Plus, Freytag's Florist celebrates 50 years in business.
 
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Housing hotspot

Zoning changes could bring 800+ new apartments near Q2 Stadium
Matches will start at Q2 Stadium in the next few weeks. | Photo via @touche_oshea
With the incoming McKalla Red Line station and several apartment complexes in the works, the neighborhoods around Q2 Stadium are some of Austin’s hottest. | Photo via @touche_oshea
Austin’s “second downtown” may soon be even busier.

Developers requested rezoning for a project in north Austin that could bring a building as tall as 45 stories next to Q2 Stadium, adding density to an already rapidly growing neighborhood.

Tentatively called Q2 Stadium Assemblage, the Austin Business Journal reports that the project could result in ~825 new apartment units on almost 13 acres along Donley Drive and Kramer Lane.

The maximum height allowed under the new mixed-use residential zoning would be 491 ft. (For context, that’s somewhere between the W Austin and the Frost Bank Tower.)

The businesses pitching the new development are New York-based Turnbridge Equities LLC in partnership with Austin-based Burt Group. Turnbridge — which has an Austin office — previously worked on citizenM Austin Downtown and Music Lane on South Congress Avenue.

A map of the north Burnet area with icons for apartment complexes and Q2 Stadium

The early-stage Q2 Stadium Assemblage project would join a host of other apartment complexes in the works near Q2 Stadium, the Domain, and Domain NORTHSIDE.

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Map by ATXtoday

Although the Austin Planning Commission recommended the rezoning this week, the request has yet to go in front of City Council, meaning this development is in a very early stage.

However, if approved, the construction would add to several other residential projects in the works around Q2 Stadium, the Domain, and the Domain NORTHSIDE. It’s not likely to be the last, as interest in the north Austin neighborhood has only grown since Austin City Council approved taller, denser construction in the area last year.

Here are just a few of the other residential projects on our radar:
Events
Friday, Feb. 16
  • Intro to Sewing Machines | Friday, Feb. 16 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Austin Creative Reuse Center, 2005 Wheless Lane, Austin | $20 | Bring your own machine to this workshop on basic skills, functions, and maintenance.
  • O. Henry Stories | Friday, Feb. 16-Sunday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | The Rollins Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $32-$47 | Enjoy some comedic tales from this historic writer, who spent time living in Austin.
Saturday, Feb. 17
  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 6:30-8 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $37-$62 | This Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum musician is bringing the “Dirt on my Diamonds” tour to Austin.
  • PAPI SIII A Latin Gay Night | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 9 p.m. | Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River St., Austin | $7 | Spend all night dancing to reggaeton in the Red River district.
Sunday, Feb. 18
  • Fresa’s Westlake Grand Opening | Sunday, Feb. 18 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon, 3600 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. A-110 , Austin | Cost of purchase | Celebrate the opening of Fresa’s third location with all-day specials, including free bottomless queso and happy hour drinks prices.
  • Texas Roller Derby: Holy Rollers vs. Cherry Bombs | Sunday, Feb. 18 | 5 p.m. | Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | $30-$45 | Cheer on your local team of choice at this action-packed event.
Monday, Feb. 19
  • Black Violin | Monday, Feb. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $34-$64 | This duo — comprised of Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste — will wow you with a fusion of hip-hop and classical sounds.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Announced

Meet ATXtoday’s new partner
We have some exciting news to share and wanted our loyal readers to be the first to know.

Starting next week, you might start to see ATXtoday and KVUE sharing more of each other’s content on our respective platforms. This may include weather forecasts, sports news, morning show content, traffic reports, and other relevant news.

While this new partnership won’t change the uplifting and informative content you see in this newsletter, it will help us to celebrate more news and events happening in Austin together.

And that’s our mission: Spread the word about the amazing things going on in this city, and share our deep pride in this community with as many people as possible. Thanks for being a part of that.
News Notes
Edu
  • Austin ISD will offer free eclipse glasses to all students and staff ahead of the total solar eclipse passing through Central Texas on Monday, April 8. Psst — don’t have plans yet? Check out these 21 local eclipse events. (CBS Austin)
List
  • Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen was named one of USA Today’s 2024 Restaurants of the Year. Head chef Geoff Ellis of the famous local spot — known for brisket and pastrami — was also named a semifinalist for this year’s “Best Chef” James Beard Award.
Civic
  • Several City of Austin facilities — including administrative offices, Parks and Recreation facilities, and library branches — will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19 for Presidents Day. See the full list of closures.
Closed
  • Sunny’s Backyard shut down its food truck this month due to costs of operation. As a result, the east Austin bar is now no longer entirely vegan, and the business will begin hosting food pop-ups with both vegan and non-vegan dishes. (Eater Austin)
Biz
  • SpaceX, Elon Musk’s spacecraft manufacturing company, officially moved its incorporation from Delaware to Texas. Three other of Musk’s other businesses — Tesla, The Boring Company, and Neuralink — also have bases in Central Texas. (KVUE)
Community
  • Freytag’s Florist — located at 2211 W. Anderson Lane — is celebrating 50 years in business this year, marking the milestone as one of the largest independent florists in the country. Founder Ken Freytag started the company when he was 19 years old. (KXAN)
Sports
  • How is the Spurs’ new star player Victor Wembanyama faring this season? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the San Antonio Spurs with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
 
Outdoors

Has spring sprung?

Spotted: An early season bluebonnet in Downtown Austin
A close-up photo of a lone bluebonnet flower, poking out amid green grass.
City Editor London spotted this bluebonnet in Downtown Austin this week. | Photo by ATXtoday
The bluebonnets have arrived. We repeat: the bluebonnets have arrived.

We spotted our first bluebonnet of the season in Downtown Austin this week, in an unassuming patch of grass near West 3rd Street and North Lamar Boulevard.

If you’re wondering if the blooms are a little early, they are. Although it’s not unprecedented for Texas’ state flower to start its annual show in February, bluebonnet season typically begins in mid- to late March, peaking in early April.

The flowers also made an early appearance last year, which happens when warm, spring weather arrives early. (Of note: High temperatures are expected to break into the 80s next week.)

Curious about more local flora? Learn about Texas’ state mushroom or brush up on our local wildflowers.
Asked

Where are your favorite places to see bluebonnets around Austin?
Share your go-to local spots for wildflower viewing and we might share your suggestion in an upcoming newsletter.
Let us know
The Buy

The Buy 2.16.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Cute, matte black shower shelves that stick to your shower wall + give you way more room to store products. Our favorite feature: The shelves are 100% rust-proof, meaning they’ll last over time and allow for easy cleaning.
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TEGNA
 
The Wrap
 
London Gibson

Today’s edition by:
London
From the editor
Growing up in Marble Falls, there were plenty of gorgeous Hill Country bluebonnet sighting spots.

One of my favorites was a large field next to the aptly named Bluebonnet House, a two-story limestone home from the mid-1800s that is considered to be “one of the most photographed houses in Texas.”
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