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.
Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
-
Most Popular Stories
- 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.
- City and county to invest in historically underserved Northeast Austin area
- Travis County Judge Andy Brown pledges continued focus on health care, passenger rail in 2025
-
Discover News By District
Stories by Chad Swiatecki
City eyes major upgrades, parking garages for Zilker Park
The city has released the draft of its vision plan for the future of Zilker Park, which splits the major enhancements proposed for the park into five regions that include the seven primary activity zones for current public use and…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 21, 2022
Builders talk pros/cons of city's push for environmentally friendly construction
As Austin moves closer toward its net-zero energy goals, the city’s building and development community will play a major role in making new buildings environmentally sound and gradually retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy efficient. How to manage those…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 18, 2022
E-bike rebates to double under proposed pilot program
The city will likely dramatically increase its incentives for electric bike purchases beginning next year with a new program that will double the rebates given for individual and fleet-level purchases. In a memo released this week from Jackie A. Sargent,…
Bicycles • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 16, 2022
Builder: Without new affordability bonds, projects would be 'few and far between'
The new round of bonds providing $350 million to fund affordable projects couldn’t have come at a better time for developers of affordable housing in Austin. The combination of fierce land costs locally, inflation increasing construction costs on all housing…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 15, 2022
EDC talks deals but no details of creative space investments
At the end of this month the public will get the next detailed look at how the city plans to purchase and assist a handful of struggling creative spaces, but won’t get to hear specifics about which businesses have been…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 10, 2022
Voters strongly back $350M proposal for affordable housing
Voters strongly approved the city’s latest bond proposal to create more affordable housing, giving the city another $350 million to direct toward housing acquisition, repair and rental programs. The vote totals from Travis County as well as portions of Hays…
Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 9, 2022
Subscribe to our newsletter
Memo offers first peek at recipients of guaranteed income program
Early data from the city’s guaranteed income pilot program show that the $1,000 monthly payments are reaching residents with acute financial needs and varying degrees of housing instability. A memo released last week by the Equity Office included some of…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 8, 2022
Council approvals move Colony Park toward reality, with more density expected
The long-gestating Colony Park development project took major steps forward Thursday with City Council’s passage of four items related to the master development agreement and the creation of a critical financing mechanism for the $257 million project. Council unanimously passed…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 4, 2022
ASPIRE project to bring affordable housing, business training to North Austin
BiGAUSTIN, the Black-led nonprofit group that has provided microlending, business training and workforce assistance for nearly 30 years, has announced plans to construct a massive new community resource center and affordable housing community in a partnership with Banc of America…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 3, 2022
Ethics commission notifies D8 candidate of campaign materials violation
The Ethics Review Commission will file a letter of notification for a City Council candidate who neglected to put required disclaimers on some of his campaign materials. At last week’s meeting, the commission held the preliminary hearing for the complaint…
Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 1, 2022
Council hears push for offices, senior space at Nash Hernandez building
City Council could help decide the future of the Nash Hernandez building in East Austin in the coming months, as debate continues over whether to convert the long-idle building into office space or a senior center. At Thursday’s meeting, Lori…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 31, 2022
Council considers Colony Park TIRZ ahead of expected approval
City Council appears ready to move forward next week with the creation of a property tax mechanism that will bring more than $80 million over 20 years to the Colony Park development in East Austin. At Tuesday’s work session, staff…
