Just northeast of the capital in Travis County, Manor is one of the most underrated neighborhoods in the Austin area. Starting with mostly farmland, the community has grown exponentially over the years. With its reasonably priced properties, Manor is quickly becoming a popular destination for young entrepreneurs and families looking to establish roots.

Manor Developments

As the community rapidly grows, it is no surprise that developers are turning their attention to the city with hopes of making their own contribution. At the end of July, the Manor City Council agreed to rezone nearly 63 acres of land just east of the city. This rezoning will clear the way for the development of a brand-new neighborhood along with some commercial space. 

355-Townhome Neighborhood 

With housing demand significantly increasing over the years as the population of Manor skyrockets, this new neighborhood will be a welcome addition to the area. Mill Creek Residential, the developer of this upcoming community, has announced plans for 335 townhomes on at least 52 acres of the land. The homes are mainly three to four bedrooms, with backyards and garages for future homeowners. They range in size from 1,100 to 1,700 square feet.

Commercial Space

Nine remaining acres will be used for commercial development, such as general retail, restaurants, financial services, and art studios. Certain establishments, including standalone nightclubs, pawn shops, gas stations, junkyards, etc., will be prohibited from developing in this space to keep with the intended use of the community.

An upcoming development like this is a positive sign for Manor and its neighboring communities. If you have questions as this development progresses, feel free to contact me here or email me at tmcneil@kw.com. I love to report on all the exciting things coming to the Austin area!

Formerly known as East Pecan Street, Sixth Street is distinctly Austin. It is framed by large, Victorian-age buildings, bustling restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. While these buildings have remained steadfast in their historical roots, the social function of “Dirty” Sixth Street has constantly evolved throughout the years. The city’s entertainment district dates back to the late 1800s, with many buildings as old as the 1870s and 1880s. Despite its unmoving foundation, Sixth Street transformed into a shopping district from the early 1900s until the 1950s. 

The early 1970s saw the first battle to preserve the street’s historic character. Despite calls for renovation and demolition of certain buildings, Sixth Street officially became a historic district in 1975 to preserve and protect the rich history running through the street. Today, Sixth Street is known as the life of the party. A true testament to the entertainment scene, the street boasts an eccentric mix of nightlife alongside ancient Austin history.

New “Rejuvenation” Plans

If there was one thing that Austinites could attest to Sixth Street, it would be its ever-changing nature. Running from Congress Avenue to I-35, this nine-block stretch has been the topic of choice in recent years as developers hope to transform the street once again. In the past summer months, Sixth Street has seen plans for additions of office buildings, hotels, restaurants, and newly updated entertainment venues. The plans also include a proposal to increase the height limit for buildings on this street to make way for these new high-rise developments.

These changes are in hopes to transform the street into a more cohesive Austin area, one that makes Austinites proud to frequent. There are locals on both sides of the proposed plan, with many residents wary of new developments and the preservation of the historic elements on Sixth Street. Plans to keep the historical protection of these landmarks intact were initially scheduled for early June, but the Austin City Council has pushed the discussion until July 28th. 

Sturdy Sixth Street Evolves

Despite these concerns, development is often considered a positive thing, especially for such a historic and famous district in Austin. Modernizing this street while still protecting and maintaining the historic fabric of Sixth Street will also boost the value and attraction of nearby neighborhoods. The foot traffic from these neighboring areas brings bubbling life to downtown Austin and creates a must-see destination for residents and new visitors hoping to make Austin their permanent residence. 

Sixth Street has been a bustling life force of downtown Austin since 1839, evolving and changing with the times every few years but remaining a robust historic foundation for the city. If you have any questions about new innovative plans for Austin, feel free to reach out to me at tmcneil@kw.com. I love Austin and am always on the lookout for exciting things to come to this incredible city.

Nestled within Austin is a gem of Texas natural beauty, the Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. Just a few miles from downtown, this 1,200-acre park is beloved in its community. Residents from surrounding communities flock to enjoy its prime boating, fishing, and swimming features. This immense lake was initially created to aid the nearby Austin Energy facility’s energy production. However, it has transformed into a hotspot for the Austin community to enjoy an endless stream of outdoor recreation. 

The Master Plan

As the surrounding metropolitan areas grew and developed over the years, locals have longed for the same development and attention to be placed on their favorite park. Luckily for them, an ambitious $800 million master plan was drawn up and unanimously approved by Austin’s Park and Recreation Board in 2019. This five-phase master plan will work to develop and innovate the 1,200-acre lake as well as the surrounding public land, accounting for nearly 3,700 acres. 

The master plan, often described as “several parks within a park,” focuses on four primary levels of use in its projected development. The natural areas, such as the protected prairies that run through the property, will remain practically untouched. The recreational areas, however, will be split into passive and active sections for gatherings and events that could be run by the Travis County Expo Center located on the land. This plan also includes numerous proposed components for the future of the land, including a cultural arts center, a boardwalk, hiking trails alongside equestrian areas, an amphitheater, a sculpture garden, rentable cabins, and so much more.

Community Benefits

While the timeline for this specific project will span decades, this plan is dedicated to transforming the land into a fantastic new attraction for residents and visitors. This future development for East Austin’s Walter E. Long Park will provide benefits throughout the Austin area, creating a space for residents to locally enjoy all kinds of recreational activities. Since the park is only 12 miles from bustling downtown, residents and visitors alike will have easy access to this beautiful attraction. This master plan is designed to be a comprehensive plan for the new and continued development of great Austin neighborhoods, boosting economic growth, providing stable jobs, improving connectivity throughout the city, and providing a high-quality public space for East Austin.

Feel free to contact me at tmcneil@kw.com for any questions about more developments in Austin and what this Walter E. Long Park master plan means for the city.

Great news for all the Austinites who always dread the summer heat: The Colony Park Aquatic Center project is well underway! Conceptualized out of a need for aquatic recreation in the Colony Park and Lakeside areas, the completion of this aquatic center will be a historic occasion. 

Set to be located in Northeast Austin at the 93-acre Colony Park District Park, the center will house a lap lane pool, tot pool, water slide, spray ground feature, training/party room, and office space for the aquatic center itself. New community developments also show that this project will participate in the City of Austin Arts in Public Places program in order to commission a unique art installation at the center upon completion.

An integral part of Colony Park’s master plan involves providing support and access to housing for the community alongside providing a new aquatic center. A new mixed-use development, fondly nicknamed “mini-Mueller,” will transform the Colony Park area. Residents can expect over 3,000 new homes and apartments and up to 960,000 square feet of commercial space, including offices, stores, and restaurants near Colony Loop Drive and Loyola Lane. On March 24, 2022, the Austin Council approved these efforts, making the Colony Park Sustainable Community a top priority moving forward.

The Colony Park Aquatic Center has been in development since early 2021, and progress is moving quickly. After numerous community meetings and surveys that provided a space for the public to voice their vision for this center, the project has reached its Design Phase while preparing to submit for permitting in 2022. It is expected to begin construction in early 2023.

With heavy involvement from the community, this exciting project received funding through the City of Austin 2018 G.O. Bond, which will help extensively with its expected $13.1 million budget. With construction set to be completed at the beginning of 2024, The Colony Park Aquatic Center will be a greatly anticipated space for all Austin local communities, particularly residents from Colony Park.

You can learn more about these projects here or contact me at tmcneil@kw.com to discuss other exciting developments in Austin that you can expect in the near future.