November 2008

The recently conducted U.S. Census has shown that the population in Austin has grown significantly over the past year.  In fact, Austin Business Journal reports that the population increased by 2.4% since the July 2007 census, at which time the population in Austin was a healthy 734,074.  With the increase over the past year, the city has now added another 18,000 residents to its population.

Thanks to the recent population growth, Austin has officially been listed as the eight fastest growing city in the nation between July 2006 and July 2007.  Other Texas cities also made the list, including Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston, with the latter receiving 39,000 new residents during the one year time span.  As a result, Houston was officially ranked as…

As the nation continues to struggle with difficult economic times, the Austin area continues to grow.  According to the Austin Business Journal, a new boutique hotel is slated to be built on South Congress Avenue, in an area that is just a half block south of the Congress Baptist Church.

The new hotel, which will be located across from Vespaio and Allen's Boots, will feature 90 rooms as well as two major restaurants.  Bill Gurasich, who is the co-founder of GSD&M and is behind the new development, also anticipates adding a coffee house to the new hotel as well as a variety of different retailers.

The site of the hotel, which is being designed by Dick Clark Architecture, is currently owned by the Congress Baptist Church and is currently being used as a…