Report finds Hill Country suffering the demands of rapid growth
Wide open spaces, vistas of wildflowers, dark night skies full of stars, and the charms of country living have all led to unprecedented population growth in the Texas Hill Country. That growth, and the growth that will inevitably follow, have…
Environment • By Jo Clifton • Mar 9, 2022
Travis County likely to close housing assistance program months early after 'deluge' of applications
Travis County last week reopened a program with millions of dollars in funding to help people make their rent and mortgage payments. Initially the county said it could accept applications through September, but staff members now say they will likely…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 9, 2022
Pollinator advocates behind buzz to certify Austin as a Bee City
City Council members smiled for the camera wearing bobbling bee headbands as they welcomed bee advocates to speak on behalf of a recent resolution to make Austin a certified Bee City USA.With the resolution’s unanimous passage at last week’s Council meeting, Austin officially joined…
Environment • By Willow Higgins • Mar 9, 2022
Commission recommends moving APD forensics lab
With little fanfare, Austin’s Public Safety Commission voted unanimously Monday to ask City Council to move the Forensic Science Bureau out of the Austin Police Department, making it independent both in structure and budget. Commissioners signaled last month that they…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Mar 8, 2022
City, county leaders stress caution to keep Covid numbers down through SXSW
The city and organizers of the South by Southwest festival have asked attendees of credentialed and free events to have proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid-19 test if they plan on participating in this year’s event. Local leaders…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 8, 2022
Some Austin bridges need major repairs yet lack project funding
Before you drive or walk across a bridge, it’s safe to assume that the structure is in good shape and will support your weight as you cross it. Austinites have the Public Works Department and the Texas Department of Transportation…
Roads • By Willow Higgins • Mar 8, 2022
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Latest Rainey tower gets Planning Commission support
The Planning Commission has recommended increased density for 80 Rainey, a 550-foot-tall, 644-unit residential tower by developer Lincoln Ventures at 80 Rainey St. The commission voted 11-0-1 on Feb. 22 to recommend increasing the floor area ratio (a measure of density)…
Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Mar 8, 2022
City had data, but not follow-through, to 'fix' Sixth Street in 2014
City leaders had a pair of reports nearly a decade ago that prescribed changes to make the downtown Sixth Street entertainment district safer, yet many of those actions were never implemented despite a 2014 City Council resolution that included several…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 7, 2022
Council approves anti-displacement funding for year two of Project Connect
Forty-one million dollars is officially on its way to the affordable housing pipeline as of last Thursday, when City Council resolved to allocate funding from Project Connect’s $300 million anti-displacement budget in the next fiscal year. The resolution, sponsored by…
Planning • By Kali Bramble • Mar 7, 2022
Planning Commission dims owner's hopes of turning plant nursery into housing
The Planning Commission threw a wrench into an East Austin business owner’s plans to cash out on his property and allow it to be developed, voting Tuesday against removing a restrictive covenant that prohibits anything but a plant nursery. The…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Mar 7, 2022
Entertainment permit among actions Council envisions for safer Sixth Street
The city could institute an entertainment permit for nightclubs and other late-night gathering spots downtown as part of its plans to curb violence in the Sixth Street entertainment district. City Council voted unanimously Thursday to move forward with an assortment…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 4, 2022
Austin OKs $2.95 million settlement for Brad Levi Ayala, teen injured by police at 2020 protests
Austin City Council agreed to pay Brad Levi Ayala $2.95 million for injuries suffered after being shot by an APD officer on May 30, 2020. Ayala, who was 16 at the time, suffered brain trauma as a result of the…
