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Most Popular Stories
- How Trump’s federal funding freeze is beginning to affect Austin
- APD won’t enforce SB 14 as Paxton and Trump further attack gender-affirming health care
- After shutting off mental health care for Austin musicians, SIMS Foundation restarts services
- Council approves call for better coordination, planning among downtown projects
- Austin ISD announces hiring freeze as budget deficit grows to $110 million
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Popular Whispers
- Council Member Mike Siegel will speak out against cuts to federal services
- City manager hosts community meetings on next year’s budget
- DAA offers a look at future of Sixth Street entertainment district
- RRCD names Klepadlo as executive director
- Zero Waste Advisory Commission adds own ‘no’ rec on merge with RMC
Stories by Jonathan Lee
Notley/Monitor Poll: Most Austinites think the city is headed in the wrong direction
Earlier this summer, the Austin Monitor set out to poll Austinites’ opinions on the most important issues facing the city and how well local government is addressing them. Over the course of this week, we’ll highlight what residents have told us…
Austin • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 11, 2022
City considers changes to floodplain redevelopment
Owners of businesses in the city’s floodplain will soon be able to make changes to their buildings or rebuild entirely so flash floods pose less of a threat – to structures as well as employees and customers. The tweak to…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 7, 2022
Council approves new mixed-use development rules and launches separate corridor proposal
In response to Austin’s housing crisis, City Council passed two policies Thursday to allow more housing along major streets. “I think it’s more critical now than it has ever been to increase density and housing on these corridors,” Mayor Steve…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 13, 2022
Council approves permanent supportive housing in Hancock
City Council Thursday unanimously approved a rezoning for Cady Lofts, a project that will bring 100 homes for people experiencing homelessness to 1004-1008 E. 39th St. in the Hancock neighborhood. The project includes studio units in a 3- and 4-story…
Housing • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 10, 2022
Fate of the Crestview Gate could be decided today
A decadelong debate over a notorious gate in the Crestview neighborhood is likely to reach its conclusion today, with City Council set to vote on a zoning change that would get rid of the gate at Easy Wind Drive and…
Transportation • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 9, 2022
New report dives into the details of housing in Austin
HousingWorks Austin has released its latest annual report on Austin’s housing market and supply of affordable housing, underscoring not only the drastic increases in home prices and rents many have experienced but also disparities in affordable housing supply across the…
Housing • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 6, 2022
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Council to consider new ADU policies, ditch preapproved blueprints
City Council shifted priorities this week on policies related to accessory dwelling units, with members showing little interest in creating preapproved ADU blueprints and instead considering a new measure aimed at making ADUs easier to build. At Tuesday’s Housing and…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 3, 2022
Planning Commission supports first phase of East Austin development
The Planning Commission OK’d a rezoning on May 24 for the first phase of a larger development planned along Hudson Street in East Austin. Ledgestone Development Group plans 97 units in a mix of single-family homes and attached townhomes on several…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 2, 2022
Ahead of Council vote, committee sculpts VMU2 proposal
City Council members at Tuesday’s Housing and Planning Committee meeting shared their latest thinking on proposed changes to Vertical Mixed-Use (VMU) zoning ahead of a vote on June 9. Council Member Chito Vela outlined a new compromise to reduce compatibility…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 1, 2022
Planning Commission supports VMU zoning for 51st Street property
The Planning Commission on May 24 endorsed Vertical-Mixed Use (VMU) zoning for a parcel along East 51st Street where a developer plans to build up to 249 residential units. The rezoning concerns a 4-acre tract at 5525 E. 51st St.,…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 31, 2022
Planning Commission nearly derails East Austin townhome project
A townhome project requesting to build closer to single-family homes than typically allowed nearly fell through Tuesday, when the Planning Commission lacked enough votes to approve the requested variance. The developer of the seven-unit project at 1400 Cedar Ave. originally…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 27, 2022
Hancock project to house the homeless sails through Planning Commission
The Planning Commission unanimously supported a zoning change Tuesday that would allow the construction of housing for people exiting homelessness in the Hancock neighborhood. A group of affordable housing developers hopes to rezone three lots at 1004-1008 E. 39th St.…
