The Bond Election Advisory Task Force will have to decide by very early 2025 if the city should move forward with a possible climate change and sustainability bond package next fall, in a process and timeline that would see no community input or engagement in the proposal that would be put before voters. At a […]
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 inHousing
Real estate trends point toward stable growth even after Austin loses ‘supernova’ status
While Austin has moved out of the “supernova” growth phase among real estate markets across the nation, real estate and development professionals expect the Central Texas region to remain a hot spot in 2025 for many types of construction and property development. Urban Land Institute Austin’s monthly breakfast panel last week looked at what’s forecast […]
Posted inAustin
Arts Commission wants convention center installations preserved ahead of demolition
The Arts Commission wants the city to push the Austin Convention Center to pay for and assist in the removal and preservation of four city-commissioned art installations that are at risk of being destroyed when the facility is torn down next spring. At Monday’s meeting, the commission approved a request to City Council asking for […]
Posted inCity Council
Council approves new hotel fee agreement, freeing funds for homelessness services
Next year, the city will begin receiving revenue from a new fee on hotel room stays that will provide an estimated $7 million per year to cover housing or other services needed by those experiencing homelessness. Last week, City Council approved an ordinance change creating the Austin Tourism Public Improvement District (TPID), a funding mechanism […]
Posted inRoads
Council calls for revisions for proposed MoPac South expansion
City Council is pushing for changes to the proposed MoPac South expansion to make the project fit with the city’s mobility, environmental and sustainability goals. Last week, Council passed a resolution that emphasizes refining the project, overseen by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, to integrate transit-oriented features such as express bus services, park-and-ride facilities, […]
Posted inPlanning
Movability white paper offers parking, commuting options to address Mueller congestion
A new white paper from a local transportation management nonprofit calls for widespread changes in parking and transit policies throughout the Mueller development to address ongoing congestion and safety concerns in the mixed-use neighborhood. The paper from Movability, which was completed in partnership with the city, calls for expanding active transportation options – including more […]
Posted inAustin
PARD memo eyes expected 2026 bond package to complete new Dougherty Arts Center
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking toward an expected 2026 bond package to obtain the funding needed to complete the new Dougherty Arts Center, which is slated to be built in two phases in the coming years at a total cost of $50 million to $60 million. A memo published last month by interim […]
Posted inWhispers
Live Music Fund collections show hotel taxes dipped slightly last fiscal year
The city’s final collections for Hotel Occupancy Tax during last year’s fiscal year appeared to show a slight decrease of just under 1 percent from the 2023 fiscal year. That dip was brought to light at last week’s Music Commission meeting during a presentation on total revenues for the Live Music Fund, which receives a […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
City looks to expand budget, recipients for Live Music Fund
The city appears set to increase the number of awards in its Live Music Fund grant program, with specific considerations given to the needs of veteran and emerging artists looking to promote events or create work that could enhance the local tourism economy. The proposed changes, which are still being evaluated and likely expanded by […]
Posted inWhispers
Workforce Solutions holding hiring event for mobility, infrastructure jobs
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is hosting a Mobility & Infrastructure Hiring Event on Dec. 11 at the organization’s branch on North Interstate 35. The event offers the chance to explore career paths in the rapidly growing transportation industry as well as major infrastructure projects needed to complete multibillion-dollar efforts such as Project Connect, and the […]
Posted inPlanning
Congress Avenue transformation plan gets support from Urban Transportation Commission
The Urban Transportation Commission has voted to support the proposed transformation of most of the downtown portion of Congress Avenue, turning much of the street into a pedestrian- and multimodal-focused corridor and removing almost all vehicular traffic. The recommendation to City Council was approved at the commission’s meeting earlier this week. The Congress Avenue Urban […]
Posted inCity Council
Council to see requests for Marshalling Yard extension, ECHO’s $350M homelessness plan
The Public Health Committee has recommended adopting the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) long-term forecast for addressing homelessness, signaling a commitment to spend an estimated $350 million over the next decade to fill gaps in the city’s homelessness response system. The recommendation asks City Council to direct the city manager to seek out additional funding […]