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10 developments we’re watching in 2024
A rendering of Cesar Chavez St. over I-35, with green space to the background and walkways with gardens bordering the street.
This rendering shows what Cesar Chavez Street could look like with new “caps” over I-35. | Rendering via TxDOT
New year, new skyline.

Each year brings major development news to Austin, and 2024 is slated to be no different. From a major overhaul to our highway system to new public spaces and several new high rises, here are 10 Downtown developments we’re watching this year.

I-35 Capital Express Central | Construction will begin this year on a $4.5 billion overhaul of I-35, stretching from Hwy. 71 to US 290 E. In addition to widening and lowering parts of the highway, TxDOT plans to implement “caps” and “stitches” that will allow for pedestrian and bike access.

A rendering of the Clarksvillage project

Sixth&Blanco, formerly called Clarksvillage, is expected to include five-story buildings with living space and gardens.

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Rendering via Riverside Resources, the City of Austin

Sixth&Blanco | About two acres of West Sixth Street will be transformed into a mixed-use development featuring five stories of retail, hotel, and residential space. After years of planning, the space’s current vendors — like Swedish Hill — are expected to close this month to make way for construction on the project.

The University of Texas at Austin Medical Center | Goodbye, Frank Erwin, hello MD Anderson. Crews are currently slowly dismantling the nearly 50-year-old arena, which will make way for a new hospital in partnership with the country’s best cancer treatment center. The project — which also includes a second hospital tower — is expected to cost $2.5 billion total and join Austin’s burgeoning Innovation District.

A rendering of the Waterline tower, with Lady Bird Lake in the foreground.

Waterline is set to hold the 1 Hotel Austin, residential and office space, and ground floor food and beverage space.

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Rendering courtesy KPF

Waterline | Austin’s tallest tower is well under construction, with completion anticipated in 2026. The Rainey Street district development is expected to contain the 1 Hotel Austin, 350+ luxury apartments, and 700,000 sqft of office space.

The Confluence | The second phase of Waterloo Greenway’s plan to transform Waller Creek and build a 1.5-mile greenway through downtown is now underway. This phase focuses on the southernmost stretch of the greenway and adds three pedestrian suspension bridges, additional trails, multiple new public green spaces, and more than 1,550 new trees.
5 more developments
Asked

What developments are you watching?
We know there’s more where this came from. Share which projects are on your mind this year.
Let us know
Events
Monday, Jan. 15
  • Cirque Italia | Monday, Jan. 15 | 1:30 p.m. | Barton Creek Square, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin | $20-$55 | It’s the last day to see this Cirque Italia production about Rafael, a farm boy swept away by a tornado and lands in the heart of the city.
Tuesday, Jan. 16
  • Make & Take: Asian Dumplings | Tuesday, Jan. 16 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Central Market Austin - North Lamar, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin | $75 | Make multiple types of dumplings and traditional dipping sauces at this class for people 18 and up.
  • Out in Tech | Tuesday, Jan. 16 | 7-10 p.m. | Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River St., Austin | Free | Connect with others in your community at this event organized by the world’s largest nonprofit group of LGBTQ+ tech leaders.
Wednesday, Jan. 17
  • Sprouts | Wednesday, Jan. 17 | 10-11 a.m. | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin | Free | This children’s program centers on nature play and includes a sensory activity, nature walk, and story.
  • Pouring with Heart: 400 Conejos Mezcal Society | Wednesday, Jan. 17 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Las Perlas, 405 E. 7th St., Austin | $15 | Sip and learn about mezcal, a spirit with hundreds of years of history.
Thursday, Jan. 18
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Weather
  • Thanks to a strong cold front that blew into Central Texas yesterday, temperatures are expected to stay below freezing today. Watch for ice on roads, remember to care for your home, pets, and loved ones, and sign up for emergency alerts from the City of Austin.
Today Is
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today, you can honor the life and legacy of Dr. King at the annual march from UT’s Martin Luther King Jr. statue to the Texas State Capitol. The MLK Day festival and food drive have been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 27 due to today’s freezing weather.
Sports
  • Former Longhorn volleyball player Logan Eggleston became Texas’ first NCAA Woman of the Year last week. The athlete has five All-American honors under her belt, and won Big 12 Conference player of the year three times. (Austin American-Statesman)
Closing
  • The Randalls grocery store at 10900 Research Blvd. will close by Saturday, Feb. 10 due to store underperformance. The store currently employs 76 people, some of whom may be transferred to other Randalls locations. (KXAN)
Opening
  • The first Austin location of K Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot will open in Sunset Valley (5200 Brodie Lane) today. A second Austin location of the all-you-can-eat chain is expected to open in the Arboretum at an undisclosed date. (Eater Austin)
Plan Ahead
  • The City of Austin’s Equity Office will host its annual forum for the first time in three years. The free event will showcase city efforts to bolster racial equity in the area, and feature art activations + panelists from local organizations and businesses. Register to attend.
Giveaway
  • Make a donation towards veterans’ and children’s charities + you could win a RAM 3500 HD truck in the Big Diesel Truck Dream Giveaway. Double your entries with code 6AMCITY.*
 
Environment

🌱 Waste not, want not

The beginner’s guide to composting in Austin
The top of an Austin city compost bin
The City of Austin provides curbside composting to some residents. | Photo by ATXtoday
Wanna turn garbage into gold? Try composting.

The process reduces waste and provides you with healthy, nutrient-rich soil for gardening and lawn care.

Although the City of Austin offers curbside composting, you can also build a compost pile for use in your own backyard.

If you don’t want a pile of decomposing waste in your backyard, try a compost bin. Here are some options we’ve bin eyeing:
  • For beginners | Try it out before you commit. This bin is easy to clean and is perfect for collecting scraps on your counter.
  • For style icons | Composting, but make it cute. Just don’t mistake this odor-free bin for your cookie jar.
  • For the serious gardener | This 43-gallon container rotates — no more mixing compost by hand — and has two chambers so you can add fresh waste while the older batch finishes up.
  • For the landscaper | If you plan to compost mostly yard waste, this open-top bin is a good alternative to a pile.
How to get started
The Buy

The Buy 1.15.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Kitsch’s rice bar shampoo and conditioner. Reviewers noticed touchably soft hair and even improvements in hair loss, plus the bar is plastic-free thanks to its intelligently concentrated design.
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The Wrap
 
London Gibson

Today’s edition by:
London
From the editor
The results to our recent poll are in, and I’m not surprised to hear that 91% of you plan to watch the total solar eclipse this April.

It looks like 38% of you plan to take in the views from your own home or workspace, with another 28% planning to travel within Central Texas for the day. Just 2.8% of you plan to attend a local event — if you change your mind, here are 21 to choose from.
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