Businesses and supporters in the Red River Cultural District see the city’s recent commitment of annual funding as a milestone to provide stability for the area’s cluster of live music venues, with the hope that more policy changes are coming to help the city’s entertainment and creative economy. District stakeholders held a press conference Monday […]
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 inPlanning
Equity overlay study prompts request for Council to further delay HOME2 implementation
The Community Development Commission wants City Council to further delay implementation of the second round of HOME initiative changes to the land use code, out of concern that more time is needed to properly design an equity overlay to address displacement concerns. At last week’s meeting, the commission unanimously approved a recommendation to delay HOME […]
Posted inPreservation
On second try, Tourism Commission votes in favor of equity-based preservation plan
The Tourism Commission has changed its stance from last month and approved a recommendation that City Council adopt the Planning Department’s Equity-Based Preservation Plan, which intended to guide the city’s use of hotel taxes dedicated toward historic preservation. Last month, the commission narrowly voted against supporting the plan, with a handful of commissioners feeling the […]
Posted inWhispers
D3 permanent supportive housing project reaches financing goal
The Roz, a 100-unit affordable, permanent supportive housing community in District 3 supported by the city’s Housing Department, has reached its financing goal and can continue with construction to reach a spring 2026 opening. The 1.6-acre project near Mabel Davis District Park will serve people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Roz is a […]
Posted inWhispers
Train talk program addresses climate change in Austin
Austin residents are invited to a special “Climate ‘Train’ing” event on Nov. 16, hosted by Transit Forward, Environment Texas, the city of Austin’s Office of Sustainability and other partners. The event begins at 11:15 a.m. at Downtown Station and includes a train ride, educational presentations and a community discussion on climate change and its effects […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Music Commission to explore opening parks spaces for community, cultural events
The Music Commission has signaled it intends to ask the city to waive fees and streamline the administrative processes involved in allowing small community groups to hold arts and music events in local parks facilities. Last week’s meeting included discussion prompted by a request from the Sunday Sessions arts and wellness group to ask the […]
Posted inWhispers
ABOR’s October housing report shows increase in listings, inventory time
The latest Central Texas Housing Report from Unlock MLS showed a 9.3 percent increase in active real estate listings across the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area in October, bringing the total to 11,599 homes. The months of inventory – which measures the current supply of homes in the region offered for sale relative to the […]
Posted inDevelopment
Latest State of Downtown report shows the city core’s businesses and housing are in transition
The latest report on downtown Austin’s economic and cultural health shows the city core is seeing ongoing vacancies and low utilization of office space in a trend that has caused a flattening of many indicators of business activity. That analysis was among the findings of Downtown Austin Alliance’s Q3 State of Downtown report, which looked […]
Posted inWhispers
Smart Cities Connect brings fall conference to downtown Austin
Former Mayor Steve Adler and Miguel Arellano, TxDOT’s deputy district engineer for the Austin area, will be among the locally focused speakers presenting during the Smart Cities Connect fall conference that will take place Dec. 3-5 at the JW Marriott Austin hotel downtown. The conference will feature more than 150 panelists and experts involved in […]
Posted inWhispers
Chamber luncheon looks at area’s economic forecast
Austin Chamber’s annual Economic Outlook luncheon will look at the business prospects – including larger businesses – for the Austin region following the recent presidential election, and will also look at the city’s ongoing affordability issues. The featured speaker will be Alan McKnight, executive vice president and chief investment officer for Regions Bank. The affordability […]
Posted inWhispers
Riverside intersection for Project Connect part of TXDOT’s $746M I-35 contract
International construction consultants Balfour Beatty will oversee the portion of the Interstate 35 reconstruction project that runs just south of downtown Austin and will also play a small role in preparations for Project Connect construction. The company announced it was awarded a $746 million contract from the Texas Department of Transportation to manage the 2.5 […]
Posted inWhispers
Community Police Review Commission members to be selected Nov. 18
The Office of Police Oversight will hold a public drawing on Monday, Nov. 18, to select members of the Community Police Review Commission (CPRC). The 11 commissioners will be chosen from a pool of 31 applicants who confirmed interest in July, along with four alternates. The drawing will take place at 2 p.m. in City […]