Austin Monitor

Plans by Verizon Communications to construct a cell tower in the Regal Oaks neighborhood in rural Hays County have residents of the area upset over both its planned placement and their apparent inability to do anything about it. The 250-foot tall, freestanding tower is planned for a location that is within a few hundred feet […]

Just as the city was learning that three female police officers had filed suit alleging discrimination, a woman firefighter has filed suit against the City of Austin claiming discriminatory treatment by the department.   Nona Allen is one of a handful of the Austin Fire Department’s female, African-American firefighters. In her lawsuit, she claims she was not […]

Despite objections from the owner, both the Planning Commission and the Historic Landmark Commission are recommending historic zoning for a home in the Hyde Park neighborhood.   The home, known as the Bradford-Nohra house, dates back to 1909. Dewey C. Bradford lived at the house at 4213 Avenue G. In addition to running the family […]

Officials with the company that deals with Capital Metro’s unionized employees say they have made their “best and final” contract offer to the members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091. The announcement came after two days of talks last week between union representatives and negotiators for StarTran, the contractor that actually employs most of […]

The City of Austin opened its first evacuation shelter late Wednesday night at the Delco center for people fleeing the Texas coast ahead of Hurricane Ike. Officials say the regional shelter plan has identified 75 locations that could house evacuees, and the system has room for up to 25,000 people at official shelters.   Buses […]

Former Austin Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerley and local business owner Bobby Jenkins have founded a new political action committee designed to fight the Stop Domain Subsidies campaign. The new PAC, called Keeping Austin’s Word, will campaign against Proposition 2 on the November ballot, which would not only prohibit the city from offering tax breaks […]

It took just one hour to put the finishing touches on next year’s City of Austin budget on Monday, with Council Members making a few minor additions to the $2.8 billion proposal put forth by City Manager Marc Ott.   The Council chose to add more than $234,000 for social service contracts at the request […]

The Zoning and Platting Commission was forced to approve a subdivision plan for the two-acre Blarwood Forest off Berkley Avenue in South Austin this week despite some major reservations about the project. The plan included several last-minute variances approved by city staff in order to give the subdivision the ability to maintain its own detention […]

Austin’s Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office is working on a new tactic to promote affordable housing in central-city neighborhoods. In addition to providing low-interest loans to developers of new apartment complexes, the NCHD plans to offer long-term forgivable loans to owners of existing complexes. That would allow those owners to pass along their reduced […]

Developers of a planned $185 million Marriott Hotel complex moved a step closer to tearing down the small buildings currently housing the Las Manitas Café and two relocated businesses last week as the Historic Landmark Commission rejected a motion to begin historic zoning cases on the properties. Prior occupants Tesoros Trading Company and Escuelita del […]

Trying to plug a huge gap in the city’s campaign finance rules, the City Council on Thursday approved criminal penalties for failure to comply with regulations for collecting and spending money in City Council races. The Council is trying to rectify an oversight which lead the City Attorney to advise them that the city currently […]