by jsherman | Dec 17, 2010 | News
Avana is a 1,000 acre project that is being developed in Southwest Austin and lies in both Travis and Hays County. Construction began in November on 100 acres of residential development by Standard Pacific homes. Avana is located at the southeast corner of Escarpment Blvd. and Toll 45 SW.
The project has filed for foreclosure in the past year and has changed ownership. Transcontinental Realty Investors Inc., a Dallas-based company, owns the Avana property. Previously, this property was to be a master planned community with around 1,000 homes, an 18-hole golf course and a hotel. Now, the Avana property is being sectioned off and sold to different developers and is being rezoned for residential development only. Liberty Bankers Life Insurance Co. bought 200 acres for a section known as Spillar Ranch within Avana while Standard Pacific purchased 100 acres. Other properties may be ready for sale in the Spring of 2011 depending on the timing of the rezoning. The price range of homes in Avana is projected to be from the mid $200K’s to the low $300K’s.
Circle C accommodates approximately 5,000 acres in Southwest Austin and has over 4,300 homes with the master plan reaching completion. With little room to expand, Circle C homeowners are looking at nearby developments, such as Avana, in which they may want to eventually include in the Circle C homeowners association.
by jsherman | Dec 8, 2010 | food and entertainment
Want to know where you can go to look at Christmas lights in South Austin? Since Austin’s Trail of Lights Festival will not be occurring for the 2010 holiday season because of City of Austin budget cuts, people are wondering where they can take their families now to enjoy Christmas lights.
The Zilker tree is still around for everyone to enjoy. The tree consists of over 3000 multicolored bulbs and stands around 155 feet tall and is adorned with a 10 foot double star with 150 frosted bulbs. When driving down Mopac (Loop 1) after dark, you can see this colorful tree display. The Zilker tree is open to the public from 6pm and is free to visit in Zilker Park at 2100 Barton Springs Road.
The entrance to Circle C Ranch at Slaughter Lane and Escarpment is always nicely decorated for Christmas. This is a nice area to drive around with the family and see all of the holiday lights.
Shady Hollow has an annual Christmas lights contest. The homes will be judged from Dec.13-17 and a map of the winners can be picked up from the mailbox at the Shady Hollow Community Center (on Doe Run) after the 17th.
Flaming Oak Cove and Woodcreek Road. This is an annual ‘must see’ I have taken my family to for the past 10+ years. Located near the public library on Convict Hill is the entrance to this cul-de-sac display of lights. My favorite is the home with the trains running around the front yard.
For around 20 years, neighbors on 37th Street at Guadalupe have done some eclectic light displays to help ‘Keep Austin Weird’ during the Holiday Season.
Although we will not have the ‘Trail of Lights’ this year, there are still plenty of places to take the family and enjoy festive lights!
Happy Holiday!!!
by jsherman | Dec 8, 2010 | food and entertainment
Whole Foods Market will be opening at a new location in Southwest Austin in the Fall of 2011. It will be located in The Shops at Arbor Trails at the intersection of Mopac (Loop 1) and William Cannon and will be housed at the current Havertys Furniture location. Havertys plans to relocate.
Whole Foods is a locally founded grocer that specializes in natural and organic foods. Founded in 1980, the business has now expanded through various acquisitions and can be found throughout the U.S. and the United Kingdom with over 250 stores now. It is the worlds leading natural and organic supermarket. The world headquarters and global support offices are located in downtown Austin at 550 Bowie Street 78703.
Whole Foods prides themselves on finding the highest quality, least processed, flavorful and natural foods for their stores. They are avid supporters of organic farming.
For healthy cooking tips, recipes, etc., visit their website: www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Being a South Austin resident, I am very excited about the opening of the Whole Foods Market in The Shops at Arbor Trails.
by jsherman | Dec 7, 2010 | food and entertainment
Austin City Limits (ACL) has been a long-running television music series for 36 years (as of 2010) and has helped Austin to be known as ‘The Live Music Capital of the World’. It was taped in small studio, Studio 6A, on The University of Texas campus, but will soon move to a new custom-made venue in the downtown area and is being called The Moody Theater. The final taping at the UT studio was Nov. 8, 2010.
While Studio 6A had an original capacity of 800 people, it was reduced to 320 when fire marshals reassessed, The Moody Theatre will be three-story and have a capacity of 2700 people. It is being constructed next to the W Hotel at Lavaca and 2nd Streets and should be completed some time in January 2011.
The first floor will be general admission, the second will contain box suites for seating, and the third level will be stadium seating. The farthest seat from the stage is only 75 feet away.
ACL will operate in Moody Theatre 45 days per year and will be available for other live music events the remainder of the year.
ACL’s new location will be the only venue in Austin that will be certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This means that it follows the ‘green’ building standards.
