Store closings in Steiner
By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
A donut shop and women’s boutique in Steiner Ranch have recently closed and a children’s shop will be sold or will close in a few months.
The Donut Hole recently closed its store in the Shops at Steiner and is moving to the former Red’s Fresh Foods site at 1700 RM 620 N in Lakeway.
“We will be opening our new location next week,” said Donut Hole partner Rick Landry.
“Our five year contract is up in Steiner and we have outgrown the space for the weekend business. Our new location is almost three times as big with plenty of seating and a drive through and is only four miles from Steiner Ranch,” Landry said.
After nearly three years, 4 Hip Chicks Boutique in the Quinlan Crossing Shopping Center is closed.
“We at 4 Hip Chicks of Austin are sad to go but also excited to be spending more time with family. We have formed friendships and relationships we will never forget. Our staff will also miss you guys, it has been a fun three years. Thank you all so much for being a part of our dream,” said shop owner Deanna Holik.
February 25 2015 Issue
2014 home sale prices increased for the most part; Grandview showed a big jump while River Place decreased slightly
By KIM ESTES, Four Points News
The median sales price for homes in Grandview Hills increased by a large 29 percent from 2013 to 2014, while dropping 2.79 percent in River Place. Noting that the number of homes sold in Grandview Hills fell a simultaneous 30 percent, from 26 to 18, Craig Smyser, with RE/MAX Capital City, said, “The data set of homes sold is small, so there is always more distortion in these cases.”
“While there is some correlation to lower supply resulting in higher prices,” Smyser said, “these two numbers are too dramatic to account for all the swing.
“Sometimes, it just happens to be a mix of a few more higher-end homes selling more than usual,” Smyser said.
Median Sale Price 2013- 2014
Grandview Hills
2014 $432,500
2013 $335,000
29% increase
River Place
2014 $555,000
2013 $570,900
2.79% decrease
Steiner Ranch
2014 $431,650
2013 $410,000
5.28% increase
Westminster Glen
2014 $975,000
2013 $950,000
2.26% increase
*Source:Craig Smyser, with RE/MAX Capital City
Community Workshop updates road projects, traffic, LISD technology, transfers & graduation
By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News
Representatives from Leander ISD and the Four Points community met with parents in the Canyon Ridge Middle School on Jan. 28 to offer updates on ongoing traffic and school projects. The Community Workshop event was sponsored by the Vandegrift High School PTA Ladder.
Speakers covered a range of topics, including Four Points traffic, the proposed alternative road to VHS, possible transfers for Steiner students to Four Points Middle School, school technology initiatives and the new TEKS or Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
VHS/FPMS alternate road status
LISD School Board President and and founder of the Four Points Traffic Committee Pam Waggoner spoke first. She informed parents of the current status of efforts to open a paved road on the Balcones National Canyonlands behind Four Points Middle School and VHS.
The intent of the proposed road is to provide an alternate route for parents, students and apartment residents who visit the area daily but also as secondary access for emergency vehicles.
“The road behind Vandegrift is already a corridor, it’s already been mitigated,” said Waggoner. The existing corridor, however, has caused additional species to be added to the endangered or watched list.
In response to concerns about these species, the Four Points Traffic Committee filed a Habitat Conservation Plan in November 2014 on behalf of LISD with the U.S. Department of Fish and WIldlife. They received an answer January 7.
“It’s not great news but it is news. They’ve come back and they haven’t thrown it out, so that’s the good news,” Waggoner said.