North central Austin is seeing a huge expansion in terms of retail space.  The Domain is a 700,000 square foot retail center at Braker and MOPAC.  The 700,000 is just the start.  Two other developments, the Shops at Arbor Walk and Domain Crossing, will be just to the south pf the Domain.    Going in to the Domain will be Ann Fontaine, Lilly Pulitzer, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., Lacoste and more.  So Austin is joining Dallas, Houston and other larger cities in that it will have some higher end retailers than it currently has. 

Another project that will have an enormous impact on the area will take up 178 acres.  This one will have 7.5 million square feet of retail, apartments, condominiums restaurants and office space.  All of this development will have a huge impact on north Austin.  It will give people in Austin and surrounding the opportunity to shop at stores that are new to the area.  It will also generate a huge amount of revenue in terms of sales and property tax.  The downside, if there is one, is that all of this space will mean more traffic for the area.