A 260-unit apartment proposal at 6311 S. First St. moved one step closer to construction after the Planning Commission recommended rezoning the vacant site at its Feb. 9 meeting. The new zoning allows the developer to add more units, including nearly 100 income-restricted units, and 1,000 square feet of retail is also proposed. Though neighbors […]
Jonathan Lee
Posted inElections
Ethics complaint against Voices of Austin will get final hearing
A complaint that nonprofit Voices of Austin violated city code by campaigning against Proposition A will move to a final hearing, the Ethics Review Commission decided. The preliminary hearing at Wednesday’s meeting was a redo of the first preliminary hearing, which was cut short due to a problem with the city’s virtual meeting software. Political […]
Posted inWhispers
Nonprofit? PAC? Discussion of Save Austin Now’s status postponed
An allegation that nonprofit Save Austin Now stepped into PAC territory while gathering signatures to reinstate the homeless camping ban lacks evidence – for now. An evidentiary hearing at Wednesday’s Ethics Review Commission meeting was postponed when the nonprofit’s counsel could not attend. The commissioners will now hear evidence for and against the allegation on […]
Posted inHousing
Planning commissioners: We’re not building enough affordable housing
Planning commissioners expressed concern this week about the lack of progress made toward the city’s affordable housing production goals. The discussion followed a presentation of the recently released Strategic Housing Blueprint Scorecard, which shows how much affordable housing has been created in relation to the blueprint‘s annual targets. “Yes, we’re building more affordable housing,” said Commissioner […]
Posted inZoning
By opposing North Austin rezoning, Kelly sets tone for future zoning cases
At last week’s City Council meeting, new member Mackenzie Kelly offered a first glimpse of her approach to zoning cases: respect for neighborhood opposition. Kelly cast the lone dissenting vote in a request to allow multifamily housing on a North Austin tract, siding with neighbors opposed to the proposal. “I read through the public remarks,” […]
Posted inCity Council
Council passes HEAL resolution to connect homeless to housing, address camping
Those experiencing homelessness and camping in four areas around Austin may soon find permanent homes. By passing the Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment Assistance Link resolution (HEAL) on Thursday, City Council set in motion a plan to move people from places that pose risks to their well-being and into housing. “This is immediate action for our unhoused […]
Posted inCity Council
Council to move forensics department from APD
City Council is set to create a new Forensic Science Department this week as part of its plan to move some civilian operations out of police control. Council members say the reshuffling will make the department more accountable and allow scientists to do their work better. “This is an important change for public safety and […]
Posted inCity Council
Council likely to pass amended HEAL resolution
City Council is almost certain to adopt an updated version of the HEAL resolution, a measure to address homeless camping around the city. Six Council members now sponsor the item after Council Member Alison Alter added her name Friday in exchange for amendments to the resolution. The aim of HEAL – the Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment […]
Posted inPolice
Racial inequity at APD front and center at Public Safety Commission
Public Safety commissioners took a closer look at racial issues in the Austin Police Department, diving into a recent report on the subject at their Monday meeting. A survey of over 1,000 APD officers and staff about their attitudes toward race and racism found “significant differences” in responses from white, Black and Hispanic respondents. The […]
Posted inPreservation
Planning Commission recommends rezoning Delta Kappa Gamma building to make way for tower
Paving the way for a proposed 31-story residential tower on the site of the historic Delta Kappa Gamma building at 416 W. 12th St., the Planning Commission voted 11-0-1 last Tuesday to recommend the requested Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) zoning. The circa-1959 midcentury-modern building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, serves as the […]
Posted inCity Council
Council adopts new flood control resolution
In her first move on City Council, new member Vanessa Fuentes authored a resolution directing the city to provide an update on its flood resilience plans. “Often in my community it’s not a matter of if the next big flood happens, but when the next big flood happens,” Fuentes said. “It is essential that this […]
Posted inTransportation
A long time coming, Red Line Parkway could be completed by decade’s end
The City Council Mobility Committee heard an update on the Red Line Parkway last week, one of the city’s most anticipated urban trail projects. Austinites can look for significant progress on the trail this year with new segments under development and the Red Line Parkway Initiative beginning its Parkway Plan process. “It’s a pretty ambitious […]