Plus, Lucchese Bootmaker may be headed to South Congress.
 
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Historic hospital made new

Historic Austin State Hospital’s $300 million redesign may open by summer
ATX_ASHconstruction
The still-under construction Austin State Hospital is expected to open sometime this summer
| Photo by ATXtoday
The revamped Austin State Hospital — Texas’ oldest hospital for the care of people with mental illness — may open by summertime, Mayor Kirk Watson said in a recent newsletter.

The 162-year-old site embodies a lot of complicated local history, but as Watson sees it, it also holds a lot of potential for the wellbeing of our community. Let’s dig in.

Past

The Austin State Hospital opened as an asylum in 1861 with 12 patients. As one of the state’s first mental illness treatment centers, the hospital was innovative for its time, but also carried out systemic segregation and racist practices for the better part of a century.

The site’s history has been an important part of the redevelopment, which included archaeological excavations of the hospital’s former women’s dorms and African American dorm, dining hall, hospital, and tuberculosis wards.

The reconstruction of the old hospital is years in the making, with none other than Watson himself spearheading the charge. As a Texas State Senator, Watson helped pass the legislation that resulted in a contract between Texas Health and Human Services to redesign ASH.

In total, 14 buildings were demolished to make room for the new hospital. The historic administrative building remains intact.

The historic Austin State Hospital building, with columns out front, a domed top, and pale brick.

The Austin State Hospital is the oldest hospital in Texas geared toward the care of people with mental illness.

|

Photo via Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Present

The $305 million rebuild was designed by Page Southerland Page in partnership with the UT Dell Medical School. The new space is “full of light with lots of outdoor access,” Watson said.

The site consists of 24-bed units with therapy rooms, classrooms, exercise rooms, and activity rooms. The hospital will also house a music and art room, chapel, salon, basketball courts, walking trails, and outdoor exercise equipment.

Future

Watson said the newly reconstructed hospital may open by May with 240 beds. The mayor also touched on making this place home to some of his other “big ideas,” hinting at more to come.
Events
Wednesday, Jan. 31
  • Geoff Sobelle - “FOOD” | Now-Saturday, Feb. 3 | Times vary | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $53 | This “intimate dinner party performance” examines smell, taste, touch, and the “why” of food and eating.
Thursday, Feb. 1
  • Bryan Adams | Thursday, Feb. 1 | 7:30 p.m. | The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $74-$818 | The Canadian singer-songwriter’s “So Happy It Hurts” tour will also feature special guest Dave Stewart’s Eurythmics Songbook.
  • Scribble After Dark | Thursday, Feb. 1 | 8 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin | $41-$139 | A group of YouTube animators embark on an evening of improvisational animation, game show-style.
Friday, Feb. 2
  • Brett Goldstein | Friday, Feb. 2 + Saturday, Feb. 3 | 7 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $80-$325 | See the “Ted Lasso” star live on his “The Second Best Night of Your Life” tour.
  • The Ocean Blue | Friday, Feb. 2 + Saturday, Feb. 3 | 8 p.m. | 3TEN at ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $27 | Hear the self-titled album on Friday, Feb. 2, or attend on Saturday, Feb. 3 for the “Cerulean.”
Saturday, Feb. 3
Plan Ahead
  • The Stupid Pet Tricks Tour | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 2 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr., Austin | Free | Show off your pet’s special skills on the pink carpet — one pet will be picked to be included in an episode of Sarah Silverman’s series by the same name.
Events calendar here
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News Notes
Transit
  • CapMetro approved a $20 million contract to turn its MetroBike system entirely electric. The investment will result in an overhaul of all bikes, docks, stations, and the MetroBike software system with work beginning this summer. (CBS Austin)
Shop
  • The former Maya Star location on South Congress Avenue could be replaced by Lucchese Bootmaker. The El Paso-based company has one Austin location at The Domain and sells boots starting at $325 per pair. (Austin Business Journal)
Civic
  • The HOME Initiative, a change to Austin’s land development code that allows property owners to have as many as three housing units on one lot, will go into effect on Monday, Feb. 5. Interested landowners may apply via the normal residential plan review process.
State
  • Someone call Lorde — Texas has that “solar power.” More than one third of the electricity on the state’s grid — about 15,222 megawatts — came from the sun on Sunday morning, breaking a new Lone Star solar power record. (KUT)
List
  • Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, and Gruene earned shout-outs on Forbes’ list of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024. The Hill Country towns were lauded for their local wines, country dance scene, and outdoor settings.
Trending
  • The French Bulldog is the most popular dog breed in Texas, according to a new study from PedLab. Rankings were determined by Google search trends of breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. (CBS Austin)
Finance
  • One card, all the perks. Unlimited 1.5% cash back, a sign-up bonus worth hundreds, and 0% intro APR for 15 months (all with no annual fee) almost sounds too good to be true — but this card has it all.*
 
Development

💎 Square-cut or pear-shaped

11,000-sqft fine jewelry store coming to North Lamar Boulevard
A rendering of the incoming Korman Fine Jewelry store on North Lamar Boulevard, depicting the shop from the outside. The rendering shows a building with tan stone walls, a copper-colored shade structure swinging out the the left, golden lettering, and greenery planted around the property.
The new Korman Fine Jewelry store opening on North Lamar Boulevard will span 11,000 sqft and offer a range of guest experiences. | Renderings courtesy Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
That’ll fit a lot of diamonds.

Work on a new, 11,000-sqft Korman Fine Jewelry store is now underway at 2901 N. Lamar Blvd. The transformation of the expansive space — which used to house University Cyclery — was designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.

The fine jeweler has worked in Austin for five decades and plans to make this new space home to several guest experiences, including:
  • A showroom
  • Multiple hospitality lounges
  • A bridal salon
  • A VIP reception room
When the store opens — the completion date is yet to be determined — guests will be able to shop from brands like Messika, Rolex, Single Stone, Tudor, and other renowned names. Check out the catalog.

A gif cycling through renderings of the Korman Fine Jewelers site.

The new site will include several guest experiences.

|

Renderings courtesy Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.
The Buy

The Buy 1.31.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Women’s UGG Tasman Slippers, which keep your whole foot cozy with sheepskin and have a thick enough sole for outside wear, too.
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The Wrap
 
London Gibson

Today’s edition by:
London
From the editor
I spent my Sunday morning this past weekend exploring the Onion Creek Trail with my dog. I’d highly recommend it for anyone looking for a nice walk with their pup, but if southeast Austin is a bit too far for you, check out these other great hikes in ATX.
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