Without fanfare, Austin grew by one block and two streets this month. The new block is along Cesar Chavez Street, facing Lady Bird Lake. A 38-floor building takes up the entire block and will house the Northshore apartments, plus office and retail space. The apartments are pre-leasing for fall rentals.

This is the first of four blocks carved out of the former site of the Green Water Treatment Plant. It is bordered by San Antonio Street on the east and the newly-opened Nueces Street on the west. Sidewalks, trees, benches, bike stands, and even garbage cans have been installed.

Second Street is now open for one more block to the west. Eventually the street will extend further west via the Butterfly Bridge over Shoal Creek. That section is paved, but won’t open until the new Central Library is completed later this year.

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