H
ello and welcome back to Building Austin, our weekly newsletter covering real estate, growth, and development in the Austin region. I'm Shonda Novak, the American-Statesman's real estate reporter.

    We're catching up after a two-week break, so let's dive into some of the notable stories since our last update. Cousins Properties made headlines with its $421.8 million purchase of a 35-story sail-shaped tower in downtown Austin leased to Google.

    Here are some highlights:

    * The Velocity project in Southeast Austin has been rebranded as The Row and is getting new development, including apartments, hotels, retail, and entertainment options.

    * Four Hands, an Austin-based home furnishings designer, is expanding by leasing additional space in East Austin.

    * Goodnight Ranch, a 700-acre mixed-use development near I-35 and Slaughter Lane, will soon feature more retail, medical services, and a new park.

    Home sales in the five-county Austin region and within city limits saw year-over-year increases in November, along with rising median prices. We'll be keeping an eye on 2024's year-end numbers.

    I want to thank Statesman subscribers for making my work possible. If you're not a subscriber yet, consider supporting us today. And if you have tips or story ideas, reach out at 512.913.4503, [email protected], or @snovak999.