Austin City, No Limits: Spotlight on the Booming Texas Capital

By S. Kirk Walsh Over the years, many factors have drawn newcomers to Austin—a lattice of green spaces, relatively mild winters, a large research university, delectable barbecue and Tex-Mex, and a vibrant local music scene that has earned the city a rep as the Live Music Capital of the World. But there’s something bigger happening in the capital now: Austin’s magnetic pull seems to be getting stronger every day. The local population is speeding toward the one-million mark, and studies peg it as the second-fastest-growing city in the U.S., thanks in part to technology companies like Amazon, Google, Oracle, and Tesla setting up shop and expanding operations here. Central neighborhoods—such as Tarrytown (an older enclave west of the Mopac Expressway) and Mueller (a newer 700-acre redevelopment built in the footprint of the city’s old airport)—are in high demand among home buyers. Meanwhile, groves of sleek condo buildings are transforming sleepier East Austin neighborhoods. Thanks to a number of high-rise towers cropping up in recent years, the skyline itself has changed considerably. Ziplining at Lake Travis on the outskirts of Austin. (Photo: FROM TOP: BRIAN P. BARNESLAKE TRAVIS ZIPLINE ADVENTURES) Blanton Museum of Art. (Photo: © ELLSWORTH KELLY FOUNDATIONBLANTON MUSEUM OF ART, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN) VIBRANT SPIRIT Such accelerated growth has reshaped the city’s character as well as its landscape. “I really like the youthful energy of a booming city that is attracting ambitious people from all over the world,” says Mark Jacobs, an entrepreneur who moved to Austin two years ago. “Having easy access to so many great restaurants, along with great venues for theater, comedy, and music, is especially attractive. Austin has so much of what is desirable about a big city while still maintaining a more laid-back and friendly vibe of a smaller community.” The past decade’s growth has fueled exciting expansion in the local restaurant scene. Excellent offerings now include Hestia (serving sophisticated wood-fired cuisine), Este (delicious coastal Mexican fare with seafood as the centerpiece), and both Loro and BBQ Ramen Tatsu-ya for exceptional Asian-barbecue fusion. Lutie’s restaurant at the historic Commodore Perry Estate. (Photo: AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION) Cultural offerings have grown richer too. In 2018, the city unveiled the state-of-the-art, six-floor, 200,000-square-foot Central Library, which sits on the shores of Lady Bird Lake, providing rooftop views. More recently, Austin put the finishing touches on Waterloo Park—a multiuse urban park inspired by New York City’s High Line. Summer 2022 saw the opening of the 15,000-plus-seat concert venue Moody Center, where Harry Styles and George Strait have already performed. Music fans can also catch local musicians at longtime hotspots like the Continental Club, Stubb’s, and the Broken Spoke. Art lovers’ favorites include such venerable institutions as the Blanton Museum of Art and The Contemporary Austin. “When I moved to Austin in 2006, I missed the opportunities New York provided, but now I find there are more offerings in Austin than I have time to attend,” says Dalia Azim, author of the 2022 novel Country of Origin and deputy director of the Texas Book Festival, an event that has grown exponentially over the years. “The city’s growth creates an enthusiastic energy that is contagious,” says Jacobs. “People want to be part of a successful community, and growth is the ultimate sign of success.”