By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News  

Construction is underway at Palo Verde, a new commercial development on 8-acres at Steiner Ranch Boulevard and N. Quinlan Park Road. The first phase is a two-story, 34,000-square-foot retail building which is expected to be open by the end of the year.

“We have two leases signed, one a dental office taking 2,900 square feet and a salon signed for 2,700 square feet,” said Wes Babb, senior vice president with Weitzman and a resident of River Place. He declined to share the names but said they are local, Austin businesses and not national chains.

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

The Austin area closes out the decade with a record-breaking $13 billion in home sales. Central Texas real estate agents sold more homes in 2019 than any year on record, according to the latest Austin Board of Realtors analysis. 

The Year-End 2019 Central Texas Housing Market Report reflects a record-breaking 33,084 home sales and $13,158,737,333 in sales volume.  

Austin continued to rank high on “Best of U.S.” lists which have helped in home sales volumes. 

By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News

The Canyon Ridge Middle School 6th grade First Lego League team #6751 “Bat-teries” is helping reduce mosquitos by increasing the local bat population. 

The team is made up of eight students: Aaron Plakas, Arnov Sagi, Chase Suthar, Elise Zhou, Matewos Ghebremicael, Mireya Jawahar, Shreya Kumar and William Whitwort.