The downtown JW Marriott has completed a river‑inspired refresh across its lobby and all 1,012 rooms as hotels reposition ahead of Austin’s convention center rebuild.

Hays County commissioners voted Tuesday to deny a 340‑acre Hays Commons development agreement after residents and conservationists raised aquifer and wastewater concerns. The decision shifts the fight to state permits and hearings.

Four aging office buildings near Ben White and Banister could be replaced by shops, restaurants and 200+ apartments under a newly mapped zoning plan. The move reflects wider pressure on older office properties.

HPI will break ground on a new phase of the 100‑acre Hays Commerce Center in Kyle, adding flexible small‑bay warehouse space aimed at local logistics and manufacturers.

Council will see designs next Tuesday for a 109,000‑sq‑ft City Hall and a revamped Hopkins Street civic corridor.

Freddie Mac has put a 20.2‑acre East Riverside parcel — including the 562‑unit Mia Riverside — up for auction. The sale returns rare infill land near downtown to the market amid city code enforcement.

A new mass‑timber office called Workbench has opened on E. Seventh, housing architects, builders and a lighting showroom under one roof.

KBS has put 515 North Congress — a 26‑story, ~268k‑sqft downtown tower — on the market as Austin office owners look for exits.

The state awarded $11.6M to Soulbrain’s Taylor phosphoric‑acid plant to speed production for Samsung’s chip campus, joining local incentives and a phased $575M buildout.

New Braunfels says it has nearly $19 million set aside to rebuild the West End corridor, pairing sidewalks, drainage and intersection work to unlock private redevelopment. Major construction is expected in the 2030 phase.

SmartAsset’s 2026 rankings put Georgetown at No. 1 after a five‑year surge in housing, jobs and retail — a win that’s already reshaping the north‑Austin suburb. Local openings and a new H‑E‑B show the momentum on the ground.

Erin Brockovich launched a crowdsourced map to track AI data‑center projects and community complaints; Texas is the top source of reports, with Sulphur Springs the loudest cluster.

A lender‑led foreclosure has put the 246‑room Hyatt Centric at 721 Congress Ave on the courthouse auction block for June 2. The sale will decide who controls the downtown hotel.