The Wells Fargo Foundation has contributed $500,000 to the Mobile Loaves & Fishes nonprofit group that will help to fund the creation of homes in partnership with Austin housing technology startup ICON. The donation is part of the Initiative 99 plan to create small affordable homes at a cost of $99,000 or less. A competition […]
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 inWhispers
Study shows Austin rental market becoming less competitive than 2023
The data continue to roll in showing Austin’s rental market is becoming more affordable and friendly to those seeking a new residence. Real estate technology company RentCafe’s recent analysis of housing markets across the U.S. found that Austin is still the most competitive market in Texas, despite what it called “a staggering increase in new […]
Posted inAustin
Black arts collective wants progress on city’s African American cultural district
An East Austin arts nonprofit is looking to organize musicians, artists and other creatives for job opportunities and to put pressure on the city to move forward with building out plans for the African American Culture and Heritage District that were approved by City Council in 2021. The East Austin Creative Coalition is seeking members […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider $87M purchase of 107 acres in East Austin
The city is set to move forward with the $87 million purchase of 107 acres of East Austin property that formerly served as the North American headquarters for Tokyo Electron Ltd. The purchase, which is on the agenda for Thursday’s City Council meeting, would allow the city to convert two existing buildings to a technology […]
Posted inAustin
Visit Austin offers look at strategy to support hotels during convention center closure
Staff from Visit Austin plan to aggressively market the city to new and recurring visitors in the coming years as part of a three-part strategy to support the local hotel and convention industry during the four-year closure of the Austin Convention Center. Last week, the Tourism Commission received a presentation from the tourism organization, which […]
Posted inDevelopment, Zoning
Imagine Austin series looks at prospects for equitable development amid rapid growth
Austin’s combination of intense population and income growth and state laws that limit inclusionary zoning might make it difficult to institute equitable housing policies, but a national land use leader advises there are still ways for the city to adapt to the demands of being a growth center. At the recent Imagine Austin Speaker Series […]
Posted inHousing
City seeks feedback from disability community on five-year federal housing plan
The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities heard a briefing last week from the Housing Department, which is seeking input from Austin residents with disabilities to identify the greatest community needs that could be addressed using federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the 2029 fiscal year. Housing staff will take […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Considering a community-first approach to public safety and crime prevention
Criminal justice leaders at the state and federal levels see benefits in changing the idea of public safety in the U.S. to promote community intervention and public health approaches to problems like gun violence as well as most nonviolent crimes. At a South by Southwest panel last week that considered the role of community response […]
Posted inRoads
Federal grant provides $105M for Chavez-Fourth Street cap over rebuilt I-35
The city received a boost in its plan to construct broad, plaza-like caps over sunken portions of Interstate 35, with the announcement of a $105 million federal grant to fund a portion of the construction. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Transportation named Austin as a recipient of a Capital Construction Grant that is part […]
Posted inHousing
Author, advocate explores universal income among solutions for homelessness
A San Francisco-based nonprofit group focused on helping people who are homeless is expanding basic income payments, with results that they hope can win over local elected officials willing to try the programs using public money. Kevin Adler, founder of the Miracle Messages nonprofit group and author of the book “When We Walk By,” appeared […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Musician advocates decry city’s inaction on fair pay for SXSW performers
With South by Southwest set to kick off over the weekend, advocates for musicians are calling attention to what they say is inadequate progress on the issue of fair pay for official showcase performances during the festival. Those calls come as city leaders have taken no official action on the small policy recommendations supported by […]
Posted inAustin
City preps for eclipse visitors at a pace to rival SXSW nights
Next month’s solar eclipse is expected to bring a short boost for local hotels that could match some of the nine-day stretch of South by Southwest. Austin’s location as one of the most opportune viewing spots in the path of the April 8 celestial phenomenon is luring tourists from far and wide, with city officials […]