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.

Continue reading →

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 →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

After being diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer one year ago, Steiner Ranch resident Alana Weston knows how fortunate she is to be doing so well today.

“It’s truly a miracle because many women in my situation do not have the same outcome,” Weston said.

On Aug. 3, 2014, Weston, an active mom of two, attended a Justin Timberlake concert with friends in New Orleans. By the end of the night, she felt a strange sore spot near her breast but thought it was caused from the underwire of the strapless bra she was wearing.

“I was definitely in the dark and I certainly didn’t realize that someone at 39 with no symptoms could have Stage IV cancer,” said Steiner Ranch resident Alana Weston, who has has battled breast cancer over the past year. Her husband Wade Weston, daughter Loni Weston, 13, and son Lucas Weston, 9, have supported her along the way.

Continue reading →