Stories by Josh Rosenblatt
Commission rejects historic rezoning for revamped lakeside house
One month after postponing a historic rezoning decision on a house in west Austin, the Historic Landmark Commission voted last week to reject the owners’ application for historic status. The commissioners’ concern with the property lay not with its historical…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 2, 2010
Morrison continues to object as Council approves East Block rezoning
A little more than month ago City Council voted to approve on first reading the rezoning of the East Block property on West Sixth Street over the objections of Council Member Laura Morrison. Last Thursday Council took up the rezoning…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 1, 2010
City’s use of tobacco grant could help determine future health care spending
The city has begun spending millions of federal stimulus dollars to decrease and prevent tobacco use in Austin. And according to Vince Cobalis, assistant director of Human Services, the results of local efforts could affect how billions of dollars in…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 21, 2010
Council votes against rezoning for medical office in North Austin
The City Council voted last week to deny the rezoning of an office building at the corner of Limerick Avenue and West Parmer Lane. Despite the fact that the application was only up for a first read and that the…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 20, 2010
Pulliam out at animal shelter, Mills in, vaccinations up
It’s been nearly a week since Dorinda Pulliam, the city’s assistant director for animal services, left her post as the head of the Town Lake Animal Shelter to “assist with special projects in other divisions” of the Health and Human…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 19, 2010
UTC vote brings Downtown Bicycle Boulevard plan closer to reality
The Urban Transportation Commission voted last week to recommend a staff proposal for the controversial Downtown Bicycle Boulevard, which will involve treatments to both Nueces and Rio Grande streets from Cesar Chavez to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Though…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 17, 2010
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City’s sales tax revenue up over this time last year
Things may be looking up for the Austin economy, if sales tax revenue is any indication. According to the city’s Chief Financial Officer, Leslie Browder, taxable sales from the month of March are up 12.2 percent compared to March…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 13, 2010
Library panel approves proposed budget increase for FY 2011
The Austin Public Library system, which has taken the brunt of several rounds of city budget cuts over the past few years, could finally see that turn around in 2011. Financial manager Dana McBee told the Library Commission this week…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 11, 2010
Animal shelter provides report on vaccination rates and protocols
A Council committee heard a long-awaited report on the state of vaccinations at the city’s animal shelter Wednesday, but did little to quiet the concerns of some members of the Animal Advisory Commission and local animal-rights activists, who have criticized…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 6, 2010
Debate over shelter vaccinations heads to Council committee
The City Council Public Health and Human Services Committee will tackle the issue of animal vaccinations at the city’s Town Lake Animal Shelter (TLAC)—a topic that has become particularly sensitive over the last few months—as an outbreak of distemper among…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 5, 2010
City staff presents land use option to preserve open space
The city is moving closer to creating a new residential use that will allow for more flexibility when building single-family houses on environmentally sensitive land. The new use, should it gain Council approval, would be the result of a year-and-a-half-long…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 4, 2010
Council postpones Los Comales rezoning to address legal issues
The owners of East Austin restaurant Los Comales will have to wait at least until May 13 to hear City Council’s decision on their rezoning application. The information city staff gathers on the case in the meantime, and the final…
