Stories by Jack Craver
Do 'flag lots' threaten neighborhood character?
No neighbors voiced opposition to the plans, but two members of the Planning Commission last Tuesday voiced concern about a developer’s attempt to subdivide three large lots in East Austin to create “flag lots” that would each include two homes.…
Planning • By Jack Craver • Aug 20, 2018
City budget boosts spending for homelessness services
The new city manager and City Council agree: The city needs more money to address the homelessness situation. The proposed Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget submitted by City Manager Spencer Cronk includes $3.1 million in new spending on homelessness-related services. That’s…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Aug 17, 2018
Planning Commission wonders what to do after CodeNEXT
CodeNEXT might be dead, but most members of the Planning Commission seem to agree that they can’t give up on making big changes to the Land Development Code. For over a year, discussion of CodeNEXT has been a standing item…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Aug 16, 2018
Council faces legal action over wording of two ballot initiatives
Supporters of two ballot initiatives are threatening legal action against the city of Austin over ballot language that they claim City Council crafted to mislead voters. Just after midnight on Friday, Council approved language for 11 separate propositions that voters…
Bonds & Propositions • By Jack Craver • Aug 13, 2018
Council boots big booting fees
City Council approved a measure Thursday to reduce the amount that drivers can be charged to have boots removed from their illegally parked cars. Council voted in favor of an ordinance that will bar booting companies from charging more than…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Aug 10, 2018
Council seeks to steer incentives from big business to local business
In Austin, the city’s practice of providing financial incentives for companies to relocate or move operations here has garnered plenty of criticism, ranging from outright opposition to the practice to concerns about whether the incentives are leading to jobs for…
City Hall • By Jack Craver • Aug 9, 2018
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For game-changing public transit, Austin needs the feds to chip in
Austin and the surrounding metro area needs a transportation game-changer, and it’s not going to come from more roads. And to build it, we’ll need some help from Washington, D.C. That was the message that officials from Capital Metro delivered…
Transit • By Jack Craver • Aug 7, 2018
Battle over housing policy defines District 3 race
Growth, gentrification and CodeNEXT are at the center of the race for City Council District 3. Most of the district is made up of neighborhoods on both sides of the Colorado River that are east of Interstate 35. However, the…
Elections • By Jack Craver • Jul 31, 2018
Planning Commission hears about 30-mile loop of urban trails
City transportation officials have a grand vision to dramatically expand the Shoal Creek Trail and eventually connect it to a 30-mile loop of trails around the northern half of the city. But it’s anybody’s guess when that vision will be…
Bicycles • By Jack Craver • Jul 27, 2018
Spirit of East Austin lives on
After a lengthy public engagement process, the city of Austin has released a report detailing key steps the city can take to improve services and quality of life for those living in Austin’s “eastern crescent.” During the spring of 2017,…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Jul 25, 2018
Zoning commission flirts with stalling Champion project
Opponents of the Champion tract development had yet another opportunity to air their grievances against the proposed multifamily development Tuesday night. Their efforts to stall the project were nearly successful due to low attendance at the Zoning and Platting Commission…
Development • By Jack Craver • Jul 20, 2018
So, what happens to CodeNEXT now?
Last month, a majority of City Council members, including Mayor Steve Adler, said they did not believe that a ballot initiative proposed by anti-CodeNEXT activists could be put before voters this November. While the initiative had received more than enough…
