Council votes to replace destroyed pedestrian bridge in Roy G. Guerrero Park
In a popular East Austin park, a sidewalk leads off a cliff down a steep, rocky bank. Across the ravine, the sidewalk continues as if it were daring people to make an impossible leap. A pedestrian bridge used to connect…
Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jun 16, 2022
As employees return, complaints of fraud increase
Allegations of fraud, waste and abuse by city employees declined during 2020 and 2021 as a large number of employees worked from home. Brian Molloy, chief of the integrity unit at the Office of the City Auditor, told City Council’s…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jun 16, 2022
Cap Metro makes progress with equitable transit-oriented development project
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority updated the Urban Transportation Commission last Wednesday on the progress it has made on the equitable transit-oriented development project. The eTOD project uses $1.65 million in federally awarded grant money to study ways to reduce gentrification and…
Planning • By Samuel Stark • Jun 16, 2022
Four hundred apartments planned for South Lamar PUD
The property owners of 517 S. Lamar, currently home to Trek Bicycle Lamar and CareNow emergency medical services, are proposing a planned unit development with about 400 multifamily residential units, about 10,000 square feet of retail and/or restaurant space, and…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Jun 16, 2022
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 6.16.22
Today Austin City Council members will meet for the last time prior to their annual summer break. Because they won’t have a regular meeting again until July 28, there’s a lot of pressure to get things done, which usually translates…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 16, 2022
Sixth Street reboot gets first Council OK to raise building heights
In one of the most significant moves to remake the city’s downtown entertainment district along East Sixth Street, a Dallas developer has received the first OK aimed at raising mixed-use buildings up to 140 feet high to the area. Last…
Land Development Code • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 15, 2022
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Council likely to tweak rules for public speakers
City Council informally decided during Tuesday’s work session to change one of the rules for City Council meeting speakers. Starting at the July 28 meeting, speakers who sign up to address Council remotely about non-zoning items will be allowed to…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 15, 2022
Austin ISD school board selects Anthony Mays for interim superintendent
Lee esta historia in español. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees has chosen Anthony Mays, the district’s chief of schools since October 2020, to be interim superintendent. He makes history as the first Black man to serve as AISD superintendent.…
AISD • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jun 15, 2022
City explores harm reduction strategies to address the overdose crisis
The Texas Harm Reduction Alliance addressed the Public Health Committee last week about the overdose crisis in Travis County. More than 300 people in the area died of a preventable overdose last year, and more than 100 of those deaths…
Public Health • By Willow Higgins • Jun 15, 2022
Shelter leader gets vote of no confidence from commission
The city’s Animal Advisory Commission has passed a vote of no confidence in Don Bland, chief animal services officer and the director of the Austin Animal Center. At Monday’s meeting the commission voted 8-1, with two abstentions, to approve a…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 14, 2022
Opera House gets green light from Council, but must compromise on size
Months of negotiations with neighbors finally paid off for the team seeking to reopen the Austin Opera House, with City Council voting unanimously last Thursday to approve the necessary zoning changes. The vote clears the path for applicant Chris Wallin…
Zoning • By Kali Bramble • Jun 14, 2022
Draft resolution targets opioid epidemic
City Council is set to consider a resolution this week that would declare opioid overdoses a public health crisis and increase support services needed to address the issue. Members of the Public Health Committee, all of whom are co-sponsoring the…
