tance on a 7-1-1 vote.

“From a work session to a board meet-ing: we opened the door on addressing

north central overcrowding; we lifted the floodgates on being able to look out in multiple years,” she says.

Opponents of IDEA mobilized as early as 4 a.m. the morning before the vote, protestors occupying the AISD central offices in force, chanting, screaming, hiss-ing, booing, rallying against what—after two labored meetings that both lasted until 1 a.m.—would turn out to be a 6-3 vote in favor of the charter program.

When remembering the events of Dec. 19, Carstarphen said the whole issue had truly gained moment at the June 20, 2011 regular meeting, when the board had unanimously voted to explore a partner-ship with IDEA.

But come decision time, there was open friction between board members as trustees upbraided the contract for what they said were lacking standards and unaccountable language. Objectors in the crowd were vocal as well, dem-onstrating their displeasure with the process and IDEA.

“There is a lot of politics in educa-tion, which I think is discouraging …

but the fact that people will organize and work toward an outcome and try to influence it, is just such an important part of making us all better at being the quality institution that the community wants. Are we there yet? Absolutely not,” she says. “But I’m hopeful. I said it in the [Dec. 19] meeting when people were saying: ‘We’re not going away.’ Great! Because every time something like this has happened, people do go away.”

Carstarphen laughs dryly at a joke about how everyone can relax now that the vote has concluded, but she knows nothing could be further from the truth.

If the in-district charter is successful, it could become a large tactical shift in how public education is done in the district.

But the question remains: what if it doesn’t work? What if all of the struggles, talks and money spent are in vain?

“You begin with the end in mind,” she says. “I have absolute confidence that we’re putting together a design that will be successful for kids and families.”

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said she was excited when the Austin Independent School District board of trustees approved a partnership with Responsive Education Solutions.

Kev

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“I have absolute confidence that we’re putting together a design that will be successful for kids and families.”

—Superintendent Meria Carstarphen


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Avaña-Esquel: Standard Pacific Homes has been building this neighborhood since November 2010. The City of Austin bought land there to protect aquifer recharging.

Cedar Ridge Estates: Meritage Homes plans to add new homes to Cedar Ridge Estates, located near Hwy. 290 and Ledgestone Terrace.

Dream City: PromiseLand West Bible Church is building a multipurpose building with a sanctuary and an outdoor amphitheater. The completion date is fall 2012.

Hollow at Slaughter Creek: Pulte Homes launched this subdivision in January 2012. The 211 homes will be built in three phases.

Meridian: Standard Pacific Homes has room to grow in this subdivision.

BuildersContinued from | 1


year or two, but people are look-ing to rent.”

Jennifer Lamm, property man-ager of Ranch House Apartments on Slaughter Lane, said rentals are going quickly.

“Occupancies are way up, beyond where they were before,” she said. “They’ve been steady for about a year and much better than what they were two years ago. It’s exciting.”

She said local schools, the economy and the proximity to the greenbelt draw people to the area.

Grunnah said the owners and developers of multifamily dwell-ings will see the best return in 2012. He warned that high demand and limited supply will eventually push up prices.

“Say you can rent a house for about $1,300 [per month],” he said. “Once rents become notice-ably higher than a mortgage and you can get more for the same purchase price, you’ll start to see more people move into the pur-chase market.”

Mat Peterson, Armadillo Homes on-site sales consultant, said condominiums were also doing well in Southwest Austin.

Encouraging factorsEckley said three fundamentals

looked good for homebuilders: high apartment occupancy, low unemployment and good house-hold formation growth.

He said roughly 94 percent to 96 percent of all apartments in Austin are occupied right now.

“When kids grow up and leave the house, they either need to rent or buy. When that number is growing, that’s good,” he said.

He said the company is feeling bullish about the Central Texas market—business is up 10 per-cent over last year. Pulte Homes held a grand opening for its new-est venture, the Hollow at Slaugh-ter Creek, in late January.

“I think people recognize that the worst of the downturn is behind us,” he said. “We’re not in sunny days yet. We’re starting to see some price increases. Invento-ries are at an all-time low. When people are more confident about the economy, they are thinking about buying a home.”

Builders for Ashton Woods Homes are clearing land and doing site work for a subdivi-sion called Ridgeview, said Renee McQuillian, marketing and Inter-net sales consultant.

She said Ashton Woods plans

to build 165 single family homes on 93 acres in three phases. She added that the company hopes to open the subdivision in early May and move in its first residents by December 2012 or January 2013.

Elsewhere, developers around Southwest Austin are building homes on remaining lots in exist-ing neighborhoods.

Peterson agreed that home-builders are feeling confident.

“Not many homebuilders have inventory on the ground,” he said. “Most of the neighborhoods are wrapping up, meaning that a year or two from now, there might not be as many new homes to sell. That creates more demand.”

Slow growthBrian Talley, Regent Property

Group LLC owner and real estate broker, said Southwest Austin’s real estate market bottomed out in 2010 and 2011. He is optimis-tic about what he called positive momentum moving into 2012.

“I believe that we should see slow improvement over the fol-lowing years,” he said.

Talley, a Lantana Homeowners Association board member, said the subdivision’s recent market history was telling of the impact on the area.

“Lantana got hit hard,” he said. “We still had lots available and all of this new construction. When the recession hit, there was a lot of downsizing. Rentals were going fast, and resales were pretty slow.”

He said Lantana was eventually able to sell all of its homes and close out on the neighborhood.

He said that developable land is in limited supply.

“You either have to go out [farther away from the city] or fight for the right to build there,” he said.

He called environmental con-cerns such as aquifer protection the biggest restrictions to build-ing in Southwest Austin.

Grunnah said the Edwards Aquifer watershed makes it very difficult to build new projects.

“That’s a good thing if you already own here, because all things being equal, if it costs more to build and it is more prohibitive to do so, values are retained.”

Commercial developmentCommercial and office space

in south Austin continues to lease quickly, said Nathan Smith, owner of Austin Tenant Advisors.

“It’s interesting. Across the U.S., the perception is that everybody’s doing badly. People think it’s a slow market. A lot of these new projects

are leasing up pretty fast,” he said.Smith said Austin survived

the downturn by not getting too greedy and overbuilding.

“There’s a lot of activity. I’m on the phone with landlords—I strictly represent tenants—and everyone is busy,” Smith said. “The phones are ringing off the hook looking for space and sometimes there are multiple offers on some spaces. There’s competition for leasing space.”

Smith said that office space leasing costs are up.

“There are still some deals to be had, but it has dried up a little bit,” he said. “Landlords are not as aggressive [in offering incentives].”

Retail developmentSmith said some smaller busi-

nesses are feeling confident and are relocating to better sites.

“From a retail perspective, the rates have stayed relatively the same. They didn’t dip a lot, even during the downturn,” he said. “There isn’t a ton of inventory, so it’s a supply-and-demand thing.”

One high-profile development in Southwest Austin is Parkside Village, being built by Stratus Properties Inc. A representative from Stratus was unable to be reached for comment.

The property will hold five buildings anchored by dine-in theater chain Alamo Drafthouse’s Slaughter Lane location. Austin Diagnostic Clinic and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf have opened, and zpizza will open in February.

Grunnah was excited for what the Drafthouse’s presence in South-west Austin means for the area.

“That means that Central Austin is expanding down to

Slaughter Lane,” he said. “You can have more affordable accommo-dations and all of the amenities.”

He said the market for com-mercial and retail properties is doing well.

“Tech businesses are doing extremely well. Tech stocks are doing well. As companies do well, they need office space,” he said. “On the commercial side, that’s going to help retail, too, because there’s going to be a more affluent community.”

Grunnah said Southwest Aus-tin is one of the best strategically positioned neighborhoods eco-nomically in the country because of how well Austin is doing.

“When I get a listing, it sells. It doesn’t sit,” he said. “I am very gung-ho on continued growth.”

Available space and environmental issues are among the reasons why most new building is happening in south and west Austin.

Oak Meadows Apartments: Greystar is almost finished grading land on South First Street for 335 apartments and retail space. The completion date is fall 2013.

Parkside Village: Stratus Properties Inc. is building 79,359 square feet of retail space, anchored by Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane.

Ranch House Apartments: North American Properties has opened this apartment complex, which will eventually have 272 units.

Ridgeview: Ashton Woods Homes plans to construct 165 single family homes on 93 acres along Hwy. 290. Model home construction is slated to begin in March.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences plans to complete a graduate-level physical and occupational therapy school by September 2012.

Sources: City of Austin, Greystar, North American Properties, Pulte Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, Stratus Properties

What’s being built? New and proposed projects


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Proposed high capacity transit stop

Present and future growth in Southwest AustinImagineContinued from | 1

to grow by an additional 750,000 people by 2039.

Imagine AustinA growth-management play-

book of sorts, Imagine Austin is intended as a foundation for policies, strategies and actions to accommodate a booming Austin population while maintaining the values and character of the area, according to city officials.

Imagine Austin blends new initiatives with existing neigh-borhood and district plans into a document that looks forward 30 years on everything from land use to economy.

The plan is built around 14 ele-ments—10 of which are required by city charter—that will be monitored yearly and vetted for improvements.

“There will be an annual report every year that goes to the plan-ning commission,” City Planner Matt Dugan said. “Then every five years, we’ll look at it and see, ‘Does it need to be updated?’”

Last October, the city’s Plan-ning and Development Review Department revealed a draft of the plan. In mid-December, the city released survey results from roughly 2,500 Austin residents who ranked eight major pro-grams in order of priority.

Transportation and long-term water solutions, two issues para-mount to Southwest Austin resi-dents, were highly ranked.

Mixed-use corridorsExamples of mixed-use corri-

dors are Slaughter Lane, Stassney Lane and William Cannon Drive.

The plan calls for mixed-use corridors to be “pedestrian and bicycle-friendly and provide a framework for future transit ser-vice or improvements,” according

to a growth concept map in the plan that touts expanded public transportation in these areas.

“The public sees that during the last 30 years, Austin has been spending money on a transit sys-tem, mostly buses,” Stoll said. “They are concerned those invest-ments will be used more effi-ciently going forward. That’s why this plan comes out as corridors and centers related to where tran-sit is presently being provided, as well as transit in the future.”

Measures like a proposed high-capacity transit stop on Slaughter Lane are also being considered as a way to encourage further growth along those corridors.

“If you grow where [there are no existing infrastructure and services], you would have to build new roads or insert new pipes, new fire stations, police stations, new parks,” Dugan said.

The city has determined a cost benefit to developing along the mixed-use corridors as opposed to low-density sprawl, which could ultimately help reduce future tax rates.

“It’s like a 9-to-1 ratio—it’s not even close—in terms of taxes generated versus cost of servic-ing,” Stoll said.

Natural resourcesThe plan also focuses on pro-

tecting natural resources and directing development away from the South Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones.

“It’s the balance between com-peting interests that everybody holds, but trying to figure out what’s a balance to ensure that water quality and adequate water supplies are there, and degradation of the environment doesn’t occur,” said Judge Margaret Cooper, Imagine Austin Citizens Advisory Task Force chairwoman.

Redevelopment of three neigh-borhood centers and one regional

center at the Y at Oak Hill, located over the recharge or contributing zones for the aquifer in South Austin is part of the Land Use and Transportation Policies sec-tions under the comprehensive plan. The plan states that rede-velopment should improve water retention and water quality feed-ing into the aquifer or drinking water sources.

Neighborhood plansThough the comprehensive

plan does not constitute zoning regulations or establish zoning district boundaries, rezoning will likely have to occur gradually to accommodate development.

While current neighborhood

plans allow residents, businesses and other stakeholders to cre-ate a formal document to dictate future land use, desired zoning changes and aesthetic guidelines for development, there is con-cern as to how Imagine Austin will coexist with neighborhood plans—which in the absence of an updated comprehensive plan have adopted the role of direct-ing growth and development.

“Rather than trying to do a comprehensive plan, they thought they would attack the problem neighborhood by neigh-borhood, and eventually there would be plans for the whole city,” Stoll said.

However, city planners assure

that Imagine Austin will not ren-der the neighborhood plans obso-lete, but that the neighborhood plans are vital to development and redevelopment of neighbor-hoods. Whereas a comprehensive plan provides a bird’s-eye view of the city, the neighborhood plans are ground-level guides to the look and feel of an area.

“They both bring an important perspective, and that is what we have tried to convey in [Imag-ine Austin]: that they are two tools that need to work together,” senior planner Greg Claxton said.

Sara Behunek contributed to this article


Source: City of Austin

The Imagine Austin plan identifies area and neighborhood hubs and high traffic

corridors as part of its analysis.


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Clarke HeidrickAustin Chamber of Commerce 2012 chairman By Eric Nagurney

Editor’s note: Coffee with Impact is a monthly forum at our headquarters featuring leaders in various sectors who are making a difference in Central Texas and beyond.

Clarke Heidrick is former chairman of Travis County’s health care district, Central Health, and in 2004 led the successful initiative to create the district. He will be honored in April at the Seventh Annual University Medical Center Brackenridge luncheon for his long-standing commitment to providing Austin with quality medical services.

Heidrick began practicing law in 1977 and currently works as an attorney at Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody where he also serves as chairman of the firm’s board of directors. Heidrick holds, or has held, leadership positions in several local organiza-tions, including the Shivers Cancer Foundation, Rebekah Baines Johnson Center and the United Way Capital Area organization. He began his term as chairman of the Austin Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 1.

What should Central Health do to reach a balance between its growth and its budget limitations over the next few years?

What Central Health probably needs to do is increase its tax rate modestly [over the next two to three years]. When I say modestly, I mean less than the 8 percent cap that the staff mentioned during budget season last year. It will need to carefully manage its expenses and probably cut some expenses. For example, one of the big projects Central Health has pursued is the construction of a new clinic on Braker Lane, which had some controversy. When we open a clinic like that, we’re going to pull some patients away from other clinics, and, at some point, we need to close some clinics that are not as efficient. You have to close things, and government organizations aren’t as good as they might be at closing things.

You mentioned the controversy surrounding the Braker Lane clinic. Do you think that was the right location?

I think the long-term answer is yes. I think we got the right results. It was an experiment we learned a lot from, since it was the first new facility that Central Health built. I don’t think in hindsight that we did as much work with the neighborhood up front to anticipate a lot of issues that popped up, and, as a result,

we were in a reactive mode instead of a proactive mode … You learn as you go.

Do you support establishing a medical school in Austin? What challenges do you feel that initiative will present?

I definitely support it, and I think challenges abound. One of the challenges until recently has been some questions about whether it would benefit [The Uni-versity of Texas] campus or pull resources away from it. There is a sense that not having a medical school is constraining on the reputation of an organization that would like to be and considers itself a world-class university.

As usual, what comes down to every major project is dollars. To get it done, we’re going to have to raise some money for endowment, and we’ll have to find a source for operating dollars. What I keep hearing from UT is they are very confi-dent that the endowment and the capital dollars can be found, but the operating dollars will be hard to come by. That’s where Central Health would come in to raise its tax rate and conceivably have some money to invest in the project.

Can you see Central Health playing a part in a larger county role? As in patients from Williamson County and Caldwell County and Bastrop County come in?

Well, patients come to Brackenridge

Hospital from lots of different places, and they get taken care of. Some of those counties will reimburse Brackenridge Hospital, and some of them won’t. Some of those patients have insurance, so they can pay, but many of them can’t …

Whether you’re Travis County or Wil-liamson County or Hays County, you want as many [tax] dollars in your com-munity paying your hospitals to take care of as many patients as you can. Because if they don’t get those dollars, they’re going to increase their rates to health insurance companies for people who can pay. The folks in your county are going to end up paying more. When you buy up from it … it’s a vicious cycle, which is leading to a failure of choice in health care. It’s going to have to stop.

In terms of a rail system, Travis County wants it developed, while Williamson County thinks it’s too expensive. How can Austin engage Hays and Williamson counties in the rail conversation?

If having rail is the right thing ... I think you’ve got to envision and start doing infrastructure now to serve a community that’s going to exist 35 to 40 years from now. We all are going to be part of a thing that’s very dynamic, that’s called Central Texas for now.

I think you’ve also got to look at the tri-angle formed by Dallas, San Antonio and

Houston, with Central Texas right in the middle, where something like two-thirds of the people of Texas are going to live and is going to be one of the world’s great economic regions for the next 100 years. I think we should anticipate that. Whether you live in Williamson County or Travis County, we’re all in this together. We need to have the mentality where we’re happy a major employer comes into Williamson or Hays County, even though we’re in the Austin Chamber of Commerce, because those folks are going to drive the regional economy forward.

How does a reader who is curious about these regional and transportation issues get involved?

I’m a big fan of chambers. You have a number of chambers of commerce in the region. Chambers think about transpor-tation and have transportation com-mittees of people who want to see those issues dealt with. Chambers tend to be organizing committees that are looking for people who want to volunteer, who want to roll up their sleeves and go talk to elected officials. I think those folks bring out a totally different, valid perspective than what you get when you’re an elected official who works with a public works department and you’re trying to figure out what your budget is, which is going to be spent in the confines of your entity.

Lisa

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Clarke Heidrick answers questions from Community Impact Newspaper Publisher John Garrett.


What L&T&T offers• Rare toys

• wooden toys

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• Locally made toys

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Unique toys available

Lions & Tigers & Toys also carries well-known brands.

Lions & Tigers & ToysPlay is encouraged at whimsical shop

S tacy Winegar has a somewhat old-fashioned idea about how to run her

business: get personal. In a time where the relation-

ship between customer and busi-ness owner can be distant at best, Winegar, the owner of Lions & Tigers & Toys, is bent on offering a more direct connection.

Walk into her store, and one cannot help but look back on one’s childhood and feel at least a little nostalgic—the store has character.

It only takes a few people to run Lions & Tigers & Toys; Aside from the occasional help from Winegar’s husband, Brad, the entire team is manager Gene Bell, Gary Delgado and Win-egar herself.

The store officially opened in April 2011 but did not host its grand opening until September. Dedicated to quality, Winegar brought in award-winning inte-rior designer Jennifer Burggraaf to design her circus-themed shop.

She said that the store was designed with the kids in mind, which is why visitors are allowed to do something that is frowned upon in most toy stores: play with the toys before buying them.

“We want to be the best toy store, the best toys, the best ser-vice, the best price,” she said.

Patrons will not find shelves lined with masses of Barbies, action figures or other main-stream toys. They are more likely to find the rare and different.

There is some overlap with the superstores, and she does carry brands like LEGO and Mattel, but the entrepreneur said that she is a fan of the vintage and handmade.

She bases what she carries on local demand. If customers want it, there is a good chance she has it.

“A lot of people in Austin do like to shop local,” she said. “People tell us when they come

in, ‘You have things that the other toy stores don’t have.’ So, we really try to bring in a diverse inventory.”

This is her first business ven-ture, and after being a home-maker for many years, raising children and volunteering here and there, Winegar decided it was time to do something unknown to her.

“I had raised three kids, my last one had graduated from college, and I decided that I was ready for something to do—something new and different,” she said. “I was like, ‘I’m going to get out in the business world.’”

The shop’s biggest competitor is the Internet, and while the business’s website has no shop-ping capacity, she knows that she’ll have to establish one to survive in the modern market.

“At some point, we’re going to get into some sort of online sales, but right now we’re strictly the store,” she said.

Owner Stacy Winegar listens to customers and

stocks special toys based on their requests.

Lions & Tigers & Toys4301 W. William Cannon Drive892-7627 www.lionsandtigersandtoys.com B

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Wholy BagelDeli owner brings East Coast staples to Texas

T hanks to Wholy Bagel, Austinites can have a delicious taste of New York while staying close to home.

Everything from the bagel recipe to the drink selection at Wholy Bagel is rooted in New York, where bagels are revered the way barbecue is in Texas.

“We try to give everybody who comes in here a little bit of New York here in Austin,” Wholy Bagel owner Scott Cam-panozzi said.

Campanozzi, a New Jersey native, moved to Austin four years ago and said he was perplexed that there were no authentic bagel shops in the Austin area. A longtime employee of the food distri-bution industry, Campanozzi decided to bring New York–style bagels to the area by opening his own store.

Wholy Bagel is one of only a handful of bagel stores in the nation that uses a 100-year-old-plus bagel recipe that origi-nally came from a person who moved from Israel to Harlem, Campanozzi said. The bagel-making process Wholy Bagel uses includes making fresh dough daily, boiling the dough the next day, baking the bagels in an oven and flipping them.

The process gets seeds on both sides of the bagel and gives the bagel a soft, chewy inside and a crispy outside, Cam-panozzi said. Wholy Bagel uses one of about 1,000 ovens in the nation specifi-cally designed for bagels, he said.

Meanwhile, most chain bagel stores in the area use frozen dough that was shipped from out of state and is baked in a steam-injected oven, Campanozzi said.

“It’s a heck of a lot more labor inten-sive and takes a lot more square footage in the store to do what I do, but it tastes a heck of a lot better,” he said.

Wholy Bagel has 17 varieties of homemade cream cheese spreads and 16 varieties of fresh bagels. The bagel sandwiches use premium Boar’s Head cold cuts. Wholy Bagel also makes cook-ies from scratch, has a pie line and brings in some products from the Bronx such as Black and White cookies.

Wholy Bagel offers breakfast and lunch sandwiches all day. Campanozzi said he is considering expanding the store’s hours so customers can stop by after work to grab bagels for dinner.

Campanozzi said he particularly enjoys turning Austinites on to East Coast specialties. When he sells a Taylor Ham sandwich, a New Jersey staple, he tells customers if they don’t like the sandwich, he will refund their money or make them something else.

“I have not had one of those sand-wiches returned,” he said.

Wholy Bagel customer Laura Filipo-vich said she often drives 25 minutes from her home in Dripping Springs for Wholy Bagel. She said the bagels are so good that they don’t need to be toasted or slathered with cream cheese to be delicious.

“We are bagel people, and we know that you can’t really beat a New York bagel,” Filipovich said of her and her husband. “We came and tried it out, and now we’re hooked.”

By Gene Davis

Patrons can build their sandwiches with a number of cold cuts.

Wholy Bagel offers several types of gourmet cream cheese to spread on its bagels.

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Wholy Bagel employees David Ramirez and Jesse Betts gather beside owner Scott Campanozzi (middle).

Choose your cream cheesethe 17 varieties of freshly made cream cheese spreads at wholy Bagel use real fruit and vegetables. owner Scott Campanozzi said he is constantly listening to customers and introducing new spreads, some of which are based on customers’ recommendations. the latest spread, texas Loaded Cream Cheese, has scallions, bacon and cheddar cheese.

Meet the meatsBagel sandwiches at wholy Bagel use Boar’s head cold cuts and have double the meats and cheeses than most other sandwich stores offer, Campanozzi said.

• double thick cut bacon

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• Premium ham

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Wholy Bagel4404 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. P899-0200Mon.–Fri. 6 a.m.–3 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 7 a.m.–2 p.m.

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ReAL eStAte

Circle C Ranch78739

Build-out year: 1988–2012

Builders: Capital Pacific, Clark wilson, david weekley, doyle wilson, d.R. horton, Fedrick harris, hammond, highland, John Lloyd Custom, KB homes, Mercedes, newmark, Plantation, Pulte, Scott Felder, Standard Pacific, Streetman, Village, wilshire

Square footage: 1,318–4,838

Home values: $204,000–$584,000

HOA dues (estimated): $558 annually, mandatory

Amenities: Aquatics center with olympic-sized pool, Circle C Café and Grill, disc golf, hike and bike trails, sports facilities, 5k veloway

Nearby attractions: Shopping, restaurants, Alamo drafthouse Slaughter Lane (coming soon), Lady Bird Johnson wildflower Center

Property taxes:

Austin iSd 1.2420 travis County 0.4855 City of Austin 0.4811 Austin Community College 0.0948 Central health 0.0789

Total (per $100 value) _______________ 2.3823

Schools:

• Clayton elementary School• Kiker elementary School• Mills elementary School • Gorzycki Middle School• Bowie high School

5028 Tiger Lily Way $257,0003 Bedroom / 2.5 Bath 2,249 sq. ft.Agent: Jaymes willoughby347-9599

5808 Back Bay Court $275,0004 Bedroom / 2 Bath 2,347 sq. ft.Agent: debra Groom825-6980

10520 Hansa Drive $344,5004 Bedroom / 3.5 Bath 2,650 sq. ft.Agent: John Squires970-1970

6418 Old Harbor Lane $359,0005 Bedroom / 3.5 Bath 3,288 sq. ft.Agent: Sheila Perry657-0121

Data compiled by Bob McKenna

Austin Real Estate Partners288-8088

www.austinreps.com

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Slaughter Ln.

MoPac45

1826

No. of homes for sale

No. of homes under contract

Avg. days on the market

29 21 39

No. of homes sold in the last year

Square footageLow/High

Selling priceLow/High

289 1,331/4,838 $204,000/$584,000

On the market (As of Jan. 15, 2012)

Featured homesOverview

Home sales (December 2010–December 2011)

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3022 West Slaughter Lane • Austin, TXwww.johncalvertdds.com


ZIP code Subdivision Address Bed/Bath Price Sq. ft. Agent Phone Agency

78735 Barton Creek 2112 Wimberly Lane 4br/3ba $969,000 4,803 Dawna Cekuta 413-3333 Amelia Bullock, Realtors

78735 Estates above Lost Creek 3304 Desert Willow Cove 3br/3ba $599,000 2,951 Dave Murray 751-6060 Coldwell Banker United Realtor

78736 Covered Bridge 8812 Towana Trail 3br/3ba $342,500 2,840 Mike Conner 785-7490 Stanberry & Associates

78736 Madrones 11024 Arroyo Canyon 7br/7ba $3,000,000 9,470 Lauri McNevin 439-7765 Keller Williams - Lake Travis

78737 Belterra 570 Aspen Drive 5br/4ba $550,000 4,083 Ryanne Vaughan 619-5034 Keller Williams Realty

78737 Belterra 345 Mirafield Drive 5br/4ba $377,602 3,323 Jimmy Rado 821-8872 David Weekley Homes

78737 Hailey R 11504 Morningsun Drive 2br/1ba $329,900 725 Mark Miller 538-5915 Private Label Realty

78737 High Pointe 145 Rain Lily Circle 3br/2ba $249,900 2,326 Paula Paulette 966-8321 RE/MAX Centx Assoc.

78737 Highpointe 139 Grapevine Court 4br/2ba $319,000 3,128 Gary Steele 426-9800 Keller Williams Realty

78737 Highpointe 166 Blazing Star Drive 5br/4ba $419,900 4,313 Jeff Coffman 964-6640 Keller Williams Realty

78737 Oak Run West 11408 Oak Branch Drive 3br/2ba $299,000 2,662 Michael Scheffe 328-1075 Keller Williams Realty

78739 Hielscher 11225 Maelin Drive 4br/2ba $369,900 2,814 Allen Butt 917-2829 Keller Williams Realty

78739 Meridian 7428 Wisteria Valley Drive 4br/4ba $424,900 3,632 Tiffany Avila 626-7367 Keller Williams Realty

78745 Austin Highlands 1114 Milford Way 3br/2ba $139,900 1,198 Casey Clem 825-7955 Keller Williams Realty

78745 Cherry Creek 2513 Burly Oak Drive 3br/2ba $199,000 1,345 Matt Prewett 470-4433 Realty Austin

78745 Hillside Oaks 903 Bodark Lane 3br/2ba $160,000 1,255 Quinn Palmer 736-9560 J.B. Goodwin, Realtors

78745 Park Forest 4900 Majestic Drive 3br/1ba $215,000 864 Alan Serotta 750-8278 Pacesetter Properties

78745 Park Forest 4607 Clawson Road 3br/1ba $199,997 1,468 Ricky Cain 794-6601 Keller Williams Realty

78745 Salem Center 1316 Central Park Court 2br/2ba $202,499 1,299 Matthew Menard 947-8787 Keller Williams Realty



78745 Southampton 3411 Clarksburg Drive 3br/2ba $165,000 1,501 Carmen Morales 300-8672 J.B. Goodwin, Realtors

78748 Bauerle Ranch 10316 Huxley St. 3br/2ba $225,000 2,190 Aubrey Prosser-Shaw 632-6002 J.B. Goodwin, Realtors

78748 Bauerle Ranch 3024 Fleet Drive 3br/2ba $217,900 2,168 Doris Schroeder 327-1927 J.B. Goodwin, Realtors

78748 Brodie Heights 9201 Brodie Lane 2br/2ba $197,500 1,550 Nancy Warren 415-3383 Keller Williams Realty

78748 Buckingham Estates 920 Wessex Way 2br/2ba $142,000 1,192 Carolina Aceituno 217-1218 Keller Williams Realty-RR

78748 Buckingham Estates 8707 Birmingham Drive 3br/2ba $149,900 1,274 Bernice Schaffer 250-0855 RE/MAX Capital City

78748 Hillcrest 2435 Lavendale Court 4br/2ba $195,900 3,482 Patrick Struble 966-1257 EXIT-Options Realty

78748 Morningside 11724 Alexs Lane 4br/2ba $217,500 2,658 Michael Spickes 699-0400 Realty Austin

78748 Pheasant Run 2702 Curlew Cove 3br/2ba $150,000 1,380 Sandra Alvarez 965-0746 Coldwell Banker United Realtor

78749 Circle C Ranch 9109 Edwardson Lane 3br/2ba $239,975 1,667 Cathy Morris 560-8360 Keller Williams Realty

78749 Circle C Ranch 9524 Argyle Drive 5br/3ba $330,000 2,830 Crystal Kilpatrick 680-5835 Realty Austin

78749 Circle C Ranch 6417 York Bridge Circle 3br/2ba $319,900 2,169 Patricia Cabrera Webster 924-9923 Amelia Bullock, Realtors

78749 Deer Park at Maple Run 8525 Axis Drive 3br/2ba $230,000 2,253 Mike Minns 785-9157 Atlas Realty

78749 Laurels at Legend Oaks 7500 Shadowridge Run 3br/3ba $192,000 1,772 Bertina Schreiber 796-5740 Moreland Properties

78749 Legend Oaks 5805 John Blocker Court 3br/2ba $224,900 1,496 Dan O'Connell 407-2449 Prudential Texas Realty

78749 Shadowridge Crossing 6612 Debcoe Drive 4br/2ba $264,900 2,392 Vince Martinez 785-4288 Keller Williams Realty

78749 Village at Western Oaks 5936 Salcon Cliff Drive 3br/2ba $234,900 1,489 Frank Simonetti 426-6363 Realty Austin

Residential real estate listings added to the market between 1/10/12 and 1/23/12 were included and provided by the Austin Board of Realtors, www.abor.com. Although every effort has been made to ensure the timeliness and accuracy of this listing, Community Impact Newspaper assumes no liability for errors or omissions. Contact the property’s agent or seller for the most current information.

Property Listings

ReAL eStAte

Market Data Southwest Austin

Price Range

Number of homes for sale/Average days on market

78745 78749 78739 78748 78735 78736 78737

Less than $149,000 44/106 - - 19/79 2/138 9/90 1/100

$150,000–$199,900 34/100 13/46 - 60/97 5/95 7/115 2/171

$200,000–$299,900 36/105 27/117 10/57 41/109 2/23 8/197 37/120

$300,000–$399,900 5/100 7/88 21/72 10/73 8/85 7/183 37/94

$400,000–$499,900 2/78 - 12/84 5/127 3/307 2/89 21/102

$500,000–$599,900 - - 5/94 2/163 1/52 2/0 6/205

$600,000–$799,900 1/274 1/11 1/291 - 8/64 - 7/98

$800,000–$999,900 - - - - 6/109 2/61 -

$1 million + - - - - 29/169 - 1/253

Month

Number of homes sold/Median price

78745 78749 78739 78748

December 2011 44/$178,250 44/$224,000 28/$324,950 44/$176,072

December 2010 34/$175,750 42/$227,500 24/$312,500 53/$184,000

Month 78735 78736 78737

December 2011 24/$385,244 5/$220,000 13/$291,920

December 2010 13/$304,500 6/$251,250 21/$318,990

On the market* (As of Jan. 9, 2012) Monthly home sales*

*Market Data includes condominiums, townhomes and houses.

Market Data provided by the Austin Board of Realtors

ZIP code guide78735 Oak Hill / Southwest Parkway area78736 Oak Hill78737 Oak Hill78739 Circle C area78745 South of Ben White, Sunset Valley78748 Shady Hollow / Manchaca area78749 MoPac / William Cannon area

8707 Birmingham Drive $149,900

8525 Axis Drive $230,000

2513 Burly Oak Drive $199,000

570 Aspen Drive $550,000

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southwest austin edition volume 4, issue 10 | jan. …...2-volvo-lease o er with approved credit...

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