By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

Three owls were released into the wild at Longhorn Village in September, thanks to the efforts of resident Marc Bernat, a self proclaimed birder. The owls’ story was an eventful one that all started earlier this year when their mom, who eventually disappeared, took up residency in one of Bernat’s flowerpots on his balcony.

“Longhorn Village had not yet organized its resident birders when I came four years ago,” Bernat said. “Since then we have Beak Week in the spring, and we have speakers and field trips.”

Bernat is a lifelong Texan, retired attorney, avid bird enthusiast and four-year resident of Longhorn Village, the University of Texas Exes-linked retirement community.

So it was a lucky coincidence when an owl decided to nest on Bernat’s balcony at his apartment this past February. Continue reading →

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

The Texas Department of Transportation launched the RM 620 Feasibility Study earlier this year and recently reported preliminary results showing drivers want relief.

“Thus far, (study outcomes) have been very straightforward – there is a problem and people want it solved as quickly as possible,” said Kelli Reyna, TxDOT spokesperson. “The result of the feasibility study would be a list of prioritized projects, which would then need community support to gain funding.”

Launched earlier this year, the RM 620 study is intended to identify problems and investigate the feasibility of various short-, mid- and long-term solutions for the 18.8-mile segment extending from SH 71W to US 183N. Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

A new 19,000-square-foot commercial development called 2222 Station is expected to open in spring 2017 at 10815 RM 2222 and owners are targeting an upscale restaurant, other eateries, retailers and offices.

The 5.16 acre lot, which is currently vacant, was purchased by C. Lee Family Corporation, a family-owned development company, on April 23, 2015, from Capella Commercial River Place LLC. The project is in the pre-leasing stage with Retail Solutions acting as the leasing agent.

“We hope to have construction of the shell building done by December 2016 and tenant improvements and occupation by early spring of 2017,” said Dennis Chia of C. Lee Family Corporation.

​A new commercial development called 2222 Station will be located on RM 2222 near Black Walnut Café and the new campus of School in the Hills at River Place. The 19,000-square-foot development is expected to be completed by spring 2017.

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Vandegrift High School and Leander ISD have SAT scores that beat the state and national averages, and VHS outscored LISD by 33 points or more in Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing sections.

LISD Superintendent Bret Champion announced that last year 1,677 graduates took the SAT, a 17-percent increase from the year before, and the total score on the college-entrance exam increased by six points from the graduating class of 2014 to the class of 2015. Continue reading →

Construction at Aria at Steiner Ranch at 4800 Steiner Ranch Blvd. is ongoing while a large number of the buildings are finished with occupancy at 50 percent. Over the next two years, Aria and Tacara Steiner Ranch will add nearly 550 new units combined, both feeding into Steiner Ranch Elementary.
Photo by Lynette Haaland

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Five new apartment developments in or near the Four Points area are expected to be built and fully occupied within the next two years. While the developments may attract a significant number of families with school-aged children, local officials say schools in Four Points can handle the growth.

Two of the developments are already built. The largest of the five, Escape at Four Points, located near River Place Elementary, has 344 units and is currently 80 percent occupied. Currently, only 30 LISD students live among the 275 occupied units, according to Dr. Stacy Tepera of Population and Survey Analysts, who presented a demographic update to the LISD Board of Trustees in October. Tepera said the approximately 60 units remaining to be occupied will not likely have a major impact on student enrollment and may add only five to 10 additional students.

Tepera said the proposed Cardinal Point development, also near River Place Elementary, may have a higher number of students because the units are income-restricted. The project is subsidized by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Cardinal Point is expected to break ground in 2016 and will have 120 units. Continue reading →