The Music Commission has asked the city for just over $3 million in the next budget to expand some existing programs and provide added economic and medical assistance for local musicians. At Monday’s meeting, the commission unanimously approved six requests for the 2025 budget, which will be submitted to the Economic Development Department as part […]
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 inHousing
AHFC approves $50M to fund more than 1,000 affordable, permanent supportive housing units
The city has approved more than $50 million in housing funds that will create more than 1,000 units of affordable housing, hundreds of which will serve as permanent supportive housing for people who are currently homeless. Last week, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation voted in support of completing nine funding agreements with a variety of […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Adjusted density bonus program pushes housing, affordability on commercial properties
Following a December court ruling that invalidated three changes to the city’s Land Development Code, City Council has approved an ordinance change that promotes housing density by using many of the components of the now-obsolete Vertical Mixed Use 2 ordinance. The pair of changes were approved, with agenda Item 70 passing unanimously and Item 73 […]
Posted inBudget
HAAM seeks $500K in next year’s city budget to fund local musicians’ insurance
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is seeking ongoing support from the city and possibly Travis County to cover the costs of subsidized health insurance coverage for more than 2,000 local musicians annually. Tonight’s Music Commission meeting will feature a presentation from HAAM CEO Paul Scott, who is looking for commissioners to approve a request for […]
Posted inWhispers
Blues on the Green getting $87,000 in assistance from city
The city has waived just over $87,000 in fees and expenses for the organizers of the Blues on the Green concert series in Zilker Park. Included in the documents for Thursday’s City Council meeting was a fiscal note breaking down the more than two dozen line items associated with the series, which is organized each […]
Posted inCity Council
As Council prepped public support, local Google workers learned of layoffs
Some private-sector workplace drama took place in real time during Thursday’s City Council meeting, with a group of local Google workers learning they’d lost their jobs while commenting on a proposed city resolution intended to support their cause. On the agenda Thursday was an item from Council Member Zo Qadri that called on Google LLC, […]
Posted inWhispers
Huston-Tillotson promotes ‘soft skills’ training with HT Certified platform
Huston-Tillotson University has created a new online skills platform intended to enhance career readiness by promoting “soft skills” such as time management, adaptability and work ethic, conflict resolution and entry-level leadership. Known as HT Certified, the video-based courses were designed for maximum flexibility and are available as eight lessons of eight minutes or less. The […]
Posted inBudget
Budget ‘headwinds’ could force tough Council decisions headed into summer
City Council members received an early look at some of the difficult budget decisions they could face this summer thanks to an expected decline in sales tax revenue and the end of federal funding related to the American Rescue Plan Act. The presentation from budget and finance staff at Tuesday’s work session was also a […]
Posted inPlanning
Council appears headed for pause on HealthSouth redevelopment plans
Members of City Council suggested Tuesday they’re inclined to hold off on selecting any redevelopment plans for the former HealthSouth site, in part because of the current real estate pipeline in the surrounding area and continued high interest rates that make new projects difficult for developers. Tuesday’s work session included a presentation on the four […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider funding for Red River Cultural District
City Council appears ready to approve funding for the Red River Cultural District, with a larger goal of establishing guidelines for funding future cultural districts around the city. Council Member Zo Qadri has put forward a resolution for Thursday’s meeting that directs the city manager to find funding options in the current budget to help […]
Posted inRoads
Urban Transportation Commission learns of roles in mobility restructuring
The city’s many mobility-related offices and departments were recently restructured, and the Urban Transportation Commission got an update earlier this month about how the change is expected to impact the many road projects planned across the area. Jim Dale, interim deputy director of the Transportation and Public Works Department, spelled out the specialties of the […]
Posted inWhispers
PNC Bank invests $10M in middle-income housing fund
PNC Bank plans to invest $10 million in the Austin Housing Conservancy Fund, which is managed by Affordable Central Texas to secure workforce housing throughout the Austin area. The investment, which brings ACT’s total fund to more than $41 million, will help to move forward with the purchase of multifamily properties where rents will be […]