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.
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Most Popular Stories
- Cap Metro to shelve 46 new electric buses for a year after manufacturer bankruptcy
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues nonprofit that serves homeless in South Austin
- Mobility Committee hears public concern regarding expansion of MoPac
- City-owned Austin Studios found to have generated $2.6B in economic impact
- Red River music proponents see city funding as sign of support, progress
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
EDC eyes push to make more city properties available for music, arts uses
The city’s new economic development corporation will make a push this summer to identify city properties that could be repurposed into music venues or creative spaces, and has started to assemble the financial models for creating two arts spaces in…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 30, 2021
Downtown Commission objects to proposed state rollback of city sound ordinance
The Downtown Commission is the latest city body to formally object to a proposed state law that would invalidate most of Austin’s noise ordinance and make it legal for bars and clubs to generate loud music until 2 a.m. seven…
Texas State Legislature • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 27, 2021
Foundation Communities gets $1.5M, seeks more to fund affordable housing projects
A pair of affordable housing apartment complexes from Foundation Communities have received $1.5 million in subsidies to help pay for their construction costs and cover part of a remaining fundraising gap. Wells Fargo and the Federal Home Loan Bank of…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 23, 2021
Downtown leaders map out pandemic recovery amid construction boom
Downtown Austin leaders painted a mixed but promising picture of the city’s core on Wednesday, with large-scale construction projects accelerating and helping the area shake off the slowdown of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Downtown Austin Alliance presented its annual State…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 22, 2021
Questions abound with convention center's future up in the air
With up being the only viable direction in which to significantly expand the Austin Convention Center, the deal structure and timeline for such a project appears to have gotten far more complicated. Former City Council Member Jimmy Flannigan is now…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 21, 2021
Music supporters' budget proposals seek $20M+ for pandemic recovery
Advocates for Austin’s music community have come forward with a pair of budget proposals urging the city to earmark roughly $20 million in its next budget specifically for music-related purposes to help the creative economy recover from the pandemic. On…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 19, 2021
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City names anti-displacement officer as real estate prices climb
As Austin’s real estate prices continue to soar, the city has named a new point person in charge of reducing the displacement of residents from affordable housing units. Nefertitti Jackmon recently started her new role as the community displacement prevention…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 16, 2021
Prop H gets support from community leaders pushing 'democracy dollars'
Leaders from a variety of community and political advocacy groups voiced their support Tuesday for Proposition H, the ballot proposal popularly known as “democracy dollars” that is intended to bring public financing into local elections. Members of Austinites for Progressive…
Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 14, 2021
City sizes up options for creative space purchases with 2018 bonds
The city’s new economic development corporation will likely be able to purchase two music venue spaces and create a handful of shared facilities for creative arts groups using much of the $12 million voters approved in 2018 for creative space…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 13, 2021
City awards second round of SAVES funds to closed music venues
The city has begun awarding grants to 28 music venues selected to receive assistance from a $5 million program created to help preserve businesses that have been largely closed since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last spring. The grants…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 9, 2021
City seeks input on post-Covid economic recovery plan
The city is taking feedback from residents on a wide-reaching plan to restructure how many departments operate, and how economic development is handled in the post-pandemic world. The Economic Recovery and Resiliency Framework is a list of 45 ways the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 8, 2021
City, live music advocates decry legislation that would limit noise regulations
City leaders and live music advocates spoke out Monday against a bill in the Texas Legislature that would limit the ability of cities to regulate amplified sound from bars and music venues. The press conference at downtown club 3Ten was…
