This month marked a big milestone for cycling in Austin: The city’s All Ages and Abilities Bicycle Network reached its halfway completion point, making getting places by bike more comfortable and convenient. So far, the AAA network includes 215 miles of bike lanes, 100 miles of which have been built since 2018. Though the build-out […]
Jonathan Lee
Posted inWhispers
Complex planned for Four Points area awaits rezoning
A 340-unit apartment complex is planned for the growing Four Points area in Northwest Austin, but before the project can break ground, the developer needs to rezone the 17-acre property at 7911 and 8001 North FM 620 to allow multifamily use. The zoning case is moving through the city’s approval process. On Tuesday, the Zoning […]
Posted inPreservation
Dilapidated Congress Avenue buildings move one step closer to reconstruction
After a yearslong saga, the owner of three run-down buildings at 907, 909 and 911 Congress Avenue will finally be able to reconstruct the buildings’ facades. On Sept. 14, the Planning Commission overruled a decision by the Historic Landmark Commission prohibiting facade reconstruction for 909 Congress, paving the way for all three buildings to be […]
Posted inPlanning
Austin Opry House development faces opposition from Planning Commission, neighbors
A mixed-use project seeking to revive historic music venue Austin Opry House ran into concerns Tuesday from the Planning Commission, which voted to postpone the rezoning case by a month to give the applicant, Richard Weiss, more time to work with neighbors worried about traffic and disruption from concertgoers. Plans for the development at 200 […]
Posted inZoning
For neighbors’ sake, Planning Commission recommends downsizing multifamily project by half
In an attempt to appease neighbors wary of new multifamily development, the Planning Commission Tuesday recommended less dense zoning than was requested by the owner of several vacant lots at Grady and Brownie drives in North Austin. The commission followed city staffers’ recommendation of Multifamily-Low Density (MF-2) and Neighborhood Commercial Mixed-Use (LR-MU) zoning for the […]
Posted inZoning
ZAP recommends VMU zoning on increasingly dense Slaughter Lane corridor
On Tuesday, the Zoning and Platting Commission unanimously recommended Vertical Mixed-Use zoning to allow a 290-unit multifamily development with ground floor retail at 1017 W. Slaughter Lane. Though VMU zoning is more often seen in the central city, commissioners thought the tract fit the bill for dense housing. “I think it really takes what we […]
Posted inZoning
12th and Springdale rezoning gets final Council approval
In a move that will bring more housing to East Austin, City Council approved the rezoning of 1200, 1202 and 1208 Springdale Road at its Aug. 26 regular meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison made the case at the meeting for capturing the benefits of new development instead of opposing growth altogether. While acknowledging that “East […]
Posted inDistrict 3, Zoning
Council gives initial OK to Fair Market rezoning
City Council has tentatively approved a height increase for a new East Austin office project that would replace Fair Market, an event space, on the southern half of the block bordered by Waller, East Fifth and Sixth streets. Council Member Pio Renteria, taking the lead on the case in his District 3, motioned to approved […]
Posted inZoning
Council approves ‘multimodal’ residential project in northwest downtown
City Council said yes to more density in the northwest corner of downtown by voting unanimously Thursday to approve Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) zoning with a 90-foot height limit for Shoal Cycle, a 210-bed multimodal-friendly apartment project at 812 W. 11th St. “I think we all agree that downtown is where density is appropriate,” Mayor Pro […]
Posted inThe Code
A new Austin Energy rule aims to keep construction workers safe. It could also make homes harder to build.
In response to the death by electrocution of a construction worker and a subsequent lawsuit, Austin Energy has increased the minimum distance between power lines and new buildings, a regulation the utility says will keep workers safer. A jury in 2019 found Austin Energy guilty of negligence in the death of Jaime Membreno, who was […]
Posted inZoning
ZAP fails to recommend rezoning for 100 percent affordable apartments
A tie vote at the Zoning and Platting Commission last Tuesday means that the rezoning for Fox Hollow, an affordable housing project, goes to City Council without ZAP’s recommendation. Half of the commission sided with neighbors who say the site at 2117 Brandt Road in South Austin is not the place for dense development, while […]
Posted inZoning
Cave concern means no ZAP recommendation for Luby’s rezoning
Two weeks ago, Zoning and Platting commissioners made one thing clear: Without more information about two caves under the Luby’s cafeteria site in Northwest Austin, the commission can’t discuss the Multifamily-Highest Density (MF-6) zoning requested by the developer, who wants to build apartments on the site. At Tuesday’s hearing, even a study of the small, […]