Austin, Texas, is changing. Once known for its music and its slackers, these days the Texas capital earns more headlines related to growth and productivity: The number of companies and people that have moved there, the booming tech industry, the festival scene. The demographic data bears out this change: In 2015, the city?s population hit 2 million, an increase of 37.7 percent since 2005. Between 50 and 100 newcomers move to Austin every day, and the population is projected to double, to nearly 4 million, by 2040.
For city residents?and city planners?Austin?s growth has major implications. Gentrification has pushed some longtime Austinites out of their homes as newcomers move in and prices rise, and it has made the city less affordable for the musicians who built Austin?s reputation. Historic buildings face demolition or redevelopment to accommodate more residents. And as Austin struggles to make room for its larger population, officials must rethink everything from zoning to parks. The stories in this package are a snapshot of Austin in a moment of transition. The changes to the city aren?t entirely new, but they?ve taken on momentum lately as Austinites debate gentrification, the future of ridesharing and transportation in the city, the preservation of East Austin, and a zoning code revision. As it reshapes itself to meet residents? changing needs, what will Austin become next"

Reinventing Waller Creek

Waller Creek, once a problem for the ...