Round Rock is a city about 15 miles north of Austin. The city is located in the Texas hill country, a beautiful place to live while commuting to the larger city. Round Rock has its own employers, though, with Dell and Farmers Insurance calling it home. The city has been recognized as one of the [...]
Round Rock is a city about 15 miles north of Austin. The city is located in the Texas hill country, a beautiful place to live while commuting to the larger city. Round Rock has its own employers, though, with Dell and Farmers Insurance calling it home. The city has been recognized as one of the safest cities in the U.S. and for its park systems. The cost of living here remains one of the lowest in Texas, including utilities and taxes. The school district is another point of recognition, and Round Rock is consistently doing its best to improve.
The most recent ratings for the Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) show that the district as a whole received an acceptable rating from the Texas Education Agency. Twelve elementary schools received an exemplary rating, and not one in the district was deemed unacceptable. The reason for such success is not only following state criteria and educational guidelines, but by collecting data from every step in the education process. RRISD has an Assessment and Audit Department which collects data on every aspect, including safety, employment satisfaction and turnover rates, and operational efficiency. The reason for this department is to analyze and objectively focus on areas in need of improvement.
Round Rock schools have been recognized for multiple state awards. Several have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. As the city continues to grow, the district will continue to strive for excellence. Round Rock has made education one of the most important focuses of the city, and it is certainly worth it.
Round Rock, a suburb of Austin has been recently recognized by the University of Texas Center for Performance Excellence (UTCPE) for achievements in one of their schools and several departments. These awards are based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards program. The Baldrige criteria are used as a basis to determine continuing improvement. The [...]
Round Rock, a suburb of Austin has been recently recognized by the University of Texas Center for Performance Excellence (UTCPE) for achievements in one of their schools and several departments. These awards are based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards program. The Baldrige criteria are used as a basis to determine continuing improvement. The program has been in effect since 1987, and thousands of organizations strive to receive this recognition.
The UTCPE formed in 2002 and since then has streamlined the Baldrige criteria into separate levels of achievement. Level 1 is first step, which the Canyon Vista Middle School has earned. The school is recognized as “beginning to adopt performance excellence principles.” Round Rock’s Independent School District Department of Continuing Education and the Department of Library Services also received Level 1 honors. The city’s Purchasing Department received Level 2 honors for “demonstrating the serious use and routine use and practice of performance excellence principals.” The highest achievement is Level 3, which means the organization has reached the full Baldrige criteria. The purpose of these criteria is to encourage improvement in educational standards.
The Texas Education Agency is responsible for rating school performance within the state. Several of Round Rock’s schools have received exemplary accountability standards. The district overall has received an acceptable rating for the most recent school year. The recognition by the UTCPE will help to encourage the district’s other schools to meet the same criteria. With the standards laid out, it is much easier for schools to create the means by which to reach improvement goals.
Austin has been at the forefront of green living since before it became popular. Many local builders now offer green options from construction site to completion. One builder in particular has gone a step past that. Green Builders in Austin now also offers green remodeling for those who don’t want to move, but still want [...]
Austin has been at the forefront of green living since before it became popular. Many local builders now offer green options from construction site to completion. One builder in particular has gone a step past that. Green Builders in Austin now also offers green remodeling for those who don’t want to move, but still want to be eco-friendly. The company offers an in-home energy audit to determine a home’s energy output and offer ways to decrease that amount.
On their website, Green Builders states “heating and cooling account for more than 50% of the average American household’s energy consumption.” With the energy audit, a homeowner is provided information that may surprise them. For example, even some newer homes do not have proper attic ventilation and a lot of comfortable air can escape, causing the heating or cooling unit to work harder. Eco-friendly spray foam insulation can reduce the amount of energy used dramatically. This helps both the environment and the homeowner’s wallet. This audit will cost the homeowner $300, but pays for itself very quickly in money saved from finding and fixing air leaks in the home.
There are several builders in Austin that are starting to offer remodeling options for current homeowners. As residents become more environmentally conscious, many are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Local businesses are meeting this demand by educating themselves of green techniques and technologies. The City of Austin does offer rebates for some eco-friendly changes, which also encourages homeowner’s to loom into remodeling their home.
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Over the last twenty years or so, the indoor mall seems to have lost favor. The number of new malls has decreased significantly, and there is only one set for construction in 2009. Until recently, malls have been placed away from residential areas only. For all the convenience they may offer, one would have to [...]
Over the last twenty years or so, the indoor mall seems to have lost favor. The number of new malls has decreased significantly, and there is only one set for construction in 2009. Until recently, malls have been placed away from residential areas only. For all the convenience they may offer, one would have to travel some distance to get there. With the environment clearly on everyone’s mind, malls are being scrutinized for excessive parking lots and unused space. Developers are starting to see new potential here: make it more like home.
In the last several years, any malls that have been built are leaning more toward open air models of old time downtown cities. These have been built closer to residential living areas and are called “lifestyle centers,” as they are designed with a more welcoming style. Many boast restaurants, movie theaters, etc. in an attempt to bring more people there for a lazy Saturday. More recently, as many investors are realizing how much space can be utilized, developers are looking for ways to bring housing right into the mall. In Colorado, this has already been successfully achieved. In 2003, a mall was created with 1300 apartments, 200 condos, and single family housing attached to a 106 acre lifestyle center. This is similar to the mixed use properties currently being built in Austin and has had great occupancy rates.
Many developers are seeing now that the potential for housing is a tremendous gain. Building vertically to accommodate living or office space helps the environment as well. It seems when the mall was first created in the mind of Victor Gruen, he envisioned such a place. He saw a small town that was free from cars, but offered a small town feel with day cares, shopping, and eating all right there. Who wouldn’t want to live there?
During these hard economic times, many new retail construction projects have been delayed or cancelled in Austin. Though the city remains one of the best new development spots for retailers, these are hard times to expect great return on investments. Northcross Mall, however, has seen the beginnings of a new addition in the form of [...]
During these hard economic times, many new retail construction projects have been delayed or cancelled in Austin. Though the city remains one of the best new development spots for retailers, these are hard times to expect great return on investments. Northcross Mall, however, has seen the beginnings of a new addition in the form of a 99,000 square foot Wal-Mart expected to begin building in the spring.
The weakening economy has caused many local investors to place retail opening on hold for now. Endeavor Real Estate in Austin has pushed back plans for its retail development called the Domain by a year. Retailers nationwide are doing the same. Many have already had to close down stores locally. Wal-Mart has done well during this crisis, reporting an increase of 3.4% in stores that have been open for at least a year. Due to this, many are happy to invite the store to the area. Sales tax revenue showed a decline in the last few months and is expected to continue to decline through 2009 in Austin. This new Wal-Mart will not only employ 250 to 350 people, it will also serve to create more revenue for the city to use in its budgeting.
Austin is not expected to be as affected by the economic downturn as severely as other cities. Despite many retailers holding off on new projects, there are still several who are forging ahead. Other local businesses are expanding as new mixed use developments are created downtown. Though tax revenue projections are not yet complete, Austin is hopeful the new Wal-Mart will further strengthen the local economy.
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Austin is a city of great historical significance. Residents here adore the older homes and many wish to make at least part of Austin a historical site to stymie any further new construction or remodeling that may take away from the city’s atmosphere. Austin has only passed a preservation act in 2004, and since then [...]
Austin is a city of great historical significance. Residents here adore the older homes and many wish to make at least part of Austin a historical site to stymie any further new construction or remodeling that may take away from the city’s atmosphere. Austin has only passed a preservation act in 2004, and since then has only deemed one street a historic neighborhood. Melanie Martinez, an Austin resident, is hoping to add at least one more.
Martinez has been working for two years on having Newning Avenue in Travis Heights declared a historic landmark. She initiated this fight because she was upset by many new construction sites that began with the destruction of this Victorian-era neighborhood. Martinez, along with several neighbors and other preservationists has been engaged in a two-pronged struggle for awhile. The group is seeking both a nomination for the National Register of Historic Places and for a local historic district nod for both Travis Heights and Fairview Park. The cost of this is $50,000 and the group has held several fundraisers to meet this goal. So far, they have collected around $20,000. Martinez owns two historic homes in the area, but did not realize how long it would take or how much money it would cost to have an 1100 home district deemed worthy of historic preservation.
There are no plans to stop trying. Now that the law is there to meet this demand, Martinez plans to keep working at it until the goal is met. “I had no idea going into it, but I didn’t see any other way to try to prevent losing more historic houses.”
Austin has been recognized many times for its ability to stay above the real estate crisis, credit crunch, and current economic status. As a matter of fact, Austin is expected to continue a steady influx of new residents throughout the next several years. The city is a great spot for nearly everyone from recent graduates [...]
Austin has been recognized many times for its ability to stay above the real estate crisis, credit crunch, and current economic status. As a matter of fact, Austin is expected to continue a steady influx of new residents throughout the next several years. The city is a great spot for nearly everyone from recent graduates to retirees. It is this potential for fast growth that has the city looking at a twenty year old document for comprehensive city planning and to make it better.
Austin is in need of ideas on how to deal with the ever growing population in regard to transportation, water distribution, land use, etc. To decide a specific focus for these areas, city leaders are looking at the 1979 Austin Tomorrow Plan, a 176 page document that took almost a decade to write. Current leaders plan to have the new plan drawn up in no more than two years and have budgeted $1.5 million to an outside consultant for assistance. There have been 16 responses to Austin’s request so far. Residents are expected to be able to voice their opinions as well through focus groups and workshops. Online polls are also expected to be used.
The new plan will give Austin a more certain development plan to match with a growing population. The city must plan now for the increased usage of land and water. A consensus will allow leaders, residents, and outside sources to all collectively agree on what is best for the city.
The environment and our impact on it has become a hot topic recently. We are all looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprints, decrease energy usage, and conserve water. To many, it may seem a daunting task to change to a green lifestyle, but there are many small changes that can be made [...]
The environment and our impact on it has become a hot topic recently. We are all looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprints, decrease energy usage, and conserve water. To many, it may seem a daunting task to change to a green lifestyle, but there are many small changes that can be made that can have last effects on the environment.
One of the most obvious contributors to air pollution is cars. The ozone layer is being depleted due to the damaging pollutants made by automobiles. The easiest solution for this is to car pool when available or walk whenever possible. Reducing energy is another easy step to take when going green. Change light bulbs in your home to compact fluorescent bulbs and save energy. Use trees if possible to shade your home or place overhangs above windows. Cross ventilate and use ceiling fans instead of running the air conditioner. If you must use the air conditioner, turn it up by two degrees. You really won’t feel a difference, but you will be using a lot less energy. Look at how you use the appliances in your home and see if there are any changes that can be made. Make sure the washing machine or dishwasher is full before running. Try not to open the oven door as often, as this makes the oven work harder.
There are so many small steps that everyone can take to help the environment. It is not absolutely necessary to change your entire way of living to have an impact. Of course, the more we all do for the environment, the better the planet will be, and the safer and healthier our homes will be.
