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.
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Most Popular Stories
- Council members celebrate unanimous defeat of bill that proposed putting Austin under state control
- A once-banned type of building is back in favor – and the Planning Commission approves
- Eviction crisis spreads as affordability pressures worsen
- Audit shows former Austin Water employee directed search of boss’ inbox
- Austin churches answer prayers for affordable housing – by building it themselves
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
SXSW panelists examine causes, effects of the city's lack of Black homeowners
A South by Southwest panel discussion earlier this week didn’t gloss over the challenges Black communities in Austin face if they’re not already owners of highly valuable residential real estate. During the panel Advancing Black Homeownership Through Housing Equity, Habitat…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 14, 2025
Icon Homes prepping smaller home printing tech to meet Austin's infill push
Austin-based 3D-printed home manufacturer Icon Homes has plans to use new building technology created specifically to take advantage of the city’s push for smaller infill homes. After speaking at a South by Southwest panel last week focused on the push…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 13, 2025
Housing panelists examine what's worked in Austin, and across Texas
At a South by Southwest panel discussion last week on housing policies in Texas, City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison shared possible new components of the “agrihood” housing-plus-agriculture approach she championed last year. While sharing her views on steps the city…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 12, 2025
SXSW panel looks at national housing shortage – and how Austin is responding
Cities across the nation are facing the same housing crunch that Austin has spent recent years trying to correct, with a new report from Realtor.com showing a gap of 3.8 million houses and apartment units across the country. Those findings…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 11, 2025
Watson warns of Austin's 'budget asteroids' in speech to real estate council
At last week’s annual address to the Real Estate Council of Austin, Mayor Kirk Watson stressed a number of “budget asteroids” the city could face as a result of upcoming state and federal policy decisions. Along with the potential impact…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 10, 2025
Prompted by convention center controversy, Council seeks changes to public art program
In response to increasing scrutiny over Austin’s handling of public art, City Council voted Thursday to modernize the Art in Public Places program by updating policies to prevent mishandlings like the controversial deaccessioning of artwork at the Austin Convention Center.…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 7, 2025
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Early data suggest opening Sixth Street to traffic has improved public safety
Early data from the Austin Police Department suggests that a new public safety initiative aimed at reducing crime and violence on East Sixth Street is yielding positive results. The changes, which took effect in December, reintroduced vehicular traffic on weekend…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 6, 2025
Rally Austin eyes affordability programs for creatives in 2026 bond package
Rally Austin, the nonprofit tasked with helping to preserve and expand Austin’s cultural spaces, is eyeing three programs in the city’s upcoming 2026 bond election, including expanding the city’s cultural trust. During a recent meeting of the Austin Music Commission,…
Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 5, 2025
HUD cuts could endanger portion of more than $15M in federal housing funds
The city could see significant disruptions to its affordable housing and homelessness programs as a result of proposed federal budget cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a memo released last week. The memo, issued by…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 4, 2025
Council sets the stage for more short-term rental regulations, with tax collection to begin in April
The city will soon begin requiring platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues on behalf of short-term rental properties, marking the first in a number of expected changes in the industry. The change,…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 28, 2025
Panelists cite city, state programs among positives for health of Austin music scene
Praising attempts by the city and state to offer more support for Austin’s musicians and live music venues, panelists weighing in on the state of the city’s music scene were upbeat Tuesday during a discussion at the LBJ Presidential Library.…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 27, 2025
Bond task force votes to roll climate-related projects into 2026 election
The city’s 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force has decided against pursuing a climate-focused bond election in 2025, opting instead to incorporate climate-related projects into a broader 2026 general obligation bond election. The decision followed discussion about funding availability for…
