About the Author
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Daily News, Texas Monthly, Austin American-Statesman and many other regional and national outlets.
Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
-
-
Most Popular Stories
- Latest State of Downtown report shows the city core’s businesses and housing are in transition
- Cap Metro to shelve 46 new electric buses for a year after manufacturer bankruptcy
- Jesús Garza disputes allegation that he violated city ethics rule
- Mobility Committee hears public concern regarding expansion of MoPac
- Council gives first reading OK to major development on tiny slice of land
-
-
Discover News By District
-
Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Following HOME 2 passage, advocates seek Council action on short-term rentals
Members of the Tourism Commission are pushing City Council to move forward with an agreement with short-term rental platforms that could make it possible for the city to more easily regulate the thousands of unlicensed homes operating as lodging businesses…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • May 21, 2024
Vacant downtown storefronts eyed for arts, music activations to reverse downturn
Seeking to bring more foot traffic to an area with an increasing number of vacant storefronts, the Downtown Austin Alliance is working to partner local artists and musicians with property owners interested in exposing their spaces to new potential businesses.…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 20, 2024
As downtown sees slowing of development, new programs aim to promote activity
In delivering its annual State of Downtown report that showed some slowdown in development efforts in the central business district, the Downtown Austin Alliance announced two new efforts intended to improve quality of life and bring more activity throughout the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 17, 2024
City offers $4.5M for musicians, venues in latest Live Music Fund
Local musicians and qualifying independent music venues will be able to apply for $4.5 million in grants available in the second cohort of the Live Music Fund. The program, which was approved by City Council in 2019 using Hotel Occupancy…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • May 16, 2024
Red River music venues push Council on funding expected from February resolution
Leaders of the Red River Cultural District are pushing City Council members and staff to carry out a February resolution that was intended to secure annual funding to help planning and marketing efforts for the downtown cluster of live music…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • May 15, 2024
ACL Fest shows $499M economic impact, with $8.1M donated to parks improvements
The 2023 edition of the Austin City Limits Music Festival generated nearly half a billion dollars in economic impact for the area, according to results of an analysis released Monday. The fest’s $499.9 million in financial activity represented a 12…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • May 14, 2024
Subscribe to our newsletter
EDC seeks financial consultants to kickstart deal-making using city assets
With the Austin Economic Development Corporation still lacking control over substantial revenue-producing city assets, the organization has issued a request for proposals for consultants to advise on how to start putting its bonding authority and other financial tools to use.…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 13, 2024
Texas Music Museum seeks city assistance in finding new home
The city may soon explore assistance for the nonprofit Texas Music Museum in East Austin, including finding a new location for the facility that is in danger of losing its East 11th Street home. On Monday, the Music Commission heard…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 10, 2024
Council asked to consider ridership, access goals in revising e-scooter rules
The Urban Transportation Commission wants the city to rework some of its recent regulations of e-scooters and other micromobility devices but stopped short of spelling out what changes should be made. At its meeting this week, the commission approved a…
Transportation • By Chad Swiatecki • May 9, 2024
Music Commission wants clubs, creative space required in Red River Cultural District
The Music Commission wants the city to ensure that any new multistory development within the Red River Cultural District would need to provide discounted space for music venues or creative uses, without offering any density bonus incentives. At Monday’s meeting,…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • May 8, 2024
Council pushes for ‘agrihood’ pilot program merging homes with farmland in East Austin
The city will target part of Northeast Austin as an area that could see more small farms mixed with affordable homes, in a nod to the “agrihood” movement to bring homes closer to agriculture. Last week, City Council approved a…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • May 7, 2024
With Austin office buildings 20 percent vacant, conversion to housing remains out of reach
Two years ago, with the office real estate market in Austin stuck at a 20 percent vacancy rate, Brad Stein took the first of two trips to other markets to see if some of the hundreds of thousands of empty…
