It’s been another incredible year at Mueller. As we begin to wrap up the year and look forward to 2023, all of us associated with Mueller’s redevelopment wish you and yours a joyful, eventful and peaceful holiday season. In the meantime, sit back, relax and join us for a quick look back at Mueller’s top stories of 2022:
Groundbreakings Galore
It wasn’t just a collection of elegant new market and affordable homes in the southeast portion of Mueller that broke ground and continue to be built. In January alone, Austin Modern Lofts started its 39-unit condo/town home project at 51 St. and Mueller Blvd., AMLI began constructing its 326-unit apartment community at Aldrich St. and Barbara Jordan Blvd., Ryan Companies broke ground on its 345-unit community by the control tower, and Shorenstein began building its Bravo building on Mueller Blvd.
It was also early in the year that Pearlstone went vertical with its 200-unit Parkside condos, Austin Modern Lofts by the control tower rose from the ground and Gemdale’s 130,000-square-foot medical office building went upward.
TRS Officially Announces its Move to Mueller
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) announced earlier this year the state agency would relocate its headquarters to Mueller, purchasing both the Alpha and Bravo buildings in the heart of the Aldrich Street town center. Like Texas Mutual, Ascension Seton and Austin Energy before them, TRS’s approximately 1,000 employees will provide more daytime visitors to Aldrich Street’s primarily local merchants, while TRS also offers a broad range of employment positions to central east Austin.
Condominiums on so Many Corners
For many years, Mueller’s residential mix included a wide variety of single-family home styles, as well as a collection of diverse apartment architecture, but few condo options existed beyond Greenway Lofts by the Northwest Greenway and the Mueller Houses along Simond Ave. However, in 2022, four condo projects are currently underway – three mentioned in article 1 plus Gemdale’s newly announced Sora condos on Robert Browning St. for a total of nearly 300 for-sale condos, adding even more residential options at Mueller.
Origin Hotel Opens at Mueller
The 120-room, super-dog-friendly hotel next to B.D. Riley’s and the Thinkery opened in June to great fanfare. The boutique hotel features the all-day-dining Blue Lacy restaurant, specialty room types (like bunk beds to sleep six guests), a spacious gym with state-of-the-art equipment, valet parking and even a welcome treat from Austin’s own Lammes Candies.
Everyone Got Pumped about the Pump Track and Skate Park
By the time the skate park and pump truck officially opened in Mueller’s brand new Southeast Greenway near Zach Scott St. and Manor Rd. this summer, lots of skaters and cyclists had already started enjoying the facility, making it an instant hit for younger and older, novices and experts. The facility, with its colorful shade canopies, anchors the remainder of the greenway completed this year, adding more miles to Mueller’s eventual 13-mile hike & bike trail, which now connects to the Southeast Greenway’s pond, another incredibly popular location for outdoor enthusiasts…this time birdwatchers.
More Businesses Are Booming at Mueller
More than a dozen new businesses joined Mueller this past year, half of which are new restaurants to experience:
Restaurants Retailers & Service Providers
Burrata House European Wax Center
Capriatti’s Learning Express Toys & Gifts
Marafuku Ramen Texas Physical Therapists
Best Eatery Braggin’ Rights
Speaking of restaurants, we’re proud to have L’Oca d’ Oro, which was named the best restaurant in Austin by the Austin American-Statesman, and B.D. Riley’s, which was named the best Irish pub in Texas by The Irish Post, in the neighborhood.
Live Events are Back at Mueller
Did you attend KUTX Rock the Park or Movies in the Park or the Water Lantern Festival or HONK! or Light the Night or the Tower Lighting or any number of other free, public events this year? Well, as you saw, you weren’t alone. Thousands flocked to Mueller to enjoy these annual events that had been on hiatus for a couple of years due to the pandemic. Welcome back!
Dell Children’s Expands Yet Again
When Seton (now Ascension) opened Dell Children’s in 2007, officials said they thought they would have to expand in a decade to keep up with Austin’s growth and greater need for specialty pediatric care. Well before 10 years, they were constructing a third patient wing and then they added a specialty office building. Then, this year, they opened a fourth patient wing with additional services on each level, not to mention another parking garage.
Mueller Central Welcomes Visitors Back
Last but not least on the list, the Mueller Central visitor center has now reopened Mondays through Fridays 8 AM to 5 PM. Swing by when you have a moment and see the updates made to the large scale model since 2020 – it’s not everything coming to Mueller, but quite a few blocks look different than before.