A new HEB is on the horizon for Southwest Austin. The store will open its doors sometime this year to the stretch of Hill Country bordered by Oak Hill to the east and Dripping Springs to the west – but first, site developers must compromise with the city to accommodate the area’s environmental regulations. After […]
Kali Bramble
Posted inPlanning
City works to resolve decadelong feud over Crestview gate
The Austin Transportation Department closed a chapter of Crestview history last Thursday, passing to City Council its recommendation to permanently remove the infamous gate blocking vehicle access from Easy Wind Drive to Morrow Street. The gate, the subject of a decade of neighborhood squabbling, dates back to a 2011 zoning change to placate residents concerned […]
Posted inPlanning
Project Connect team unveils report on anti-displacement strategy
Project Connect is one step closer to realizing its $7.1 billion public transportation investment, after a report outlining plans for the $300 million set aside for anti-displacement programs was completed last Thursday. The report, developed by a team of impacted community members and city staffers, describes a racial equity anti-displacement tool designed to direct and […]
Posted inElections
District 4 candidates face off before special election
Candidates vying for Greg Casar’s Council seat appealed to voters last Thursday at a forum hosted by the city’s Ethics Commission and the Austin chapter of League of Women Voters. Isa Boonto, Melinda Schiera, Jade Lovera, Jose “Chito” Vela, and Monica Guzmán had the chance to share their visions for District 4 before competing in […]
Posted inCity Council
Alter says resilience has been the theme of 2021
Reflecting on her fifth year serving District 10, City Council Member Alison Alter recalls confronting significant obstacles, but maintains that Austin has come out the better for it. “It’s been an incredibly challenging year, but we’ve set a lot of things into motion that I believe will make Austin a more resilient and sustainable place […]
Posted inCity Council
Ellis sees opportunity for growth amidst 2021’s challenges
Despite a year that brought both public health and environmental disasters, District 8 City Council Member Paige Ellis has pushed forward in her efforts to rethink transportation, parks and affordability solutions in our rapidly growing city. While the Covid-19 pandemic has been a historic challenge, Ellis says it has opened up unexpected opportunities to rethink […]
Posted inCity Council
Pio Renteria: Seven years in office and 71 years in District 3
City Council Member Pio Renteria recalls the time when he was able to purchase his East Austin home for just over $20,000. Now he’s received an offer to sell it for nearly a million. As a lifelong resident of East Austin, Renteria has experienced the whirlwind of change undergone by District 3 firsthand. Though it […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Council debates path forward on paid family leave for emergency services employees
City Council weighed the implications of significantly expanding benefits for emergency services employees this past Thursday in a resolution that calls for a new family leave policy for the city’s EMS, police, and fire departments. The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Ann Kitchen, directs city staff to develop plans for a program providing adequate paid […]
Posted inParks
Resolution promises further development at Onion Creek park
Southeast Austinites can look forward to renovations at District 2’s Onion Creek Metropolitan Park, thanks to a resolution passed by City Council this past Thursday. The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, calls upon city management to explicitly outline plans for the park that have long been discussed by Council and the Parks and […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark commission experiments with new postponement tool
The Historic Landmark Commission is taking a fresh approach to resisting demolition, opting to indefinitely postpone several cases at its Nov. 15 meeting. After consulting with the city’s legal department, staffers recommended using the new tool in cases where applicants oppose historic zoning but are willing to negotiate alternatives to demolition. Commissioners elected to use […]
Posted inCity Council
Council moves forward with arts funding plan, promising relief for nonprofit grant applicants
Following the recommendations of the Arts Commission, City Council has approved funding for cultural arts programs with plans to significantly expand its nonprofit relief grant program. That’s good news for the program’s applicants, who can all expect to see checks by the end of the year. Continuing its effort to support institutions impacted by Covid-19, […]
Posted inWhispers
Council clarifies details of January special election
As Council Member Greg Casar sets his sights on Congress, the city is gearing up to organize his replacement. City Council began yesterday’s meeting with a handful of public speakers acknowledging Casar’s accomplishments for District 4, followed by a wave of questions regarding the special election to fill his seat. Because state law dictates an election […]