By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The River Place Homeowners Association is combining forces with River Place residents living on Milky Way Drive, who started a petition drive to show their opposition to a developer’s request for a zoning change for a 40-acre tract at the end of Milky Way Drive.

“The petition received 833 signatures in just a little more than two weeks,” said Ted Gaunt, petition organizer and River Place resident who lives on Milky Way Drive. The petition has 876 supports as of Oct. 30.

“We don’t oppose development of this amazing piece of land, with views of downtown — we just want it to be fair to those that have already started homes and families here,” Gaunt said.

At the River Place Hoedown recently, (L-R) Sophie Gaunt and Chelle Warren were collecting signatures on the petition circulating to prevent a proposed dense development to be built at the end of Milky Way Drive in River Place.

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Varsity football player #52, Jayelen Gray (on the left), found out he has cancer about six weeks ago. Vandegrift teammates and the entire community shows their support during a carwash on Oct. 17.

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Photos by Stephanie Collins, Wendy Segina

The Vandegrift community pulled together to host a fundraising car wash recently for  Jayelen Gray, a VHS sophomore and varsity football player who is fighting cancer.

About six weeks ago, after a couple of early season games, Gray —  who wears #52 and is a Viper defensive lineman — told teammates that he has cancer. He continues to be a part of the team as much as possible since the diagnosis and comes to practices and encourages players on the sidelines. Continue reading →

 By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Leander ISD remains the 12th fastest-growing district in the state of Texas among districts with more than 20,000 students, according to Dr. Stacey Tepera of Population & Survey Analysts, who presented a demographic update to the LISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 15.

The district grew by 831 students over the past year and, as of mid-September, had a total enrollment of 37,042 students. By comparison, Austin ISD lost 833 students over the past year.

“Clearly, it’s the highest-growth district in the Austin area, followed by Hays CISD and Round Rock ISD,” Tepera said. “The district has added almost 4,900 students over the past five years. That’s significant; that’s remarkable.” Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The 100-room Residence Inn hotel in River Place is expected to be finished by May, after more than three years since construction began.

Owned by California-based Pacifica Host Hotels, Pacifica Riverplace LP was expected to have the 100-room hotel finished by the first quarter of 2013. But that did not happen and the project has most recently been stalled for the better part of this past year.

“It has been almost a year, no one has been there,” said Vangie Bocanegra, community manager for River Place with Certified Management of Austin. “The previous contractor had financial problems.”

Construction is to resume this week on the hotel in River Place. The project has been stalled on and off the past several years.

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The top rendering is the addition to be added to the south and the bottom rendering is the addition to the east.

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Austin Baptist Church will break ground on Oct. 25 for a $10.5 million expansion project to add more than 47,000 square feet to existing facilities, plus a 3,500-square-foot outdoor playground.

Dr. David Procter, executive pastor, said the project started this month and has a completion date of next fall.

Facility construction includes two classroom buildings. Specifically, a two-story education building on the east end of the existing structure will have 12 children’s classrooms and an assembly area on the ground floor. The second level includes a dozen adult classrooms.

“The other building, south of the existing structure, will provide space for our largest adult Bible fellowship group. There also will be additional parking for 188 vehicles,” said Procter. Continue reading →