Austin American-Statesman, Texas, Austin Inc. Column.

Nov. 9--LOWE'S MIGHT BE EYEING HART GRAPHICS FOR OUTLET: Lowe's knows, but isn't telling. The Hart family isn't talking, either.

But the buzz in commercial real estate circles is that the home improvement chain is eyeing the Hart Graphics site in Northwest Austin for a fourth store in Central Texas.

Lowe's is in the midst of a $2 billion expansion program.

Rival Home Depot has opened three area stores this year, for a total of eight.

The company is believed to be preparing a development plan for the site, 16 acres north of Anderson Lane, between Shoal Creek and MoPac boulevards.

"They just came in at the preliminary stages, asking …