Shonda Novak
Austin American-Statesman
Austin, TX, United States
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Recent articles by Shonda:
Austin developer StoryBuilt expands South First project
Austin-based developer StoryBuilt continues to expand its sizable stake in the rapidly transforming South First Street area, bringing single-family homes → Read More
Coronavirus in Central Texas: Some stores reopen, but shoppers scarce
Some stores reopen, but shoppers scarceFriday was a day Justine Gonzalez said she has been eagerly waiting for: to be able to leave the confines of her → Read More
Lead tenant cancels lease at Downtown Austin office tower
DLA Piper has terminated a lease for the top four floors of a 25-story high-rise being built in downtown Austin. The global law firm would have been the → Read More
Hays County home values up almost 8%
The average market value of homes in Hays County rose to $283,623, up 7.9% over last year, according to preliminary 2020 figures released by the Hays Central Appraisal District.Laura Raven, Hays chief appraiser, said her office will begin mailing out more than 97,000 appraisal notices on Wednesday.The average taxable value -- the market value minus any exemptions -- also increased. It climbed to… → Read More
APARTMENT TOWER BOOM: Burst of new construction continues in downtown corridor
The apartment building boom sweeping across Central Texas is continuing in downtown Austin, pushing forward the ongoing evolution of the city’s → Read More
Loss of SXSW a gut punch for some Austin businesses
For Austin’s downtown hospitality sector, the annual South by Southwest festival has become the financial equivalent of Christmas, Hanukkah and Black Friday rolled into a 10-day whirlwind each March.That makes the cancellation of this year’s event a huge economic blow for many businesses in the area, with one business owner saying that calling off the event is "completely and utterly… → Read More
Travis appraisal district takes sales-data dispute to court
The Travis Central Appraisal District is taking its dispute over the use of Austin Board of Realtors’ home-sales data to court.The appraisal district filed a petition Friday in state District Court in Travis County, aimed at obtaining home-sales data that the district says is crucial to set updated home values this year.The petition seeks a judge’s permission to depose California-based CoreLogic… → Read More
Austin-area housing market off to hot start in 2020
Following a record 2019 for the Central Texas housing market, 2020 has kicked off in much the same way, with home sales and median sales prices again → Read More
BUILDING MOMENTUM: Austin-area new home construction sets records in 2019
Last year was one for the record books for the Central Texas home construction market, and the 2020 outlook is upbeat for area builders and developers. → Read More
Travis appraisal district restores in-person protest hearings
The Travis Central Appraisal District said Tuesday that it will resume face-to-face, informal settlement hearings with property owners who challenge their → Read More
Austin developer buys Brazos Lofts condo site
Austin-based Cielo Property Group said Wednesday that it has purchased a prime downtown site that is currently home to the Brazos Lofts condominiums, with → Read More
28-story condo tower planned for downtown Austin
A New York developer says it plans to build a 28-story residential tower at West 17th and Guadalupe streets in downtown Austin.Reger Holdings, a private → Read More
Expert: 2020 to be ‘huge year’ for Austin housing market
Following a strong 2019, Central Texas homebuilders can look forward to a reprise this year in the region’s housing market.That’s the outlook of Austin-area housing industry expert Eldon Rude, who for the 18th straight year delivered his annual housing forecast for the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin.About 750 builders and other industry professionals attended Tuesday’s event at the… → Read More
Prime site south of downtown Austin hits market
A site south of downtown Austin that houses an Extended Stay America hotel is on the market, and local real estate experts say they expect the property to → Read More
Bankruptcy filing forestalls foreclosure on former 3M campus in Austin
The former 3M corporate campus in Northwest Austin has averted foreclosure.The entity that owns the property -- and is controlled by Austin real estate → Read More
Apartment project planned for Austin’s University Park development
Two real estate industry professionals in Austin have formed a new company and plan to break ground this week on their first apartment project.Apartment → Read More
New family homeless shelter to open in East Austin
With sufficient funding now in place, a new 212-bed Salvation Army shelter in East Austin for families experiencing homelessness will be able to open at → Read More
New month, new records: Austin-area home sales, prices keep rising in November
In a familiar monthly trend, home sales and the median home-sales price in Central Texas set all-time highs for any November on record. The same pattern → Read More
Endeavor buys Aussie’s site south of downtown Austin
In another acquisition of prime land, Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group has added to its holdings in a high-profile area just south of downtown Austin, purchasing the one-acre site that is now home to Aussie’s Grill & Beach Bar.Bryce Miller, a founding principal with Endeavor, told the American-Statesman on Monday that the company has no immediate plans for either that site at 306 Barton… → Read More
Luxury hotel set for spring debut at Austin’s storied Commodore Perry Estate
A new chapter is at hand for the historic Commodore Perry Estate in central Austin, one that will see the 10-acre property transformed into the first hotel in Texas for the Auberge brand.A spring opening is planned for the luxury hotel, Auberge executives told the American-Statesman. They said the Commodore Perry Estate resort will be a popular destination because Texas is a big market for… → Read More