Austin, Monitored: Slow police response times and new life for Palm Park

City makes initial moves for Palm Park makeover with Shelter House restoration

From Kali Bramble:

Earlier this month, Historic Landmark Commissioners voted unanimously to initiate historic zoning on the site, which currently belongs to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and has for decades sat largely untouched. Once approved by the Planning Commission and Council, the zoning change will clear the way for plans for the renovation project, per the agreements of the city’s Heritage Grant Program.

Though their timeline remains vague, the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy aims to resurrect the former recreational structure as part of greater plans to revitalize Sir Swante Palm Park, a largely abandoned stretch of land sitting dead center of Downtown off of IH-35. Down the line, the project could see the Shelter House become a historic anchor among a slew of amenities including playscapes, restrooms, shaded picnic tables, and brand new spaces for community events.

Study finds Austin police response times continue to lag

From Andrew Weber, KUT News:

Austin police officers took on average just over 45 minutes to respond to 911 calls last year, a new study found.

The analysis from national crime data expert Jeff Asher found the department’s average response times consistently increased over five years, going from 29 minutes in 2019 to nearly 47 minutes last year.

For years, APD has consistently missed its goal of having an average response time of 10 minutes and 44 seconds for high-priority calls.

City poised to back new COTA hotel

City Council will consider a proposal next week that would make the city the temporary owner of a new hotel and convention center complex planned near Circuit of the Americas (COTA), a legal maneuver intended to qualify the project for millions of dollars in state tax rebates without requiring direct city funding.

Under the proposed agreement, Houston-based RIDA Development Corporation would finance, design, and build a 1,000-room hotel and approximately 460,000 square feet of convention space, then donate the completed property to the City of Austin. The city would immediately lease the facility back to RIDA for up to 10 years, allowing the project to qualify as a “Qualified Project” under Chapter 351 of the Texas Tax Code. That designation enables rebates of state hotel occupancy and sales taxes generated at the site—but only if the facility is publicly owned during the rebate period.

City staff emphasize that the agreement would not involve any city expenditures for development or operations, and includes indemnification clauses to shield the city from financial or legal liability. A final version of the agreement would not be executed until the Texas Comptroller provides a formal letter ruling that confirms the project’s eligibility for rebates.

At the end of the rebate term, RIDA would have the option to buy back the hotel and convention center from the city. The leaseback arrangement is modeled after similar public-private partnerships used in Houston and Dallas to finance major hospitality projects through state-supported mechanisms.

The proposed development coincides with Austin’s $1.6 billion downtown Convention Center rebuild, expected to reopen in 2029. The new COTA-area facility could help accommodate large-scale events during the interim and bolster the city’s long-term event infrastructure. City staff anticipate 12 to 18 months of design and permitting, followed by 30 to 36 months of construction for the new hotel.

Council approval next week would authorize initial agreements, with final execution contingent on securing the Comptroller’s approval.

— Chad Swiatecki

The rent is too damn reasonable?

Austin and Round Rock have been named two of the best places to rent in the U.S., according to RentCafe.com’s 2025 Best Cities for Renters report. The study placed Austin at No. 4 and Round Rock at No. 8 nationally, citing a combination of affordability, employment opportunities and high-quality rental options. The rankings are based on 20 metrics, including local economy, housing availability and cost and quality of life.

Austin scored especially well in economic strength, ranking 12th for its high level of business activity and educated workforce — 36 percent of residents hold at least a bachelor’s degree — and the city leads Texas in new business applications per capita. Nearly 70 percent of the rental stock is considered high-end, and the cost of living sits 2.7 percent below the national average. However, commute times and limited public transit use remain challenges for quality of life, where Austin ranked 17th.

Round Rock stood out for its newer, larger apartments and lower costs, ranking 5th in housing and cost of living. With an average apartment size of 915 square feet and a cost of living 8 percent below the national average, the city appeals to those seeking more space without sacrificing proximity to Austin. While it lags behind Austin in economic measures — ranking 38th — Round Rock benefits from a low unemployment rate and high scores for neighborhood quality and schools. The full rankings and methodology are available at RentCafe’s website. 

— Chad Swiatecki

Go over and see the office of oversight

The Office of Police Oversight is inviting residents to see how civilian complaints and compliments about Austin Police Department officers are handled, as part of a new effort to increase transparency and community engagement.

The department will host its first open house at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Austin Central Library’s Special Events Center in order to let the public meet oversight staff, ask questions, and learn about the complaint review process and policy work that informs police accountability efforts. Speakers will include Office of Police Oversight director Gail McCant and members of the policy team, who will discuss the office’s mission, approach to oversight, and use of research and data to recommend system changes. Free food, refreshments, and giveaways will be provided.

The event is free and open to the public. Additional information is available at ATXPoliceOversight.org or on Eventbrite.

— Chad Swiatecki

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Elsewhere in the News

The Austin Chronicle gets into the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act and how it could impact tech growth.

Austin City Council members are calling for the federal government to reinstate federal grants that would help protect South Austin Regional (SAR) Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Austin Energy Sand Hill Energy Center (SHEC) from flooding.

Having already conquered the city with delivery robots, the company Avirde is jumping into Austin’s autonomous vehicle scene.

Austin Pets Alive! celebrates saving 500 animals from flood-ravaged shelters in Texas.

And the fire ants soldier on.

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