A proposed redevelopment for at least two high-rise towers planned for the 4 acres located at 200 E. Riverside Drive, a key location in Austin’s South Central Waterfront area, is expected to return to the City Council agenda for possible rezoning approval on Nov. 7. The project from Garwald Company Inc. was originally slated for […]
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 inCity Hall
Auditor examines city’s shifting funding, expectations for Cultural Arts grants
A recent report from the City Auditor highlights a recurring state of flux for Cultural Arts funding in recent years, which has fed into the ongoing debate over how the city manages those grant programs. The audit, which was requested by a group of five City Council members, also found conflicting messaging and intent with […]
Posted inWhispers
TxDOT seeks online feedback on state transportation plans
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is inviting Texans to participate in an online survey to help shape two comprehensive transit plans for the state’s future: the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan (SMTP) and the Statewide Active Transportation Plan (SATP). The plans will outline a unified vision for transit and active transportation through 2050, helping to […]
Posted inCity Council
City Council moves to complete purchase of combined public safety headquarters
The city is moving ahead with the planned purchase of a combined public safety campus located in four existing office buildings on South MoPac Expressway in District 8. Late during Thursday’s City Council meeting, after several hours of public comment ahead of the approval of a new contract with Austin Police Association, three items passed […]
Posted inHousing
New scenarios for HealthSouth site could revive redevelopment push from Council
A pair of new scenarios for redeveloping the former HealthSouth properties downtown could revive the city’s efforts to use the sites to provide hundreds of units of affordable housing. A memo released last week from Mandy DeMayo, interim director of the Housing Department, includes analysis of two new scenarios for the properties, which had been […]
Posted inWhispers
Artists, musicians among recipients of more than $21 million in cultural grants
The city of Austin’s Economic Development Department has awarded over $21 million in Hotel Occupancy Tax-funded grants to 502 recipients across the city’s creative sector. This year’s grants, distributed through programs like the Austin Live Music Fund, and the Nexus, Thrive, and Elevate programs from the Cultural Arts Division, aimed to provide funding for individual […]
Posted inWhispers
City seeks applicants for Municipal Civil Service Commission
Austin City Council is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the five-member Municipal Civil Service Commission, with the term extending through May 2027. The commission handles appeals on disciplinary actions involving non-exempt city of Austin employees, including suspensions, demotions and dismissals. Serving on the commission requires about 20 hours per month, with hearings typically lasting […]
Posted inDevelopment
Convention center rebuild loses proposed hotel, housing projects due to 2029 reopening
Leaders of the Austin Convention Center have eliminated the possibility of a new hotel or market-rate housing as a portion of the $1 billion-plus project, which is set to begin a four-year teardown and rebuild next April. A memo released last week details the reasons for the decision to not use a portion of the […]
Posted inWhispers
SIMS Foundation pauses services to restructure, address funding needs
Citing funding challenges, the SIMS Foundation has announced a 90-day pause on its mental health and other services for musicians. During the pause, the nonprofit organization will go through a strategic planning process to restructure its service delivery model. The organization needs to raise $480,000 by November to maintain service levels during the restructuring. In […]
Posted inWhispers
YMCA, St. Edward’s seek EPA funding for climate resilience hub
The Greater Austin YMCA and St. Edward’s University have teamed up to apply for a $20 million Community Change Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. If awarded, the grant will fund the construction of a climate resilience hub at the East Communities YMCA, located at 5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd., as well as community outreach and […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin offices remaining vacant, and expensive
The Austin office market remains soft and highly priced, with vacancy rates increasing 6.6 percentage points to 27.8 percent, which is the highest jump among major U.S. office markets, according to a recent study from Commercial Edge. Office construction in the city has slowed, with only 3.4 million square feet currently underway – equal to […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
City looks to reduce lead time on approved bond projects ahead of expected 2026 proposals
City staffers hope to dramatically shorten the early lag in approved bond projects that typically add a year to construction and acquisition schedules, which can also increase costs or reduce the scope for proposed projects. Last week’s meeting of the Bond Oversight Commission included an update on progress for Parks and Recreation Department projects included […]