The city plans to move forward with an overhaul of its short-term rental regulations, with public hearings beginning next month to discuss the code amendments under consideration to manage the industry and collect Hotel Occupancy Tax from the more than 10,000 STRs believed to be operating throughout the area. The proposed changes are outlined in […]
Chad Swiatecki
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.
Posted inWhispers
Report: Austin home prices grew 85 percent since 2014
A new construction industry report finds Austin home prices have risen 85 percent over the past decade. Industry analysts Construction Coverage found that between 2014 and 2024, the median home price in Austin increased from $277,972 to $515,342 – a $237,000 change. Over the same time period across the U.S., home values have increased by […]
Posted inWhispers
DAA lunch talk looks at future of I-35 amid expansion, cap-and-stitch concerns
The Downtown Austin Alliance will host an Issues Over Lunch event titled “Our Future 35: Vision to Reality” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Austin Marriott Downtown on East Cesar Chavez Street. The event will focus on the Texas Department of Transportation’s plan to lower Interstate 35, and the city’s plan […]
Posted inEnvironment
Public health commissioners eye heat resistance steps for city budget requests
Public health proponents for the city and Travis County appear ready to push for more heat mitigation resources in the next city budget, with a recent playbook from the Office of Resilience likely to help prioritize those financial requests. At last week’s meeting of the Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission, members heard a presentation about […]
Posted inAustin
ECHO report shows growing mortality rate among the area’s homeless community
The most comprehensive study of homelessness mortality in Austin shows that more than 1,000 people died between 2018 and 2023 with the average age of death falling at 50 years – which is 20 years younger than those living in stable housing. The Bridging for Better Outcomes report from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Planning memo details performance, possible changes for density bonus programs
A new analysis of the city’s density bonus programs finds mixed results in their ability to deliver community benefits such as affordable housing in new real estate projects. A memo released last week by Planning Department Director Lauren Middleton-Pratt details the findings and recommendations of the analysis commissioned by the city and prepared by Clarion […]
Posted inDevelopment
Density proponents encouraged by HOME six-month progress report
The city of Austin’s Development Services Department has released its six-month report on the early outcomes of the Home Options for Mobility and Equity (HOME) Phase 1 initiative. A memo released last month by José G. Roig, director of DSD, analyzed the early results of the initiative, which took effect in February 2024 and was […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin Energy gets $15M from feds to add EV charging stations
Austin Energy will receive $15 million in federal funding to significantly expand the city’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The funding, secured through the 2021 Infrastructure Law and announced by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, aims to install more than 200 new publicly accessible EV charging ports across neighborhoods, community centers, public schools and other facilities. […]
Posted inWhispers
ULI hosts equitable communities exchange event
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Austin chapter will host its next Building Equitable Communities Exchange from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 506 Congress Ave. The event is free and open to the public, aiming to connect professionals in the built environment industry with initiatives supporting equity and inclusivity. The series, organized by […]
Posted inCity Council
Watson touts moves toward stability, predictability for city services in 2024
Mayor Kirk Watson returns to the word “stability” frequently when discussing the moves and decisions inside City Hall in 2024 and what residents want headed into 2025. For Watson, stability and predictability come in the form of things like the five-year contract the city reached with the Austin Police Association. There was also the hiring […]
Posted inCity Council
Pool reflects on housing and environmental progress as she closes 10 years on Council
Leslie Pool faced something of a quandary nearly two years ago, when she considered running for the office of tax assessor-collector for Travis County. Knowing that her time as a City Council member would expire in 2024, she saw the county post as an opportunity to further extend her role in public and an opportunity […]
Posted inCity Council
As she exits Council, Kelly sees police contract passage among highlights of 2024
While cleaning out the District 6 satellite office that was opened to give residents in Williamson County and far Northwest Austin easier access to their City Council member, outgoing D6 seat holder Mackenzie Kelly took time to reflect on her four years representing the district. “We are the furthest district from downtown, and we’re the […]