In a letter to City Council from President Linda Jackson, Preservation Austin is urging Council to allocate $300,000 in order to fund the next phase of the city’s Equity-Based Historic Preservation Plan. The letter notes that the city has not had a new historic preservation plan in 40 years, and the “need for a strong, […]
2022
Posted inDevelopment
Travis Club paused, pending a traffic analysis
On July 12, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to deny developers of Travis Club, a subdivision plan at Bee Creek Road and Thurman Bend Drive with a golf course and marina, the ability to move ahead with phase one of construction before a traffic impact analysis is conducted. However, commissioners expressed approval of other […]
Posted inWhispers
It’s so dry out …
How dry is it? A July 20 update from the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District reports that the Texas Hill Country has seen six inches less than the average yearly rainfall, with conditions expected to worsen. According to the update, water levels in the Edwards Aquifer began to decline mid-March, and the Trinity quickly followed, […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
AISD debuts two draft bond proposals
Austin Independent School District hosted a series of four meetings last week to talk to community members about the bond planning process for the upcoming year. Over 200 stakeholders tuned in to the first meeting alone to better understand the process and provide their two cents on the first draft of the proposals. At the […]
Posted inElections
Watson had help from bundlers, but not that much
In his campaign to become Austin’s next mayor, Kirk Watson has already gained the title of the city’s most prodigious fundraiser for a political race. He raised more than $997,000 in time for the July 15 report. Although he had some help from a dozen “bundlers,” people who collect funds on behalf of a candidate, […]
Posted inTransit
Capital Metro hosts groundbreaking ceremony for its new station outside of Austin FC stadium
On Monday evening, following a compelling rendition by the Austin FC marching band of Camila Cabello’s “Havana” (singing “McKalla, ah la-la” instead of “Havana, ooh na-na”) state and local officials and Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority staff participated in a groundbreaking ceremony in front of what will be the new McKalla Station, located on the east […]
Posted inWhispers
APD arrests 141 during “holiday season”
During the recent July 4 holiday “season,” the Austin Police Department arrested 141 people for driving while intoxicated. The DWI Enforcement Initiative took place from June 24 until July 11 during an extended “no refusal period” that allowed police to apply blood search warrants to suspects that refuse to submit to blood or breath tests […]
Posted inPreservation
Hancock home to Tom Miller and Emma Long to become historic landmark
In a brief respite from demolition cases, the Historic Landmark Commission is celebrating a likely contender for landmark designation at 803 Park Blvd. in North Central Austin. The Miller-Long house was built in 1929 in the heyday of the early Hancock neighborhood boom, eventually serving as residence to formative civic leaders Tom Miller and, later, […]
Posted inElections
Phil Brual, the UT Austin student running for mayor
On Nov. 8, Austin will elect a new mayor, and already a number of high-profile candidates have entered the race. And among those candidates is Phil Brual, a 21-year-old University of Texas student born and raised in Austin. In many ways, Brual’s campaign mirrors that of his competitors – focusing on issues like affordability, public […]
Posted inWhispers
Kelly to host license plate reader meeting today
Delivering on a promise to do more outreach on the topic, City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly will be holding a virtual community meeting today about the potential return of license plate readers. The city’s License Plate Reader Program was cut in 2020 as part of the process to “reimagine public safety.” Austin police say that […]
Posted inPlanning
Community Development Commission pushes for affordability at Statesman project site
The Community Development Commission has asked City Council to require significant affordable housing be located on-site for the planned unit development for the former Austin American-Statesman property that is being led by Endeavor Real Estate Group. The commission voted unanimously last week to resend its December 2021 resolution to Council, which called for 20 percent […]
Posted inWhispers
More candidates enter race in districts 8 and 9
Kimberly Hawkins entered the City Council District 8 race with the filing of a campaign treasurer appointment on July 11. She was not required to file a campaign finance report last week because she joined the race after the filing deadline and she has chosen a modified reporting option by promising not to collect or […]