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
- From Round Rock’s school board to City Hall, District 6 newcomer Krista Laine gives conservatives a run for their money
- Lost Creek neighborhood sues city over tax efforts
- Density proponents encouraged by HOME six-month progress report
- Most Austin-area drivers will still need a vehicle inspection. Here’s where the rules have changed.
- In 2025, Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard eyes building more supportive housing and strengthening climate resilience
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Labor, affordability remain concerns in strong Austin real estate sector
Austin’s diverse and growing economy has kept the Central Texas region one of the most attractive real estate markets in the country in recent years, but local developers see some recurring issues – affordability, land use policy and the local…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 11, 2023
Audit shows changes needed at Development Services Department
Nearly a decade after a damning evaluation of the city’s planning and development processes resulted in more than 460 recommended changes, a recent audit of two smaller components of the Development Services Department found some steps left incomplete from a…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 8, 2023
Amendments, memos point to finer steps for implementing HOME initiative
With City Council slated to decide the fate of the HOME initiative today, a last bit of analysis from city staff appears to back the intent and approach of the push to add more housing stock throughout the city. In…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 7, 2023
Music Commission considers dedicated grant stream for live music venues
Music venues around the city could have a dedicated source of funding in next year’s Live Music Fund program, which was created to help inject city money into the local music economy. During discussion on expected changes to the program…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 6, 2023
Delay gives city a hard Dec. 14 deadline to end Seaholm special taxing district
City Council will have until its Dec. 14 meeting to close down a taxing district created to revitalize the Seaholm Power Plant property. That deadline comes because of a decision at last week’s meeting not to close down the tax…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 5, 2023
Council eyes details of new maintenance facility included in Oracle land swap
City Council members are expected to bring some scrutiny today to the nearly completed land swap deal that will see tech giant Oracle America Inc. build a new central maintenance facility for the city in exchange for 9 acres of…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 30, 2023
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Council hears of progress on resilience hubs, planning for winter weather emergencies
With the National Weather Service advising local leaders of the high likelihood of a significant ice event this winter, City Council received an extensive update on weather preparation efforts on Tuesday. The update from the Homeland Security and Emergency Management…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 29, 2023
Demography map shows 90,000 new housing units wasn't enough for Austin's growth
A new interactive map released by the Planning Department shows some of the ways Austin’s housing supply has changed dramatically over the course of a decade in which the city has become one of the most popular destinations in the…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 28, 2023
Downtown Commission explores ways to improve safety of autonomous vehicles on city streets
Despite the Cruise autonomous vehicle company’s recent decision to pause service in all cities, including Austin, members of the Downtown Commission have concerns about the growing presence of the vehicles and the city’s inability to regulate them. Staff from the…
Transportation • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 27, 2023
City splits homeless services into new, separate office
The city has created a dedicated office for homelessness services, in a move intended to let city staff address that area more quickly and decisively. Interim City Manager Jesús Garza informed City Council of the change in a memo released…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 22, 2023
Disability committee eyes new community census to identify service needs
Local disability advocates appear ready to ask the city to conduct a census or general accounting of the number of local residents with disabilities who may require city services beyond those currently offered locally. Earlier this month, the Mayor’s Committee…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 21, 2023
'Little Luckenbach' could link Sam's Town Point to $270M South Austin entertainment district
The owner of Sam’s Town Point hopes that a forthcoming mix of “rural retail” – including a farmers market and possible hemp cultivation along with live music offerings on the 10 acres surrounding the popular music venue – could link…
