Members of the Downtown Commission showed support for the city possibly using legal action including eminent domain against Union Pacific Railroad to acquire property eyed for improvements near the Seaholm District. This month’s meeting included a presentation on the improvements identified as highest priorities for the area using roughly $12 million in money remaining from […]
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
A dozen affordable housing projects face tight race for state tax credits
On Thursday, City Council will consider plans for 11 housing developments across the city that could receive state money to fund the creation of affordable housing. Nearly 1,100 units are in the works for the projects, which if approved will compete for 9 percent tax credits from the state’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) […]
Posted inCity Hall
Funding gaps and future needs eyed in analysis of bond spending
Members of City Council have started to show some of their priorities for the city’s next bond package that would address needs for parkland and cultural centers, among other city departmental resources. Another concern expressed at last week’s Audit and Finance Committee meeting was the likelihood that the city will need to assess where it […]
Posted inPlanning
Panelists discuss size, shape of downtown caps proposed for I-35 expansion
Planners expect the series of multi-acre caps that will eventually cover portions of a reconstructed Interstate 35 to feature compact two- and three-story buildings that could support retail, arts spaces or limited amounts of housing to serve the downtown area. Those lower profiles could make the projects less attractive for potential developers who prefer height […]
Posted inWhispers
Music proponents amp up push for city to support Red River Cultural District
The Red River Cultural District has stepped up its call for city assistance to help cover festival programming and operational expenses for the downtown cluster of music venues and restaurants. On Tuesday, the RRCD issued a press release chronicling the challenges facing music venues, including substantial increases in liability insurance costs, and listing how the […]
Posted inParks
Parks board delays request for traffic study, shuttle service for Zilker Park
The Parks and Recreation Board has further delayed a transportation impact analysis of Zilker Park that was originally suggested by City Council two years ago because of concerns the study could draw money away from other parks programs and budget items. At this week’s meeting, the board voted down a recommendation from the analysis working […]
Posted inPlanning
New cultural districts could thrive with EDD’s planned framework
A pair of long-gestating city initiatives have entertainment and arts proponents eyeing the many new areas around the city that could become cultural districts in the next handful of years. Once enacted, the combination of economic incentives, infrastructure support and planning considerations could make it easier for cultural uses to cluster even as property values […]
Posted inCity Hall
City increases wealth cap for minority businesses seeking contracts
The city has increased the limit on personal net wealth for individuals looking to take part in the city’s procurement program aimed at hiring businesses owned by women and/or minorities. That adjustment was supported by an analysis of the local economy that found the city’s business growth is likely to have substantially increased the wealth […]
Posted inAustin
DAA, Urban Alchemy partner to improve outreach, services for downtown homeless population
Downtown Austin Alliance hopes its new pilot program will help to provide more services and housing opportunities to the homeless people clustered throughout the city’s central business district. On Thursday, the DAA announced its Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART), which will launch as a six-month trial program on Feb. 1. In partnership with staff […]
Posted inCity Council
City seeks McKinsey’s $2M analysis of programs to address homelessness
Consulting giant McKinsey & Company could take up another study of the city, specifically how four local bodies including Central Health are working to address homelessness throughout the Austin area. At its meeting today, City Council will consider two items related to a proposed $2 million study that is expected to be delivered in the […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy fine-tuning plans for reliable, carbon-free power by 2035
Austin Energy leaders have prioritized reliability of the utility’s power generation at all times as one of the most important components of its next resource generation plan, which is expected to come before City Council for approval in March. During the December meeting of Council’s AE Utility Oversight Committee, members heard details of the many […]
Posted inHousing
Short-term rentals come under Tourism Commission scrutiny, with Council action expected this year
Members of the Tourism Commission signaled this week that they intend to ask City Council to pursue new policies covering the short-term rental industry and the proliferation across the city of residences acting as de facto hotels. At Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners heard from residents, including Stephanie Ashworth, co-founder of the Austin-based Texas Neighborhood Coalition, who […]