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Living in Texas
Austin is changing fast. And when I say fast, I mean skyscrapers reaching record heights, entire districts being reimagined from scratch, roads getting long-overdue overhauls, and green spaces being carved back into the urban fabric. Some of these projects are genuinely exciting. Others are sparking real debate about what Austin is becoming. Either way, if you live here, invest here, or are thinking about making a move here, you need to know what's coming.
I've broken everything down into four categories: the new skyline, innovation projects, infrastructure overhauls, and efforts to preserve what makes Austin, Austin.
Let's start with the one that's going to put Austin on the national map in a whole new way. Waterline is a 74-story glass tower rising 1,022 feet into the sky — making it not just Austin's tallest building, but the tallest in Texas.
Situated on 3.3 acres in the heart of downtown Austin, the location is nothing short of strategic. It sits bordered by the Rainey Street District to the east, Waller Creek to the west, Cesar Chavez to the north, and Lady Bird Lake just a few blocks to the south. Think of it as Austin's Empire State Building moment.
Here's what's inside:
This is going to set a new standard for downtown Austin real estate — full stop.
On the opposite end of the spectrum — in spirit, at least — is Sixth & Blanco, a boutique mixed-use development in the Clarksville neighborhood just off West 6th Street. Where Waterline is bold and vertical, Sixth & Blanco is curated and intimate.
The development includes:
What sets this project apart is its rare commitment to preserving Austin's character. The development is actually restoring 1920s-era bungalows and integrating them into a walkable, community-driven space. That's not something you hear often in a city that's been bulldozing its own history for years. Whether it strikes the right balance between preservation and luxury is something Austinites are actively debating — and it's a fair conversation to have.
Formerly known as Velocity, The Row is a 314-acre mixed-use development in southeast Austin, positioned at the southwest corner of State Highway 71 and 130. The proximity to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and major employers like Tesla makes this location a natural magnet for both residents and businesses.
This isn't just a housing development — it's designed to be an entire community from the ground up:
One of the most meaningful aspects of The Row is that it's directly addressing the area's designation as a food desert. Grocery options, local markets, and restaurants are all part of the plan — and a nearby H-E-B is also in the works. For a neighborhood where residents have had to travel significant distances for groceries, this is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement.
For years, Austin has been growing faster than its healthcare infrastructure could keep up. That's about to change in a significant way.
The new UT Austin Medical Center is being built on the site of the former Frank Erwin Center (yes, the concert venue that opened in 1977 — a lot of memories there). The development includes:
The medical center will also serve as a hands-on training ground for UT students across medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work. For families dealing with serious illness — particularly cancer — the impact of having world-class care here in Austin rather than having to drive to Houston cannot be overstated. This one matters deeply.
If there's one thing Austinites have bonded over through the years, it's complaining about I-35. And honestly, rightfully so. But after years of debate, the I-35 Capital Express Central Project is officially underway.
The project covers approximately 8 miles of I-35 from US 290 East to SH 71/Ben White Boulevard — straight through the heart of Austin. Key improvements include:
Will this solve every traffic problem Austin has? No — and let's be real about that. But it's a pivotal step toward a more connected, functional city. Expected completion: around 2030.
Austin is already punching above its weight in the events and conference space. The Austin Convention Center expansion is about to double down on that.
The project aims to nearly double the current rentable event space, with a more efficient layout on a smaller footprint that integrates more seamlessly into downtown Austin. The economic projections are significant:
Demolition and construction are beginning in 2025, with the new facility expected to open in 2026.
Not every major project is about building something new. Some of the most important work happening in Austin right now is about honoring the past.
The Barton Springs Bath House has been officially renamed the Joan Means Khabele Bath House, commemorating Joan Means Khabele, an Austin High School student in the 1950s who courageously protested segregation by swimming in Barton Springs Pool — an act that helped ignite a broader movement leading to the pool's eventual integration.
The rehabilitation project, initiated in February 2024, is restoring the historic 1947 Art Moderne-style bath house into a community space that honors her legacy and the broader history of civil rights in Austin. This is the kind of project that reminds us what the soul of a city is made of.
One of the loudest concerns I hear from long-time Austinites is that the city is losing its green space and outdoor character. The Confluence project is a direct answer to that worry.
This ambitious urban green space project transforms 13 acres along the Waller Creek Greenway — from Fourth Street to Lady Bird Lake, right where Waller Creek meets the lake. Highlights include:
The Confluence is expected to be completed in 2026, and it genuinely represents what thoughtful urban development can look like — growth that makes the city more livable, not just more crowded.
When you step back and look at all of these projects together, the picture is both exciting and complicated.
On one hand, Austin is investing in world-class infrastructure, healthcare, green space, and community design. On the other hand, the city is grappling with real growing pains:
Austin's future isn't predetermined. It's shaped by the people who live here, invest here, and show up to advocate for what matters. These projects are the bones of what's coming. How we build on them — and who we build them for — is still very much being written.
Expert in: Living in Texas
Austin real estate expert helping families find their perfect home in the Texas Hill Country.
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