With analysts expecting the U.S. economy to remain strong in the year ahead, local leaders returned to common concerns – housing costs, child care and wages – as the biggest issues facing the Austin economy headed into 2025. The Austin Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Outlook gave attendees some clear indicators of what’s ahead globally […]
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
HEB’s $1M donation to fund two affordable housing projects in East Austin
To aid in the construction of affordable housing in East Austin, HEB has announced a $1 million donation to Austin Habitat for Humanity to help fund two new clusters of affordable homes in East Austin. The grocery giant’s contribution will help fund construction on Habitat’s 126-unit Persimmon Point project, and the organization’s work at the […]
Posted inHousing
Eyeing statewide affordability, two new housing conservancy deals include move into Dallas
The Texas Housing Conservancy has closed two new deals for multifamily workforce housing properties, including a Dallas-area acquisition that marks its first step in expanding outside the Austin area. The nonprofit, which was founded five years ago as Affordable Central Texas and is dedicated to preserving affordable housing for middle-income renters, has completed the purchase […]
Posted inAustin
City-owned Austin Studios found to have generated $2.6B in economic impact
After a quarter century of operation, the city-owned Austin Studios facility on the site of the former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport has generated more than $2.6 billion in economic impact, according to a recent study. Last week, Austin Film Society (AFS) released its 2024 Creative Workforce Report, which focused on the economic impact of the […]
Posted inWhispers
Pavilion for Asian American Resource Center enters design approval phase
The city has entered the design phase for the second phase of the Asian American Resource Center (AARC) improvements, focusing on a new pavilion in the great lawn area. The project, led by Capital Delivery Services and the Parks and Recreation Department, is intended to enhance the center’s role as a cultural and community hub. […]
Posted inWhispers
Historians sought to document transformation of Red River Cultural District
The Red River Cultural District (RRCD) and Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) are seeking proposals from qualified consultants for their Cultural Currents campaign, designed to showcase RRCD’s history and its role as a hub for music and artistic traditions. The project will focus on the contributions of early Black Texans, German immigrants and generations of artists […]
Posted inWhispers
APH seeks committee members for next community health plan
Austin Public Health is seeking volunteers to join the core coordinating committee for the next Community Health Improvement Plan, which is formulated in partnership with Travis County. The most recent CHIP was completed in 2018 and provided a three-year road map to address health challenges and improve well-being across the community. Its four priority areas […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council OKs $5.5M contract for website redesign, expected in late 2026
City Council has approved a six-year contract, valued at up to $5.55 million, for the redesign of the city’s website, AustinTexas.gov. The contract, awarded to TW Lrw Holdings LLC, doing business as Material Holdings LLC, has an initial three-year term for $3.52 million, with three optional one-year extensions each valued at $676,698. City staff told […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin Energy’s new solar program opens applications Dec. 9
Austin Energy is set to open applications soon for its Solar Standard Offer program, aiming to boost solar array installations on commercial properties. Applications open on Dec. 9, with projects potentially operational by February or fall 2025. Property owners or solar developers will receive payments of 11.2 cents per kilowatt hour for arrays under one […]
Posted inAustin
Arts Commission joins call for bond money to replace Dougherty Arts Center
The Arts Commission wants City Council to commit to including funding for a new Dougherty Arts Center in the city’s next bond package, likely to go before voters in 2026. At its most recent meeting, the commission unanimously approved the recommendation proposed by the Friends of the Dougherty Arts Center advocacy group that has been […]
Posted inHousing
Panelists discuss how to solve Austin’s workforce housing crisis
While discussing the housing affordability crisis and its impact on Austin’s essential workers, a local EMS leader captured attention Wednesday morning with her account of how emergency services staff are pushing themselves beyond reasonable limits because of their long commutes into the city. With roughly 70 percent of Austin EMS Association members living outside the […]
Posted inPreservation
Planning Dept. analysis finds historic tax exemptions came largely west of I-35
More than 90 percent of the city’s historic tax exemptions in 2023 went to property owners west of Interstate 35, with a significant portion concentrated in downtown commercial areas, according to a recent analysis conducted by the city’s Planning Department. A recent memo to City Council from Lauren Middleton-Pratt, director of the Planning Department, included […]