Austin’s warehouse district is on the way to gaining one more protected landmark as of this past Monday, after the Historic Landmark Commission rejected an application to demolish a historic grocery warehouse at 301 San Jacinto Blvd. Despite the property owner’s wishes to embark on a new development, commissioners presented overwhelming evidence that the property […]
Kali Bramble
Posted inLand Development Code
Zilker substandard lot case sparks debate at Board of Adjustment
An appeal to grant a variance to homebuilders on Kinney Avenue raised questions of precedent and procedure at the Board of Adjustment meeting this past Monday. On behalf of property owner Molly Development Company, applicant Ian Ellis sought the board’s permission to waive regulations over construction on smaller, or “substandard” lots. The board voted unanimously […]
Posted inAustin
City presents long-awaited follow-up on Winter Storm Uri
As Austin prepares for colder temperatures, a coalition of teams led by the city’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has finalized its after-action report on February’s Winter Storm Uri. Staying well past 10 p.m. last Thursday, City Council ended its meeting with a briefing on the report’s findings. The briefing, which included presentations […]
Posted inPreservation
Neighbors oppose East Austin demolition case
The Historic Landmark Commission reviewed an application to demolish another East Austin home at its Oct. 25 meeting. The proposed demolition of the home, at 1601 Cedar Ave., garnered a significant amount of interest from the surrounding neighborhood. Citing potential historical and architectural significance, the commission voted to initiate historic zoning of the circa-1915 property, […]
Posted inAISD
Superintendent’s evaluation sparks heated testimony on district’s working conditions
The AISD Board of Trustees faced a grueling round of public testimony at their meeting this past Thursday, with more than a dozen teachers calling in to express intolerable levels of stress. Citing administrative micromanagement, understaffing, excessive hours and poor compensation, speakers illustrated a district reaching a fever pitch of low morale. With Superintendent Stephanie […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark commission resists demolition of San Jacinto warehouse
The Historic Landmark Commission faced a proposal to tear down a historic Austin property this past Monday, reviewing an application to demolish a warehouse at 301 San Jacinto Blvd. The brick building, which was constructed in 1912, has since passed through the hands of several notable Austin grocers. Hoping to collect information to justify preservation, the commission […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Council expands Healthy Streets into Living Streets
City Council expanded possibilities for Austin’s residential street spaces this past Thursday with the unanimous passage of a resolution initiating the Living Streets program. The program, sponsored by Council Member Paige Ellis, will allow for Austinites to interface with residential streets in new and creative ways with the aim of expanding their recreational uses and […]
Posted inCity Hall
Board of Adjustment fee assistance moves forward
At last Thursday’s meeting, City Council unanimously approved a resolution designed to alleviate economic barriers to participating in the Board of Adjustment process. The resolution, sponsored by Mayor Pro-Tem Natasha Harper-Madison, outlines the development of a BoA applicant assistance program that would waive application fees for those meeting a certain criteria for financial hardship. Currently, […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Council postpones decision on City Marshal Office
Last Thursday, City Council considered the creation of a new municipal court division that would replace its use of sworn Austin Police Department officers. The ordinance would create a City Marshal Office, an agency separate from the Austin Police Department, whose members would handle enforcement of Class C misdemeanor cases. City marshals would carry out […]
Posted inCity Council
Council approves flood resilience resolution ahead of anniversary of devastating floods
As Austin’s southernmost districts remained under flash flood warning last Thursday, City Council took further steps toward flood resilience measures designed to better prepare the city for natural disasters. Led by District 2’s Vanessa Fuentes, Council unanimously adopted a resolution that incorporates a range of initiatives to improve flood mitigation infrastructure, expand disaster response training […]
Posted inAustin
Homeless Strategy Office gears up to launch second phase of HEAL initiative
Following the success of its pilot program this past summer, Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office is moving forward with its four-part plan to tackle the city’s homelessness crisis. Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Grey briefed the Public Health Committee last Wednesday on Project HEAL’s latest developments as it prepares to launch its second phase in November. Over […]
Posted inPreservation
Demolition on San Marcos Street postponed as neighbors resist redevelopment in East Austin
Opinions clashed over the fate of two cottages at 82 San Marcos St. last Monday, as the Historic Landmark Commission evaluated an application for their demolition. The two homes, built in 1941, are located in the Willow-Spence National Register Historic District in East Austin. After a lively round of public testimony, the commission unanimously approved […]