AUSTIN-Beverly Silas is the 2002 leader of the Downtown Austin Alliance, replacing outgoing chairman Robert Gaston of Equity Properties Trust. She says the coming year's goals will be gamed out at November's board meeting.

ROUND ROCK, TX-Relief will come tomorrow in a heralded opening of extra lanes at one of the most congested intersections in the Austin suburb of Round Rock. State and local officials will be on hand for the ribbon cutting.

AUSTIN-Emissary LLC seals a 5,626-sf sublease pact with Trilogy Software Inc. in Shepherd Mountain Plaza. Trilogy has been downsizing throughout the downturn to maintain its balance sheet, like so many of Austin's high-tech operations.

AUSTIN-It's brutal if not downright ugly in a September to September match-up of air cargo traffic at Austin's Bergstrom International Airport. The first nine months of 2000 and 2001 show a 6% drop, but the month-to-month match was down 42%.

SAN ANTONIO-Wyndham International grabs the reins to two franchise hotels in San Antonio and Palm Springs, CA. San Antonio's St. Anthony Hotel is a 352-room historic property that's 92 years old and on the National Register of Historic Places.

AUSTIN-Dick Obenhaus takes on another partnership role, joining the team of Dallas-based Apartment Group. The appointment also brings an Austin office to the firm. Obenhaus will maintain his partnership status with First Austin Properties.

AUSTIN-Mayor Kirk Watson, addressing a sold-out luncheon, rallies the business community to stay focused on downtown redevelopment. Watson will leave office by year's end to pursue a bid for Texas Attorney General.

AUSTIN-Multifamily owners in Austin are gripping tight to their properties and refinancing rather than sell at bargain-basement rates due to declining occupancies. Class A prices are falling, rent is flat and occupancy is down to 94.1%, say the experts.